Crazy 8s officials announced the commitment of Moroccan Ridouane Harroufi to run the Indian Path Medical Center & SunTrust Bank Crazy 8s 8k Run on Saturday night, July 14th. Harroufi recently won the prestigious Bolder Boulder 10k, leading his team to a 4th place finish. He also finished a very close 3rd at the Bay to Breakers 12k, beating previous Crazy 8s commitment Linus Maiyo from Kenya. Other recent races include a 7th place finish at the Lilac Bloomsday 12k and 9th place finish at the Country Music Marathon in Nashville. His best 10,000 meter time is a very flashy 27:42.
Harroufi won't have to look far to find some fellow Africans in the lead pack. Also committing to run the candle-lit streets of Kingsport are a very talented group of Ethiopians – Alene Emere Reta, Abera Ertiban, Demesse Tefera, and Dagne Alemu. All will be chasing the coveted Crazy 8s title, and the Gastroenterology Associates $5000 Dash For The Gold. If any of these men can break Peter Githuka's long-standing world record of 22:02.2, set here in 1996, they will pocket the Regional Eye Center $10,008 World Record Bonus.
"That's some serious cash," said event co-director and elite athlete recruiter Hank Brown. "These are all world-class guys and any one of them could come in here and make a run for the record."
Reta came the closest to Githuka's record, with an "oh so close" 22:03.4 in 2001 at Crazy 8s. His performance that year ranks him 2nd on the all-time 8k list. He's coming to Crazy 8s in good shape and ready to shave off those extra seconds.
Ertiban is one of Ethiopia's young, rising stars. At just 19 years of age, he is already making his mark on the world scene, recently running 27:29 in Belgium for 10,000 meters. Tefera brings a resume' to Kingsport which includes a 22:45 8k best, and 28:02 10k. He recently finished 3rd at the esteemed Healthy Kidney 10k, run through Central Park in New York City. Alemu has some impressive credentials as well, with a 6th place finish at the Sydney Olympics 5000 meters.
"Things are starting to roll now," said Brown. "We're finalizing arrangements on many more top runners. So far I'm very pleased with the group we're pulling together this year. I think the people of Kingsport are in for a real show."
For more information on Crazy 8s visit www.crazy8s.org. You can register at the Fun Fest Store or most sponsor locations.
Sponsors for the 2007 Crazy 8s 8k Run are Indian Path Medical Center, SunTrust Bank, The Regional Eye Center, Holston Medical Group, Cardiovascular Associates, Gastroenterology Associates, Bill Gatton Honda, Lively State Farm, Eastman Credit Union, Blue Ridge OB/Gyn, McDonald's of Greater Kingsport, United Way of Greater Kingsport, REACH!, Americourt Hotel, Foot Rx, Food City, Culligan, Charter Media, Oak Hill Cemetery, Citadel Broadcasting, and YMCA of Kingsport. VIP sponsors are Jon Mather, DDS, Mountain Region Family Medicine, Martin Dentistry, UBS Financial, and Celebration Church.
Hank Brown