Here are the top runners to watch in today's Freihofer's Run for Women 5-kilometer race.
JUDI ST. HILAIRE - 31, Fall River, Mass.
One of the most successful athletes on the road racing circuit over the last two years.
St. Hilaire, who was injured through much of the 1980s, last ran in Albany in 1989, when she set a U.S. 5K road record with a winning time of 15:26. Since then, she has been one of the most consistent distance runners in the country.
In 1990, St. Hilaire skipped the Run for Women but did win two prestigious women-only races: the Nike Women's 8K (25:10) in Washington, D.C., and the L'Eggs Mini Marathon 10K (32:26) in New York. She also became the first woman ever to break 15 minutes in a 5K with her 14:57 at the Fall River 5K. That race, however, was contested on a point-to-point course with a significant drop in elevation and was therefore not eligible for record consideration.
In February of this year she officially lowered her own U.S. 5K record to 15:25 with a victory in the Edison Festival of Lights 5K in Fort Myers, Fla.
CAROLE ROUILLARD - 31, Beauport, Canada.
A versatile, talented athlete who has excelled at distances from 1,500 meters to the marathon.
Rouillard is one of Canada's most accomplished runners, and 1990 was one of her finest years. Although she did not run a 5,000, she did record times of 9:13 for 3,000 meters, 32:49 for 10,000 and 2:32:28 for the marathon. The last two performances were the fastest by any Canadian in 1990.
Interestingly, Rouillard is competing in the Run for Women only because of a recent setback. Her training has been geared toward longer distances, and she had hoped to run well at last month's Boston Marathon. Instead, she was bothered by leg cramps and dropped out at 18 miles. That was a disappointment, but because she did not complete the full distance, Rouillard was able to bounce back fairly quickly.
GWYN COOGAN - 25, Lincoln, Mass.
A relative newcomer - not merely to the ranks of the elite, but to the sport of running in general.
Coogan is a former field hockey player who began running competitively midway through college. Despite the late start she has had a great deal of success, particularly in track and cross-country. She finished third in the 3,000 meters at the TAC championships in 1989, and later that year finished third in the national cross-country championships.
Coogan has a 5,000-meter personal best of 15:42, established indoors last January, and also ran 33:09.9 in her first 10K on the track last month. She has very little experience on the roads.
SAMMIE GDOWSKI - 24, Minneapolis.
Emerged as one of America's most promising young runners with a series of good races in 1990.
First, Gdowski won the 10,000 at the highly competitive Mount SAC Relays with a time of 32:34. Then she finished third in the 5,000 at the TAC championships in 15:51.54. She capped the season with a personal best 5K of 15:45.29 during an outdoor meet in Europe.
FRANCOISE GARCEAU - 28, Berthierville, Canada.
Like Rouillard, a member of the Montreal Olympic Club, home to many of Canada's top distance runners.
According to club coach Martin Goulet, Garceau has been training extremely well and should have a good race in Albany. She has PRs of 9:10 for 3,000 meters and 15:53 for 5,000.
ROSALIND TAYLOR - 23, Lanham, Md.
A five-time All-America at the University of Maryland.
Taylor finished ninth in the 1990 Run for Women with a time of 16:13. She has a 5K best of 15:58 and a 3,000- meter best of 9:00.68. Two months ago, she won the Shamrock 8K in Virginia Beach, Va., with a time of 26:45.
KATHY KANES - 29, Medford, Mass.
Sixth-place finisher in last year's Run for Women with a time of 16:03. Kanes also ran a personal best 9:09.97 for 3,000 meters at the TAC championships, good enough for fifth place.
INGE SCHUURMANS - 28, Boulder, Colo.
Finished 10th in the highly competitive Carlsbad 5,000 in California last month with a time of 16:07. Has a 10K PR of 33:26. Schuurmans is reportedly training well and extremely fit.
KRISTY JOHNSTON - 25, Eugene, Ore.
Although primarily a track runner, Johnston kicked off 1991 by making her marathon debut. Not bad, either; she finished eighth at the Houston Tenneco Marathon in 2:39:45. Since then, she has run 32:56.1 for 10,000 meters, indicating she should be competitive here today.
CARMEN AYALA-TRONCOSO - 32, Austin, Texas.
Although she finished eighth in the 3,000 with a time of 9:15.75 at the 1990 TAC championships, Ayala- Troncoso's reputation has been forged on the roads. Already this year she has run 16:02 for 5K and 33:37 for 10K.
LISA PRESEDO - 26, Baton Rouge, La.
Presedo has a 5K PR of 16:02. She also has a major marathon victory to her credit, having finished first in the Toronto Marathon last September.
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