Indiana Gazette from Indiana, Pennsylvania • 23

C-5 Distance stars flock to Boston Monday, April 18 Starling field of approximately 9,000 runners The Indiana, PA Gazette CjPORTS) Sunday, April 17, 1994 V--FINISt Sk, if-SVr ''msa Boston W3 NfVMAgp yf-o" Course elevation by mile 1 M. J-l Sherbom JT I i 1 WMA Dmr X. Ztf Nl. Westwood "IS- I I i I I I I I I Hopkinton Holliston i 3 6 7 8 9 1011 121314 iswi7nwaziaag2s (Open Division) 1986 Robert de Castella, Australia 2:07:51 1963 Joan Benoft Samuelson, U.S. 2:22:43 MEN CHAMPIONS (Open Division) 1993 Cosmas Ndeti, Kenya 2:09:33 1992 Ibrahim Hussein.

Kenya 2:08:14 1991 Ibrahim Hussein, Kenya 2:11:06 1990 Gelindo Bordin, Italy 2:08:19 1989 Abebe Mekonnen, Ethiopia 2:09:06 19B8 Ibrahim Hussein, Kenya 2:08:43 1987 Toshihiko Seko, Japan 2:11:50 1966 Robert de Castella, Australia 2:07:51 1985 Geoff Smith, England 2:14:05 19B4 Geoff Smith Fnnland 2:10:34 WOMEN CHAMPIONS (Open Division) 1993 Olga Markova, Russia 2:25:27 1992 Olga Markova, Russia 2:23:43 1991 Wanda Panfil, Poland 2:24:18 1990 Rosa Mota. Portugal 2:25:24 1989 Ingrid Kristiansen, Norway 2:24:33 1988 Rosa Mota. Portugal 2:24:30 1987 Rosa Mota, Portugal 2:25:21 1986 Ingrid Kristiansen, Norway 2:24:55 1985 Lisa Larsen Weidenbacfl, U.S. 2:34:06 1984 Lorraine Moller, New Zealand 2:29:28 Socicb: Boston Athletic Association, Boston Globe Tax-Free Run By BERT ROSENTHAL Af Track Writer BOSTON The defending champions are back, and that's just the start of the stars in Monday's Boston Marathon. Also running the historic course from Main Street in Hopttinton to the Hancock Building on Copley Square will be both 1992 Olympic gold medalists, the 1993 New York City Marathon winners and a swarm of other legitimate contenders.

The world's oldest marathon prides itself on annually assembling the world's best fields, and it again has put together an outstanding cast for its 98th running. "Both the men's and women's fields are very strong," said Mexico's Arturo Barrios, the third-place finisher at New York in November and among the men's favorites at Boston. "Usually among the women there are only two or three good runners. This time, there are seven or eight." "The women's field is so strong, it's almost like a world championship," said Bobby McGee, coach of Colleen de Reuck, the 1992 South African marathon champion and one of the most formidable women's entries. There is so much proven talent on both the men's and women's sides that it is unlikely a longshot will emerge as the men's champion, as Cosmas Ndeti of Kenya did last year.

That is unless the weather is a factor like it was in 1993, when the temperature soared to 73 degrees. This time, the forecast is more ideal for marathoners, with a high expected only in the upper 50s. Whatever the weather, Kim Jones of Spokane, the only major American threat among the women, summed up the marathon: "Only the strong survive." The strong have to survive not only the sometimes-unpredictable weather, but also the undulating course, including notorious Heartbreak Hill, which reaches its peak at 230 feet at mile 21 and has proven disastrous for many of the best marathoners. Jones is among the minority of runners who aren't afraid of Heartbreak Hill. "I don't dread it," said Jones, last year's women's runner-up.

"I look forward to it, because I know it's mostly downhill from there. "It's nice to be able to change your rhythm, up and down. Boston is the perfect course for that." Changing rhythm is Tine, but changing speed can be costly. Luckctz Swartbooi, Namibia's only world-class distance runner, found that out last year. After running a fast early pace, Swartbooi faltered and wound up third.

