Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: SUNDAY, June 3, 1990 TAG: 9006030100
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: B1 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: RANDY KING SPORTSWRITER
DATELINE: LENGTH: Medium
For the second consecutive year, the Dominion Bank Festival 10K proved to be nothing more than the Steve Taylor Benefit as the 24-year-old Fincastle runner coasted to an easy victory Saturday in Roanoke.
"I don't know if running a 10K is ever easy, but I do like that," said Taylor, grinning widely while accepting another $1,000 winner's check.
Like last year, it was easy money for the former Virginia Tech star. After toying with the field for two miles, Taylor kicked into high gear and drew away to a 19.9-second victory over Ken Frenette, of Buies Creek, N.C.
Taylor's time of 30 minutes, 30 seconds fell short of his 6.2-mile course record of 29:49, which he set in last year's romp.
The heat and humidity had something to do with that. But also, when a runner looks over his shoulder and sees nothing but asphalt, it's hard to keep up the pace, Taylor said.
"If I had been pushed, I could have run faster," said Taylor, who only minutes after breaking the tape appeared fresh enough to go again.
"I felt real comfortable today. I felt relaxed and in control."
As in cruise control, Frenette said.
"I think everybody knew they were running for second today. I think Steve took it that way, too," said Frenette, 26, the track and cross-country coach at Campbell University.
"He had the race under control. When he wanted to leave . . . he just left."
Frenette tried to make it interesting early in the race, making two bids for the lead.
"At the start, Steve threw in a surge, then I threw in one going up the hill [Jefferson Street bridge]," Frenette said. "I got ahead of him by just a little bit. I just answered his two surges for fun. I wanted to see what he'd do."
What did Taylor do? He took off and, eventually, hid.
"Frenette and I exchanged surges four or five times," Taylor said. "I'd put one on to see what was happening, then he'd put one on.
"After going off the bridge, I made another surge and started to pick up the pace. After the third or fourth surge, I noticed Ken wasn't responding.
"That's kind of an ego thing. It's a mind game, sort of a chess game out there. I always want to throw in the last surge. It's almost like checkmate when you get the last surge in and they don't respond."
Speaking of responses, Mary Alico didn't get any when she kicked away from the women's field. Alico strolled to a two-minute romp over Julie Graw, a friend from Raleigh, N.C.
"It's been a while since I've won a 10K," said Alico, a 27-year-old Indiana (Pa.) University graduate. "I came here in 1986 and finished fifth. I didn't remember much about the place, but I like it."
Alico finished in 34:08.6, two minutes better than Graw's 36:09.1 clocking.
Chris Fox, 31, of Hagerstown, Md., made it four straight in the 5K preliminary, coming home in 14:31.4. Brian Ferriai, of Williamsport, Md., finished 9.1 seconds back.
Monica O'Reilly, an assistant track coach at the University of Florida, scored her second consecutive and third overall 5K Festival triumph. O'Reilly covered the 3.1-mile distance in 16:51 to easily outdistance Susan Earles-Price (18:14.9) of Blacksburg.
Some 1,475 runners competed in the two races, approximately 1,100 in the 5K and 375 in the 10K.
by CNB