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Tulsa Run. The History of a Fall Classic.
The Tulsa Run began in 1978 with a challenging and scenic course running through the best of downtown Tulsa and the scenic River Parks. 31 years later, this Tulsa tradition is still going strong and each passing year only adds to its interesting history. Click on the drop-down menu below to see a year-by-year account of Oklahoma’s oldest run.
2008
The 2008 Tulsa Run had the second largest participation in the history of the Tulsa Run.
Over 10,000 runners enjoyed a new course, starting in front of the Tulsa World building on Boulder and finishing at the newly opened BOK Arena. What a great finish the runners experienced!!
In 2008, Tulsa Run went international!! To show our support for our troops, Tulsa Run held a joint run on a base in Iraq. After having to wait for a C30 plane to move across the course and a security gate to be opened, over 500 soldiers posted amazing times. Special thanks went to Race Director Major Rick Poplin, F16 pilot with the Tulsa Air National Guard for coordinating the Tulsa Run/Iraq race.
For the first year since 2000, prize money was awarded to the top three male and female finishers. Macdonard Ondara from Kenya, won the 31st Tulsa Run crossing the finish line with a time of 44:37. Second place went to Kenyan, Josphat Boit, who finished in 44:58 and third place was won by Haron Lagat in 51:24. Ron Parks took home 1st place in the Masters division with a time of 53:33.
Rose Kosgei of Kenya had the top female finish in 51:24 with second place Karolina Jarzynska right behind her with a time of 51:33. Sarah Shepard was third coming in at 54:23. Tulsan Terri Cassel, had the winning Master’s time, 1:00:43.
For the 30th straight year, 54 year old Malcolm McCollam of Tulsa completed the Tulsa Run in less than an hour, finishing in 59:22.
Andrew Maloney of Tulsa won the 5k with a time of 16:38 and Eric Hudgens placed second with a time of 16:46. Kaelyn Balch in 18:25 was the first female in the 5k with Madison Brown second with a time of 19:16.
Celebrity runners, Mayor Kathy Taylor and Steve Bradshaw, BOK, challenged their companies and both were winners as they crossed the finish line with their teammates!!
Family and Children’s Services was awarded $25,000 as the 2008 beneficiary. In support of our troops and our joint run, Tulsa Run donated $10,000 to Operation Homefront. Presenting sponsors were Alamo, BOK, ONEOK, Tulsa World, and Williams.
2007
2007 was a celebration!! Over 8,000 runners celebrated 30 years of running in Tulsa and recognized 27 runners and 3 volunteers who have participated in every Tulsa Run.
Mark Thompson, a 28 year old from Edmond won the 30th Tulsa Run after placing second last year and fourth in 2005. Thompson finished the race in a time of 46:04, 17 seconds ahead of Joe Gray of Stillwater. McKale Davis of Stillwater was the top female finisher with a time of 54:59. The second-place female finisher was 22-year-old Melissa O'Rourke of Tulsa. She finished in 57:15.
Tucker Weems, a 19-year-old from Stillwater, won the 5k race in 15:12. Blake Henry, 22, of Tulsa, placed second. Mary Grene, a 45-year-old from Andover, Kan., was the top female finisher in the 5k, crossing the finish line at 18:54. Regan Ward, 13, of Okmulgee, took second.
Chera Kimiko, a Fox 23 news anchor was the last celebrity running. Wearing the number 5, she finished with a time of 1:34:11. Clay Loney, her co-anchor, and Greg Wallace, Vice President and CFO of SemGroup dropped out with medical difficulties.
In observance of the 30th Anniversary, Street School, the 2007 beneficiary, was presented a check for $30,000. Presenting sponsors were Bank of Oklahoma, Tulsa World, SemGroup, and Alamo Car Rental.
2006
In 2006, Tulsa Run organizers moved the race to November to coincide with week-long centennial kick off events. To mark another centennial, the starting line was moved to the ONEOK headquarters, which was founded in Oklahoma in 1906.
Corey Duquette (right), 24, of Lawton, led the 15K race of the 29th annual Tulsa Run from start to finish. Duquette finished the race with a time of 46:49, 22 seconds ahead of Edmond's Mark Thompson. Jessica Tranchina of Tulsa was the first female with a time of 59:15. The second-place female finisher was 30-year-old Brooke Sramek, of Dallas. She finished with a time of 1:00:04.
In the 5k race, 20-year-old Brittany Mason of Stillwater won the female division with a time of 18:18. Terri Cassel, Tulsa, came in second at 19:04. The top male 5k finisher was 20-yearold Ryan Birkholz of Stillwater with a time of 15:41. Kendall Robbins came in second with 15:46.
The spectators cheered on this year's celebrity runners, Channel 6 morning news anchor Casey Norton, who finished in just under 1 hour, 12 minutes and Felicia Collins Correia, Executive director of Domestic Violence Intervention Services finishing in 1:43.
Glen Lafarlette -- an avid runner and owner of Glen's Road Race Service, which certified the Tulsa Run and many other race courses in the state and region – passed away six days earlier. A moment of silence in his honor was observed before the 15k. Hundreds of people wore special bibs printed with the message, "Thank you, Glen. Run in Peace."
River Parks received a check for $25,000 from the Presenting Sponsors, Bank of Oklahoma, Tulsa World, SemGroup, and ONEOK.
2005
What a beautiful day!!! The weather was perfect for over 8,000 runners taking part in the 28th Tulsa Run. Thirty runners were recognized for completing every Tulsa Run.
For the second year in a row, Fride Vullum, Tulsa, led the women in the 15k run with a time of 54:04. Vincent Topiwo, Shawnee Mission, Kansas finished first in the men’s 15k run with a time of 46:36. The 5k was won by Daniel Watts, Stillwater in 15:13 and Lizzy Pitcock, Tulsa in 20:36.
