Rose Kosgei didn't come into the 2007 Deseret Morning News/KJZZ TV marathon and 10K dreaming she would blow by her competition or set a new personal record.

A first-time participant in Tuesday's women's 10K race, Kosgei really had no idea what to expect. The former world junior cross country champion didn't think about it too much when she shot ahead of the pack and found herself in the midst of several runners finishing up the men's 10K.

All that dominated Kosgei's mind at that point was simply finding her way to the finish line at Liberty Park.

"I was trying to move (faster) so I saw it," Kosgei said. "I tried and I succeeded and I am so happy for that."

Her extra burst of speed down the stretch helped the 25-year-old Kenya native easily capture the women's 10K title. Kosgei finished in 32 minutes and 39 seconds, almost a full minute ahead of second-place finisher Kathy Newberry from Williamsburg, Va. She eclipsed her previous personal-best by 27 seconds.

Kosgei helped herself by doing some practice runs on the course only hours before the 6 a.m. race.

"Yesterday I came here and today I run another," Kosgei said. "So I run one day and then come to this race."

Newberry, also a first-time participant, exceeded her own expectations with her finish. It was her first road race in the Beehive State and Newberry wasn't used to running at altitude like many of her fellow competitors were. The long stretches of downhill running helped. Even though her legs grew tired from all the downhill motion, Newberry pushed herself across the finish line in 33:37.

"I looked at the results last year and kind of had an idea of what it would take," Newberry said. "I was working towards (Kosgei). I was hoping for top three, so I'm happy."

Farmington resident Cynthia Fowler was the top local runner in the women's 10K, finishing in 34:12 for third place. Devra Vierkant, a two-time winner of the St. George Marathon, finished fourth (34:23) and Salt Lake resident Zuzanna Thomas placed fifth (35:20).

Seven Utahns placed in the top 10 overall — including Davis High runner Candace Eddy.

This year's women's 10K served as a popular training tool for reaching even loftier goals. Top 10 finishers Carre Joyce and Brenda Gray both picked this race because they saw it as a perfect means for preparing to qualify to compete in the upcoming Olympic marathon trials next spring.

"It's good speed training," said Gray, a Rock Springs, Wyo. resident. "I like doing these short the races during the summer just to get the speed up. It kind of gives me a good indication of where I'm at in my training."

Joyce, a top three finisher in last year's women's 10K, continues to run the Pioneer Day race because of how competitive the field usually is. This year's race lived up to past tradition.

"Last year I was third, but I ran a minute and 20 seconds faster today than I did last year," Joyce said. "It was much more competitive this year."

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E-mail: jcoon@desnews.com