Bank of America Shamrock Shuffle 8K

Credit : Bank of America Shamrock Shuffle 8K CHICAGO – Approximately 23,000 runners participated in the 36th annual Bank of America Shamrock Shuffle 8K. With unusually cool temperatures and windy conditions participants donned festive running gear while making their way through Chicago’s Loop. Breaking the tape first was Stephen Sambu, 26, of Tucson, Ariz., in 23:03. The women’s winner was Alexi Pappas, 25, of Eugene, Ore., in 26:32. “The Bank of America Shamrock Shuffle is an annual celebration of Chicago’s running community,” said Executive Race Director Carey Pinkowski. “Rain or shine, nothing can stop Chicago runners from coming out and kicking off the outdoor running season.” Today, Sambu made his Chicago racing debut and led the pack the entire race, finishing with a time of 23:03. It was the fastest Shamrock Shuffle time since 2002 and the 12th fastest time in the event’s history. Coming in second was last year’s winner Jacob Riley, Rochester Hills, Mich., with a time of 23:10. Rounding out the top three was 2013 winner Phillip Reid, San Luis Obispo, Calif., with a time of 23:19. “It was my first time running in Chicago and I had a fantastic time,” said Sambu. “The best part of the race was all the cheering along the course. I want to thank Carey Pinkowski and Bank of America for inviting me.” This was the second time women’s winner Alexi Pappas has run the streets of Chicago, following her time as an official pacer for the 2014 Bank of America Chicago Marathon. Part of the Nike Oregon Track Club, she won today’s Shamrock Shuffle on the 10th anniversary of Deena Kastor’s American 8K record. Pappas counts Kastor among her mentors, who has given her road-racing advice in the past. Finishing in second place was Megan Goethals, Rochester Hills, Mich., with a time of 26:43, followed by Kristen Heckert, Bollingbrook, Ill., in third with a time of 27:19. “I turned 25 yesterday and my birthday wish came true,” said Pappas after winning the Bank of America Shamrock Shuffle 8K. “Following the race Stephen [Sambu] and I ran a cool down through the streets to ‘The Bean.’ On our way back we got to see the rest of the participants finishing. Chicago is a great city.” With back-to-back wins, Kendall Gretsch from Madison, Wis., won the Shamrock Shuffle 8K wheelchair competition in 24:30, beating her time from the 2014 Shamrock Shuffle by over two minutes. The 2015 Shamrock Shuffle 8K included the seventh annual elite club competition, featuring 55 elite USATF-member club teams from around the country. Both the men and women’s Hansons-Brooks Distance Project teams took home the elite titles. It’s the fourth consecutive win for the women’s team, scoring three runners, with a combined time of 1:22:08 and the fourth win overall for the men’s team, scoring four runners, with a combined time of 1:34:35. The women’s team was led by Megan Goethals, while Jacob Riley led the men’s. Rounding out the top three teams in the men’s team competition were the Asics Aggies from San Luis Obispo, Calif., (1:35:45) and Movin’ Shoes Race Team from Madison, Wisc. (1:36:29). In the women’s team competition, Cleveland Elite Development (1:22:53) and New Balance Chicago (1:23:27) were second and third, respectively. Top 10 Male Finishers 1 Stephen Sambu Tucson Ariz. 23:03 2 Jacob Riley Rochester Mich. 23:10 3 Phillip Reid San Luis Obispo Calif. 23:19 4 Brendan Gregg Davis Calif. 23:21 5 Mo Hrezi Rochester Mich. 23:26 6 Kevin Havel Chicago Ill. 23:29 7 Ben Sathre Chaska Minn. 23:43 8 Nick Holmes Iowa City Iowa 23:45 9 Tyler Mueller Madison Wisc. 23:52 10 Gordon Sturgess Paso Robles Calif. 23:55 Top 10 Female Finishers 1 Alexi Pappas Eugene Ore. 26:32 2 Megan Goethals Rochester Hills Mich. 26:43 3 Kristen Heckert Bolingbrook Ill. 27:19 4 Danna Kelly Herrick Urbandale Iowa 27:28 5 Kelsi Nutter Painesville Ohio 27:30 6 Jessica Watychowicz Racine Wisc. 27:33 7 Danielle Miller Rochester Mich. 27:37 8 Jessica Odercic Madison Ohio 27:38 9 Ellie Hess Chesterland Ohio 27:45 10 Dot McMahan Oakland Township Mich. 27:48