Hospice of Green Country, the 2005 beneficiary, was presented with a $25,000 check from the Presenting Sponsors, Tulsa World and Bank of Oklahoma.
2004
The 27th Tulsa Run proved to be another huge success. Once again nearly 8,000 runners took to the streets of downtown Tulsa for the fall classic.
Fride Vullum of Tulsa took home top honors in the female’s 15K with a final time of 54:45. In the male 15K Tommy Manning from Bozeman, MT, finished in first at 48:58. The 5K winners were Priscilla Godi of Broken Arrow with a time of 18:29 and Jack Tracy II from Noble, finishing in 16:08.
The beneficiary tradition was carried on with $25,000 being donated to the Children’s Abuse Network. The donation was given by the Tulsa Run and presenting sponsors Tulsa World, Bank of Oklahoma and ONEOK.
2003
It was another cold October day as about 8,000 runners filled the streets of Tulsa. Norman's Conner Holt was this year's 15km male winner with a time of 46:45, and 15km female winner Sari Espin of Perkins, Okla., crossed the finish line in 58:12. Priscilla Godi of Broken Arrow took home first place in the 5km race with a time of 20:38, and Oklahoma City resident Jimmy Martinez's 15:37 won the 5km male competition.
The Mental Health Association in Tulsa was the recipient of this year's $25,000 charitable donation from the Tulsa Run and presenting sponsors Bank of Oklahoma, ONEOK and Tulsa World. This marked the third year a donation was given to a local charity.
It was also the third year for the Finish Line Festival at Veteran's Park. This growing event had an added feature this year as the Sport's Illustrated 50th Anniversary Tour joined the festivities.
2002
The Silver Anniversary provided several changes for the Tulsa Run. The race was the largest in years, with 7,890 runners participating. A new 5k road race was added to the annual 15k run. The overall female winner was Farrell Burns of Charlotte, N.C., who finished in 56:40. Tulsan Gary Hamer won the overall male title when he finished in a time of 48:33.
Sponsorship also changed as ONEOK became a new presenting sponsor. For the second year, the race donated $25,000 to a local charity. This year's recipient was Resonance, an organization that provides support and guidance for women and their families during challenging times.
2001
The 2001 run was a year of firsts, and perhaps the most successful ever.
There was a new route that took runners through parts of Tulsa's historic neighborhoods, Cherry Street and Brookside, in addition to the traditional segments along Boulder Avenue downtown and Riverside Drive.
A morning-long party for runners and their families, RunFest, featuring refreshments and live music from two bands at Veterans Park at 18th Street and Boulder Avenue was also new.
2001 was also a year for charity. A first-ever Tulsa Run charitable contribution, $25,000 to Big Brothers & Sisters of Green Country, was testament to the run's long-term presence in the community.
40-year-old Eddy Hellebuyck (45:35) won by the largest margin in race history and became the first Masters runner to win the overall title. 46-year-old Tatyana Pozdnyakova, a Russian, led the women's finish with a time of 50:47. Bruce Cooper took the men's racewalker category in 1:33:39, while James Smith captured the wheelchair win in 43:01.
Overall, more than 7,000 runners competed in the 15k and the Fun Run.
2000
The Tulsa Run went state-of-the-art in 2000.
For the first time in the run's 23-year history, participants were timed electronically using an automatic timing, identification and registration system called ChampionChip. The system allowed for more accurate times and the elimination of long lines at the finish line.
For the second time, Simon Rono of Kenya crossed the finish line first. The 28-year-old Kenyan sprinted past Thomas Omwenga in the final 100 meters for a winning time of 43:42. In the women's race, Irina Suvorova broke through the finish line in 50:22. Sammy Ngatia (44:43) captured the crown for the men in the Master's competition. Jon Matthern (40:54) finished first in the wheelchair division.
1999
It had been a very dry October, and not a drop of rain had fallen on Tulsa, at least not until October 30th .
That, of course, was the day of the 22nd edition of the Tulsa Run. Probably the greatest competitive field ever assembled for this race and any other, toed the line on that soggiest of mornings as the heavens opened up on our guests from afar. All of the course records were safe today.
The large pack of international and American runners carefully made their way to Riverside Drive as the rain continued to pour. Temperatures in the low 50's kept the conditions a bit cool , and as the pack of 30 gave way to 20 and then 12 by the 10K mark, it was still the largest group of contenders so far into a Tulsa Run.
As the pack of nine rounded the turn onto Boulder and into the hills at the 13K mark, it was left to the Kenyan triumvirate of Sammy Ng’eno, a 3:58 miler; Dominic Kirui; and David Makori, coming off the SouthTrust 10-miler victory two weeks earlier in Florida. After a few lead changes, Makori finally pulled ahead with a three second victory (43:40) over Kirui (43:43), and Ng’eno (43:47).
In the women’s race tiny Lidiya Grigoryeva of Russia (51:06) easily handled Kenyan Jane Omoro (51:31), and Ethiopia’s Asha Gigi (51:34).
In the Master’s competition, Kenyan sensation Simon Karori extended his winning skein to six in major races this season. He outdueled Georgian John Tuttle by three seconds 46:43 to 46:46, making it the fourth time he had beaten Tuttle this year. A trio from Texas stormed the women’s field, with Carmen Troncoso finishing seventh overall in 53:42, followed by Patty Valadka (56:36), and Claudia Kasen (56:51).
OSU graduate student John Wild again graced the Top Oklahoman’s spot (46:15), to go with his victories in ’96 and’97. Fellow grad student Patrick Kiptum was second in 48:08. Broken Arrow’s Brenda Stukey came away with her own Top Oklahoman honor easily outdistancing Julie Thomas 57:20 to 1:00:05.
