Boilermaker Road Race

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Boilermaker Road Race
Boilermakerlogo.PNG
Boilermaker Logo
Dateannual
LocationUtica, NY
Event typeRoad running
Distance15K
Established1978
Course records42:40 (Men) 47:57 (Women)
Official sitewww.boilermaker.com

The Boilermaker Road Race is a USATF-certified 15-kilometer (9.3 mi) foot race and wheelchair race held annually in Utica, New York, United States.[1] Although local recreational runners are the majority of entrants, the race is highly competitive, with international professional runners filling the top ranks.[2][3] With the exception of 2020, when it was cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the Boilermaker has been held every year since 1978.[4] Traditionally the Boilermaker is held on the second Sunday in July, although the 2021 Boilermaker is scheduled for October 10th due to COVID-related concerns.[5] Although 15Ks are uncommon compared to other road races, the Boilermaker has been rated highly by running publications.[6]

The race course is primarily in the city of Utica, with the earlier portion largely within the Utica Parks and Parkway Historic District. The course passes through the suburbs New Hartford and Yorkville near Utica College. The course is hilly, changing 300 feet in elevation over its length: combined with the mid-summer heat, winning race times are generally longer than for other 15K races.[7] The finish line lies outside the F.X. Matt Brewery, where post-race festivities are held.

Like many urban races in the United States, the Boilermaker was created during the 1970s running boom. The first Boilermaker was held on July 16, 1978, with a budget of $750 and 800 local runners participating. The name alludes to a primary underwriter of the race, the Utica Radiators company (now Utica Boilers).[8] The wheelchair section was added in 1980. The race gained prominence in 1983 when American distance runner Bill Rodgers won with a time of 44:38. From 1997 to 2006, the Boilermaker was known as the largest 15K race in the United States, but was overtaken by the Gate River Run in Jacksonville, Florida in later years.[citation needed]

The Boilermaker has been described as an essential part of the identity of its host city, like the Peachtree Road Race in Atlanta, Georgia.[9] Semi-unofficial performances and parties fill the sidewalk along much of the race course: Runners World magazine described the Boilermaker as "part road race, part festival."[10]

Past winners[]

