17th Annual Mayor's Cup Cross Country Races Set for Sunday
Alan Webb and Amy Mortimer lead the elite fields

E-mail this page  Printer-friendly page Related info: Event Website Last Year's Results Photos from last year

Posted Thursday, 19 October, 2006

BOSTON, MA – Franklin Park will be the site of the 17th annual Mayor's Cup Cross Country Races on Sunday, October 22. Presented by the Boston Athletic Association and adidas, and directed by USATF-New England and the Boston Centers for Youth & Families, the Mayor's Cup has long been a highlight on the fall cross country calendar.

For elite runners, the Mayor's Cup offers strong competition as athletes prepare for the USATF National Club Cross Country Championships on December 9 in San Francisco. For local runners of all ages, the Mayor's Cup is a chance to race across Franklin Park's historic course, site of the 1992 World Cross Country Championships.

In 2005, more than 750 runners competed in events ranging from kids' races to the open 5K and the men's and women's championships. Over the years, the Mayor's Cup has drawn numerous stars to Boston, including Olympians Mark Carroll, Kim Smith, and Lynn Jennings.

This year, America's top miler, Alan Webb (Reston, VA), headlines the men's field. Though best known as a track runner – his personal best of 3:48.92 makes him the fourth-fastest American in history – Webb has also had an illustrious career in cross country. As a high school senior he placed second at the 2000 Foot Locker Cross Country Championships. As a freshman at the University of Michigan he was the 2001 Big Ten cross country champion. Then, in 2003, Webb placed second at the Mayor's Cup before winning the USATF National Club Cross Country Championships.

Looking to challenge Webb will be defending Mayor's Cup champion Jarrod Shoemaker (Sudbury, MA) of the B.A.A. Running Club, who won last year with a time 24:23. Boston College coach John Mortimer (Waltham, MA), fresh off of a sixth-place finish in the B.A.A. Half Marathon, will also be in the hunt.

Amy Mortimer (West Roxbury, MA) leads the women's field. A 12-time All-American while at Kansas State University, Mortimer placed as high as sixth in the NCAA in cross country. In 2005 she was a member of the United States' bronze medal winning team at the IAAF World Cross Country Championships in France. Among her challenges is Samia Akbar (Herndon, VA), fourth at the Mayor's Cup a year ago.

The Mayor's Cup Cross Country Races are open to the public, and race-day registration is available until the start of the races. Proceeds from the event are used to maintain Franklin Park.

Sunday's schedule of events:
10:10 a.m. Girls 1.1-mile
10:30 a.m. Boys 1.1-mile
10:50 a.m. Franklin Park 5K
11:30 a.m. Women's Championship 5K
Noon Men's Championship 5K

Past Mayor's Cup Champions
Year Men Women
2005 Jarrod Shoemaker (B.A.A.) Kim Smith (Reebok)
2004 Mark Carroll (adidas) Atalelech Keteme (Westchester TC)
2003 Keith Kelly (New Balance) Kate O'Neill (Nike)
2002 Keith Kelly (New Balance) Kristin Chisum (New Balance)
2001 Sandu Rebencuic (U.S. Army) Priscilla Hein (Indiana Invaders)
2000 Francis Kirwa (Life University) Sarah Dupre (B.A.A.)
1999 Sammy Nyamongo (Life University) Christine Junkermann (adidas)
1998 Francis Kirwa (Life University) Lesley Lehane (B.A.A.)
1997 Silah Misoi (Life University) Kathy Franey (Nike International)
1996 Silah Misoi (Life University) Kate Fonshell (ASICS)
1995 Seamus McElligott (ASICS) Lynn Jennings (Nike International)
1994 Abidi Bouazza (Westchester TC) Lynn Jennings (Nike International)
1993 Brad Schlapak (NYAC) Carmen Troncoso (Nike Texas)
1992 Brad Schlapak (NYAC) Kathy Franey (Reebok Racing)
1991 Andy Ball (Nike Running Room) Gwyn Coogan (Nike Boston)
1990 Michael Baugh (HFC Striders) Michelle DiMuro (Reebok Racing)

Media Contacts: Jack Fleming (617-236-1652, x2627; fleming@baa.org) or Marc Chalufour (617-236-1652, x2632, chalufour@baa.org).

Event Contact: USATF-NE, 617-566-7600.

Related info:
Event Website

Last Year's Results

Photos from last year

 E-mail this page
 Printer-friendly page