The Wheelchair race was again handily won by Texan Jan Mattern in 38:00. Jennifer Hackney repeated as the ladies champion in 2:34:32.
Steve Cooper from Austin, TX was the Racewalking champion for this year, clocking 1:35:25 in besting James Cox (1:38:58), and Jim Kennedy (1:40:40). Janet Slover of Tishomingo (1:41:04) won the women’s division as runnersup Norma Weiser (1:42:01) and Donna Krutka (1:44:35) were second and third.
1998
Another Kenyan duo, this time in the form of Simon Rono and Catherine Ndereba, provided the mass of 8,500 runners and several thousand spectators with two sparkling performances as they respectively won their open divisions in 43:24 and 48:55. Both received $5,000 for their victories.
With temperatures hovering near the 60-degree mark at the start, on a humid, overcast morning, the field moved quickly down Boulder Avenue as the lead pack, consisting of nearly 25 runners, stayed at that size for much of the first 3 kilometers. With this diverse group of Kenyans, South Africans, Britons, New Zealanders, and Americans moving briskly at a 4:31 mile pace, the pack soon dwindled to 16 by the 5 kilometer mark, reached in 14:04.
The women’s field, while not as competitive on a large scale as the men’s, had several strong contenders for the top spot, each fully expecting to come close to or lowering Anne Hannam’s 10 year old course record of 48:14. Ndereba, whose sleek, graceful style carried her to the winner’s circle many times already this season, moved along patiently and purposefully clicking off 5:15 miles while her training partner Teresa Wanjiku, also of Kenya, stayed on her shoulder for most of the race.
With the men’s pack reaching the halfway point in 21:33, the world and course records seemed safe for another year. By this time, the pack had shook loose another couple of Kenyans, although not just any Kenyans, but namely Cosmas Ndeti, a 3-time Boston Marathon champion, and Douglas Wakiihuri, the Olympic marathon silver medalist from 1988.
At 10 kilometers, reached in 28:40, the men’s race had been pared down to 8 Kenyans, and 2 South Africans, Godfrey Kiprotich, Hezron Otwori, Daniel Kihara, Mbarak Hussein, James Bungei, Thomas Osano, Julius Randich, Abner Chipu, Makhosonke Fika, and Rono. This was the largest pack, at this point of the race, in some time. As they swiftly moved off of Riverside Drive onto the Boulder Hills at the 13 kilometer mark, they were 8 with some showing signs of stress from the surges thrown in on the hills.
By this time it was clear that the race would eventually come down to 4 or 5 contenders at the end as the pack of 5 who came around the final bend onto Boston Avenue, gave the waiting crowd all they could hope for.
Throwing in a final all-out surge with 6 blocks to go, Simon Rono and Abner Chipu thundered down Boston with Kihara, Kiprotich, and Fika in close pursuit, the final outcome uncertain until Rono kicked in another gear Chipu (43:27) didn’t have to pull ahead and win by 3 seconds. The top 8 were all under 44:00.
Ndereba and Wanjiku (49:02) stayed together through the whole race, with Nderaba eventually pulling away with a kilometer to go to take the win. Kenyan Jane Omoro was third in 50:06 as 5 Kenyans took the top 5 spots, with 7 finishing in the top 8. The Ukraine’s Tatyana Pozdnyakova finished a strong 6th with a time of 51:31, also garnering her the top Masters finish.
In the men’s Masters field, Georgian John Tuttle, a U.S. Olympian in 1984, easily outdistanced runner-up and former champion Craig Young (47:26) with an impressive 45:43 clocking, clearly one of the best Masters times ever recorded. Other results included Norman’s Craig Kirkwood and Becky Redding as winners of the top Oklahoman awards in 45:53 and 56:38 respectively. Wheelchair champions were Jan Mattern in 38:08, and Jennifer Hackney in 2:07:24. They each were awarded $1,000 for their efforts.
1997
Overcast skies welcomed almost 8,000 runners of all ages and abilities as approximately 3,720 toed the starting line for the 20th annual edition of the this storied 15k race. A stellar cast of elite athletes, brought in to try to answer the challenge of a $20,000 world record bonus in addtion to the $5,000 first place award, topped the bill as a rolling sea of road racing’s best swept ateadily down Boulder Avenue at a 2:55 per kilometer pace helped slightly by the downward nature of the course which will soon empty out onto Riverside Drive. After the lead pack of 20 reached the 2k mark in 5:48, the pace then feathered out to a 2:51 per kilo average.
Kenyans Thomas Osano, Joseph Kariuki, and veteran Godfrey Kiprotich took turns at the front as the pack moved in perpetual motion down the river occasionally jettisoning the slowing, tiring ones along the way. After the turnaround at 7500 meters, Kiprotich, Kariuki, Osano, Angola’s Aurelio Miti, and Kenyan Peter Githuka made a slight break from the others. Githuka and Kiprotich then dropped to a 2:46 pace during the 10th and 11th kilometers which set the tone for the final segment of the race. With the cacophony of spectators cheering them up the Boulder hills, Githuka led Kiprotich over the final 2000 meters to eke out a four second win in 43:15 to Godfrey’s 43:20. Osano (43:44), Kariuki (43:59), and Miti (44:26) rounded out the top five places.
With defending champ Delillah Asiago returning for a trifecta win, and fronting the Kenyan triumvirate of Hellen Kipkoskei-Kimaiyo, Grace Chebet, and Margaret Kagiri, the women’s race was billed as a battle of the Rift Valley, but Asiago, running her last race of her U.S. season before returning to Kenya, led all the way with no challenge crossing the line in 49:22, 70 seconds earlier than second placer Kagiri’s 50:32. Kimaiyo (50:38) was all alone in third as the Russian duo of Albina Galliamova (51:16) and ’92 Olympic marathon champ Valentina Yegorova (51:45) eased in at fourth and fifth.
