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Boilermaker Road Race

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Boilermaker Road Race
Boilermaker Logo
Dateannual
LocationUtica, NY
Event typeRoad running
Distance15K
Established1978
Course records
  • Men's footrace: 42:06
  • Women's footrace: 47:33
  • Men's wheelchair: 31:33
  • Women's wheelchair: 39:11
Official sitewww.boilermaker.com

The Boilermaker Road Race is a USATF-certified 15-kilometer (9.3 mi) foot race and wheelchair race held annually in Utica, New York, United States. Although local recreational runners are the majority of entrants, the race is highly competitive, with international professional runners filling the top ranks. With the exception of 2020, when it was cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the Boilermaker has been held every year since 1978. Traditionally, the Boilermaker is held on the second Sunday in July, although the 2021 Boilermaker was held on October 10 due to COVID-related concerns. Although 15Ks are uncommon compared to other road races, the Boilermaker has been rated highly by running publications.

The race course is primarily in the city of Utica, with the earlier portion largely within the Utica Parks and Parkway Historic District. The course passes through the suburbs New Hartford and Yorkville near Utica University. The course is hilly, changing 300 feet in elevation over its length: combined with the mid-summer heat, winning race times are generally longer than for other 15K races. The finish line lies outside the F.X. Matt Brewery, where post-race festivities are held.

Like many urban races in the United States, the Boilermaker was created during the 1970s running boom. The first Boilermaker was held on July 16, 1978, with a budget of $750 and 800 local runners participating. The name alludes to a primary underwriter of the race, the Utica Radiator Corporation (now Utica Boilers, part of ECR International), whose main offices are near the race starting line. The wheelchair section was added in 1980. The race gained prominence in 1983 when American distance runner Bill Rodgers won with a time of 44:38. From 1997 to 2006, the Boilermaker was known as the largest 15K race in the United States, but was overtaken by the Gate River Run in Jacksonville, Florida, in later years.

The Boilermaker has been described as an essential part of the identity of its host city, Utica, like the Peachtree Road Race in Atlanta, Georgia. Semi-unofficial performances and parties fill the sidewalk along much of the race course: Runners World magazine described the Boilermaker as "part road race, part festival."