Key:   Course record   United States championship race

Edition Year Men's winner Time (m:s) Women's winner Time (m:s)
1st 1978   (USA) 45:38   (USA) 54:26
2nd 1979   (USA) 47:15   (USA) 57:30
3rd 1980  Peter Pfitzinger (USA) 45:16   (USA) 55:02
4th 1981   (USA) 44:48   (USA) 54:49
5th 1982   (USA) 44:58   (USA) 54:41
6th 1983  Bill Rodgers (USA) 44:38   (PER) 53:22
7th 1984  Geoff Smith (GBR) 44:21   (PER) 52:37
8th 1985  Jerry Kiernan (IRL) 44:42  Judi St. Hilaire (USA) 50:35
9th 1986  Joseph Kipsang (KEN) 44:07   (USA) 50:19
10th 1987   (GBR) 45:10   (USA) 54:10
11th 1988  Joseph Kipsang (KEN) 44:55  Ria Van Landeghem (BEL) 52:45
12th 1989   (USA) 44:06  Michelle Bush (CAY) 52:35
13th 1990   (BRA) 44:01  Maria Trujillo (USA) 51:39
14th 1991  Ed Eyestone (USA) 44:10  Jill Boltz (GBR) 48:19
15th 1992  Sammy Lelei (KEN) 43:39  Madina Biktagirova (RUS) 50:22
16th 1993  Thomas Osano (KEN) 43:39  Gitte Karlshøj (DEN) 51:07
17th 1994   (KEN) 42:57  Delillah Asiago (KEN) 50:24
18th 1995   (KEN) 43:09  Roseli Machado (BRA) 49:42
19th 1996  Joseph Kimani (KEN) 42:40  Catherine Ndereba (KEN) 48:55
20th 1997  Joseph Kimani (KEN) 42:54  Lornah Kiplagat (KEN) 49:58
21st 1998  Khalid Khannouchi (MAR) 42:57  Lornah Kiplagat (KEN) 49:58
22nd 1999  John Korir Kipsang (KEN) 43:00  Catherine Ndereba (KEN) 48:52
23rd 2000   (KEN) 43:07  Catherine Ndereba (KEN) 48:47
24th 2001  John Korir Kipsang (KEN) 42:57  Catherine Ndereba (KEN) 48:06
25th 2002  Paul Malakwen Kosgei (KEN) 43:22  Constantina Diţă (ROM) 48:29
26th 2003  John Korir Kipsang (KEN) 43:23  Susan Chepkemei (KEN) 48:55
27th 2004  John Korir Kipsang (KEN) 43:50  Susan Chepkemei (KEN) 48:50
28th 2005  Gilbert Okari (KEN) 43:22  Sally Barsosio (KEN) 50:11
29th 2006   (KEN) 43:16  Getenesh Wami (ETH) 49:31
30th 2007  Nicholas Manza Kamakya (KEN) 43:51  Lidia Șimon (ROM) 49:23
31st 2008  Terefe Maregu (ETH) 44:17  Ashu Kasim Rabo (ETH) 50:39
32nd 2009  Ridouane Harroufi (MAR) 43:56  Alice Timbilili (KEN) 49:32
33rd 2010  Lelisa Desisa (ETH) 42:46  Edna Kiplagat (KEN) 47:57
34th 2011  Ridouane Harroufi (MAR) 43:30  Alice Timbilili (KEN) 48:41
35th 2012  Tilahun Regassa (ETH) 43:01  Mamitu Daska (ETH) 49:26
36th 2013   (KEN) 43:55  Lineth Chepkurui (KEN) 50:33
37th 2014   (KEN) 44:18  Mary Wacera Ngugi (KEN) 50:13
38th 2015   (KEN) 43:31  Mary Wacera Ngugi (KEN) 48:49
39th 2016   (ETH) 43:58  Cynthia Limo (KEN) 48:50
40th 2017  Silas Kipruto (KEN) 43:54  Mary Wacera (KEN) 49:17
41st 2018  Gabriel Geay (TAN) 43:40  Mary Wacera (KEN) 50:01
42nd 2019  Gabriel Geay (TAN) 43:35  Caroline Rotich (KEN) 49:03
43rd 2020 Cancelled

[11][12]

References[]

  1. ^ "History - Boilermaker". boilermaker.com. Retrieved May 13, 2021.
  2. ^ "Competitive Rank". Running Times. Vol. 361. Rodale, Inc. November 2008. p. 70.
  3. ^ "Most Competitive Road Races". www.arrs.run. Retrieved May 14, 2021.
  4. ^ "Utica 2020 Boilermaker road race canceled; will be 'virtual' event". Syracuse.com. June 16, 2020. Retrieved May 13, 2021.
  5. ^ "2021 Boilermaker will be held in October". WKTV News. Retrieved May 13, 2021.
  6. ^ Malan, Denise (2014). Runner's Bucket List: 200 Races to Run Before You Die. Triumph Books. ISBN 1-306-57748-9. OCLC 876340712.
  7. ^ Coates, Budd (2013). Running on air: the revolutionary way to run better by breathing smarter. Claire Kowalchik. Emmaus, Pennsylvania: Runner's World. p. 192. ISBN 978-1-60961-920-6. OCLC 897388802.
  8. ^ "History of the Boilermaker Road Race". spectrumlocalnews.com. Retrieved May 14, 2021.
  9. ^ Robinson, Roger (2018). When running made history (1 ed.). Syracuse, New York. pp. 99–102. ISBN 978-0-8156-5443-8. OCLC 1028581858.
  10. ^ "Racing Report". Runner's World. Vol. 42. 2007. p. 119.
  11. ^ Post, Marty. "Utica Boilermaker 15 km". www.arrs.run. Association of Road Racing Statisticians. Retrieved May 2, 2021.
  12. ^ "Historic Race Results - Utica Boilermaker - World's Largest 15K Road Race". Quadsimia. Retrieved May 13, 2021.

External links[]

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