Thousands show up for annual Cherry Blossom Race

by poolparty | April 7, 2008 at 10:30 am

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Approximately 10,000 runners showed up for the 36th annual Cherry Blossom Festival 10-mile run held in Washington, DC this past Sunday April 6th, 2008. Even with cool weather, runners from around the world showed up for this historic race. The event is part of the National Cherry Blossom Festival being held March 29 – April 13. For previous coverage, please click here.

On a new course that started and finished near the Washington Monument, the 36th Cherry Blossom Ten Mile Run crowned new two new champions, Ridouane Harroufi and Lineth Chepkurui -- and may have heralded a changing of the guard among the world's top distance runners.

Harroufi, 26, from Morocco, an accomplished international road racer competing for the first time in Washington, helped force a quick early pace that winnowed the lead pack of 12 through the first five miles, covered in 23 minutes 5 seconds, to just three at Mile 9.