By Jim Whiting
The Seattle Times
Nineteen-year-old Abera Temesegan of Ethiopia nearly set a course record in winning Saturday night’s Seafair Torchlight Run. His time of 24 minutes, 32 seconds for the 8-kilometer course was just four seconds off Nick Rogers’ 2005 standard of 24:28.
Anca Ilau, 24, of Romania headed the women, finishing in 27:52. Last year’s winner, Malika Mejdoub, was second in 28:44.
All three live and train in Vancouver, Wash., under coach/agent Adam Gremali.
Temesegan, who has been in the United States for just a month, was running his third race since his arrival. He took the early lead.
“I was by myself the whole race,” he said.
The crowds lining the Torchlight Parade route buoyed him.
“They inspired me to pick up the pace,” he said.
The crowds weren’t the only source of inspiration for him. He didn’t start running until he was 16.
“I saw some of our great runners on television and it inspired me to represent my country,” he said.
Despite getting a relatively late start in the sport, he has already run 27:30 in a 10K and is currently waiting for a Nike shoe contract.
Ilau has been in the United States for nearly a year. This wasn’t her first visit to Seattle as she won the Nordstrom Beat the Bridge Run in May. Her 10K personal best is 33:43.
For Betsy Merritt of Washington, D.C., her husband, Jim Bird, and her sister, Katey Merritt, the race had an entirely different meaning as they happily crossed the finish line in about 1:05. They were among the final half-dozen finishers.
Betsy Merritt, originally from Seattle, ran the race several years ago. “It was the most fun race in my entire life,” she said.
So when it came time for her sister to run her first race, the choice was obvious. She and Bird circled the weekend that included the Torchlight Race for a trip to Seattle so they could accompany her.
Katey Merritt’s first reaction was “My feet hurt.” A few minutes later, she added, “It was exhilarating. I decided to learn how to run for my 50th birthday, and now I’m in my first race a year later.”
Adam Mina won the accompanying 5K race, and Kristen Lind won the women’s 5K.
The combined entrants in the two races exceeded 3,000. According to a show of hands before the 8K, officials estimated at least 70 percent ran the race for the first time.
Seafair Torchlight Run At Seattle
8K RESULTS
MEN — 1. Abera Temesegan, 19, Vancouver, 24:32; 2. Mike Heidt, 24, Shoreline, 24:49; 3. Ben Mangrum, 28, Tacoma, 25:20; 4. Henrik Groseth, 34, Seattle, 25:27; 5. Sean Sunderworth, Seattle, 25:31; 6. Jonathan Marcus, Seattle, 25:36; 7. Leif Kohler, 22, Seattle, 25:44; 8. Joshua Ricardi, 25, Seattle, 25:49; 9. Patrick McAuliffe, 23, Seattle, 25:57; 10. Yonatan Yilma, 18, Seattle, 25:59.
WOMEN — 1. Anca Ilau, 24, Vancouver, 27:52; 2. Malika Mejdoub, Vancouver, 28:44; 3. Lauren Grossbard, 28, Seattle, 29:21; 4. Liz Wilson, 39, Bothell, 29:27; 5. Sarna Becke, 30, Bremerton, 29:50; 6. Megan Johnson, 25, Seattle, 30:26; 7. Larish Manuel, 25, Seattle, 30:29; 8. Brittany Hodgson, 21, Tacoma, 30:32; 9. Rose Wetzel, 25, Seattle, 31:40; 10. Heather Gilbertson, 35, Seattle, 31:56.