The Indy Life Masters Circuit’s inaugural year concluded with the Tulsa Run being the championship event, in addtion to sharing championship honors with the USATF Masters 15K. Craig Young of Colorado returned as defending T.R. champ and while taking the overall title, was second to Independence, KS native Fay Bradley in the age-graded category. Bradley, who’s actual time was 53:29, earned $1,000 for his efforts. Young’s overall time was 47:29 to Charlie Gray’s 49:12. Tulsan Doug Clark was third in 49:15, with top marathoner Doug Kurtis of Northville, MI (49:23) and Indianapolis’ Gary Romesser (49:38) in fourth and fifth. Jane Welzel of Fort Collins, CO (55:02) bested a quality masters field in Topeka, KS’s Marla Rhoden (58:14), Kim Campo of San Diego, CA (58:27), Ponca City’s Sandie Brandenberger (59:16), and Joyce Deason of Shreveport, LA (59:26). Joan Ottaway of Sonora, CA captured the $1,000 age-graded prize money. Her actual time was 59:43.
Top Oklahoman honors went to Jon Wild (44:52) who was sixth overall, and Shannon Compton (56:36) finishing 12th overall. Mustafa Badid and Jan Mattern renewed their annual rivalry in the wheelchair division with Badid once again outsprinting Mattern, this time by two seconds in earning the $1,000 prize money.
1996
The Kenyans were back, and just as strong a contingent as the year before as the 19th Tulsa Run unfolded under gray skies with temps nearing the 60 degree mark. The list of invited athletes read like a who’s who of world class track, cross-country, and road runners as arguably the most powerful road race field of the 1996 U.S. road season was assembled and poised at the starting line on Boulder Avenue.
As the crack of the gun pierced the silence, the Kenyans, Britons, Irish, Moroccans, Ethiopians, and Americans sprinted out hard with a common goal of chasing Paul Tergat’s world 15k best of 42:13. This was the year to do it, and if not for a gusting south wind for the race’s first half, it could have been so. Even still, as the large pack moved speedily down Riverside Drive with Kenyans Godfrey Kiprotich and Lazarus Nyakeraka pushing the pace and maintaining a steady lead on the record, one knew that eventually they would tire, even with the wind at their backs for the last half. After the turnaround, Kenyan Joseph Kamau took charge and eventually made a clean break from the others. He kept looking around to see who was staying and who was not. By the time he reached the 10km mark in 28:20, he was no longer under world record pace, but still ahead of the course record and all alone. He ran the last four miles by himself, chasing the pace truck all the way to the finish with the throng of spectators cheering him on to a possible record. Driving for the tape he made one last surge to safely arrive under Stephen Nyamu’s 1994 course record of 42:52 by 2 seconds. Morrocan newcomer Khalid Khannouchi who had been stuck in no-man’s land for the last 3 miles closed fast on Kamau as he finished in 43:01, a precursor to his remarkable 1997 season as one of the most prolific road racing seasons ever. Welshman Jon Brown ran a spectacular race himself as he crossed the line in third with a 43:09, journeyman Kenyan Godfrey Kiprotich not too far behind in 43:24, with still another Kenyan Peter Githuka finishing fifth in 43:30. Englishman Jon Wild, an OSU All-American, was a few ticks back in 43:37, with five other Kenyans just behind him, making a total of eight out of the top 12 for the east African nation.
Kenyan Delillah Asiago, the ’94 champ, ran a conservative race and appeared in control for much of her race, with the exception of the final mile when she was almost run down by Lioudmila Alexeeff of Toronto. Asiago’s winning time of 51:08 was one og the slowest in recent years, but Alexeeff’s 51:11 was a personal best. Texan Katrina Price (51:25), Lyudmila Ilina (51:58) of the Ukraine, and Polish native Malgorazata Sobanska (52:55) finished 3rd through 5th.
Craig Young (47:14) of Colorado Springs, and Californian Kathy Ward (58:05) were the overall masters winners. Once again Mustafa Badid outdueled Jan Mattern, but this year it was wheel to wheel with Badid nosing out Mattern by a second in 34:43. Ann Walters captured the women’s division in 41:22. Stillwater’s Jon Wild (43:37 and sixth overall) and OKC’s Shannon Compton (56:33 and seventh overall) were the top Oklahomans. Approximately 8,000 finished both runs, as Tulsa now prepares to celebrate it’s 20th running of this storied race in 1997.
1995
A perfect race day temperature of 50 degrees and a brisk north wind greeted approximately 7,000 participants for the 18th annual Tulsa Run as the field was laden with international stars once again.
A pack of about 12 consisting mostly of Kenyans, ex-Arkansas All-Americans, and a lone South African emerged from the downtown area as the race poured out on sunny Riverside Drive for the long flat, fast portion of the race. By the turnaround the pack was down to six or seven with the Kenyans establishing the usual quick, surging pace. Heading off of the parkway onto the Boulder hills at 13km , the pack was down to Kenyans Joseph Kamau and Peter Githuka, and South African Johannes Mabitle. As they turned onto Boston , Mabitle shifted into first gear and sped away breaking the tape in 43:16 to Githuka’s 43:21. Kamau was a few seconds back in 43:27 as fellow Kenyans Hezron Otwori (43:32) and Zack Kunyiha (43:36) rounded out the top five.
Belgian unknown Lieve Slegers bested the toughest women’s field ever as she won easily by two minutes in 48:28, the second fastest time ever. Georgian Lynn Doering outkicked the Ukraine’s Tatyana Podznyakova 50:37 to 50:46 for second as defending champion Delillah Asiago struggled a bit after a long tiring season with a 51:21, just a few seconds in front of fifth placer Lisa Rainsberger of Hutchinson, KS.
