New Yorkers Win Inaugural Rock ‘n’ Roll 10k In Brooklyn

Brooklyn, NY – October 22, 2011 – Declared the “the coolest city on the planet”  by GQ Magazine, the inaugural Rock ‘n’ Roll New York 10k kicked off in Brooklyn’s Prospect Park on Saturday morning to the jams of local DJ’s and tremendous crowd support lining the two-loop course. The Bronx’s Ketema Nigusse took first place in the men’s race, charging through the finish line in 29 minutes, two seconds. Bekelech Bedada of New York City triumphed in the women’s race, crossing the finish line with a time of 34:08.

“It was a beautiful, picture-perfect day to go for a run in one of New York’s most iconic parks,” said Bouker Pool, Senior Vice-President of Competitor Group, which owns and operates the Rock ‘n’ Roll Marathon Series. “We are truly grateful for the support and the partnerships that we’ve been able to form with the local community to organize our first event in the city, specifically the Prospect Park Alliance and Brooklyn borough president Marty Markowitz for welcoming Rock ‘n’ Roll into the tri-state area.”

Photo Gallery: Rock ‘N’ Roll Brooklyn 10k

The lead men’s pack stayed together after the gun, with a group of six runners keeping the 4:40 pace steady through the first loop of the course. After wrapping around the park once and passing by the start line at the Grecian Shelter, the eventual first, second and third place winners broke from the pack and charged up a slight hill at mile 4. Shortly after the four-mile mark, Nigusee dropped his two competitors and kept the lead through the finish line in just over 29 minutes.

“As a member of the West Side Runners, I’m not new to 10ks and have won several,” said Nigusse, who ran his best 10k time of the year. “But the course was beautiful and I liked the music a lot. I’m happy to bring in a win here today.”

The women’s champion, Bekelech Bedada, ran in front of the other women from the gun, and her only close competitor in the event was Alemtsehay Misganaw, who took second place. Bedada came through the finish with a time of 34:08, with Misganaw finishing seventeen seconds later in 34:25.

“I’ve won other races (most recently the Wilson Bridge Half Marathon) so this isn’t my first time on the podium,” said Bedada. “I liked the course and I loved the music, it kind of felt like I was dancing as I ran.”

More than 200 charity runners participated in the inaugural event, who collective raised over $70,000 for various charitable organizations. Of note at the event was Team ASPCA and the Silver Shield Foundation, which provides educational funding for children and spouses of fallen New York City police and firefighters.

Results – 2011 Rock ‘n’ Roll New York 10k

Place, Name, Age, Country, Time, Money

Men

1. Ketema Nigusse, 27, NY, 29:02, $1,000

2. Abiyot Worku, 25, 29:11

3. Derese Deniboba, 29, NY, 29:26

4. Christian Hesch, 32, CA, 29:50

5. Fikadu Lemma, 27, NY, 30:04

Women

1. Bekelech Bedada, 21,NY, 34:08, $1,000

2. Alemtsehay Misganaw, 31, NY, 34:25

3. Serkalem Abrha, 24, NY, 34:46

4. Kirsty Smith, 27, NY, 36:43

5. Muliye Gurmu, 27, NY, 37:06