Daska Wins 33rd Freihofer’s Run for Women

Mamitu Daska, from Ethopia, won the 33rd running of the Freihofer's Run for Women in downtown Albany on Saturday. Daska, at age 27, ran the 5K downtown course in 15:19.

Why was this year's Run for Women particularly special?

This year, a record of 4,816 women registered and ran the 5K race through Madison Ave, Washington park, and the surrounding areas. Daska finished the race first, at 15:19. In second was Aheza Kiros, also from Ethiopia finished second at 15:23, and in third was Emily Chebet of Kenya at 15:29. Daska collected $10,000 for the win while Kiros won $5,000 for second and Chebet got $3,000 for third.

The first race, back in 1979, drew 502 runners. Since then the race has grown in popularity across the Capital Region and across the globe. The race draws many international runners each year who compete in this internationally recognized road race. The combination of runners from the Capital Region, some running for special causes, through the international contingent that participates is what gives this 5K a real special meaning