Greeley, CO. native Doug Bell (47:52), and Jane Hutchison (57:05) of Webb City, MO were crowned masters champions. Jan Mattern found the going a bit more competitive this year as Algerian native Mustafa Badid of Austin, TX took the wheelchair victory in 36:35 to Mattern’s 36:44. Ruth Nunez captured the women’s crown in 44:01. Wynston Alberts of Stillwater (45:07) and Julie Thomas (59:10) of Tulsa were the top Oklahomans.
1994
The east African nation of Kenya is without a doubt the most storied birthplace of distance runners on the planet. From the Great Rift Valley most of them come, with names like Keino, Jipcho, Rono, and Ngugi.
From those legendary beginnings came most of the cast of the 17th Tulsa Run record setting field. Stephen Nyamu led a four-man assault on the course record as he removed 17 seconds from John Halvorsen’s 43:09 set back in 1989.
A field of approximately 8,000 (including the fun run) enjoyed temps in the 50’s and overcast skies as they swelled the streets of downtown Tulsa on the traditional last Saturday of October. Nyamu’s 42:52 was followed closely by fellow Kenyans Mbarek Hussein (42:55) and Godfrey Kiprotich (42:58), with ’92 champ Todd Williams running the race of his young career in 43:03. Ecuador’s Rolando Vera (43:22) was fifth. Rounding out the top eight were Kenyans Eliud Kibet, Stanley Kimutai, and Jonah Koech.
Tiny Kenyan Delillah Asiago made it a sweep for the African nation as she was well in control for most of the race in outdistancing ’93 winner Lynn Jennings 48:59 to 49:58. Laura Mykytok (50:25) from Hershey, Pa. garnered some third place money as Texan Jody Hawkins (50:30), and Inge Schuurmans (51:59) from Boulder, Co. were fourth and fifth.
Albertan native John Bermingham (47:14), and Houston’s Kathy Barton (57:12) were the masters champions. Jan Mattern made it three in a row in the wheelchair division (36:15), as there were no women’s entries. ORU-alum Don Belcourt (45:44) and Norman’s Andrea Bowman (53:19) were the top Oklahomans.
1993
Winter came early to northeast Oklahoma once again as 3,800 hearty souls braved the blustery 20 degree weather for the 15k portion of the 16th Tulsa Run. Returning champion and crowd favorite Todd Williams was once again in a stellar field made up of the cream of the crop of the world’s best distance runners.
A large pack of ten to twelve ran together for most of the race before Williams, Ecuador’s Rolando Vera, Floridian Keith Brantly, Tulsan Mike Bilyeu, and a few others broke away after the 10k mark. With Williams pushing the pace up the Boulder hills, only Mark Coogan, Brantly, Vera, and Namibian Luketz Swartbooi remained. As they turned up Boston Avenue, it was Williams, Swartbooi, Vera, as the others dropped back a bit. Once again the 24-year old Williams had the momentum, but the unknown man from southeast Africa had just a little more as he swept by the Tennessean to win in 44:38 to Williams’ 44:43.
Vera was a few seconds back in 44:45, with Brantly (44:48), and Coogan (44:50) fourth and fifth. Mike Bilyeu finished a respectable seventh (45:02) as the highest finishing Tulsan in several years.
In the women’s race, All-American and World Cross-Country champion Lynn Jennings from Newmarket, N.H. had a bit of a challenge from New Mexican Carmen De Oliviera (50:08), and New Jersey’s Anne Marie Letko (50:13), as she put the finishing touches on a beautifully executed 49:48 performance. Polish native Olga Appell, living in Albuquerque, was fourth in 50:52, with South African Colleen DeReuck (51:42) in the fifth spot.
Tulsa Run veteran Paul Cummings (46:10) and Webb City, Mo’s Jane Hutchison (57:07) claimed the overall masters titles. In the wheelchair competition, returning champ Jan Mattern had a struggle with the cold in hammering out another title in 42:15, while Tulsa’s Kathy Coorpender returned to the winners’ circle with a 1:10:27. Tulsan Wesley Brown (47:05), and Stillwater’s Michelle Lewis (55:32) were the top Oklahomans.
1992
Halloween dawned early with cool temps, overcast skies, and a light breeze as the Tulsa Run entered it’s fifteenth year. Approximately 4,000 runners nestled in along the slightly rolling hills that are Boulder Avenue as it meanders it’s way down to the majestic Arkansas River. Shannon Butler, Brad Barquist, Steve Kogo, ’91 winner Frank O’Mara, and ’91 runner-up Todd Williams made up the lead pack as it moved steadily out onto Riverside Drive, Williams once again breaking way for those trailing just behind.
By the time they reached 41st Street they were three, Butler and Kogo in front, with Williams slightly aback and riding their shoulders, ever the look of quiet confidence. As the three headed back north up Riverside, turning up Boulder at the 13k mark, Williams said "see-ya" to the other two, switched gears, and flew over the final hills, down 10th, and over to Boston for the final sprint to the finish. There was no one there to rob him of a victory this time as he came within a few seconds of the course record in 43:17. Kogo, holding off Butler, came through in 43:27 to Butler’s 43:29. Former Razorback Joe Falcon grabbed the fourth place spot with a 44:20, just ahead of Mark Coogan’s 44:29 for fifth.
Judi St. Hilaire of Fall River, Massachusetts, ran uncontested to the finish in the women’s division in 49:10, with 2nd place Gwyn Coogan almost a minute back in 50:03. OU All-American Monique Ecker ended up in third (50:51), while Californian Kathy Bowman (51:33) edged out Olympian Janis Klecker (51:44) for fifth.
