Krummenacker, Legesse, Win Inaugural National City Invitational Mile
By Patrice Malloy
Posted Monday, 2 October, 2006
NATIONAL CITY, Calif. (October, 1. 2006) - On a straight stretch of road known locally as the 'National City Mile of Cars,' former world champion David Krummenacker of the US and Olympian Meskerem Legesse of Ethiopia motored their way to victories in the inaugural National City Invitational Mile held Sunday, October 1, 2006.
Krummenacker, the pre-race favorite, did not disappoint spectators who had never witnessed a human speedway on the car dealer-lined National City Boulevard, the site of the out-and-back mile course. National City, which dubs itself, 'A City on the Move,' is located four miles south of San Diego and 10 miles north of the US-Mexico border.
Krummenacker, 31, and Kenyans Fidele Baregensabe and Haron Lagat set the cruise control at 2:07 for the half mile split until Krummenacker put the pedal to the metal with 400m to go, staying a stride or two in front of Lagat and others.
"The course was pretty tough, an out-and-back is always hard, plus we had a few hills in there including the one just prior to the finish," said Krummenacker who was the 2003 World Indoor Champion at 800m, 2003 U.S. Indoor 800m champion; three-time U.S. Outdoor 800m champion; and two-time NCAA Indoor 800m champion while at Georgia Tech. He holds personal bests of 1:43.92 at 800m and 3:31.93 at 1550m. This was Krummenacker's second-ever mile road race.
"When I saw the course and its rolling hills, I knew that I wouldn't have a fast time so I just wanted to run a strong race, stay out of trouble and finish well." Said Krummenacker who pocketed $1,000 for the win and a $750 bonus for a sub-4:15 performance on the challenging course.
Haron Lagat, 23, of Kenya was the first in a series of speeding tailgaters to follow Krummenacker past the finish line before hitting the brakes, clocking an identical time of 4:11 in his first-ever professional race. Richard Kimeli, also of Kenya, finished third in 4:12.Due to the small invitational field, chip timing was not utilized and race times were rounded up to the next second.
The four-person women's field was compact but competitive as Legesse, led the field wire-to-wire winning in 4:39, a six-second victory over runner-up Malindi Elmore of Canada who, gave Legesse a run for her money. Yimenashu Taye of Ethiopia finished third in 4:57.
Legesse, who holds the World Junior Best for 800m indoors, finished in 4:39, earning $1,000 for the win and a $500 bonus for a sub-4:50 performance.
A former Stanford middle-distance star, Elmore, 26, was a four-time All-American while competing as a Cardinal, and set the still-standing school 1500m. She also competed for Canada at the World Cross Country Championships and that year as the second fastest 1500m runner in North America.
A $3,000 time bonus was split equally by men and women who ran a sub-4:15 mile (men) or sub-4:50 (women). Four men and two women qualified for the bonus of $500 per athlete. "We wanted to account for what was considered a difficult course for middle distance track and field athletes," said Lynn Flanagan, race director and president of In Motion Events, the event management company that organized the competition. Four men and two women were eligible for bonus prizes.
Three-time Olympic Gold Medalist and National City native Gail Devers, and American record holder in the mile, Steve Scott, were in attendance to cheer on participants in the Revolution 5K Run/Walk held earlier in the morning and the elite runners in the Mile.
"It is great to see fast runners in my hometown, this is a dream come true," said Devers. "I' so glad that people have not forgotten National City and that people really know what a beautiful city it is." Constellation Property Group sponsored the event to celebrate the revitalization of National City.
For full results, visit www.inmotionevents.com.
Inaugural National City Invitational Mile
National City, CA, October 1, 2006
MEN
1) David Krummenacker US/AZ , 4:11, $1,500, ($1,000 plus $500 sub 4:15 bonus)
2) Haron Lagat, Kenya, 4:11, $1300, ($800 plus $500 sub-4:50 bonus)
3) Richard Kimeli, Kenya, 4:12, $1000 ($500 plus $500 sub-4:50 bonus)
4) Bolota Asmerom, Eritrea/USA 4:13, $900 ($400 plus a $500 sub-$4:15 bonus)
5) Brian Sullivan, USA/CA, 4:16, $200
6) Fidele Baregensabe, Burundi, 4:20
7) Nazario Romero, USA/CA 4:26,
8) Okwaro Raura, USA/CA , 4:29
9) Christian Hesch, USA/CA, 4:31
10) Tony Herr, USA/CA, 5:04
FEMALE
1) Meskerem Legesse, Ethiopia, 4:39, $1,500 ($1,000 plus a $500 sub-4:50 bonus
2) Malindi Elmore, Canada, 4:45, $1300 ($800 plus a $500 sub-4:50 bonus)
3) Yimenashu Taye, Ethiopia, 4:57, $600
4) Eunice Jepkirui, Kenya, 5:03
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