Chase for records expected at Crazy 8s

KINGSPORT — A little bit closer to race day than usual, the annual press conference for the Ballad Heath and Niswonger Children’s Hospital Crazy 8s eight-kilometer road race took place on Friday at the Food City on Eastman Road.

The 34th edition of the race will take place next Saturday through the candle-lit streets of the Model City and the chase for records will be on.

One of the largest road races in the Southeast, Crazy 8s will serve as the USA Track and Field men’s and women’s 8K national championship races presented by Gatorade. The races will go off at approximately 8:58 p.m.

The $10,008 American record bonus will be both for the men and women. The men will be chasing Alberto Salazar’s 1981 mark (22:04), while the women will be aiming for Deena Kastor’s time from 2005 (24:36).

The existing world-best — following Rhonex Kipruto’s six-year ban in June by World Athletics for multiple failed doping tests — is 21:51 set by Ethiopia’s Deriba Merga in 2011.

The top 10 in each championship race will receive prize money, including $10,000 to each winner.

“The idea is to go back to USATF next year and bid three years for both (men and women),” event co-director Hank Brown said. “We want to keep this rolling, and we love having the national championships. It’s been a great thing for Crazy 8s and the community.

“The first year we had the national championships, it was literally a photo finish and Conner Mantz got second. Last year, Clayton Young came in and won by just a few seconds. Leonard Korir, who was third, wasn’t far behind. Those three names — Mantz, Young and Korir — will represent the USA in the marathon. That says a lot for Crazy 8s.”

In addition to the announced field, Rachel Smith — who represented the United States in the 2021 Tokyo Olympics — and Taylor Roe have committed to the women’s field. Roe — a recent Oklahoma State graduate that finished eighth in the 5,000 at the US Olympic Trials — will be one of the early favorites with her personal-best of 15:15.

A couple of additions to the men’s field include Willy Fink and Ahmed Muhumed, who will join early favorites like Isai Rodriguez.

The first medal of the Crazy 8s was given to Lucy Fleming, who served as the Kingsport Fun Fest director from 1996 until 2020. Current Fun Fest director Emily Thompson spoke highly of her mentor, who could not attend the press conference because of civic duties.

“When Hank called and said this was who they wanted to receive the medal this year, there was no question from the side of Fun Fest on how important Lucy has been,” Thompson said. “I was blessed to work under Lucy for almost all of her 25 years of Fun Fest. She is a very important piece to what we do in this community and to me.”

There was also a slight change announced about the start of the race. The USATF championship races for both the men and the women will go off one minute before the start of the masses to ensure a clean getaway for both races.

It was also announced that the race will be dedicated this year to those that have either lost their battle or are currently battling Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS) or Lou Gehrig’s Disease. Brown spoke movingly about his sister, Connie Leonard, who was recently diagnosed with the disease.

One of his other sisters, Liza Jameson Brown, will walk in her place in the Almost Crazy 3K and will wear her sister’s bib number.

“Personally, ALS is hitting even closer to home for me this year,” Brown said. “(Leonard) is still in the early stages but is in great spirits. I’m personally dedicating the race to my sister. My sister, Liza, will wear Connie’s bib and walk in the 3K in her honor. Even though Connie is unable to walk, Liza will make sure she crosses the finish line for everyone that is battling ALS.”

One more award was announced on Friday. The top Kingsport resident finisher will receive the Paul Codispoti Award, who died earlier this year after losing his battle with ALS.

“We want to keep the memory of those like Paul, Josh Waddell and Phil Timp alive in the running community,” Brown said. “The Paul Codispoti Award will go to the first Kingsport male and female finisher in the 8K. That’s something new this year.”