NORTHWEST NOTES: May 2, 2015
Area masters swimmers
shine at spring nationals
SAN ANTONIO - Around 1,900 swimmers, ranging in age from 18 to 98, braved the threat of severe storms to participate in the U.S. Masters Swimming Spring Nationals April 23-26.
Local swimmers propelled Kroc Masters to 49th place out of 188 teams. Results are as follows:
Cindy Clutter (55-59): 9th in 1650 free; 12th in 200 breast; 17th in 100 breast; 18th in 500 free; 19th in 50 breast
Victoria Dickinson (65-69): 2nd in 50 back; 4th in 100 IM; 5th in 50 free; 9th in 50 breast; 12th in 50 fly
Margaret Hair (60-64): 4th in 400 IM; 5th in 100 fly; 6th in 1650 free; 8th in 200 back; 9th in 50 fly; 10th in 100 IM
Mike Hamm (55-59): 4th in 100 breast, 200 breast, 100 IM; 8th in 200 IM; 10th in 50 breast; 12th in 100 back
Lorna Henry (70-74): 2nd in 50 back; 3rd in 100 back, 200 back; 6th in 50 free
Julie Mauer (50-54): 29th in 50 breast; 41st in 100 IM; 47th in 50 free
Anna Sharpe (18-24): 4th in 1000 free; 5th in 200 breast; 8th in 400 IM; 9th in 100 breast; 11th in 50 breast; 22nd in 50 fly
Relays:
Women 18 & over (Anna Sharpe, Lorna Henry, Julie Mauer, Victoria Dickinson): 15th in 200 medley relay; 18th in 200 free relay
Defending champ Kiprono
aims for third Bloomsday win
SPOKANE - Last year's Bloomsday champion, Allan Kiprono, is back to defend his title Sunday, and if successful he'll become only the second male to win three Bloomsdays.
Kiprono was victorious in 2012 and again last year, and only Kenyan great John Korir has managed to win the race three times. Kiprono won the 7.46-mile race last year by 29 seconds.
Kiprono's task won't be easy, though, as a group of top-notch road racers will be in the hunt, including 2014 runnerup Kevin Lochei and fellow Kenyans Lani Rutto, Leonard Korir, Phillip Langat and newcomer John Muritu. Along with the Kenyans, Ethiopian Solomon Deksisa and Americans Patrick Smyth and Luke Puskedra are expected to contend, organizers said.
The pre-race favorite in the women's field, organizers say, is Bloomsday newcomer Cynthia Limo of Kenya. Earlier this spring, Limo was second at the World's Best 10K, Crescent City Classic, and Cherry Blossom 10 Mile, along with a 31:08 10K en route to a 1:07 finish at the RAK Half Marathon.
Three-time Bloomsday champion Lineth Chepkurui finished second last year, and Risper Gesabwa was third. American Blake Russell, who won the US National Marathon title at the LA Marathon in March, and Ethiopians Makida Abdela and Ruti Agi, as well as Kenyan Ann Wanjiru, are also expected to be factors.
A field of nearly 50,000 runners, joggers and walkers are expected to have entered by the time registration closes tonight. Procrastinators have until 6:30 tonight to sign up.
Shock in search of
second straight win tonight
NEW ORLEANS - Coming off its first victory of the season, the Spokane Shock (1-3) travel to take on the New Orleans VooDoo (1-4) in Arena Football League play tonight (5 p.m., WatchESPN.com, ESPN 700) at the Smoothie King Center.
Spokane leads the series 3-0, most recently winning 65-54 in 2013 in Spokane.
The VooDoo have lost four straight after a 51-50 win over the Jacksonville Sharks in Week 1.