Amway River Bank Run

Last updated
Amway River Bank Run
DateMay
Location Grand Rapids, Michigan, United States
Event typeRoad
Distance5K, 10K, 25K
Established1978
Official site amwayriverbankrun.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 Amway agreed to take over primary sponsorship of the race from Fifth Third Bank. [2]

Contents

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 East Kentwood High School in Kentwood, 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 AClass B
Men185-199 lbs200+ lbs
Women145-154 lbs155+ 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

EditionYearMen's winnerTime (h:m:s)Women's winnerTime (h:m:s)
1st1978Flag of the United States.svg  Bill Rodgers  (USA)1:17:24Flag of the United States.svg  Diane Culp  (USA)1:42:09
2nd1979Flag of the United States.svg  Greg Meyer  (USA)1:14:29Flag of the United States.svg  Cheryl Bridges  (USA)1:36:39
3rd1980Flag of the United States.svg  Greg Meyer  (USA)1:16:02Flag of the United States.svg  Karen Blackford  (USA)1:37:46
4th1981Flag of the United States.svg  Herb Lindsay  (USA)1:14:09Flag of the United States.svg  Joan Samuelson  (USA)1:26:21
5th1982Flag of the United States.svg  Greg Meyer  (USA)1:15:00Flag of the United States.svg  Joan Samuelson  (USA)1:26:31
6th1983Flag of the United States.svg  Greg Meyer  (USA)1:16:49Flag of the United States.svg  Jeanne Lasee  (USA)1:31:08
7th1984Flag of the United States.svg  Doug Kurtis  (USA)1:17:56Flag of the United States.svg  Diane Gentry  (USA)1:32:18
8th1985Flag of the United States.svg  Greg Meyer  (USA)1:16:58Flag of the United States.svg  Joan Samuelson  (USA)1:27:25
9th1986Flag of the United States.svg  Greg Meyer  (USA)1:16:38Flag of the United States.svg  Joan Samuelson  (USA)1:24:43
10th1987Flag of the United States.svg  Greg Meyer  (USA)1:16:12Flag of the United States.svg  Diane Gentry  (USA)1:28:17
11th1988Flag of the United States.svg  Mark Smith  (USA)1:15:56Flag of the United States.svg  Diane Gentry  (USA)1:28:39
12th1989Flag of Zimbabwe.svg  Brian Sheriff  (ZIM)1:16:34Flag of the United States.svg  Diane Gentry  (USA)1:25:34
13th1990Flag of Zimbabwe.svg  Brian Sheriff  (ZIM)1:15:26Flag of the United States.svg  Diane Gentry  (USA)1:27:02
14th1991Flag of South Africa.svg  Mark Plaatjes  (RSA)1:15:31Flag of Brazil.svg  Márcia Narloch  (BRA)1:28:29
15th1992Flag of the United States.svg  Bill Reifsnyder  (USA)1:14:47Flag of Mexico.svg  Olga Appell  (MEX)1:26:47
16th1993Flag of the United States.svg  Jerry Lawson  (USA)1:16:06Flag of Mexico.svg  Olga Appell  (MEX)1:27:27
17th1994Flag of Kenya.svg  Simon Karori  (KEN)1:15:01Flag of the United States.svg  Olga Appell  (USA)1:25:26
18th1995Flag of the United States.svg  Keith Brantly  (USA)1:15:20Flag of the United States.svg  Elaine Van Blunk  (USA)1:27:14
19th1996Flag of the United States.svg  Alfredo Vigueras  (USA)1:15:21Flag of the United States.svg  Jane Welzel  (USA)1:29:47
20th1997Flag of Kenya.svg  John Kagwe  (KEN)1:15:21Flag of the United States.svg  Kim Jones  (USA)1:26:54
21st1998Flag of Kenya.svg  Joseph Kariuki  (KEN)1:13:55Flag of Kenya.svg  Margaret Kagiri  (KEN)1:28:46
22nd1999Flag of Kenya.svg  Joseph Kariuki  (KEN)1:14:09Flag of Kenya.svg  Teresa Wanjiku  (KEN)1:26:51
23rd2000Flag of Kenya.svg  Joseph Kariuki  (KEN)1:16:26Flag of Russia.svg  Svetlana Zakharova  (RUS)1:27:35
24th2001Flag of Kenya.svg  John Kagwe  (KEN)1:14:06Flag of Russia.svg  Svetlana Zakharova  (RUS)1:24:39
25th2002Flag of Kenya.svg  Ronald Mogaka  (KEN)1:13:56Flag of Kenya.svg  Teresa Wanjiku  (KEN)1:26:57
26th2003Flag of the United States.svg  Dan Browne  (USA)1:16:13Flag of Russia.svg  Albina Ivanova  (RUS)1:27:28
27th2004Flag of Kenya.svg  Simon Wangai  (KEN)1:15:16Flag of Russia.svg  Alevtina Ivanova  (RUS)1:26:39
28th2005Flag of Kenya.svg  Simon Wangai  (KEN)1:13:27Flag of the United States.svg  Colleen De Reuck  (USA)1:25:15
29th2006Flag of the United States.svg  Fernando Cabada  (USA)1:14:21Flag of Russia.svg  Viktoriya Klimina  (RUS)1:27:47
30th2007Flag of Kenya.svg  Julius Kibet Kosgei  (KEN)1:14:25Flag of the United States.svg  Katie McGregor  (USA)1:25:54
31st2008Flag of the United States.svg  Brian Sell  (USA)1:15:07Flag of Kenya.svg  Caroline Chepkorir Kwambai  (KEN)1:29:32
32nd2009Flag of Kenya.svg  Isaac Kemboi Kimaiyo  (KEN)1:15:36Flag of Kenya.svg  Genoveva Kigen  (KEN)1:27:16
33rd2010Flag of the United States.svg  Andrew Carlson  (USA)1:14:42Flag of Ethiopia.svg  Firehiwot Dado  (ETH)1:23:46
34th2011Flag of the United States.svg  Fernando Cabada  (USA)1:15:41Flag of the United States.svg  Molly Pritz  (USA)1:25:38
35th2012Flag of Kenya.svg  Robert Kiprotich Letting  (KEN)1:15:10Flag of the United States.svg  Janet Cherobon-Bawcom  (USA)1:24:36
36th2013Flag of Kenya.svg  Julius Kipyego Keter  (KEN)1:14:07Flag of Kenya.svg  Chemutai Rionotukei  (KEN)1:25:45
37th2014Flag of Eritrea.svg  Samson Gebreyohanes Gezahai  (ERI)1:14:08Flag of the United States.svg  Kellyn Johnson  (USA)1:25:26
38th2015Flag of the United States.svg  Jared Ward  (USA)1:14:45Flag of the United States.svg  Lindsey Scherf  (USA)1:26:35
39th2016Flag of the United States.svg  Christo Landry  (USA)1:15:31Flag of the United States.svg  Aliphine Tuliamuk-Bolton  (USA)1:25:35
40th2017Flag of the United States.svg  Dathan Ritzenhein  (USA)1:14:27.0Flag of the United States.svg  Aliphine Tuliamuk  (USA)1:24:35.1
41st2018Flag of the United States.svg  Sam Chelanga  (USA)1:14:52Flag of the United States.svg  Aliphine Tuliamuk  (USA)1:25:35
42nd2019Flag of the United States.svg Parker Stinson (USA)1:13:48 AR Flag of the United States.svg  Emma Bates  (USA)1:23:51

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References

  1. 1 2 "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. 1 2 "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. 1 2 3 "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