Past winners

Footrace
Edition Year Men's winner Time (m:s) Women's winner Time (m:s)
1st 1978  Ric Rojas (USA) 45:38  Kathy Mills (USA) 54:26
2nd 1979  Tom Carter (USA) 47:15  Cynthia Girard (USA) 57:30
3rd 1980  Peter Pfitzinger (USA) 45:16  Nancy Mieszczak (USA) 55:02
4th 1981  Terry Baker (USA) 44:48  Mary Rybinski (USA) 54:49
5th 1982  John O'Connell (USA) 44:58  Laura DeWald (USA) 54:41
6th 1983  Bill Rodgers (USA) 44:38  Ena Weinstein (PER) 53:22
7th 1984  Geoff Smith (GBR) 44:21  Ena Weinstein (PER) 52:37
8th 1985  Jerry Kiernan (IRL) 44:42  Judi St. Hilaire (USA) 50:35
9th 1986  Joseph Kipsang (KEN) 44:07  Lisa Brady (USA) 50:19
10th 1987  Mark Roberts (GBR) 45:10  Rebecca Kirsininkas (USA) 54:10
11th 1988  Joseph Kipsang (KEN) 44:55  Ria Van Landeghem (BEL) 52:45
12th 1989  Jon Sinclair (USA) 44:06  Michelle Bush (CAY) 52:35
13th 1990  Delmir dos Santos (BRA) 44:01  Maria Trujillo (USA) 51:39
14th 1991  Ed Eyestone (USA) 44:10  Jill Boltz (GBR) 48:19
15th 1992  Sammy Lelei (KEN) 43:39  Madina Biktagirova (RUS) 50:22
16th 1993  Thomas Osano (KEN) 43:39  Gitte Karlshøj (DEN) 51:07
17th 1994  Benson Maya (KEN) 42:57  Delillah Asiago (KEN) 50:24
18th 1995  Lazarus Nyakeraka (KEN) 43:09  Roseli Machado (BRA) 49:42
19th 1996  Joseph Kimani (KEN) 42:40  Catherine Ndereba (KEN) 48:55
20th 1997  Joseph Kimani (KEN) 42:54  Lornah Kiplagat (KEN) 49:58
21st 1998  Khalid Khannouchi (MAR) 42:57  Lornah Kiplagat (KEN) 49:58
22nd 1999  John Korir Kipsang (KEN) 43:00  Catherine Ndereba (KEN) 48:52
23rd 2000  Reuben Cheruiyot (KEN) 43:07  Catherine Ndereba (KEN) 48:47
24th 2001  John Korir Kipsang (KEN) 42:57  Catherine Ndereba (KEN) 48:06
25th 2002  Paul Malakwen Kosgei (KEN) 43:22  Constantina Diţă (ROM) 48:29
26th 2003  John Korir Kipsang (KEN) 43:23  Susan Chepkemei (KEN) 48:55
27th 2004  John Korir Kipsang (KEN) 43:50  Susan Chepkemei (KEN) 48:50
28th 2005  Gilbert Okari (KEN) 43:22  Sally Barsosio (KEN) 50:11
29th 2006  Samuel Rongo Olengura (KEN) 43:16  Getenesh Wami (ETH) 49:31
30th 2007  Nicholas Manza Kamakya (KEN) 43:51  Lidia Șimon (ROM) 49:23
31st 2008  Terefe Maregu (ETH) 44:17  Ashu Kasim Rabo (ETH) 50:39
32nd 2009  Ridouane Harroufi (MAR) 43:56  Alice Timbilili (KEN) 49:32
33rd 2010  Lelisa Desisa (ETH) 42:46  Edna Kiplagat (KEN) 47:57
34th 2011  Ridouane Harroufi (MAR) 43:30  Alice Timbilili (KEN) 48:41
35th 2012  Tilahun Regassa (ETH) 43:01  Mamitu Daska (ETH) 49:26
36th 2013  Julius Kipyego Keter (KEN) 43:55  Lineth Chepkurui (KEN) 50:33
37th 2014  Geoffrey Kenisi Bundi (KEN) 44:18  Mary Wacera Ngugi (KEN) 50:13
38th 2015  Eliud Ngetich (KEN) 43:31  Mary Wacera Ngugi (KEN) 48:49
39th 2016  Teshome Mekonen (ETH) 43:58  Cynthia Limo (KEN) 48:50
40th 2017  Silas Kipruto (KEN) 43:54  Mary Wacera Ngugi (KEN) 49:17
41st 2018  Gabriel Geay (TAN) 43:40  Mary Wacera Ngugi (KEN) 50:01
42nd 2019  Gabriel Geay (TAN) 43:35  Caroline Rotich (KEN) 49:03
43rd 2020 Cancelled
44th 2021  Stephen Rathbun (USA) 47:32  Savannah Boucher (USA) 56:24
45th 2022  Jemal Yimer Mekonnen (ETH) 42:38  Rosemary Wanjiru (KEN) 48:54
46th 2023  Jemal Yimer Mekonnen (ETH) 42:06  Jesca Chelangat (KEN) 47:33
47th 2024  John Korir (KEN) 42:11  Grace Loibach Nawowuna (USA) 49:18
Wheelchair
Edition Year Men's winner Time (m:s) Women's winner Time (m:s)
25th 2002  Kamel Ayari (TUN) 36:53  April B. Coughlin (USA) 50:53
26th 2003  Saúl Mendoza (MEX) 35:09  Jessica Galli (USA) 47:35
27th 2004  Saúl Mendoza (MEX) 31:49  Jessica Galli (USA) 45:36
28th 2005  Tyler Byers (USA) 39:31  Shirley Reilly (USA) 44:35
29th 2006  Saúl Mendoza (MEX) 34:18 None N/A
30th 2007  Krige Schabort (RSA) 32:52  Anjali Forber-Pratt (USA) 49:13
31st 2008  Krige Schabort (RSA) 32:57  Jacqui Kapinowski (USA) 1:03:40
32nd 2009  Krige Schabort (RSA) 36:52  Ellie G. O'Neill (USA) 1:09:58
33rd 2010  Krige Schabort (RSA) 32:59  Anjali Forber-Pratt (USA) 49:23
34th 2011  Krige Schabort (RSA) 33:16  Amanda McGrory (USA) 39:11
35th 2012  Matthew Lack (NZL) 36:41  Amanda McGrory (USA) 39:33
36th 2013  Joshua Cassidy (CAN) 34:11 None N/A
37th 2014  Josh George (USA) 34:10  Amanda McGrory (USA) 41:10
38th 2015  Joshua Cassidy (CAN) 32:52  Amanda McGrory (USA) 40:08
39th 2016  Daniel Romanchuk (USA) 35:09  Amanda McGrory (USA) 41:43
40th 2017  Daniel Romanchuk (USA) 33:05  Amanda McGrory (USA) 37:40
41st 2018  Daniel Romanchuk (USA) 31:45  Amanda McGrory (USA) 40:00
42nd 2019  Daniel Romanchuk (USA) 32:32  Jenna Fesemyer (USA) 43:07
43rd 2020 Cancelled
44th 2021  Hermin Garic (USA) 35:35  Stephanie Woodward (USA) 1:34:13
45th 2022  Daniel Romanchuk (USA) 31:33  Jenna Fesemyer (USA) 43:01
46th 2023  Joshua Cassidy (CAN) 33:10  Jenna Fesemyer (USA) 40:32
47th 2024  Joshua Cassidy (CAN) 34:05  Hoda Elshorbagy (EGY) 40:25

