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.[1] Although local recreational runners are the majority of entrants, the race is highly competitive, with international professional runners filling the top ranks.[2][3] With the exception of 2020, when it was cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the Boilermaker has been held every year since 1978.[4] 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.[5] Although 15Ks are uncommon compared to other road races, the Boilermaker has been rated highly by running publications.[6]

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 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.[7] 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.[8] 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.[citation needed]

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.[9] 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."[10]

Past winners

edit
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.[11][12][13][14]

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.[15][16]

References

edit
  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.
edit