FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
ABDI ABDIRAHMAN WINS 2009 USA MEN'S 10 MILE CHAMPIONSHIP
AT 11th ANNUAL MEDTRONIC TC 10 MILE
USA Men's Championship field competed for $25,000 prize purse October 4;
Rachel Booth places first among women
(St. Paul, Minn.) - Three-time Olympian Abdi Abdirahman today won the 2009
USA Men's 10 Mile Championship at the Medtronic TC 10 Mile with a time of
46:35, defending his 2007 USA Men's 10 Mile Championship title that he
picked up at the Medtronic TC 10 Mile that year. Rachel Booth won the
female division with a time of 57:33.
Abdirahman, 32, of Tucson, Ariz., beat his previous Medtronic TC 10 Mile
course record of 47:34 from his race in 2007 (set on a temporary course).
Abdirahman shared, "The goal was just to run fast. Joshua Moen and I ran
together, and with about a mile left, I decided to just go. I wanted to
come out with the win – a win is everything. I'm also so happy for Josh.
Team USA Minnesota is doing a great job as a training group."
Joshua Moen, 27, of St. Louis Park, Minn., came in a close second with a
time of 46:38. Abdirahman and Moen raced in the middle of heavy training
cycles; both runners are preparing for the ING New York City Marathon next
month. The course record was in reach for both Abdirahman and Moen even
without the benefit of tapering; they battled for the lead, picking up the
pace to test each other on the challenging course. Patrick Smyth, 23, of
Minneapolis, placed third with a time of 47:09. Moen commented about the
race, "I felt pretty good, pretty fit. You just go in the lead, mix it up
and see how the cookie crumbles." Both Moen and Smyth are members of Team
USA Minnesota.
"We are thrilled to have hosted the USA Men's 10 Mile Championship again
this year, and to welcome a new course record," said Virginia Brophy
Achman, executive director of Twin Cities Marathon, Inc. "The Medtronic TC
10 Mile attracted a talented field, drawing from across the country. In its
11th year, the Medtronic TC 10 Mile has grown into an incredibly
competitive and high-profile race. We look forward to seeing how the race
continues in its growth next year."
Rachel Booth, 28, of Mountain View, Calif., placed first among women with a
time of 57:33 in her first Medtronic TC 10 mile. On taking the lead, Booth
said, "We went out as planned, and when the race progressed to mile 5 I put
a move in, and it worked." Booth continued, "I follow a flexible racing
schedule, making educated decisions week-by-week – this [race] was a good
fit for me. The weather was ideal today and I look forward to returning to
the TC 10 Mile."
Claudia Becque, 33, of Chicago, placed second among women with a time of
58:08. Jenna Boren, 32, of St. Paul, Minn., placed third with a time of
58:21.
The USA Men's 10 Mile Championship was a USA Track & Field national
championship event that started with the open Medtronic TC 10 Mile field at
7:05 a.m., Sunday, October 4. Also known as "The Shortcut to the Capitol,"
the race began near the HHH Metrodome, and followed the last seven miles of
the Medtronic Twin Cities Marathon route before finishing in front of the
State Capitol.
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