Key:   Course record   United States championship race

Due to COVID-19 concerns, international professional runners were not invited to the 2021 race. Thus, the winning times in that year's race are longer than in prior years, with Americans taking first place in both divisions for the first time since 1991. The field in the wheelchair race was also much smaller that year, consisting of only four competitors, all from New York State.

The John Korir who won the 2024 race is not the same as John Korir Kipsang, who won the 1999, 2001, 2003 and 2004 races.

References

  1. "History - Boilermaker". boilermaker.com. Archived from the original on May 14, 2021. Retrieved May 13, 2021.
  2. "Competitive Rank". Running Times. Vol. 361. Rodale, Inc. November 2008. p. 70.
  3. "Most Competitive Road Races". www.arrs.run. Archived from the original on May 14, 2021. Retrieved May 14, 2021.
  4. "Utica 2020 Boilermaker road race canceled; will be 'virtual' event". Syracuse.com. June 16, 2020. Archived from the original on May 13, 2021. Retrieved May 13, 2021.
  5. "2021 Boilermaker will be held in October". WKTV News. Archived from the original on May 13, 2021. Retrieved May 13, 2021.
  6. Malan, Denise (2014). Runner's Bucket List: 200 Races to Run Before You Die. Triumph Books. ISBN 978-1-306-57748-9. OCLC 876340712.
  7. Coates, Budd (2013). Running on air: the revolutionary way to run better by breathing smarter. Claire Kowalchik. Emmaus, Pennsylvania: Runner's World. p. 192. ISBN 978-1-60961-920-6. OCLC 897388802.
  8. "History of the Boilermaker Road Race". spectrumlocalnews.com. Archived from the original on May 14, 2021. Retrieved May 14, 2021.
  9. Robinson, Roger (2018). When running made history (1 ed.). Syracuse, New York. pp. 99–102. ISBN 978-0-8156-5443-8. OCLC 1028581858. Archived from the original on July 10, 2023. Retrieved May 14, 2021.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: location missing publisher (link)
  10. "Racing Report". Runner's World. Vol. 42. 2007. p. 119.
  11. Post, Marty. "Utica Boilermaker 15 km". www.arrs.run. Association of Road Racing Statisticians. Archived from the original on September 23, 2018. Retrieved May 2, 2021.
  12. "Historic Race Results - Utica Boilermaker - World's Largest 15K Road Race". Quadsimia. Archived from the original on May 13, 2021. Retrieved July 15, 2022.
  13. "Results". Boilermaker Road Race. Archived from the original on January 31, 2023. Retrieved July 9, 2023.
  14. "2023 Utica Boilermaker Road Race Results". Leone Timing. Archived from the original on July 10, 2023. Retrieved July 9, 2023.
  15. Rathbun, Jon (July 14, 2024). "2024 Boilermaker Road Race: John Korir, Grace Nawowuna win 15K events". Utica Observer Dispatch. Retrieved July 14, 2024.
  16. Roth, Amy Neff (July 14, 2024). "Boilermaker Road Race Wheelchair Division men's and women's winners". Utica Observer Dispatch. Retrieved July 14, 2024.

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