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Howard Corcoran, race director for the 30th anniversary edition of The Ogden Newspapers 20K Classic Run and Walk, was informed late last week that Kibet has returned home to his native Kenya and will pass up the May 27 race in Wheeling.
However, last year’s second-, third- and fourth-place finishers already are entered in this year’s race, along with 2004 women’s titlist Naomi Wangui, also from Kenya.
It was announced last week that Wheeling’s own Ricky Moore, the 2005 runner-up and highest local finisher ever in the Ogden 20K, would be back to take another shot at the overall championship. Moore was timed in 1:04:18.
Kibet captured last year’s event in the time of 1:03:04. It should be pointed out that the 29th annual Ogden 20K was held in a steady rain.
Back after a third-place finish in 1:04:57 is Isaac Arusei, a native of Kenya and champion of the 2004 Parkersburg Half Marathon.
Crossing the finish line after Kibet, Moore and Arusei during the Wheeling race was Mohammed Ar-Ar, from Morocco. Ar-Ar’s time was 1:05:03.
All, except Moore, now train and run out of West Chester, Pa., and are under contract with Elite Sports Management International Inc.
Moore is signed with Team Saucony, a global supplier of athletic footwear and apparel.
Arusei, a 29-year-old road racer, is coming off an impressive season in 2005. He won three events — a 4-miler in Washington, D.C., and two 5-mile races held in York, Pa., and Red Bank, N.J., respectively.
His PRs (personal record times) include 1:03:47 for a half marathon held in London, England (2003); 28:47 for 10,000 meters at Nairobi, Kenya (2004) and 46:54 during a 15K race at Nyahururu, Kenya (2002).
Ar-Ar won a 5K race in Lancaster, Pa., last year and had second-place finishes at the same distance in Newark, N.J., and Kennett Square, Pa.
Married and the father of a 2-year-old daughter, the 36-year-old Ar-Ar won a 10-mile race during 2005 at Fes in his native Morocco.
Wangui did not run here last year but was the first female finisher and ninth overall runner in the 2004 Ogden 20K with a time of 1:16:00.
The 27-year-old Kenyan also runs for the Elite Sports Management International Inc. group.
She had a busy 2005 racing season in which she won a 7-mile race in Litchfield, Conn., and was third in the Lahore, Pakistan, Marathon. She also turned in a third-place finish with a time of 2:39:06 in a marathon held in Beirut, Lebanon.
Wangui competed in the Lahore Marathon again earlier this year and wound up fourth.
Just 5 feet, 3 inches tall and 100 pounds, she is a quiet but fierce competitor who relishes the challenges provided by difficult courses.
During her victory in the Ogden Classic two years ago, she pulled away from her closest competitors while running the downhill side of the demanding 29th Street Hill.
Another Kenyan-born competitor with sights on doing well in Wheeling is Kenneth Korir, an up-and-coming 23-year-old who has run mainly on the foreign racing circuit.
Two years ago, he won a 10K race with a clocking of 28:30 held in Monilena, Italy. He also recorded a 27:52 clocking in Morocco earlier this year, finishing sixth in that event.
Among the highlights of race weekend here are the Friday night events, including the Ogden Mile, which is run over one of the fastest downhill courses in America. Entering that event this week was another ESMI competitor, Patrick Langat, from Kenya.
Langat has competed in a variety of events and courses during his career. He was a steeplechase winner in his native country and has a sharp 1500m time of 3:45 on the track.
Entries continue to arrive at a brisk pace for what Race Director Corcoran calls a ‘‘Destination Weekend’’ for the City of Wheeling.
The activities begin at 6:45 p.m. Friday, May 26, with the Ogden Tiny Tot Trot, sponsored by Ohio Valley Parent Magazine.
This event welcomes youngsters ages 5 and under to participate in a dash to the finish line over the last 100 yards of the 20K course, located adjacent to WesBanco Arena.
The Fun Run follows at 7 p.m. from the top of Wheeling Hill and covers the final mile of the 20K layout. Also a non-competitive event, the Fun Run is for children 12 and under.
No prizes are awarded, and the $5 entry fee includes a race T-shirt. Parents are encouraged to run with their children at no cost or pay $5 and also receive a T-shirt.
The Ogden Mile starts at 7:15 p.m., also at the top of Wheeling Hill. This event has featured sub four-minute mile clockings nearly every year. Last year’s winner was Ovidiu Olteanu, Romania’s only sub four-minute miler. He ran the Wheeling course in 3:59:20.
Race Day on Saturday, May 27, should again provide morning-long excitement for runners, walkers and spectators alike. Race starting times are 7:30 a.m. for the 20K Walk; 8 a.m. for the 20K Run and 8:15 a.m. for the 5K Run and Walk.
Competitors in the 20K events will be guests at a post-race awards banquet, starting at 11:30 a.m. in WesBanco Arena.
Also to be introduced during this affair will be the newly selected 2006 Class of Ogden 20K Classic Run and Walk Hall of Fame members. The Hall of Fame was established in 2004 and will be inducting its third class this year.
Announcement of this year’s honorees will be made in next week’s Sunday News-Register.
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Ogden Newspapers 20K Classic