Deseret News Women's 10K Race: Long overcomes tough morning, strong field

Sariah Long didn't have the type of morning one would expect out of a winner of a loaded race, but it didn't matter to the Weber State alum, as she won the Deseret News women's 10K by 7 seconds.

A crazy, frenetic day started as she realized she did not have her racing chip. Long decided to make a warm-up run out of the trek back to her sister's apartment, but on her way, she got lost, so she had to get a ride from a security guard.

Once there, her sibling wasn't there, so she had to run toward the course, stop a policeman to use his cell phone to call her husband, who got her there in enough time to still run the race.

"I'm so happy they didn't fault me at the starting line for being as dumb as I was," Long said. "I had a hectic morning."

The 22-year old Ogden resident, who just finished 12th in the Olympic trials, started out the race with a loaded field that included multiple Deseret News 10K winners and all-Americans from across the state and nation. The lead group went out fast, posting around a five-minute mile and passing the second mile in 10:05. The group broke to five by the third mile, and by the fourth mile, it was Long and former BYU All-American Lindsey Dunkley all alone for the winning purse.

Long pulled away on the uphill portion of the course, at one time having close to a 20-second lead, and held on to win the race in 33:04. Dunkley finished in 33:11.

"I knew I was going to win it," Long said. "I wanted that money so bad, and that's what pushed me through. I went out a little too fast but got a big lead on the uphill, and thank goodness for that, because I thought Lindsey would've caught me there at the end."

Dunkley, a mother of three who stays in shape by being a treadmill mom, said she had no problem coming in second since she had never done this course.

"I tried to gain on her, but I just couldn't get her," Dunkley said. "It was a very competitive race; I knew there were 10 solid runners that could place anywhere from 1 to 10, and my goal was to be in the top five. I didn't expect to lead it at any time or win it, and my youngest child just turned one, so I'm very happy."

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E-mail: nnewman@desnews.com

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