Gary Romesser (46:51) of Indianapolis, and Jane Hutchison (58:08) were crowned masters champions. Texans Jan Mattern (33:44), and Patty Durkin (59:58) claimed the wheelchair titles as Mattern smashed the course record with an incredible solo ride. Jenks’ Ron Parks (46:47), and Monique Ecker were the top Oklahomans.
1991
"It was so cold that year that"…….well ,it was cold. The first time the race was held on anything other than the last Saturday in October, a cold front blew in, a blue norther if you will. It seemed like the middle of January, but alas it was only the 2nd of November. University of Tennessee All-American and Michigan native Todd Williams, dressed only in his light nylon Adidas singlet and shorts and sporting an orange Tennessee stocking cap, emerged from a small pack after doing most of the leg work, fending off the brutal north winds, and began his final assault down Boston Avenue. This surely was his race to win, but unbeknownst to him, University of Arkansas alum and All-American Frank O’Mara, using his milers speed, overhauled the fading Williams in the final meters to eke out a three-second victory over the man from the volunteer state. O’Mara’s 43:44 clocking under 10 degree wind chill conditions was an amazing feat, as was Williams 43:47. Former Hog great Paul Donovan was not far behind in 43:55, with Kenyan Steve Kogo (44:16), and Harry Green (44:48) from Austin, Tx. giving chase, and with Reuben Reina (45:03) rounding out sixth place, the ex-Razorbacks had three in the top six.
Albuquerque’s Jill Hunter was crowned the women’s champion as she braved the elements for an amazing 49:09 clocking and a decisive victory over runnerup and returning champion Lesley Lehane (51:23). Diane Bussa rounded out the top three in 51:52.
In the Masters competition, Greeley, Colorado’s Doug Bell felt right at home as he clocked a 46:47 for the top honors, besting Gary Romesser of Indianapolis (47:02). Webb City, Mo’s Jane Hutchison captured her third Master’s crown in 56:48, outdueling Nancy Mieszczak of Buffalo, NY (57:09). John Anderson was the overall Wheelchair champ in 41:58. Top Oklahoman honors went to OU grad student Noel Berkeley in 45:15, with Jenk’s Ronnie Parks second in 47:19. OKC’s Jacque Struckhoff just narrowly won over Tulsa’s Susie Evans 55:33 to 55:36.
1990
On a beautiful fall morning with temperatures in the low 50’s, a lone Mexican, who had arrived uninvited on an airplane just the evening before, made a decisive move on the Boulder hills with 2 km to go and drove all the way to the finish surprising race organizers as he breezed effortlessly through the tape. Leonardo Reyes’ 43:57 was good for a six second win and $5,000, as the fast closing trio of South African-born Mark Plaatjes (44:03) from Boulder, Co., Reyes’ training partner Graciano Gonzalez (44:04), and fellow Mexican Martin Mondragon (44:05) stayed within striking range. ’88 champ Jon Sinclair was another ten seconds back in 44:15.
Brookline, Massachusetts’ Lesley Lehane broke away from Chicagoan Patty Murray in the final mile as she posted an easy 16-second win in 50:07, also pocketing $5,000 for her efforts. Janis Klecker (51:17) of Minnetonka, Mn., Lisa Presedo (52:27) of Baton Rouge, La., and Cindi Girard (52:58) of Red Bank, N.J. captured the next three spots.
Frequent winner Jane Hutchison (56:08), and Carlos Martinez (48:07) of San Luis Potosi, Mexico, were the masters winners, as Jenks native Ron Parks (46:09), and OKC’s Jacque Struckhoff (56:14) were the top Oklahomans. Craig Blanchette of Eugene, Or. once again captured the wheelchair title in 36:24, a new record. Fourteen year-old Kelly Knight (1:09:33) of Midwest City, Ok. outdistanced defending champion Kathy Coorpender for the female title. A little over 9,000 runners participated in the 13th annual event.
1989
With ’88 top Oklahoma finisher Kim Berghall, a Swedish-Finn by birth, riding his bicycle along the riverpath shouting words of encouragement in Swedish, Norwegian Olympian John Halvorsen broke away from the pack and ran virtually unchallenged from the 5k mark to the finish, recording a new course record of 43:09. ’88 winner Jon Sinclair was a distant second in 43:53, with Mexican Abundio Mondragon (43:56), Flagstaff, Az’s Bo Reed (43:56), and Virginian Steve Taylor (44:02) close behind.
Judy St. Hilaire, of Fall River, Ma. pulled away from former champ Francie Larrieu-Smith to notch her first win in 49:00. She won by 35 seconds, with Britian’s Angela Tooby (50:40) in third, Hungarian Marta Visnyei (50:49), and Patty Murray (51:17) from Park Ridge, Il. In fourth and fifth.
Bob Schlau of Charleston, SC (47:49), and Gabrielle Andersen (54:23) were crowned masters champions. Craig Blanchette of Eugene, Or. (39:46) driving past George Murray at the finish after starting a few minutes late, and Tulsa’s Kathy Coorpender (1:08:39) were the wheelchair winners. Just under 10,000 runners participated in both races.
1988
A new, safer course was created for the 11th edition, as the infamous Houston Hill was replaced with two longer, gentler hills on Boulder Avenue. The start was relocated to Boulder, as well, to make for an easier transition to Riverside Drive. The finish still retained the thrilling sprint down Boston, as Jon Sinclair of Ft. Collins, Co. enjoying the cool 51 degree temps and overcast skies, kicked past Mexican Leonardo Reyes to win the $5,000 first prize. His new course record of 43:21 was three seconds better than Reyes’ 43:24, with fellow Mexican Pablo Ceron (43:26), Steve Spence (43:34), and Kenyan Sam Ngatia (43:39) taking the third through fifth spots. A total of seven men went under 44 minutes for the fastest Tulsa Run yet.
