Amway River Bank Run
DateMay
LocationGrand Rapids, Michigan, United States
Event typeRoad
Distance5K, 10K, 25K
Established1978
Official siteamwayriverbankrun.com

The Amway River Bank Run is an annual road running race hosted by Amway in U.S. city of Grand Rapids, Michigan, in the month of May. The 25K run was created and first held in 1978 by Old Kent Bank as the Old Kent River Bank Run and continued under that name until 2000, when its name was changed to the Fifth Third River Bank Run.[1] The name of the race changed again in late 2018 when Amyway agreed to take over primary sponsorship of the race from Fifth Third Bank.[2]

Today, the race draws over 22,000 participants from around the world. It features the largest 25K road race in the country, and is the site for the USA 25 km Open and Masters Championships. The event also features the only 25K Wheelchair Racing division in the world.[3]

Events

25K Run

The USA 25 km Open and Masters Championships is open to U.S. citizens 14 years of age or older as of race day. The course is a USATF certified loop course which starts in downtown Grand Rapids and leaves the city going south, taking the runners through parks and along the Grand River before finishing back downtown.[4]

Race within the race

2015 saw the introduction of the "race within the race" for the 25K. The Elite and USATF women are given an 11 minute, 30 second head start over the men. The first person to cross the finish line wins an additional prize.[5]

25K Wheel/handcycle

The Wheel/Handcycle Division follows the same course as the 25K run. Eligible participants have a physical disability which prohibits them from running the event. Race organizers state, "The race is for competitive cyclist only, this division is not designed for leisure racing."[6]

10k Run

This race is open to participants of any age who feel they can safely finish the race. The course is a USATF certified loop course which heads southwest from downtown Grand Rapids to John Ball Park and returns downtown to finish.[7]

5K Run

This race is open to participants of any age who feel they can safely finish the race. The course is a USATF certified loop course which takes the participants through downtown Grand Rapids.[8]

5K Walk

This race is open to participants of any age who feel they can safely finish the race. The participants follow the same course as the 5K run; they are not timed and awards are not given out.[9]

Junior

Fifth Third Junior event takes place the Wednesday before the main event at Rogers High School in Wyoming, Michigan. More than 1,700 kids between the ages of 5-13 participate in the 1/2 mile and 1 mile fun runs and 5K Run.[10]

Classes and divisions

Clydesdale Division

Participants in the 25K, 10K, and 5K runs may choose to register in the Clydesdale Division, which divides them into either Class A or Class B by weight. Trophies for each race awarded to the top performers in each weight class in each division. Medals are awarded to the top three performers in each weight class in each division.[4]

Class A Class B
Men 185-199 lbs 200+ lbs
Women 145-154 lbs 155+ lbs

Age divisions

Participants in each race are divided into male and female divisions based on age: 13 and under (not available in 25K), 14-19, 20-24, 25-29,30-34, 35-39, 40-44, 45-49, 50-54, 55-59, 60-64, 65-69, 70-74, 75-79 and 80+. The number of awards is three deep in each age division though some 25K divisions may issue fewer due to a reduced number of participants.[4]

Sponsorship

The primary sponsor for the event is Amway, who announced the change in sponsorship on October 10, 2018.[2] The race was originally sponsored by Old Kent Bank and was held under the title "The Old Kent River Bank Run" until 2000 when Old Kent Bank was acquired by Fifth Third Bank. At that time, the name of the race changed but sponsorship was uninterrupted.[1] A local rehabilitation center, Mary Free Bed Rehabilitation Hospital provides sponsorship for the Wheelchair and Handchair Divisions.[11] Other sponsors include Metro Health Hospital, Gatorade, Pepsi, Gazelle Sports, Comcast, Meijer, and others.

Past 25K winners

Key:   Course record   United States championship race   Short course   Race within the race winner

