Cincinnati runner speeds to victory

Henry Dennis ran like a Kenyan for a runawaywin in the 10-k Sunday.
By JOHN KOVACH
VINDICATOR SPORTS STAFF
YOUNGSTOWN -- There were no fleet-footed Kenyans in the Peace Race field for the first time in recent history, which gave American runners a golden opportunity to take the spotlight in the 28th annual event Sunday.
However, Henry Dennis of Cincinnati really didn't need any kind of no-Kenyan advantage because he ran just like a Kenyan, speeding to a personal-record 29:55 clocking for a runaway victory in the 10-kilometer (6-mile) run through Mill Creek Park.
Dennis, 27, a Colerain High and University of Wisconsin graduate, left the field in the dust and beat runner-up Matt Folk, 26, of Boardman by a wide margin of 1 minute, 7 seconds.
His best 10-k
"That's my fastest 10-k run ever," said Dennis, who placed fourth in the U.S. 5-K Championship a month ago. "The weather was really nice, the course is mostly downhill. It was a nice course to run fast on.
"I wasn't really thinking about running a fast time. Mostly I was just trying to run hard," Dennis said. "I was not really challenged. I wanted to stay in a comfort zone. I could have run a lot faster, but I wanted to stay consistent."
Folk, an assistant track and cross country coach at Youngstown State University, placed second in 31:02. Last year, he was seventh in 30:13.
"I didn't go out very aggressive," said Folk, a graduate of Oregon (Ohio) High and YSU. "I sat back early. I'm doing a marathon [Chicago] next weekend. I was just trying to hold off the guy [behind me] in third, not for time, just for place.
"I probably let [Dennis] get away at the beginning," Folk said. "I probably could have stayed with him for the first 2-3 miles. He's just got more leg speed. He's real good at shorter distances."
Best in Ohio
Folk is very familiar with Dennis' up-and-coming running ability, and called him "probably the best road racer in Ohio [right now].
"I raced him a couple of times this summer," Folk said. "He beat me twice."
Dennis was pleased with Folk's assessment of his running skills.
"It's a nice compliment," Dennis said. "There's a lot of people who can make that claim."
Dennis admits he continues to improve.
"The last five years I have been running faster and faster every year," Dennis said. "It blows me away. I have a lot of potential even ahead for me. I'm not at my peak. Not close."
Folk finished 14 seconds ahead of Rob Murray, 25, of Cuyahoga Falls who was third in 31:16.
Murray was followed by Rick Williamson, 29, in 32:22 and Kevin Gorby, 33, Twinsburg in 32:38 to complete the top five.
In the men's 2-mile fun run/walk, an unidentified runner won in 11:19 ahead of the three Lape brothers -- Bob, Jake and Rich -- who placed second, third and fourth, respectively.
Bob Lape, 19, clocked 11:32 as did Jake Lape, 14, while Rick Lape, also 14, turned in 11:36. Bill Hess, 38, of Niles was fifth in 11:38.
kovach@vindy.com