Teyba Erkesso to defend 5k title at Freihofer’s Run for Women

ALBANY, NY (May 4, 2010) ‹ For Teyba Erkesso, the last two years have been nothing short of spectacular.

The 27-year-old Ethiopian has gone from “up-and-comer” to “the one to watch” and now, after her victory at last week’s Boston Marathon, “the one to beat” at almost any road race she enters.

Erkesso’s versatility, in fact, makes her dangerous on almost any course she sets foot on, at almost any distance.  Now, with one of the marathon’s “crown jewels” under her belt, Erkesso is setting her sights once again on the 5K distance – specifically, defending her title at the 32nd edition of the Freihofer’s Run for Women, scheduled for Saturday, June 5th at 10 a.m. in Albany, NY.

“It’s always important for an event to have its defending champion back,” said Freihofer’s Run for Women Event director George Regan.  “Obviously, the 5K distance is different from the marathon, but it requires the same amount
of focus and will to win.”

Elite athlete recruiter John Tope echoes these sentiments.  “It’s great to see your defending champion return,” he maintained. “There are few people who can run 5K to marathon and be successful, and Erkesso’s one of those
people.”

It’s been a busy year so far for Erkesso. In January, she set a new course record at the Houston Marathon, successfully defending her title with a time of 2:23:53. She placed fourth at the RAK half-marathon in February, before
going on to win the race of her life at the Boston Marathon.

According to Tope, “Erkesso’s very unusual in the fact she ran the Houston Marathon in January and then Boston in April – and won both. You just don’t see elites do that very often. Having athletes the caliber of Teyba,
three-time champion Benita Willis (Johnson) and others reinforces that Freihofer’s is one of the premier women’s races in the United States.”

For her part, Erkesso says she’s grateful to compete once again in New York’s capital city. And she clearly remembers what it was like to win her first Freihofer’s Run for Women title just 12 months ago.

“I was very tired because I had competed in three races in less than three weeks,” she recalled. “What motivated me to push myself to the maximum and to win the race was that this unique 5K is for women only. When I woke up
that morning I said I was running for every woman around the world. This is what made me forget the muscle aches and push myself to win the race.”

“When Erkesso runs, she produces exciting results,” stressed Regan. “I don’t see that being any different here in Albany this June.”

With only four weeks remaining till race day, organizers are pulling together yet another stellar elite field for the event, which is the only 5K road race in the U.S. to hold the “silver” label designation by the International Association of Athletics Federations, the sport’s worldwide governing body.

The Freihofer’s Run for Women offers $27,000 in prize money with the winner being awarded $10,000. A 30-minute Freihofer’s Run for Women TV special will air Saturday, June 5th at 10:30 p.m. on Fox affiliate, WXXA-23.
This year’s race will once again include the USA 10 km Open and Junior Race Walk Championships featuring many of the nation’s top race walkers.

To register for the Freihofer’s Run for Women, or for more information about the 22nd annual Freihofer’s Community Walk, 23rd annual Freihofer’s Kids’ Run and 8th annual CapitalCare Health & Fitness Expo, visit
freihofersrun.com.  From the home page, you can also link the event’s Facebook, Twitter and YouTube pages.

Event sponsors include the Charles Freihofer Baking Company, Price Chopper Supermarkets, The City of Albany, Fox 23 News, the Times Union, WGNA, host hotel 74 State, CSC, Subway. and Dale Miller Restaurant.

About Freihofer:
Freihofer’s, a leading baker of wholesome products, is committed to fostering the growth and recognition of women in sports and inspiring all generations of women to experience the benefits of exercise and good
nutrition. Freihofer’s continues to set the pace by sponsoring the annual Freihofer’s Run for Women 5K. Now in its 32nd year, the event, which is home to the Master’s World & U.S. All-Comers record, features thousands of women of all ages and abilities from Olympians to recreational joggers, who challenge themselves on the picturesque 3.1-mile course.  For more information, visit http://www.freihofers.com.