Friis challenged, but wins Ford Island run

By Mike Tymn
Special to The Advertiser

Christian Friis has been a pretty lonely guy of late.

In recent races, including the Tamanaha 15K last week and the Faerber 10K last month, the 27-year-old Hawai'i Pacific University senior from Denmark took an early lead and ran alone to easy victories. But in the Ford Island Bridge 10K Run yesterday morning, Friis had company for at least four of the 6.2 miles.

As they began the fifth mile, Friis surged on Rich Rogers. ÊRogers did not respond, and Friis continued to a 24-second victory while clocking 32 minutes, 28 seconds, an average 5:13 per mile. It was the third straight victory in the event for Friis, who turns 28 today. He set the race record of 31:11 two years ago and won the 2000 race in 32:36.

"It was good to have someone out there with me," said Friis. "He was a good wind break. The wind was pretty strong from the third mile on."

Rogers, a 21-year-old Marine, finished second in 32:52, while Farley Simon, a 46-year-old retired Marine, was third in 33:49.

Finishing 13th overall, defending champion Nina Christensen, 26, made it another Danish and HPU sweep of the top spots as she won the women's race in 36:44.

Yang Sun Carpenter, 36, was second in 38:50. Deirdre Tennant, 25, was third, another 11 seconds back.

With 1,710 registered runners and walkers, the event got underway at 7 a.m. as the field headed over the Admiral Bernard "Chick" Clarey Bridge to Ford Island. Rogers held a half-stride lead on Friis at the middle of the bridge. "It was a typical track runner versus road runner race," said Friis, referring to Rogers' early speed and his own late strength.

It was the first time Rogers had raced longer than 5K and only his second road race.

Carpenter set the pace for the first mile of the women's race, but Christensen took command on the second mile.

"I was hoping to break 36 minutes," said Christensen, who recorded 35:52 last year, "but the wind on the way back was really bad."