Cherry Blossom Ten Mile Run

The official race logo

The Cherry Blossom Ten Mile Run is an annual 10-mile (16 km) road race in Washington, D.C. Founded in 1973 originally as a precursor training run for elite runners planning to compete in the Boston Marathon, the race has evolved over the years into a local race for runners of all abilities. Nevertheless, it still attracts international running stars such as Catherine Ndereba, Bill Rodgers, John Korir, and Olga Romanova.

The race is scheduled for the first Sunday of each April, meant to coincide with the bloom of the cherry blossoms given as a gift in 1912 from the mayor of Tokyo. The race is part of the National Cherry Blossom Festival of late March and early April in the city.

The race course covers many historic and memorable sights in Washington, D.C. Among the landmarks along the route are the Jefferson Memorial, the Franklin Delano Roosevelt Memorial, the Washington Monument, Arlington National Cemetery, the Lincoln Memorial, the Watergate complex, Rock Creek Park, and the Tidal Basin.

Past winners

Key: Course record

Edition	Year	Men's winner	Time (h:m:s)	Women's winner	Time (h:m:s)
1st	1973	Sam Bair (USA)	51:22	Kathrine Switzer (USA)	1:11:19
2nd	1974	Jack Mahurin (USA)	50:50	Carol Fridley (USA)	1:02:48
3rd	1975	Carl Hatfield (USA)	51:47	Julie Shea (USA)	59:55
4th	1976	Carl Hatfield (USA)	49:09	Julie Shea (USA)	57:04
5th	1977	Dan Rincon (USA)	49:44	Julie Shea (USA)	56:08
6th	1978	Bill Rodgers (USA)	48:58	Jennifer White (USA)	56:35
7th	1979	Bill Rodgers (USA)	48:01	Aileen O'Connor (USA)	56:03
8th	1980	Bill Rodgers (USA)	47:09	Anne Hird (USA)	55:34
9th	1981	Bill Rodgers (USA)	47:17	Laurie Binder (USA)	56:44
10th	1982	Terry Baker (USA)	49:29	Eleanor Simonsick (USA)	58:16
11th	1983	Greg Meyer (USA)	46:13	Eleanor Simonsick (USA)	53:46
12th	1984	Simon Kigen (KEN)	47:26	Rosa Mota (POR)	54:16
13th	1985	Simon Kigen (KEN)	46:24	Lisa Rainsberger (USA)	53:30
14th	1986	Thom Hunt (USA)	46:15	Rosa Mota (POR)	53:09
15th	1987	Jon Sinclair (USA)	46:48	Lisa Ondieki (AUS)	52:23
16th	1988	Jean-Pierre Ndayisenga (BDI)	47:33	Anne Audain (NZL)	53:26
17th	1989	Brian Sheriff (ZIM)	46:43	Lisa Rainsberger (USA)	52:34
18th	1990	Chris Fox (USA)	47:06	Lisa Rainsberger (USA)	52:38
19th	1991	Carl Thackery (GBR)	46:26	Jill Boltz (GBR)	51:57
20th	1992	Richard Chelimo (KEN)	47:06	Albina Gallyamova (RUS)	53:44
21st	1993	William Sigei (KEN)	46:29	Judi St. Hilaire (USA)	52:27
22nd	1994	William Sigei (KEN)	46:01	Hellen Chepngeno (KEN)	54:05
23rd	1995	Ismael Kirui (KEN)	45:38	Rose Cheruiyot Kosgei (KEN)	51:40
24th	1996	Lazarus Nyakeraka (KEN)	46:37	Joan Nesbit (USA)	53:25
25th	1997	Peter Githuka Mwangi (KEN)	46:29	Valentina Yegorova (RUS)	54:28
26th	1998	Simon Rono (KEN)	45:51	Colleen De Reuck (RSA)	51:16
27th	1999	Worku Bikila (ETH)	46:59	Jane Omoro (KEN)	53:37
28th	2000	Reuben Cheruiyot (KEN)	46:07	Teresa Wanjiku (KEN)	55:53
29th	2001	John Korir Kipsang (KEN)	46:12	Elana Meyer (RSA)	52:16
30th	2002	Reuben Cheruiyot (KEN)	47:13	Luminița Talpoș (ROM)	52:50
31st	2003	John Korir Kipsang (KEN)	46:56	Olga Romanova (RUS)	53:43
32nd	2004	Nelson Kiplagat Birgen (KEN)	48:12	Isabella Ochichi (KEN)	52:07
33rd	2005	John Korir Kipsang (KEN)	46:55	Nuța Olaru (ROM)	52:01
34th	2006	Gilbert Okari (KEN)	47:25	Lidiya Grigoryeva (RUS)	52:11
35th	2007	Tadese Tola (ETH)	46:00.7	Teyba Erkesso (ETH)	51:43.4
36th	2008	Ridouane Harroufi (MAR)	46:14	Lineth Chepkurui (KEN)	54:21
37th	2009	Ridouane Harroufi (MAR)	45:56	Lineth Chepkurui (KEN)	53:32
38th	2010	Stephen Tum (KEN)	45:43	Lineth Chepkurui (KEN)	51:51
39th	2011	Lelisa Desisa (ETH)	45:36	Julliah Kerubo Tinega (KEN)	54:02
40th	2012	Allan Kiprono (KEN)	45:15	Julliah Kerubo Tinega (KEN)	54:02
41st	2013	Daniel Salel Lemashon (KEN)	46:06	Caroline Rotich Cheptanui (KEN)	52:46
42nd	2014	Stephen Sambu (KEN)	45:29	Mamitu Daska (ETH)	52:05
43rd	2015	Stephen Sambu (KEN)	43:20*	Mary Wacera (KEN)	48:35*