History of the Peace Race

The Vision

The Youngstown Peace Race was founded in 1975 in an effort to bring together athletes from around the world for a day of competition, friendship and understanding. At the time, the country was still reeling from the effects of Viet Nam, but Jack Cessna – a Youngstown runner and activist – took the first step to unite people peacefully through running by initiating the race.

The History

Today – 37 years later – the Youngstown Peace Race remains as an annual running event that celebrates Youngstown, running and beauty of MIll Creek Park. This race has hosted many of the world’s most celebrated runners and has fulfilled the vision of its founder. That first year, the race was a 25k run though Mill Creek Park. In 1979 an additional race – the 10k – was added. The 25k was eliminated in 1989, and today this world-class event remains a 10k with an additional 2 mile fun run/walk.

Records

Men – Salvatore Garcia, Mexico, 1989 – 27:54

Women – Liz McColgan, Scotland, 1991 – 31:35

 

The Mission

To provide a community event that celebrates the sport of running, the spirit of the athlete and the momentary heartbeat of peace.

The Athletes

They come from all over the world. They come for the competition. They come to celebrate peace. For the past 37 years, champions have come to Youngstown to be a part of this exciting event.

PEACE RACE PAGE OF CHAMPIONS

Compiled by Guy Pizzoferrato and Ted Rupe

Of the thousands of races being run in the world today, four stand out as the most prominent – The Olympic Games, the World Championships, the Boston Marathon and the New York City Marathon. The athletes listed below have competed in the Peace Race AND have won one of these prestigious events.

Some runners like Olga Markova and Salvatore Garcia have used-the Peace Race as a stepping stone to success while others like Frank Shorter and Bill Rodgers were invited to the Peace Race as a reward for their success.

The Peace Race would like to congratulate these fine athletes for their outstanding achievements.

OLYMPIC CHAMPIONS

  • Lasse Viren         1972 5,000 Meters and 10,000 Meters;  1976 5,000 Meters and 10,000 Meters
  • Frank Shorter     1972 Olympic Marathon

WORLD CHAMPIONS

  • Rob DeCastella                  1983 Marathon
  • Liz McColgan      1991 10,000 Meters

BOSTON MARATHON

  • Bill Rodgers         1975, 1978, 1979, 1980
  • Jack Fultz              1976
  • Jerome Drayton 1977
  • Rob DeCastella                  1986
  • Olga Markova    1992, 1993

NEW YORK CITY MARATHON

  • Tom Fleming       1973, 1975
  • Bill Rodgers         1976, 1977, 1978, 1979
  • Orlando Pizzolato 1984, 1985
  • Steve Jones         1988
  • Salvatore Garcia 1992
  • Liz McColgan      1991

World Records set by Peace Race Participants:

  • Rob DeCastella – 2:08:18 1981 Fukuoka Marathon, Japan
  • Steve Jones – 2:08:05 1984 Chicago Marathon

World XC Champion that have competed in the Peace Race:

John Treacey,  Ireland   1978-1979

Julie Brown, USA  1975

 

PEACE RACE 10K CHAMPIONS

 

2010 – Andrew Carnes (USA)

2009 – Matt Folk (USA)

2008 – Abdelaziz Atmani (El Salvador)

2007 – Matt Folk (USA)

2006 – Nicodemus Malakwen (Kenya)

2005 – Matt Folk (USA)

2004 – Gareth Price (UK)

2003 – Jim Jurcevich

2002 – Henry Dennis (USA)

2001 – Moses Macharia (Kenya)

2000 – Thomas Omwenga (Kenya)

1999 – Julias Gwako (Kenya)

1998 – Jared Segera (Kenya)

1997 – Charles Mulinga (Zambia)

1996 – Paul Aufdemberge (USA)

1995 – Sean Dollman (Ireland)

1994 – Jimmy Hearld (USA)

1993 – Mike Michno (USA)

1992 – Keith Dowling (USA)

1991 – Keith Brantly (USA)

1990 – Salvatore Garcia (Mexico)

1989 – Salvatore Garcia (Mexico)

1988 – Evegeni lgntov (Bulgaria)

1987 – Zakarie Berm (Tanzania)

1986 – Rob DeCastella (Australia)

1985 – Collin Peddle (USA)

1984 – John Woods (Ireland)

1983 – Zakarie Barie (Tanzania)

1982 – Jose Gomez (Mexico)

1981 – Domingo Tabiduiza (Columbia)

1980 – Zakarie Barie (Tanzania)

1979 – Carl Hatfield (USA)

Men’s Record – Salvatore Garcia, 1989 – 27:54

2010 – Salome Kosgei

2009 – Jessica Kuhr Odorcic (USA)

2008 – Leigh Daniel

2007 – Lyndsay Benedict

2006 – Magdalene Mukunzi (Kenya)

2005 – Jessica Kuhr (USA)

2004 – Brianna Shook (USA)

2003 – Anjanette Arabian Whitman

2002 – Debbi Kilpatrick (USA)

2001 – Jacqueline Torori (Kenya)

2000 – Lucia Subano (Kenya)

1999 – Karen Harvey (USA)

1998 – Michelle King (Canada)

1997 – Karen Harvey (USA)

1996 – Terri Lemke (USA)

1995 – Lioudmila Alexeeff (Canada)

1994 – Danuta Bartoezek (Canada)

1993 – Jennifer Martin (USA)

1992 – Laurie Gomez-Henes (USA)

1991 – Liz McColgan (Scotland)

1990 – Elaine Van Slunk (USA)

1989 – Elaine Van Blunk (USA)

1988 – May Allison (Canada)

1987 – Susan Tooby (Wales)

1986 – Lynn MacDoughall ((USA)

1985 – Cindie Welte (USA)

1984 – Chris Hughes (New Zealand)

1983 – Anne Audain (New Zealand)

1982 – Julie Brown (USA)

1981 – Marionette Bean (Bermuda)

1980 – Sissel Grottenberg (Norway)

1979 – Sissel Grottenberg (Norway)

Women’s Record – Liz McColgan, 1991 – 31:35


25K Peace Race Champions – the 25K was competed from 1975-1988


1975 – John Vitale

1976 – Frank Shorter

1977 – Bill Rodgers (1:17:37)

1978 – Randy Thomas and Malcolm East (1:16:14)

1979 – Malcolm East

1980 – Kyle Heffner (1:16:05)

1981 – Randy Thomas (1:15:27)

1982 – Richard Marczak (1:18:41)

1983 – Gary Siriano (1:18:15)

1984 – Pete Pfitzinger (1:17:34)

1985 – Roy Dooney (1:18:31)

1986 – Zakanie Barie (1:20:44)

1987 – Shemi Sabag (1:2 1:14)

1988 – Carlos Roa (1:19:47)

Men’s Record – Randy Thomas, 1981 – 1:15:27

1975 – ?

1976 – ?

1977 – ?

1978 – Sandra Grahm (1:47:30)

1979 – Jane Buch (1:39:26)

1980 – Nancy Mieazezak (1:36:05)

1981 – Sissel Grottenberg (1:35:01)

1982 – Jane Buch (1:33:16)

1983 – Barbara Filutze (1:35:07)

1984 – Michelle Rupe (1:35:19)

1985 – Sherry Macon (1:39:30)

1986 – Jane Buch (1:35:25)

1987 – Michelle Rupe (1:39:19)

1988 – Susan Borawaski (1:39:10)

Women’s Record – Jane Buch, 1982 – 1:33:16

 

Historical Photos