It has been a profitable early season for CRR Diane Kukich, who has been targeting Delaware age-group records since she turned 70 this past February.
Having already eclipsed the 5K and 15K records in March and April, respectively, Kukich completed her trifecta within the 70-74 age group on May 14 by setting a new state record in the 10K at the St. Michael’s (Md.) Running Festival. Her time was 53:25, smashing the 2016-set mark by 55 seconds.
Kukich now holds four of the 17 state age-group records that are held by Creek Road Runners and admits that “three records in three months was intense.”
Next, she’ll be setting her sights on and training for her first marathon, which she wants to run and “just finish” on November 3.
About every five years, CRR Diane Kukich hears opportunity knocking at her door—specifically, looking at the age-group state records that may be within her grasp. Well, it didn’t take long for Kukich, who turned 70 in February, to take aim at and break a couple state age-group records.
Record breaker CRR Diane Kukich with running daughter Christine in Philadelphia
On March 5 at the Attack Addiction 5K in New Castle, Kukich placed first among the 70-and-overs, finishing as the 25th female and 103rd overall out of the massive local field of 1,567, with a 25:08. Her time eclipsed the old 70-74 state record by 47 seconds.
Perhaps even more impressive was the most recent record she broke, which had stood for 31 years. At the Hot Chocolate 15K in Philadelphia on April 2, amid 1,779 runners from all over the East Coast as well as a few other parts of the country, Kukich smashed the Delaware 70-74 age group record for the 15K (9.3-mile) distance—a long race for her—by a whopping 6:05! She crossed the line in 1:28:13, finishing as the top 70-and-over female and placing 305th among all women and 549th overall.
Five years ago, Kukich broke and still holds Delaware’s 65-69 age-group record for the five-mile distance as well. For a time, she held the 10-mile record in the 50-54 age group, and, until last year, also held the 20K record in that same age group.
Runners who joined for the Simmons farewell run included (front row) Bill Rose, Sue Simmons, Bob Bennett, and (back row) Mark Deshon, Dan Simmons, Shawn Alexander, Doug Repetti, Diane Kukich, Steve Goodwin, April Hubbard, and Bruce Hubbard. (photo by Doug Baker)
Runners and friends gathered on Friday to give an official farewell to CRR Dan Simmons and his wife, Sue. The event was highlighted by a simple out-and-back fun run of about 5K along Creek Road (where else?), then those who could make it shared lunch with Dan and Sue at the Deer Park Tavern. They will be moving to California in the near future and will be missed.
CreekRoadRunners.org 