Monday, March 26, 2001
Familiar winners in Heart race
Sence, Tranter distance themselves from rest
By Neil Schmidt
The Cincinnati Enquirer
Runners like cool weather, but Sunday morning was downright cold. And John Sence and Jill Tranter froze the field.
The two former champions dominated the 24th annual Humana/ChoiceCare Heart Mini-Marathon, winning the 15K race by nearly two minutes apiece. Despite temperatures in the low 30s and a bitter wind, Sence ran a 46:07, 21 seconds better than his prior best in this race, and Tranter went 55:12, 1:20 faster than her best.
“This is never old hat; it's always fun,” Sence said. “It's the most gratifying, because everyone's pulling for you.”
The 31-year-old from Milford won this race in 1998 and '99 but didn't run it last year while training for the Olympic Marathon Trials. He pulled a hamstring shortly before the Trials and was disappointed in his 40th-place finish.
“I feel like I'm getting back in shape now and everything's coming together again,” Sence said.
Sence is pointing toward the USA Track & Field 25K Championships on May 12 in Grand Rapids, Mich. He won that national title in 1997 and '98.
Sence's training partner, T.J. Lentz, finished second Sunday in 48:02, and Dan Flaute (49:02) finished third for a second consecutive year.
Tranter, a 30-year-old from Florence, repeated as women's 15K champ. Two years ago, she missed the race because she was 7 1/2 months pregnant with her daughter, Macey.
“Last year was my first year of solid running after the baby, so I'm definitely pleased with my progress,” Tranter said.
Tranter plans to run the Xenia Half-Marathon April 7 and the five-mile event of the Flying Pig Marathon on May 6.
“This (distance) is kind of a challenge for me,” Tranter said. “I consider myself more of a 5K runner.”
Amy Beatty of Beavercreek, Ohio, second in 57:22.
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Familiar winners in Heart race
