As the delicate pink flowers—known as “sakura” in Japan—fell to the ground like scattered snow in Washington D.C. this weekend, so too did the American men’s 10 mile record fall at the famous race dedicated to its namesake, the Cherry Blossom 10 Mile.
After a night of howling winds that lifted fully bloomed cherry blossoms, well past their prime, from their branches, Hillary Bor broke the 40-year-old record of 46:13 by two seconds, finishing just behind Ethiopian runner Tsegay Kidanu, whose winning time was 46:08. The two men ran together, and finished with nearly a full minute gap between Bor’s finish and the third place runner. The race also served as the USATF 10 Mile National Championships, so while Bor didn’t win the race, he walked away with the national title in addition to setting the new American record.
Today, Bor How to Watch the 2024 U.S. Olympic Track Trials on Instagram, saying that this was his final road race before heading back to the track, and calling former record holder Greg Meyer—who spectated the race—a “legend.”
In a statement, Meyer said it was exciting “to see the record fall on the 40th anniversary of my setting it and the 50th anniversary of the race.” He shared dinner with Bor the night before the competition, and said, “That capped a perfect race weekend. Hillary ran a spectacular race in tough conditions.”
On the women’s side, though no records were broken, Sara Hall also placed second overall and became the 2023 U.S. 10 Mile champion, with her time of 52:37. Ugandan Sarah Chelangat won in 52:04, pulling away from the front pack midway through the race and holding her position.
In an Instagram post Hillary Bor Sets New American Record at the Cherry Blossom 10 Mile her husband and kids, she wrote, “You never know unless you show up.” She continued, “Putting yourself out there when you’re not sure what your body is going to give you is only possible if you’re ok with failing. I’ve failed enough in my career that though I don’t enjoy it, I’d rather take the shot. Glad I did today- loved getting to compete against this gritty field of women! Missed this so much.”
The day before the race, Hall said she was just getting her “mojo” back after a nasty flu that turned out to be COVID. It was the national champion’s last stop before tackling Boston, which will take place just a few days after her 40th birthday.
Abby Carney is a writer and journalist in New York. A former D1 college runner and current amateur track athlete, she's written about culture and characters in running and outdoor sports for Runner's World, Shoes & Gear, Guide to Mental Health, and other outlets. She also writes about things that have nothing to do with running, and was previously the editor of a food magazine.