"I started (running fast) too early," Swartbooi said. "I pushed too much and I died at the end, I had no power. 1 like to run hard, but during this race, I will be more careful." As Swartbooi struggled, Ndeti, competing in only his second mara thon, won in 2 hours, 9 minutes, 33 seconds. Some 15 minutes later, Olga Mar-kova of Russia won her second straight women's title, in 2:25:27. Monday, Ndeti will try to become the second consecutive Kenyan to win Boston twice in a row, following Ibrahim Hussein, the 1991-92 champion.

Markova will try to be the Orst foreigner to win three straight women's titles. The only women to win three in a row were Americans Roberta Gibb (1966-68) and Sara Mae Berman (1969-71) the first six years that women officially competed in the race. The only other three-time winner was Portugal's Rosa Mota, in 1967-88-90. The challengers to Ndeti and Markova are numerous. Among the men, there are Korea's Hwang Young-Cho, the 1992 Olympic gold medalist; Mexico's Andres Es-pinosa, the 1993 New York City champion; Bob Kempainen of Minneapolis, a 1992 Olympian and the runner-up to Espinosa at New York; Kenya's Moses Tamil, the 1991 world champion at 10,000 meters and 10th in his marathon debut at New York last year; South African David Tsebe, the world's fastest marathon-er in 1992 Germany's Stephen Preigang, the 1992 Olympic bronze medalist; Swartbooi; and Barrios.

The top U.S. threats in the men's field are Keith Brantly of Ormond Beach, fifth at New York last year, and first-time marathoner Mark Coogan of Boulder, Colo. The women's field includes Russia's Valentina Yegerova, the 1992 Olympic gold medalist; Germany's Uta Pippig, the winner at New York last year; Portugal's Albertina Bias, the 1992 world cross country champion; South Africans de Reuck and Elana Meyer, the 1992 Olympic silver medalist making her marathon debut; Brazil's Carmen de Oliviera, third at Boston last year; France's Nadia Prasad, third at New York in 1993; and Jones. The total number of entries is 9,102, with 7,087 men and 2,015 women. The list includes 90 wheelchair athletes and 17 visually impaired runners.

First prize for the men's and women's open divisions is $70,000 each. There also are $50,000 bonuses for breaking the world record and $25,000 for breaking the course record. The men's world record is 2:06:50 by Ethiopia's Belayneh Densimo and the women's is 2:21:06 by Norway's Ingrid Kristiansen, The men's course mark is 2:07:51 by Australia's Rob de Castella and the women's is 2:22:43 by American Joan Benoit Samuelson. The historic course starts on Main Street in Hopkinton and goes through eight cities and towns, finishing near the John Hancock Tower in Boston's Copley Square. "It's a truly narrowing event," Kempainen said, referring not only to Boston but all marathons.

And only the strong survive. Off FREEPORT T.V.:H.l;l:M.:;l.rc (Open Division) 1988 Belalne Densimo, Ethiopia 2:06:50 1985 Ingrid Kristiansen, Norway 2:21:06 APTbm Holmes, Ed De Gatero LAWN GARDEN'S Kohler Magnum or Command Engine 8 speed gear transnissfon Foot control with instant forward and reverse Center P.T.O. drive tor mowers Option front and rear PT.O. Rear mounted engine for low center of Gravity ShaR driven mower. 3 off set htoh lift blades sees 50M30-and72 Power attachments are shaft drive Dan Cunkelman (left) of Clarksburg and Lisa Kinter of Homer City emerged victorious in the inaugural 5K race, held Saturday in Homer City.

Cunkelman finished the 3.1-mile race in 17 minutes. Kinter was the top woman finisher in 21:54. A total of 78 runners took to the streets of Homer City. Runners paid a tax-free donation of any amount they wished ta enter the race, conducted by the Homer City Fire (Gazette photos by Jason A. Johnson) The Village People 'iced7 by fans at the Igloo GRAVELY Gravely Professional Series GRAVELY 14-G HYD-Liftwith 50" mower Reg.

"6938 s5348 14-G Professionals 14 h.p. single cylinder manual lift with 50" mower II Req. S1DIO00 a -6438 1UTU i 18-G Professional anticipated on Saturday never fell. That allowed the second round of Sualifying to go off smoothly, but it idn't mean the 36 drivers in the Held were filled with happiness. Some drivers chose to stand on their qualifying times from Friday, and that held up for positions 21 through 28.