New Zealander Anne Hannam coming off an amazing summer-fall season with eight straight victories, also had course record on her mind, as the Kiwi covered the 15k distance in an unbelievable 48:14 to deliver a crushing blow to defending champ Nancy Tinari’s hopes of back-to-back wins. Tinari (49:07), easily outdistanced third placer Diane Brewer (49:35) from Nashville, as Christine McMiken (50:56), and Hope Fullwood (51:02) of San Antonio were fourth and fifth.
Masters winners were Athol Barton from Baltimore in 48:15, and Swiss Olympian Gabrielle Andersen in 54:25. Paul Phelan of Salem, Ma., dominated in setting a new wheelchair course record in 44:01, as Tulsan Kathy Coorpender won the women’s race in 1:08:58. 11,156 entrants made up the second largest race in history.
1987
Heat was the order of the day, as a record 11,301 entrants braved the elements on a sunny, humid, windy Halloween morning. Over 100 runners ended up in the medical tent, but Tanzania’s Gidamis Shihanga, with 42:54 credentials, overcame the conditions with persevering calmness, and pulled away from J. P. Ndayisenga in the final stages to post a 44:33 win to the Kenyan’s 44:46, and pocketed $5,000 for his efforts. A $20,000 prize money purse had been established marking a new era in the race’s history. Ed Eyestone (44:54), Kenyan marathoner Sam Ngatia (45:02), and Boulder, Co.’s Mark Stickley (45:07) filled out the top five finishers with the prize money going ten-deep.
Canadian Nancy Tinari became the race’s first sub-50:00 winner as she dispatched the field after the 5k mark and set a new course record of 49:59. OSU-alum New Zealander Christine McMiken caught OU-alum Kellie Cathey in the final mile to notch a second place victory in 50:55 to Cathey’s 51:12, with 1984 winner Angela Tooby (52:00), and Liz Miller (52:31) arriving in fourth and fifth.
Masters champions included Alabaman Carl Nicholson (49:53), and Jane Hutchison from the "show-me state" in 56:58 with a new course record for masters women. Rick Godwin successfully defended his wheelchair title in 51:32.
1986
A record field of 9,577 on a cool, drizzly October morning greeted the "Legends of Running" as Billy Mills, Jim Ryun, Bob Schul, Horace Ashenfelter, and Frank Shorter (all but Ryun had won Olympic gold medals in distance running) were brought together for the first time as America’s modern male Olympic champions.
University of Arkansas graduate and All-American Paul Donovan overtook defending champ Marcos Barreto on Boston Avenue to capture the ninth Tulsa Run in 44:05. Carlos Retis (44:19), English 5,000 meter world record holder David Moorcroft (44:36), and fellow Briton Paul Larkins (44:51) made up the top five. 1983 returning champ Midde Hamrin made it into the winner’s circle once again, as she dispatched a strong women’s field in 50:41. Francie Larrieu-Smith, last years winner was runner-up this year in 51:16, as Britain’s Susan Tooby (51:42), Jeanette Nordgren (53:04), and Carol Urish-McLatchie (53:22) rounded out the top five. Masters winners were Newkirk’s Robert Stuemky (52:49), and Webb City, Mo’s Jane Hutchison (58:10). Tulsan Rick Godwin on his fifth try, captured the wheelchair division in 46:00.
1985
Mexico’s Marcos Barreto turned in a record setting performance on a warm sunny day as he outdistanced runnerup All-American Craig Virgin, 43:29 to 43:44. Kenyan Geoffrey Koech was a minute back in 44:45, with Californian Ivan Huff (44:51), and Roland Reina (45:02) from Fayetteville in fourth and fifth. American legend Francie Larrieu-Smith cranked up the volume on ’84 winner Angela Tooby as the Texas flash dusted the returning champion by a full minute in 50:07, yet another course record. Twin sister Susan Tooby (51:48), Carol Urish-McLatchie (52:05), and ’83 winner Midde Hamrin (52:14) were 3rd through 5th. Newkirk’s Robert Stuemky (52:04), and Norman’s Maureen Bixby (1:00:00) were the overall masters champions, and in the wheelchair competition, ’83 champ Laverne Achenback of Birmingham, AL was the overall victor in 43:32. A record total of 9,066 entered both races.
1984
The heavens opened up once again for the seventh edition of this fall classic, as rain dampened the course but not the spirits of a record 6,013 runners. Another 3,000 participated in the 3K fun run. Joseph Nzau tooks the honors as the first male repeat winner in 44:36, just edging out Carmelo Rios by a second. Mark Anderson (45:02), Don Janicki (45:13), and Arkansas track star Frank O’Mara (45:19) finished 3rd through 5th, with local star Mike Hairston eking out a seventh place time of 45:25. Britain’s Angela Tooby and her twin sister Susan held back for the first part of the race with Angela coming on at the end with a course-record shattering 50:09, ’83 runnerup Monica Joyce again in second (50:33) besting Susan Tooby (51:22), local Memorial High standout Michelle Scholtz (55:51), and Karen Cramond (57:09). Jeff Fischer took the Masters money in 51:45, with Jim McFadden (53:18) back in second. Maureen Bixby was the overall Masters woman with a new record 1:01:44 finishing well ahead of runnerup Diane Page (1:02:32).
The wheelchair winner was Randy Snow.
