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CVS Downtown 5K gets ready to celebrate 20th anniversary |
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Monday, 14 September 2009 |
By STEVE MAZZONE
Sports writer
PROVIDENCE — John Gregorek doesn’t remember too much about his victory in the inaugural Downtown 5K back in 1990, but he does recall the sight he witnessed just before the gun was fired.
As he stood on the line of the Providence race, more than 3,500 participants joined the former Georgetown University star and two-time U.S. Olympic steeplechaser.
“I knew it was a big running community in this area, but I think it was surprising to see that many people,” he said. “I was thinking maybe 1,500. It was a thrill to see so many.”
Gregorek, a Seekonk resident, christened the first-time event by defeating a quality field with a time of 13 minutes, 55 seconds for the five-kilometer race. Lynn Jennings, one of the top American distance runners at the time, won the first of four straight crowns for women with a 15:32 clocking.
On Sunday, Sept. 20, long after Gregorek and Jennings made their marks in the city, the CVS Caremark Downtown 5K will be celebrating its 20th anniversary. Considered one of the premier road races in the country, it has not only survived but prospered.
Race officials are predicting a record field of 10,000 gathering in the Capital City this year for the popular event, which also includes a series of 21 kids’ races and an Inspirational 3K, open to all high school runners.
“I knew the race had some pretty committed people so I thought the race would thrive,” Gregorek said. “As far as it getting this big, it’s a feather in CVS’s cap. It seems any thing it supports, really does well.”
Without question, CVS has been a huge part of the race’s success. Since hooking on as the title sponsor nine years ago, the Woonsocket-based pharmaceutical chain has helped the Downtown 5K raise a substantial sum of money that’s distributed to several high school track teams and local youth charities, such A Wish Come True and Meeting Street School.
“We are thrilled to be a part of it,” said Eileen Howard Dunn, CVS Caremark senior vice president of corporate communications and community relations. “I am very proud to say that we’ve raised more than $1 million in nine years to support local high school teams and non-profit organizations that support children with disabilities.”
“I think the success has to do with the reputation,“ race director Charlie Breagy said. “CVS has been a great partner.”
Breagy, a native of Ireland, is one of the original founding members of the Downtown 5K. The former Providence College All-American began the event with a few of his college buddies, including two-time Boston Marathon champion Geoff Smith and 1984 Olympic Marathon silver medalist John Treacy.
Richard O’Flynn, a former PC star, approached Breagy with the idea and the rest is history.
“Everyone that founded the race kind of chipped in money to get it going,” said Breagy, who noted that former Gov. Bruce Sundlum donated televisions to be awarded to all the winners. “The turnout was sensational. We were expecting 1,000 to 1,500 runners. It really took off. I have to give credit to the local media and the press.”
Televisions have since been replaced with hefty cash prizes for the winners in an event that has grown into one of the top 5K road races in the country, drawing some of the best Americans as well as elite runners from around the globe.
The primary reason the race has attracted top U.S. runners to Providence is the past several years the event has also hosted the USATF 5K Championships for men and women. In 2008, fresh off her Olympic bronze-medal performance in the 10,000-meter run at the Beijing Olympics, Massachusetts native Shalane Flanagan copped her second straight overall title. Anthony Famiglietti, another U.S. Olympian, took the men’s crown.
Famiglietti has already committed to running next weekend’s race. What’s been the norm since its inception, a multitude of other fleeted-footed American and international runners will also be battling for the individual title. To date, this year’s event has 54 professional runners.
Among the elite field is the return of last year’s second-place finisher Matt Tegenkamp. The U.S. two-mile record-holder, Tegenkamp became the third fastest American over the 5K distance when he sizzled to an astonishing 12:58.56 clocking at the Memorial Van Damme in Brussels, Belgium on Sept. 4.
“Given that Famiglietti and Tegenkamp - the Americans who placed first and second in last year’s race - are returning this year,” Breagy said, “we have potential to see a new American record (at CVS).”
The women’s race will include Amy Yoder Begley, the 2009 USA Outdoor 10K and Indoor 5K champion. Former Notre Dame All-American, Molly Huddle, winner of two recent American road race championships, and Irish runner and ex-Providence College standout, Mary Cullen, a two-time titlist at the CVS race, will also toe the line.
