Cherry Blossom Champions: Slide Show

Allan Kiprono finished second last year but shattered the course record in his victory this year.

Thousands of runners showed up for a trot among the blooms in the annual Credit Union Cherry Blossom Run in Washington, D.C., on Sunday, and some world-class athletes found conditions particularly to their liking.

Kenya’s Allan Kiprono shattered the course record, running the 10 miles in 45 minutes, 15 seconds. He finished second last year when Ethiopian Lelisa Desisa set the previous record of 45:38.

Meanwhile, Jelliah Tinega, also of Kenya, finished at 54:02 to defend her title in the women’s division. The 26-year-old recorded the same time last year.

Among other winners of the race – the Children’s Miracle Network hospitals, which will receive the $515,000 raised by credit unions nationwide in this 40^th annual event.

Jelliah Tinega defended her title from last year and recorded the same winning time.

The sign and the monument should make it pretty clear to visitors where they were and what was happening.

This group of participants arrived in the wee hours as race day arrived.

Here's some of the horde following the international elite as the run gets under way.

It was a cool, cloudy morning, perfect for a run.

Uniformed greeters await at the finish line.

One of the founders of the Cherry Blossom Run, retired Northwest FCU President/CEO Juri Valdov, with CUNA President/CEO Bill Cheney, NAFCU President/CEO Fred Becker and Mike Mercer, president/CEO of Georgia Credit Union Affiliates and the new board chair of CUNA.