Courtesy: Running USA

Gladys Asiba of Kenya, female winner of the 2001 Azalea Trail Run, has committed to return to Mobile for the 25th anniversary race scheduled for Saturday, March 23, in downtown Mobile. Asiba, 24, finished in a time of 32:42 over the 10K (6.2 mile) course.

Ranked #4 in the world in 2001 by Runner's World magazine, Asiba's best 10K time is 32:08. Training in Philadelphia with a contingent of Kenyans, Asiba also gained national recognition with her third place finish in San Francisco's Bay to Breakers 12K in 2001.

Race officials also announced recently that 2001 Azalea Trail Run runner-up Teresa Wanjiku, 27, of Kenya, will return to challenge Asiba for the 2002 title. Wanjiku finished 15 seconds behind Asiba in the 2001 race in a time of 32:57, though she possesses an all-time best of 31:51 in the 10K.

A training partner of Asiba in Philadelphia, Wanjiku was ranked #2 in the world in 1998 and #3 in 1999 by Runner's World magazine. She finished 8th in the World Cross Country Championships in 1999.

The fifth place finisher in last year's race, Naomi Wangui, 23, of Kenya, will also return to Mobile to compete in the 2002 race. Other females currently committed to race this year include:

Anna Brzezinska - A 30-year-old two-time Olympian from Poland now living and training in Flagstaff, AZ. Formerly ranked #3 in the world in the mile run, with a 10K best of 32:31.

Lyubov Denisova - Also 30-years-old, living in Moscow, Russia. Won the 2001 Grandma's Marathon in Duluth, MN and has a 10K best of 33:06.

Rosa Guiterrez - A University of Oregon graduate with a 10K best time of 33:29.

Jeanne Hennessy - A 24-year-old living in New York, Hennessy was the fourth American finisher in the 2001 New York City Marathon and 15th overall. She has run a 10K best of 33:50.

Martha Nyambura Komu - Turns 19 on the day of the 2002 Azalea Trail Run and currently has a 10K best of 32:45. A native of Kenya, she finished third in the 2001 Cooper River Bridge Run in Charleston, SC.

Tatyana Maslova - Primarily a marathon runner, the 35-year-old Russian finished ninth in the 2001 Azalea Trail Run in a time of 34:08. Her 10K best is 32:58.

Larisa Timkina - Also 35-years-old from Kishinev, Moldova, Timkina set her 10K best in Dresden, Germany in 2001 in a winning time of 32:45.

Tatiana Titova - A 36-year-old native of Russia, Titova lives and trains in Gainesville, FL and has a 10K best of 33:17.

Jackline Torori - A 23-year-old Kenyan, Torori has a 10K best time of 32:42, set in the 2001 Great Race 10K in Pittsburgh, PA.

The Azalea Trail's women's course record of 31:29 was set by Colleen De Reuck in the 1997 race.

The Azalea Trail Run, produced by the Port City Pacers, will begin with the 10K race at 8:00am, followed by a two-mile and then a one-mile fun run

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