2023 Philadelphia Distance Run Champs

By mitchpa on September 18, 2023 • ( 0 )

Interviews by David Block

The men’s field of the 2023 Philadelphia Distance Run (PDR) came down to a one-on-one showdown between this year’s winner, Panuel Mkungo 1:00:48 and runner-up James Ngandu 1:01:21. Ngandu won the PDR last year clocking a slower finishing time of 1:02:01.

After five miles Mkungo and Ngandu broke away from the rest of the runners where they vied for the first place cash prize of $2,500.00. No runner caught them.

“James is my friend,” said Mkungo. “I was happy to run with him.”

At the seven-mile mark on MLK Drive, the two Kenyan elites posted 32:18. The two stayed neck and neck at eight miles clocking 36:57.

When Mkungo saw his 10-mile split (46:26) he felt happy.

“I was feeling comfortable,” said Mkungo. “I decided to move.”

The two were still together at 11 miles 51:05 but then Mkungo sped ahead. From there the race was his.

Mkungo ran the PDR once before in 2018 where he finished fourth in 1:03:26. (In ’18, this race was called The Rock ‘n’ Roll Philadelphia Half Marathon.)

“I thank God I had the opportunity to come back to Philadelphia and win,” said Mkungo.

Like the men’s field, the women’s field was also one-on-one, with a showdown between the first and second finisher. Erika Kemp won (1:10:31) and the runner-up was Catherine Syokau in 1:11:06.

“It was neck and neck for the first 12 miles,” said Kemp. Kemp then broke away without Syokau resisting. This was Kemp’s PDR debut.

Asked if she were confident about winning, Kemp said, “I was hoping to win today. I was in pretty good shape and capable of winning. But in a race you never know.”

Kemp’s plan was to run a tad conservatively because of the possible humidity.

“At the same time, I wanted to race,” said Kemp.

Because Kenyan distance runners have a long history of winning area races for prize money, this RG writer asked Kemp of Providence, RI how it felt to beat them. Kemp answered, “It doesn’t really matter. It just feels good to win no matter who you’re racing.”

Kemp’s next race is the Boston 10K for Women this October 7. She won that race last year with a 32:15 clocking. After Boston, Kemp will compete in the Olympic Marathon Trials this coming February.