Participants in the boys 9-and-over heat of the annual Turkey Trot jockey for position at the start of yesterday's race in Fredericksburg. mwm View More Images from this story Visit the Photo Place

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Trotting a fast pace

Kenya native captures Turkey Trot

By TAFT COGHILL JR.

Date published: 11/26/2004

By TAFT COGHILL

Visiting Kenyan overwhelms local race field

Rich Saunders considers himself a pretty good distance runner. The Caroline High School junior placed second at the Battlefield District cross country meet last month and was fifth in Region I.

But at yesterday's 5-kilometer Potter Homes Turkey Trot race, Saunders was left in amazement by the speed of Kenya native Timon Biwott.

Biwott, a resident of Chapel Hill, N.C., blew by the field of 1,350 runners with a time of 14:49.

Saunders finished sixth overall, but was more than two minutes behind Biwott.

"He was so far ahead, all I could see was a speck," said Saunders, who finished first in the 14- to 19-year-old age group with a time of 17:29.80. "He obviously knows how to win. He jumped out fast and never slowed down."

The 3.1-mile Turkey Trot began in front of the Central Rappahannock Regional Library on Caroline Street in downtown Fredericksburg yesterday morning and ended on Sophia Street.

Biwott, who said the competition was "fair," started ahead of the pack and never looked back.

Even after his impressive performance, the 24-year-old said he could've done much better.

"The climate wasn't conducive to running," he said. "But I was able to pull through."

Biwott and his training partner, Jacob Kirwa, who finished second overall, moved to North Carolina four months ago to train under the same coach.

Biwott has had immediate success winning races across the country. He captured first in the 20-24 age group at the Ntelos 8-k in Richmond earlier this month. He was fifth in the Baltimore Half-Marathon on Oct. 16.

Biwott said he and Kirwa used the Turkey Trot to prepare for the upcoming Memphis Half-Marathon before tackling a full marathon next year.

It's no secret that Kenyans are known as prolific long distance runners. Biwott said their willingness to work almost nonstop is the main reason for their success.

"We train longer than anybody," he said. "We train in the morning, evening and night."

King George County resident Debi Bernardes won the women's overall title.

Bernardes, who was still hobbled after competing in the Florida Ironman on Nov. 6, finished in 19:41.85.

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Date published: 11/26/2004