Kenyans sweep Fifth Season races again

CEDAR RAPIDS - As finishers rolled across the start/finish line on Friday, it became another sweep for Kenyan runners who sported their trophies at the 29th annual Fifth Season 8K races.

Runners Edward Kiptum Tabut and Cynthia Limo, both originally from Kenya, are now living in the United States. Race Director Colin Flynn said it's common to see more and more elite runners hailing from African countries.

'It's like Minor League Baseball over there,” Flynn said. 'There's a farm club system and when they're ready to move up, they come over here and all live together and compete.”

Olympians and professional athletes are coming on the circuit even at the college level. University of Iowa graduate Diane Nukuri-Johnson hailed from Burundi and Iowa State University graduate Betsy Saina was from Eldoret, Kenya.

Flynn said a lot of the time, running agencies will bring younger runners over to the United States not knowing exactly what could be in store.

'We had a kid, 17 years old, who ran the 5K in under 17 minutes - just four seconds slower than our event record,” Flynn said. 'Which is really fast for a kid his age.”

For Limo, the journey has just begun. Arriving in the United States on June 4, the Iten, Kenya native has already claimed two first-place finishes in four weeks' time. Rigorous training will take Limo to New York next weekend.

'Some places, it is very hot but with this race it was a very nice one; a great climate and very cool,” Limo said.

Flynn said 30 different states were represented in the Fifth Season Races. Local traffic brings in friends and families from out of state, making the 2014 Fifth Season Races the largest yet.

LOCAL FINISHERS

The highest-finishing area runner was out of Iowa City, as Zach Baker ran a 24:24 and placed third overall. Erin Moeller was the highest area finisher in the women's race, placing sixth for the women, and 53rd overall.

In the USA Track and Field Open Men division, Nathan Hopp of West Amana was best, clocking in at 25:40, followed in that division by Nate Canton of North Liberty at 26:35 and Mark Thompson of Iowa City at 28:15. In the USATF Open Women division, Mount Vernon's Elaina Mertens finished second with a time of 32:28.

Roger Cassill, of Fairfax, won the USATF Master Men division race in 29:39, which was also good for 51st overall. Lynda Cook and Jill Jones, both of Cedar Rapids, finished second and third in the USATF Master Women division at 42:00 and 43:45 respectively.

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