Credit : Bank of America Shamrock Shuffle 8K CHICAGO – More than 30,000 runners filled the streets of Chicago for the 35th anniversary Bank of America Shamrock Shuffle 8K. Cool temperatures and sunshine brought runners out in full force for a tour of Chicago’s Loop, followed by a Post-Race Party at Buckingham Fountain. The first runner across the finish line was Jacob Riley, 25, of Rochester, Mich., in 23:06. The women’s winner was Katie Kellner, 22, of Rochester Hills, Mich., in 27:13. Both winners are members of the Hansons-Brooks Distance Project. “It was a great day to kick off the outdoor running season in Chicago,” said Executive Race Director Carey Pinkowski. “Given the historic winter we’ve had, the large turnout is a testament to the commitment of the Chicago running community.” Riley, who came in second place at the 2013 Bank of America Shamrock Shuffle 8K was thrilled tobreak the finish tape this year. He narrowly beat out his teammate Brendan Gregg, 24, of Rochester Hills, Mich., with a time of 23:09. Dan Lowry of Ann Arbor, Mich., came in third with a time of 23:17. “After being outkicked last year, it’s nice to come in first place,” said Riley, “I love this race, it’s got a great energy to it. It’s great for training, I’ll be running my first marathon this fall.” This was women’s winner Katie Kellner’s first Bank of America Shamrock Shuffle. A recent graduate of Cornell University, she beat out Laura Batterink of Evanston, Ill., with a time of 27:30. Third place finisher was Danna Herrick from Urbandale, Iowa, with a time of 27:37. “This was my first time racing in Chicago, it’s a cool city and it was an incredible experience,” said Kellner, a new member of the Hanson-Brooks Distance Project. “The Bank of America Shamrock Shuffle was a great way to start my outdoor training season and I hope to be back next year.” In the wheelchair competition, Bobby Swanson from Round Lake Beach, Ill., won the Bank of America Shamrock Shuffle 8K title in 25:38. The women’s wheelchair champion Kendall Gretsch from Downers Grove, Ill., finished in 26:33. The 2014 Bank of America Shamrock Shuffle 8K included the second consecutive USATF National Club Team 8 km Championships, featuring 47 elite club teams from around the country. This is the third year in a row Michigan-based Hansons-Brooks Distance Project won both the men’s and women’s elite individual titles. The men’s team title went to Playmakers Elite out of Lansing, Mich., with a combined finish time of 1:35:08 among their top four finishers. They were led by third-place finisher Dan Lowry with a time of 23:17. The women’s team title was captured by Hansons-Brooks Distance Project with a combined finish time among their top three finishers of 1:24:38, led by female winner Katie Kellner. Rounding out the top three teams in the men’s team competition were the Twin Cities Track Club from Minneapolis, Minn., (1:37:55) and Movin’ Shoes Race Team from Madison, Wisc. (1:37:56). In the women’s team competition, Twin Cities Track Club (1:25:06) and New Balance Chicago (1:25:26) were second and third, respectively. Top 10 Male Finishers 1 Jacob Riley Rochester, Mich. 23:06 2 Brendan Gregg Rochester Hills, Mich. 23:09 3 Dan Lowry Ann Arbor, Mich. 23:17 4 Jed Christiansen Greenville, Penn. 23:41 5 Zachary Ripley Grand Rapids, Mich. 23:47 6 Jacob Edwards Delaware, Ohio 23:51 7 Dan Greeno Saint Michael, Minn. 23:53 8 Makorobondo Salukombo Lakewood Ohio 23:54 9 Chris Erichsen Minneapolis, Minn. 23:55 10 Michael Reneau Minneapolis, Minn. 23:55 Top 10 Female Finishers 1 Katie Kellner Rochester Hills, Mich. 27:13 2 Laura Batterink Evanston, Ill. 27:30 3 Danna Herrick Urbandale, Iowa 27:37 4 Ariana Hilborn Tempe, Ariz. 27:38 5 Lavenna Kubatzky Lake Orion, Mich. 27:55 6 Elizabeth Herndon Saint Paul, Minn. 27:59 7 Dani Fischer Wausau, Wis. 28:02 8 Rachel McFarlane Lansing, Mich. 28:06 9 Kristen Heckert Lisle, Ill. 28:09 10 Amanda Mirochna Naperville, Ill. 28:10