Breagy takes pride in the fact that the race has always had a quality field. Kenya’s Ismael Kirui holds the course record for men with winning time of 13:20, set in 1997. Asmae Leghzaoui of Morocco has the women’s mark of 15:05.7 when she claimed victory in 2002.
“The last thing you want to see is a cat-and-mouse race,” Breagy said. “The men’s race has always been won in under 14 minutes and the women have always been under 16 minutes.”
Last year’s recording-breaking race had 4,213 finishers in the main event and nearly 3,000 more in the 22 other races. In celebrating it’s 20-year milestone, the CVS race could also be celebrating a smashing new mark with an expected 10,000 entrants.
“We have nearly 5,000 entries already. Right now we are going at record pace,” said Breagy on Thursday. “Everything I am seeing is saying we are going to hit that number…I thought last year’s race wouldn’t be beat for a while. I was wrong.”
The CVS Downtown 5K, which will have live entertainment along the course, begins and ends on Francis Street, just in front of the Providence Place Mall. Participants will follow a fairly flat terrain that winds through the city streets before making its way back to the finish line.
Certainly a big attraction to the CVS race is what it also offers to the youths. The event features 21 kids’ races, beginning at 8 a.m., for ages 1-3 to eighth grade. The main 5K will start at 11:15 a.m., and will be followed by the High School Inspirational 3K at 12:15 p.m.
This year’s high school race is sponsored by Tufts Health Plan and will include a costume competition where the winning team will be awarded $750 towards purchasing new uniforms. All team members that dress up and have their picture taken will receive a free stop watch.
The 49-year-old Gregorek, who has a career best of 13:17 for 5K on the track, doesn’t compete at an elite level anymore. But he still manages to come back each year to the race he won two decades ago. It’s more like a family reunion now.
“I still go down there. I’ve been since it started,” said Gregorek, who is married to former Seekonk standout Christine (Mullen) Gregorek. His son, Johnny Gregorek, currently stars for the Warriors and is one of the top runners in the state. “Over the years, we’ve had our whole family participate. On any given day, we could have three generations at the race. It’s such a festive atmosphere and a celebration of the sport. It’s a fun place to be around.”
Howard Dunn has been on maternity leave for the past two months after giving birth to her sixth child, a baby girl. She’ll be in attendance at the race next week.
“Actually it will be my first official event back from maternity leave,” she said. “We’ll bring all my children. They all love it. My six-year-old said (last year) it was the best day of her whole life.”
EXTRA MILE: There’s still time to pre-register for Sunday’s race, but online registration will close on Tuesday. For advance registration and additional information, check out the race’s website at cvsdowntown5K.com. Late registration and race packet pickup will be at the Rhode Island State House Lawn on Saturday from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., and on race day from 7:15-10:45 a.m.….On Saturday night, the CVS race will once again sponsor the Providence WaterFire.
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Last Updated ( Sunday, 08 November 2009 )
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Saturday night I attended the semi-final girls basketball
game vs Townies Girls team as an aunt of one of the EP players. It was an exciting
all-around game for both teams, and I give credit to my niece and the Townie girls
too for a great season. <br />I just have to say though, that I was
particularly impressed with the talent, poise and unflappable playing style of this
Tolman girls team! It can only speak well of a great coaching staff, and their love
and encouragement of these talented girls. After the game, the low-key humilty that
the Tolman girls displayed, showed real sportsmanship and class. I have a feeling
that this season is the "Year of the Tiger" and hope that they go straight on to
victory in the championship. No matter what the outcome though, they've gained a new
loyal fan in me, and I look forward to following the next seasons with real
interest. This is the way that high school sports should be played! You go Tolman
girls! - Regina Orio
THANK YOU TO THE PAWTUCKET TIMES AND THE WOONSOCKET CALL
FORV THEIR GREAT COVERAGE OF HIGH SCHOOL WRESTLING IN YOUR PAPERS IT IS VERY MUCH APPERICATED!! A SPECIAL THANKS TO TERRY NEAU FOR HIS EXCELLENT COVERAGE OF CUMBERLAND CLIPPERS WRESTLING AND FOP ALL THE GREAT PICTURES YOU PUT IN THE CALL THEY ARE AWESOME!!!THANKS AGAIN!!! - Dawn Lariviere
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