Edition Year Men's winner Time (h:m:s) Women's winner Time (h:m:s)
1st 1978  Bill Rodgers (USA) 1:17:24  Diane Culp (USA) 1:42:09
2nd 1979  Greg Meyer (USA) 1:14:29  Cheryl Bridges (USA) 1:36:39
3rd 1980  Greg Meyer (USA) 1:16:02  Karen Blackford (USA) 1:37:46
4th 1981  Herb Lindsay (USA) 1:14:09  Joan Samuelson (USA) 1:26:21
5th 1982  Greg Meyer (USA) 1:15:00  Joan Samuelson (USA) 1:26:31
6th 1983  Greg Meyer (USA) 1:16:49  Jeanne Lasee (USA) 1:31:08
7th 1984  Doug Kurtis (USA) 1:17:56  Diane Gentry (USA) 1:32:18
8th 1985  Greg Meyer (USA) 1:16:58  Joan Samuelson (USA) 1:27:25
9th 1986  Greg Meyer (USA) 1:16:38  Joan Samuelson (USA) 1:24:43
10th 1987  Greg Meyer (USA) 1:16:12  Diane Gentry (USA) 1:28:17
11th 1988  Mark Smith (USA) 1:15:56  Diane Gentry (USA) 1:28:39
12th 1989  Brian Sheriff (ZIM) 1:16:34  Diane Gentry (USA) 1:25:34
13th 1990  Brian Sheriff (ZIM) 1:15:26  Diane Gentry (USA) 1:27:02
14th 1991  Mark Plaatjes (RSA) 1:15:31  Márcia Narloch (BRA) 1:28:29
15th 1992  Bill Reifsnyder (USA) 1:14:47  Olga Appell (MEX) 1:26:47
16th 1993  Jerry Lawson (USA) 1:16:06  Olga Appell (MEX) 1:27:27
17th 1994  Simon Karori (KEN) 1:15:01  Olga Appell (USA) 1:25:26
18th 1995  Keith Brantly (USA) 1:15:20  Elaine Van Blunk (USA) 1:27:14
19th 1996  Alfredo Vigueras (USA) 1:15:21  Jane Welzel (USA) 1:29:47
20th 1997  John Kagwe (KEN) 1:15:21  Kim Jones (USA) 1:26:54
21st 1998  Joseph Kariuki (KEN) 1:13:55  Margaret Kagiri (KEN) 1:28:46
22nd 1999  Joseph Kariuki (KEN) 1:14:09  Teresa Wanjiku (KEN) 1:26:51
23rd 2000  Joseph Kariuki (KEN) 1:16:26  Svetlana Zakharova (RUS) 1:27:35
24th 2001  John Kagwe (KEN) 1:14:06  Svetlana Zakharova (RUS) 1:24:39
25th 2002  Ronald Mogaka (KEN) 1:13:56  Teresa Wanjiku (KEN) 1:26:57
26th 2003  Dan Browne (USA) 1:16:13  Albina Ivanova (RUS) 1:27:28
27th 2004  Simon Wangai (KEN) 1:15:16  Alevtina Ivanova (RUS) 1:26:39
28th 2005  Simon Wangai (KEN) 1:13:27  Colleen De Reuck (USA) 1:25:15
29th 2006  Fernando Cabada (USA) 1:14:21  Viktoriya Klimina (RUS) 1:27:47
30th 2007  Julius Kibet Kosgei (KEN) 1:14:25  Katie McGregor (USA) 1:25:54
31st 2008  Brian Sell (USA) 1:15:07  Caroline Chepkorir Kwambai (KEN) 1:29:32
32nd 2009  Isaac Kemboi Kimaiyo (KEN) 1:15:36  Genoveva Kigen (KEN) 1:27:16
33rd 2010  Andrew Carlson (USA) 1:14:42  Firehiwot Dado (ETH) 1:23:46
34th 2011  Fernando Cabada (USA) 1:15:41  Molly Pritz (USA) 1:25:38
35th 2012  Robert Kiprotich Letting (KEN) 1:15:10  Janet Cherobon-Bawcom (USA) 1:24:36
36th 2013  Julius Kipyego Keter (KEN) 1:14:07  Chemutai Rionotukei (KEN) 1:25:45
37th 2014  Samson Gebreyohanes Gezahai  (ERI) 1:14:08  Kellyn Johnson (USA) 1:25:26
38th 2015  Jared Ward (USA) 1:14:45  Lindsey Scherf (USA) 1:26:35
39th 2016  Christo Landry (USA) 1:15:31  Aliphine Tuliamuk-Bolton (USA) 1:25:35
40th 2017  Dathan Ritzenhein (USA) 1:14:27.0  Aliphine Tuliamuk (USA) 1:24:35.1
41st 2018  Sam Chelanga (USA) 1:14:52  Aliphine Tuliamuk (USA) 1:25:35
42nd 2019  Parker Stinson (USA) 1:13:48 AR  Emma Bates (USA) 1:23:51

References

  1. ^ a b "Fifth Third Bank's Commitment" (PDF). Fifth Third River Bank Run. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2010-05-09. Retrieved 2010-07-21.
  2. ^ a b "Amway Becomes Title Sponsor of River Bank Run". Amway River Bank Run. Archived from the original on 2018-10-12. Retrieved 2018-10-11.
  3. ^ "Race Week Schedule of Events" (PDF). Fifth Third River Bank Run. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2011-07-07. Retrieved 2010-07-21.
  4. ^ a b c "25K Run". Fifth Third River Bank Run. Archived from the original on 2010-02-04. Retrieved 2010-07-21.
  5. ^ "Woman first to finish 5/3 River Bank Run 25K". WOOD TV8. 2016-05-14. Retrieved 2016-05-16.
  6. ^ "Wheel/Handcycle". Fifth Third River Bank Run. Archived from the original on 2011-07-07. Retrieved 2011-06-14.
  7. ^ "10K Map" (PDF). Fifth Third River Bank Run. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2011-07-07. Retrieved 2010-07-21.
  8. ^ "5K Map" (PDF). Fifth Third River Bank Run. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2011-07-07. Retrieved 2010-07-21.
  9. ^ "5K Walk". Fifth Third River Bank Run. Archived from the original on 2010-06-09. Retrieved 2010-07-21.
  10. ^ "Junior Event". Fifth Third River Bank Run. Archived from the original on 2010-04-02. Retrieved 2010-07-21.
  11. ^ "GUILD CONTINUES TO SUPPORT WHEELCHAIR AND HANDCYCLE DIVISIONS" (PDF). Mary Free Bed Rehabilitation Hospital Guild. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2010-05-09. Retrieved 2010-07-21.
List of winners

External links

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