1983
The Purolator Company arranged to have Nick Rose and Joseph Nzau return for a rematch due to the armored truck incident from the previous year. It was to be a rematch like no other, and it did not disappoint. After dropping Jari Hemilla of ORU (44:17), and David Edge (44:24), Rose, Nzau, and Paul Cummings sprinted down Boston Avenue towards the Bank of Oklahoma Tower, Cummings finally succumbing to the torrid pace, with Nzau just nipping Rose at the line, 43:55.01 to 43:55.40. Sweden’s Midde Hamrin jumped out early and never looked back in winning her first of two Tulsa Runs. Her 50:34 was a new course record besting performances by Monica Joyce, Carol Urish, Maria Vaughn, and Suzy Rutledge in 2nd through 5th places. Bill Stewart and Sharon Cooper were the Masters victors in 48:55 and 1:03:32 respectively. Once again the attendance grew to more than 8,400 with 5,077 for the 15K alone.
Laverne Achenback of Birmingham, AL emerged as the overall wheelchair champion.
1982
This race will probably be forever remembered as the closest and most bizarre race ever, as two men dueled an armored truck down the stretch only to have the truck decide the overall winner. The race, televised live regionally, was exciting and climactic to say the least, as 8,114 runners (both races) gathered in behind the fastest field ever assembled to date. They were greeted by sunny skies as defending champion Pat Vaughn, Stan Vernon, Mike Hairston, Frank Shorter, and Bill Rodgers, making his first appearance, hooked it up with a couple of relatively new runners in Britain’s Nick Rose (Western Kentucky alum), and Kenya’s Joseph Nzau (Wyoming alum). Rose, Nzau, and BYU alum Paul Cummings eventually distanced themselves from the rest of the field as Rose and Nzau put another 30 seconds on Cummings in the late stages. As they were within 100 yards from the finish, neck and neck, a Purolator armored truck pulled out from Fifth Street onto Boston Avenue causing Rose to swing wide and Nzau to stop short. Rose took advantage of the situaton and sprinted in ahead of the surprised Nzau in a new course record of 43:47. Cummings was third in 44:17, with Rodgers – 44:21, and Britain’s Malcolm East – 44:36, capturing fourth and fifth. Francie Larrieu-Smith returned and won her first of two Tulsa Runs with a new record time of 51:21. Katy Schilly, Eleanor Simonsick, Carol Urish, and Laurie Sax, rounded out the top five. Masters’s winners were Jim McFadden – 52:09, and Sharon Cooper – 1:02:57.
1981
Rainy skies dawned over downtown Tulsa on Halloween morning as 3,500 starters (2,000 more in the fun run) snaked their way up and down Riverside Drive to fewer spectators in the race’s fourth year. American record holder Ric Rojas was in tow behind a field including Shorter, Vernon, Clark, Musgrave, and Hemilla. But it was Tulsa Union product and University of Arkansas 10,000 meter record holder Pat Vaughn who scored a surprise victory as he obliterated the course record on the wet streets in 44:41, with Rojas only two seconds back. Vernon and Clark also got under the old mark finishing third and fourth, with Musgrave in fifth. Karen Bridges ran a great 55:17, but could do no better than fifth, as Britain’s Wendy Smith flashed a new record 51:43. Julie Isphording was second in 52:24, as Glynnis Quick – 52:51, and Olympian Francie Larrieu-Smith – 53:18 eked out the third and fourth spots. Jim McFadden won his first of two masters crowns with an impressive 51:43, as Donna Wright wrapped up her fourth and last masters win in 1:04:56.
1980
The second largest 15K in the country was ever growing in size and popularity as the numbers increased to 3,100 by year three. Defending champs’ Vernon and Bridges were back to defend their titles on a cool fall day. Tom Marino of Dallas ventured across the Red River to test his mettle on the out-and-back course, and along with returnees’ Hairston and Clark, ORU’s Finnish student Jari Hemilla, and the venerable Shorter, they gave Vernon more than he could handle. Stan was no match for the Texan as Marino sprinted away with a record-shattering 45:04, 39 seconds under Vernon’s record. Shorter was again runner-up, with Hemilla third, Vernon fourth, and Clark fifth. Bridges finally had some competition in her quest for a third title, as Vanessa Vajdos from Houston, a seasoned marathoner, bid for the upset. Karen was too strong though, as she set another course record in 53:50 easily dispatching the tiring Vajdos who finished in 54:58, with Janeen Hill, Kathy Whitcomb, and Odette Bonnet finishing 3rd through 5th. Donna Wright again captured the masters’s crown for the women in 1:04:13, as Herb Lorenz took men’s honors in 49:26, both new masters records.
1979
University of Oklahoma All-American Stann Vernon provided an exciting race and finish as he and Frank Shorter dueled to the wire with Vernon edging him out by one second in 45:43. Ron Tabb was third in 46:44, followed by Tulsa’s Mike Hairston – 46:58, and defending champ Mike Clark in 47:05. Karen (Bridges) Cramond once again had no trouble in dispensing with the women’s field as she won in 55:47, with Deb Strehl – 1:01:00, Carol Vanos – 1:03:07, Donna Wright – 1:05:17, and Kim Neall – 1:06:02 taking 2nd through 6th. Kent Metcalf of Stillwater topped the men’s masters field with a 54:38, as Donna Wright once again prevailed on the women’s side. There were 1,000 additional runners as the field soared to almost 2,300.
1978 — The First Tulsa Run
Frank Shorter had never even run in Oklahoma, but as he toed the line with 1,300 runners (there was 1,900 in the fun run) he was made to feel right at home. University of Arkansas runner Mike Clark was first to the tape in a new state record time of 46:01, with Jeff Wells (Dallas) 46:10; Rick Musgrave (Norman) 46:26; Shorter, 46:26; and Tulsa’s Mike Hairston (46:57). Karen (Bridges) Cramond was the first women’s winner in 54:39, nine minutes ahead of Tulsa’s Janet Henke. Before the race, Shorter had predicted that 46:30 would win , he didn’t miss it far. Mustang’s Bill Erickson captured the master’s crown in 55:10, with Donna Wright taking the women’s honors in 1:05:35 (also 5th overall woman).
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