Freihofer's Run for Women
The race passes through Albany's Washington Park
DateMay/June
LocationAlbany, New York, United States United States
Event typeRoad
Distance5K
Established1979
Official siteFreihofer's Run for Women

Freihofer's Run for Women is an annual five-kilometer road running competition for women that is usually held in late May or early June in Albany, New York, United States. First held in 1979, the race has grown into a sizable event that holds IAAF Silver Label Road Race status and had 3,927 participants at the 2010 edition.[1] The 2011 edition garnered 5,000 entires, four-fifths of whom are distance runners.[2]

A 10-kilometer race was held concurrently with the 5K race from its inaugural edition, with the longer race serving as the elite race until 1989. The 5K race has been the elite race since 1989 while the 10K was removed from the annual race's events in 1991. The race has been the venue for the national road championships on many occasions: acting as the 10K championships from 1979 to 1988, and then serving as the 5K nationals in 1989, 1990 and 1993 to 2004.[3] Five women have participated in the FRW every year since it began, including Denise Herman, a local runner who won the 5k in 1984 and again in 1987.[4]

Lynn Jennings is the race's most successful runner, having won the 10K race twice and the 5K race a further six times over the period between 1987 and 1998. Marla Runyan, who is legally blind due to Stargardt disease, won three consecutive national titles at the Freihofer's Run for Women from 2002 to 2004.[5]

In 2005, the race was won in record time by Asmae Leghzaoui, though several world class athletes boycotted the event due to Leghzaoui's history of using illegal substances.[6] Her course record was broken by Emily Chebet who ran a time of 15:12 to win the 2010 race.[1] Betty Jo Geiger remains the record holder for the 10K race with her 1986 winning time of 32:13.

The 5K course, certified by USA Track & Field, begins and ends near the New York State Museum on Albany's Madison Avenue. It heads westwards and enters Washington Park after the first kilometer. The course twists along the footpaths through the park before heading north along Lake Avenue around the half-way point. After heading east along Western and Washington Avenue, the route turns south, looping back onto Madison Avenue, and then heads downhill directly to the finish.[7]

Past winners

5K race

Key:   Course record   Country's championship race   Amateur races

Benita Johnson and Ashu Kasim racing at the 2009 edition
Teyba Erkesso of Ethiopia was the 2009 race winner.
Year Winner Time (m:s)
2022  Allie Ostrander (USA) 15:48
2021  Aisling Cuffe (USA) 16:34
2019  Elaina Tabb (USA) 16:03
2018  Sarah Pagano (USA) 15:48
2017  Sara Hall (USA) 15:49
2016  Brianne Nelson (USA) 15:46
2015  Emily Chebet (KEN) 15:38
2014  Lucy Kabuu (KEN) 15:20
2013  Emily Chebet (KEN) 15:26
2012  Mamitu Daska (ETH) 15:19.1
2011  Mamitu Daska (ETH) 15:19
2010  Emily Chebet (KEN) 15:12
2009  Teyba Erkesso (ETH) 15:27
2008  Benita Johnson (AUS) 15:46
2007  Benita Johnson (AUS) 15:22
2006  Benita Johnson (AUS) 15:27
2005  Asmae Leghzaoui (MAR) 15:18
2004  Marla Runyan (USA) 15:26
2003  Marla Runyan (USA) 15:25
2002  Marla Runyan (USA) 15:27
2001  Collette Liss-Douglas (USA) 15:47
2000  Libbie Johnson-Hickman (USA) 15:35
1999  Cheri Goddard-Kenah (USA) 15:31
1998  Lynn Jennings (USA) 15:46
1997  Elva Dryer (USA) 15:29
1996  Lynn Jennings (USA) 15:21[8]
1995  Lynn Jennings (USA) 15:24
1994  Lynn Jennings (USA) 15:35
1993  Lynn Jennings (USA) 15:35
1992  Carmem de Oliveira (BRA) 15:39
1991  Judi St. Hilaire (USA) 15:40
1990  Lynn Jennings (USA) 15:31
1989  Judi St. Hilaire (USA) 15:25
1988  Pamela Crandall (USA) 17:16
1987  Denise Herman (USA) 17:16
1986  Marisa Sutera (USA) 17:22
1985  Patricia Nelson (USA) 17:39
1984  Denise Herman (USA) 18:06
1983  Mary Herlihy (USA) 18:08
1982  Diana Richburg (USA) 18:30
1981  Diana Richburg (USA) 18:50
1980  Martha Swatt-Johnson (USA) 17:35
1979  Martha Swatt-Johnson (USA) 17:30

10K race

Year Winner Time (m:s)
1991  Nancy Egerton (USA) 38:06
1990  Lisa Polzinetti (USA) 36:25
1989  Laura LaMena (USA) 37:04
1988  Lynn Jennings (USA) 32:39
1987  Lynn Jennings (USA) 32:19
1986  Betty Jo Geiger (USA) 32:13
1985  Betty Jo Geiger (USA)
 Francie Larrieu Smith (USA)		 32:14
1984  Janice Ettle (USA) 34:22[9]
1983  Regina Joyce (IRL) 33:25
1982  Jacqueline Gareau (CAN) 34:50
1981  Nancy Conz (USA) 34:59
1980  Dana Slater (USA) 33:22[10]
1979  Karin von Berg (USA) 34:26

Statistics

  • Note: Statistics for elite races only

References

  1. 1 2 Pardham, Ed (2010-06-06). Chebet beats the heat to set course record in Albany 5K. IAAF. Retrieved on 2014-01-18.
  2. ↑ Haqqie, Azra (June 4, 2011). "At the end of their finish line: Awareness". Albany Times-Union. Albany, NY. Retrieved 2011-06-04.
  3. ↑ Freihofer's Run for Women 5 km. Association of Road Racing Statisticians (2010-06-05). Retrieved on 2010-06-06.
  4. ↑ Bernadette LaManna, one of five FRW "veterans"
  5. ↑ Brown, Hank (2003-05-31). Runyan Repeats as USA 5K Champion at Freihofer's Archived 2012-03-15 at the Wayback Machine. Cool Running. Retrieved on 2010-06-06.
  6. ↑ "Coolrunning article". Archived from the original on 2007-09-27. Retrieved 2007-05-18.
  7. ↑ 5 km running course. Freihofer's Run for Women. Retrieved on 2010-06-06.
  8. ↑ Short course: measured 4990.6 m
  9. ↑ "ARRS-Race: Freihofer's Run for Women".
  10. ↑ Course was considered to be shorter than 10 km
List of winners
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