The Cherry Blossom Ten Mile Run is an annual 10-mile (16 km) road race in Washington, D.C. Founded in 1973 originally as a precursor training run for elite runners planning to compete in the Boston Marathon, the race has evolved over the years into a local race for runners of all abilities. Nevertheless, it still attracts international running stars such as Catherine Ndereba, Bill Rodgers, John Korir, and Olga Romanova.
The race is scheduled for the first Sunday of each April, meant to coincide with the bloom of the cherry blossoms given as a gift in 1912 from the mayor of Tokyo. The race is part of the National Cherry Blossom Festival of late March and early April in the city.
The race course covers many historic and memorable sights in Washington, D.C. Among the landmarks along the route are the Jefferson Memorial, the Franklin Delano Roosevelt Memorial, the Washington Monument, Arlington National Cemetery, the Lincoln Memorial, the Watergate complex, Rock Creek Park, and the Tidal Basin.
Key: Course record
| Edition | Year | Men's winner | Time (h:m:s) | Women's winner | Time (h:m:s) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1st | 1973 | Sam Bair (USA) | 51:22 | Katherine Switzer (USA) | 1:11:19 |
| 2nd | 1974 | Jack Mahurin (USA) | 50:50 | Carol Fridley (USA) | 1:02:48 |
| 3rd | 1975 | Carl Hatfield (USA) | 51:47 | Julie Shea (USA) | 59:55 |
| 4th | 1976 | Carl Hatfield (USA) | 49:09 | Julie Shea (USA) | 57:04 |
| 5th | 1977 | Dan Rincon (USA) | 49:44 | Julie Shea (USA) | 56:08 |
| 6th | 1978 | Bill Rodgers (USA) | 48:58 | Jennifer White (USA) | 56:35 |
| 7th | 1979 | Bill Rodgers (USA) | 48:01 | Aileen O'Connor (USA) | 56:03 |
| 8th | 1980 | Bill Rodgers (USA) | 47:09 | Anne Hird (USA) | 55:34 |
| 9th | 1981 | Bill Rodgers (USA) | 47:17 | Laurie Binder (USA) | 56:44 |
| 10th | 1982 | Terry Baker (USA) | 49:29 | Eleanor Simonsick (USA) | 58:16 |
| 11th | 1983 | Greg Meyer (USA) | 46:13 | Eleanor Simonsick (USA) | 53:46 |
| 12th | 1984 | Simon Kigen (KEN) | 47:26 | Rosa Mota (POR) | 54:16 |
| 13th | 1985 | Simon Kigen (KEN) | 46:24 | Lisa Rainsberger (USA) | 53:30 |
| 14th | 1986 | Thom Hunt (USA) | 46:15 | Rosa Mota (POR) | 53:09 |
| 15th | 1987 | Jon Sinclair (USA) | 46:48 | Lisa Ondieki (AUS) | 52:23 |
| 16th | 1988 | Jean-Pierre Ndayisenga (BDI) | 47:33 | Anne Audain (NZL) | 53:26 |
| 17th | 1989 | Brian Sheriff (ZIM) | 46:43 | Lisa Rainsberger (USA) | 52:34 |
| 18th | 1990 | Chris Fox (USA) | 47:06 | Lisa Rainsberger (USA) | 52:38 |
| 19th | 1991 | Carl Thackery (GBR) | 46:26 | Jill Boltz (GBR) | 51:57 |
| 20th | 1992 | Richard Chelimo (KEN) | 47:06 | Albina Gallyamova (RUS) | 53:44 |
| 21st | 1993 | William Sigei (KEN) | 46:29 | Judi St. Hilaire (USA) | 52:27 |
| 22nd | 1994 | William Sigei (KEN) | 46:01 | Hellen Chepngeno (KEN) | 54:05 |
| 23rd | 1995 | Ismael Kirui (KEN) | 45:38 | Rose Cheruiyot Kosgei (KEN) | 51:40 |
| 24th | 1996 | Lazarus Nyakeraka (KEN) | 46:37 | Joan Nesbit (USA) | 53:25 |
| 25th | 1997 | Peter Githuka Mwangi (KEN) | 46:29 | Valentina Yegorova (RUS) | 54:28 |
| 26th | 1998 | Simon Rono (KEN) | 45:51 | Colleen De Reuck (RSA) | 51:16 |
| 27th | 1999 | Worku Bikila (ETH) | 46:59 | Jane Omoro (KEN) | 53:37 |
| 28th | 2000 | Reuben Cheruiyot (KEN) | 46:07 | Teresa Wanjiku (KEN) | 55:53 |
| 29th | 2001 | John Korir Kipsang (KEN) | 46:12 | Elana Meyer (RSA) | 52:16 |
| 30th | 2002 | Reuben Cheruiyot (KEN) | 47:13 | Luminiţa Talpoş (ROM) | 52:50 |
| 31st | 2003 | John Korir Kipsang (KEN) | 46:56 | Olga Romanova (RUS) | 53:43 |
| 32nd | 2004 | Nelson Kiplagat Birgen (KEN) | 48:12 | Isabella Ochichi (KEN) | 52:07 |
| 33rd | 2005 | John Korir Kipsang (KEN) | 46:55 | Nuța Olaru (ROM) | 52:01 |
| 34th | 2006 | Gilbert Okari (KEN) | 47:25 | Lidiya Grigoryeva (RUS) | 52:11 |
| 35th | 2007 | Tadese Tola (ETH) | 46:00.7 | Teyba Erkesso (ETH) | 51:43.4 |
| 36th | 2008 | Ridouane Harroufi (MAR) | 46:14 | Lineth Chepkurui (KEN) | 54:21 |
| 37th | 2009 | Ridouane Harroufi (MAR) | 45:56 | Lineth Chepkurui (KEN) | 53:32 |
| 38th | 2010 | Stephen Tum (KEN) | 45:43 | Lineth Chepkurui (KEN) | 51:51 |
| 39th | 2011 | Lelisa Desisa (ETH) | 45:36 | Julliah Kerubo Tinega (KEN) | 54:02 |
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