Pontiac man conquers 8K, now eyes main race

8K RUN
FLINT
THE FLINT JOURNAL FIRST EDITION
Sunday, August 24, 2003
By Greg Tunnicliff
JOURNAL SPORTS WRITER

Eric Green can finally run the Crim 10-mile race.

The Pontiac resident refused to run the event's signature race until he conquered the 8K race. The 1987 Pontiac Northern High graduate can now move on.

Green finished in 26:24 to take first place, eight seconds faster than David Vandermeer of Wyoming. Rochester's Dave McCauley was third in 28:15.

"I've been doing this race since my early college years and I told myself I wouldn't move up until I won," Green said. "I can finally run the 10-mile."

Kelly French of Barrie, Ontario, was the women's overall winner in 31:25. Allen Park's Jennifer Furlong came in

second in 31:37 and Detroit's Kelly Sampson took third in 31:41.

Green has been an avid runner for quite some time. The 35-year-old ran cross country and track at Northwest Missouri State where he was an Division II All-American in track in the 800.

He always entered the 8K as a means of preparing himself for his college season. Since entering his first Crim 8K in 1988, Green has been consumed with winning the event.

From 1997 to 2002, he had five top-five finishes, including runner-up finishes in 1999, 2000 and 2002. His time this year broke his previous best of 27:18 in 2000.

"The first time I was runner-up, I told myself I can win this," Green said. "I have friends who always tell me to do the 10-mile, but I always tell them I have to win this first."

French was one of only three women to finish in the top 20 spots overall. The 28-year-old took 12th.

Furlong came in 14th and Sampson 16th.