Crim Stars 2007

Since its inception, the Crim 10 Mile Run in Flint has hosted some of the best road runners in the world. Over the last fifteen years Kenyan athletes have dominated the men’s and women’s field with a sprinkling of great runners from Tanzania, Morocco and Russia. Not since Ken Martin in 1990 and Anne Marie Lauck has an American conquered the field.

Greg Meyer, one of Michigan’s greatest professional runners, has had the duty of assembling a quality elite field. With $35,000 prize money and some travel expenses the depth of the Crim field looks like one of the best. Here’s a look at a few of those expecting to be on the front line:

Boaz Kisang Cheboiywo, Ypsilanti, has run the Crim the last three years finishing 11, 13 and 12 with a best time of 48:17. “I have higher expectations this year because I am in extremely good health and shape. I have been training consistently. My goal is to run a very smart race and to stay extremely focused on winning.”

Boaz hopes to gain citizenship and represent the U.S. in either the Olympic 5 or 10,000 meter races in Beijing, China. The Eastern Michigan grad is currently a substitute teacher. “I am grateful that my parents taught me to have a strong work ethic. I encourage young people to set high goals for themselves, but to realize that most things that are worthwhile will not come easily, but after achieving their goals, they will experience great joy as a result of their hard work.”

Wilson Komen, Kenya, finished 10th the last two Crim races after finishing fifth with a PR of 48:41 in 2004.

Fred Kieser, Ohio winner of the 1999 Detroit Free Press Marathon is running his seventh Crim. His highest place is 16th in 1997.

Many Crim newcomers will test their talents. Among them:

Ben Kimondiu, Kenya, won the 2001 Chicago Marathon in 2:08:52 after pacesetting through 20 miles. He also won last year’s Indy Mini Marathon.

Nicholas Manza Kamakya, Kenya, has been running well in 2007. Last month he won the Utica Boilermaker 15km in 43:51 and was third at Atlanta’s Peachtree 10k, (28:19). In April, he ran a 46:12 for 10 miles at the Cherry Blossom Run in Washington, DC.

Elarbi Khattabi from Morocco recently joined the masters (over 40) ranks. He is a two time Olympian, has a 46:49 PR for 10 miles and competed in five World Championship 3000m steeple races.

Demesse Tefera, Ethiopia, who is training to make the Ethiopian Olympic team, was born in the country side of Debre Berhan, the city where Abebe Bekilla grew up.

Gurmessa Megessa, “I have never run the Crim race before but would like to win or perform well. I think I have more talent for road racing than track and seek to set world records. “I am part of a family of 9 from the country side of Ethiopia.”

A few newcomers for women include:

Caroline Cheptanui, Kenya, has been tearing up the roads this year setting personal bests on the road at 8km 26:46, 10km – 33:06 and half marathon – 1:13:57.

Alemtsehay Misganaw a native of Ethiopia, currently living in New York City. She has been a consistent performer in races around the country. Although typically focused on shorter distance races, Misganaw has won the New Bedford Half-Marathon three times, most recently in a personal-best 1:15:37.

Aziza Aliya, Ethiopia “I like the challenging courses (up hills and down hills) that I encounter at the road races. My times are getting faster as I compete more and I’m falling in love with road racing. I would like to be internationally known as an Ethiopian female runner like Derartu Tulu and Mesert Defar.”

Sarah Hinkley, the newest women’s distance track coach at Hillsdale College. She qualified for the Olympic Trials Marathon in June. A few weeks ago she set a course record at the Clark Lake Run running under 6 minute pace. “I didn't really begin to enjoy running until I stepped away from it for awhile. I now realize that for a long time I was doing it for the wrong reasons. I was never satisfied, no matter how well I ran. I was always putting more pressure on myself to do better and criticizing my most recent performance or workout. Now I just do what I can do and enjoy it much more.”