The other eight positions were determined by second-day runs that bumped some drivers from Sunday's race. For example, Dale Jarrett qualified 30lh in his Chevrolet on Friday and stayed with that position. Only Kyle Petty was able to get by him in his Pontiac, and that moved him back to 31st. "It's no fun letting everybody line up and shoot at you, but it's better than taking the gun and shooting yourself," Jarrett said. "I knew if we could get in the race that we'd be good in the race.

But you've got to get in it before you can be good." LONG BEACH, Calif. Alfonso Ribiero of TV's "Fresh Prince of Bel Air" sitcom was the winner Saturday in the Toyota Pro-Celebrity Race on the street circuit in downtown Long Beach. Ribiero led all 10 laps on the 1.59-mile, nine-turn course, beating film actor Sean Astin "Rudy" and "Goonies" to the finish line by 7.686 seconds in the race for Toyota Celicas. The professional drivers, given a 30-second handicap at the start, were led by Brian Redman, who won the first Long Beach racing event, a Formula 5000 race in 1975. The Englishman, best known as a sports car endurance racer, wound up third, followed by drag racing star Cruz Pendregon and former NFL quarterback Ken Stabler.

Race favorite Juan Fangio II, a two-time I MSA GT champion, cut a tire and finished just three laps, finishing last in the 17-driver event. Mark-Paul Gosselaar, from the TV show "Saved By the Bell: The College Years," crashed on the fourth lap and also failed to finish. By The Associated Press The Village People have been put on ice by the person who decides what music to play at hockey games. Pittsburgh Penguins music coordinator Jamie Belo added the Village People's 178 disco hit "YMCA" to her playlist earlier this season. But she yanked it after two macho men held up a sign in March saying the song was not for "real hockey fans." "People started booing when I played the song again," Belo said.

"We don't play music so that the hockey game is distracted, so that the players notice. I wouldn't take away from the game. But it's a shame." Pitt Football PITTSBURGH Junior running back Tim Colicchio's 11-yard run with 1:39 to play broke a 7-7 tie and gave the Gold a 14-13 victory over the Blue in Pitt's spring game Saturday. Sean Fitzgerald completed 15 of 20 passes in leading the Gold on both of its scoring drives. The Blue closed to within 14-13 with 40 seconds left on a 67-yard touchdown pass play from freshman Pete Gonzalez to Billy Davis, but the Gold intercepted the ensuing 2-point conversion attempt.

The teams exchanged touchdowns late in the second quarter. The Blue scored with 3:49 remaining on a 3-yard pass from Gonzalez to Curtis Anderson. The Gold team answered less than two minutes later when Fitzgerald hit Dietrich Jells on a 12-yard scoring pass. Aato Racine LONG BEACH, Calif: Penske Racing teammates Paul Tracy, Al Unser Jr. and Emerson Fittipaldi all broke the track qualifying record Saturday while sweeping the top three positions for the Toyota Grand Prbt of Long Beach.

Tracy, the defending race champion, was the ultimate winner of the battle within a battle on the 1.59- Sports Briefs mile, nine-turn downtown street circuit, turning a lap of 106.450 mph in a brand new Penske-Ilmor. But Unser, the newest Penske driver and a four-time Long Beach winner, was close behind at 108.407. Fittipaldi, who was second to Nigel Mansell in Friday's provisional qualifying, improved to 108-308 but fell to the second row of the 30-car field. The three fast laps, all quicker than Mansell's year-old record of 108.198, were separated by just .069 seconds. Tracy, a 25-year-old Canadian who earned his second pole in as many weeks and the fifth of his Indy-car career, said, "This was a brand new car that was flown in from England on Monday.

It's been a constant struggle since then. "The crew worked for 48 hours to get it ready. We had some teething problems on Friday (when he was seventh), but the crew kept working and working and everything came together today.1' Just 11 minutes into Saturday's 30-minute qualifying session, Tracy jumped all the way into the lie for the top spot with Mansell, the defending PPG Cup champion, at 107.919. Tracy then took the top spot for himself at 108.297, a lap timed at 52.8 seconds, with half the session left Three-time series champion Bobby Rahal, driving a car powered by the new Honda Indy V8 engine, improved but still wound up a disappointing 11th at 106.445. NORTH WILKESBORO.

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