Freihofer’s Run for Women 5K – News – Marathoners Van Ord, Cardin Go One-Two at Freihofer’s Run For Women

MARATHONERS VAN ORD, CARDIN GO ONE-TWO AT FREIHOFER’S RUN FOR WOMEN
By David Monti, @d9monti
(c) 2023 Race Results Weekly, all rights reserved – Used with permission.

ALBANY, N.Y. (03-Jun) — In wet and chilly conditions, marathoners Tristin Van Ord and Jessie Cardin took the top two spots at the 45th Freihofer’s Run for Women here this morning, an unusual result for a race where track athletes have traditionally dominated.  Van Ord, 28, took the lead in the second kilometer and finished in a solid 15:54, six seconds ahead of Cardin.  She set a personal best and won $3000 in prize money.

“Honestly, I just wanted to run fast; that’s it,” Van Ord told Race Results Weekly, her long braids still glistening from this morning’s rain.  She continued: “I knew I didn’t want to be in the lead up that first hill, so I was like whoever goes out in front I’m going to stick right behind them and see how I feel.”

It was 2016 Olympian Marielle Hall who decided to lead the field of 2400 women for that first kilometer, an uphill stretch on Washington Avenue which began at the New York State Capitol Building.  Hall, 31, hit the first “K” mark in 3:11 with a pack of seven women close behind, including Van Ord who ran about a step behind off of Hall’s left shoulder.  Van Ord, who hasn’t run a road 5-K in nearly three years, was right where she wanted to be.

“I just felt really good,” said Van Ord, who represents ZAP Endurance in Blowing Rock, N.C.  “After the first mile I was like, this is nothing compared to the marathon.”

As the race turned left into Washington Park in the second kilometer, Van Ord took the lead from Hall who stayed close behind.  Cardin was trailing by about 10 meters and she, along with her Hansons-Brooks teammate Anne-Marie Blaney, were working to keep contact.  Cardin, who dropped out of the Boston Marathon last April with a medical problem, was using today’s race to get back into racing and rebuild her confidence.

“Honestly, Boston was my second marathon and it didn’t go the way I planned, unfortunately,” Cardin said.  “I just kind of came today being like, I want to rip my marathon band-aid off at some point, so I wanted to make it a good one.”

The roadway in Washington Park has several hills and tight turns, and the middle of the race looked more like a cross country meet.  Van Ord and Hall were still together through 3-K (9:44) with Cardin a few steps back and Blaney several meters behind Cardin.  Hall was in a good position, but she was…