WASHINGTON – The first American since 1990 won the Credit Union Cherry Blossom Ten Mile Run here yesterday.
Sam Chelanga finished the race in 48:25 under conditions that were less than ideal, with with temperatures in the mid-30s and winds gusting up to 40 miles per hour, thus slowing all runners’ times considerably. Kenyan Veronica Nyaruai Wanjiru was the fastest female runner at 53:11.6.
Meanwhile, in Sacramento, Calif., the top male runner in the Credit Union SacTown Run was Jordan Chipangama, the returning champion at 49:23, The top female runner was Jane Kibbii, the race’s first-ever three-time champion, at 53:21, a course record.
More than 15,000 runners participated in the D.C. race, while 1,500 participated in California’s capital.
A third race, the Freedom Run at Camp Arifjan in Kuwait also took place yesterday, while a fourth race sponsored by the Defense Credit Union Council will take pace on April 16 at Wiesbaden Army Garrison in Germany.
The races, which are overseen by Credit Union Miracle Day, the title sponsor group of a family of races, presented a $505,000 donation to its charity of choice, Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals (CMNH). Since credit unions became the title sponsors in 2002, over $7.5 million has been donated to CMNHs nationwide.
“We are so proud to be a part of this fun and healthy collaboration to help the kids at Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals,” said Theresa Mann, chair of Credit Union Miracle Day. “Our dedicated credit union and business partner sponsors, and hundreds of fundraisers and volunteers, are the reason we have been so successful and had such a positive impact in our communities in these 15 years.”
More than 200 members of Congress signed on to be honorary race chairs of the events representing 45 states, American Samoa, D.C. and Guam.
Congressional FCU and U.S. Senate FCU sponsor the annual Cherry Blossom Capitol Hill Competition, the race within the larger Credit Union Cherry Blossom Ten Mile Run. House and Senate offices form teams to compete for the Capitol Hill Cup. The team with the best race time wins the cup to display in its office.