Shalane Flanagan, winner of Sunday's CVS Caremark Downtown 5K, agreed to return to Providence to defend her 5K national championship before winning a bronze medal at the Beijing Olympics. "Her presence will incite a special level of enthusiasm for the event," said Eileen Howard Dunn, senior VP of Corporate Communications and community relations for CVS.

Flanagan was one of five Olympians who appeared at a public reception Saturday night at Waterplace Park. CVS officials said they were especially pleased by the large number of youngsters who turned out to meet the Olympic athletes.

Youth participation up

The number of children running races that preceded the Downtown 5K keeps increasing. Precise figures were unavailable Sunday, but close to 2,000 children may have run.

Top Rhode Island finishers

Molly Huddle of Providence was the first Rhode Island resident to finish Sunday's race. The 24-year-old runner finished in 15:56.

Norman Bouthillier, 43, of Coventry finished first among Rhode Island masters. He completed the race in 16:17. Trish Hillery, 41, of Greenville, was the first Rhode Island women's master, finishing in 18:32.

The Electric Boat AC won the corporate challenge in Sunday's race. Running for the submarine manufacturer were Joe Haidul, Anson Moody, Phillip Loiselle and Nicholas Godlewski.

Raising spirits

Mt. Hope High School's cross-country team came to the CVS Caremark Downtown 5K as a flock of princesses, bananas and other cool oddities to dispense water on the race course. "We dress up to have fun," said sophomore Matt Carreiro, a member of the team.

Cheers for Samuelson

After the winners of Sunday's race, the runner to receive the loudest applause was Joan Benoit Samuelson, winner of the Boston Marathon in 1979 and 1983, and the first runner to win the women's Olympic Marathon in 1984.

Strong showing for Doyle

In the police division Sunday, 26-year-old Rhode Island State Trooper Brendan Doyle finished the race in 19 minutes, 17 seconds.