KIMbia Athletics

In the deepest distance race on the planet, Simon Bairu represented Canada, Nike OTC, and KIMbia impressively by taking 13th place at the IAAF World Cross Country Championships, held in Bydgoszcz, Poland on Sunday. The 12k race consisted of six 2k loops, and Bairu established himself early, tucking into 19th place, just three seconds behind the leaders, as the field completed the first lap.  From there he would continue to pick off runners.

Staying close to race favorites Paul Tanui and Joseph Ebuya of Kenya, Ethiopia’s Gebregziabher Gebremariam, and Moses Kipsiro of Uganda, Simon remained just seconds back from the lead pack, even as the racing heated up on the 4th circuit, working himself up as high as 13th and just five seconds outside of the Top 5. Read the full article

Once again, Tim Nelson stepped away from the track and collected a runner-up finish at a USATF Championship, placing 2nd at the Gate River Run 15k in 43:52.  Nelson laid off the hot early pace set by eventual race winner Mo Trafeh, who hit one-mile in 4:22, allowing Nelson to cross the line four seconds before recent USATF Half Marathon champion Antonio Vega, who placed third. Also running a credible race, Boston-native Sean Quigley came 5th in 44:05, while Jason Hartmann finished 13th.

In the women’s race, Rebecca Donaghue took 4th place, ahead of Olympians Blake Russell and Lindsay Anderson. Donaghue completed the 15k in 51:13.

Full results can be found here.

In the altitude of Albuquerque, Chris Solinsky took third place in the 3000m at the USATF Indoor Championships.  With a championship on the line, the early work was tactical and much of the field remained in contention until late, Solinsky included.

In the end, the finishing speed of double World Champion Bernard Lagat was too much to match and Lagat took home the title in 8:12.60.  Solinsky would cross the line barely a second arears, in 8:13.85, fellow Portlander Galen Rupp just four-tenths in front of him in second position.

The third-place finish wrapped up Solinsky’s indoor season, and he will return to his preparations for outdoor.