Mottram, Douma-Hussar Win Continental Airlines Fifth Avenue Mile
By Jim Gerweck, Running USA wire
Posted Monday, 26 September, 2005
NEW YORK - (September 24, 2005) - Craig Mottram capped off a successful season of racing right where he began it, winning the Continental Airlines Fifth Avenue Mile in 3:49.9. The win gave the lanky Australian, who won the bronze medal at the World Championships 5000 meters, a 2-0 record in Big Apple races, making a nice bookend to his win here in the Healthy Kidney 10K last May.
It also provided a measure of revenge against American Alan Webb, who had defeated Mottram in a track mile at the Bislett Games in Oslo in July by the narrowest of margins, 3:48.92 to 3:48.98.
Today's margin was a bit more comfortable, as Webb of Reston, Va. finished in 3:51.4 after aggressively leading the first three quarters of the race.
"My coach told me there'd be two pace makers," said Mottram. "The designated rabbit (John Itati) and Webb."
That prediction proved true from the gun as Webb zipped through opening quarter mile splits of 54.9 and 1:54.
"I thought I could surprise those guys and open up a margin and steal the race," said Webb, who admitted he "lulled myself to sleep" after the halfway point when he became unaware of his pursuers.
That was just about when Mottram began to give chase, unwinding his long legs on the downhill final 600 meters to catch Webb about halfway to the finish and then pulled away in the final 200.
"I ran the course last night and walked over parts of it, studying the terrain and landmarks," said the winner, who earned $5000 for his efforts, the first time in seven years prize money has been awarded in the race. "I always knew where I was on the course."
Mottram's time was the eighth fastest in the history of the race, which began in 1981, but was well off the course record 3:47.82 set by Sydney Maree that year. Breaking the record would have meant a $10,000 dollar bonus.
Mottram also gave Webb credit for his brave front-running, saying "it's quite different running alone in front than coming from behind." Webb, a 2004 Olympian, received $4000 for the runner-up spot, with Kenya's Elkanah Angwenyi pocketing $3000 for his 3:54.3 third place clocking.
Olympic steeplechaser Anthony Famiglietti, who lives near the course, was fourth in 3:57.1.
In the women's race, which preceded the men's by 10 minutes, New Zealand's Kim Smith, the NCAA cross country champion at Providence College last fall, presaged Webb's tactic by opening a sizable lead in the first half. She was eventually caught by the pack and finished eighth in 4:31.9. Emerging from the group of chasers was the pre-race favorite of many, Canadian Olympian Carmen Douma-Hussar, who held on for a half second victory in 4:28.0. Two-time Olympian Amy Rudolph added $4000 to her dowry for her wedding next month to Mark Carroll by taking second, with Treniere Clement third, two tenths back. 2004 Olympic Trials 1500m champion Carrie Tollefson was fourth in 4:29.2.
In addition to the elite races, more than a dozen age-group divisions were contested with a stiff breeze coming off the East River that shifted slightly to a tailwind for the headline events. The 2,464 finishers - the largest competition road mile in the U.S. - raced under crisp autumn conditions.
25th Continental Airlines Fifth Avenue Mile
New York, NY, Saturday, September 24, 2005
MEN
1) Craig Mottram, AUS, 3:49:9, $5000
2) Alan Webb, USA/VA, 3:51.4, $4000
3) Elkanah Angwenyi, KEN, 3:54.3, $3000
4) Anthony Famiglietti, USA, 3:57.1, $2000
5) Rui Silva, POR, 3:57.4, $1000
6) James Thie, GBR, 3:58.4
7) Jason Lunn, USA/CO, 3:59.6
8) Kevin Sullivan, CAN, 4:01.4
9) Nate Brannen, CAN, 4:03.4
10) Issac Viciosa, ESP, 4:08.4
WOMEN
1) Carmen Douma-Hussar, CAN, 4:28.0, $5000
2) Amy Rudolph, USA/RI, 4:28.5, $4000
3) Treniere Clement, USA/TN, 4:28.7, $3000
4) Carrie Tollefson, USA/MN, 4:29.2, $2000
5) Amy Mortimer, USA/MA, 4:30.3, $1000
6) Jenelle Deatherage, USA/MN, 4:31.6
7) Jen Toomey, USA/MA, 4:31.7
8) Kim Smith, NZL, 4:31.9
9) Sinead Delahunty-Evans, IRL, 4:32.3
10) Lindsey Gallo, USA/MI, 4:33.1
Full race results, photos and more at: NYRR.org
By Jim Gerweck, Running USA wire
NEW YORK - (September 24, 2005) - Craig Mottram capped off a successful season of racing right where he began it, winning the Continental Airlines Fifth Avenue Mile in 3:49.9. The win gave the lanky Australian, who won the bronze medal at the World Championships 5000 meters, a 2-0 record in Big Apple races, making a nice bookend to his win here in the Healthy Kidney 10K last May.
It also provided a measure of revenge against American Alan Webb, who had defeated Mottram in a track mile at the Bislett Games in Oslo in July by the narrowest of margins, 3:48.92 to 3:48.98.
Today's margin was a bit more comfortable, as Webb of Reston, Va. finished in 3:51.4 after aggressively leading the first three quarters of the race.
"My coach told me there'd be two pace makers," said Mottram. "The designated rabbit (John Itati) and Webb."
That prediction proved true from the gun as Webb zipped through opening quarter mile splits of 54.9 and 1:54.
"I thought I could surprise those guys and open up a margin and steal the race," said Webb, who admitted he "lulled myself to sleep" after the halfway point when he became unaware of his pursuers.
That was just about when Mottram began to give chase, unwinding his long legs on the downhill final 600 meters to catch Webb about halfway to the finish and then pulled away in the final 200.
"I ran the course last night and walked over parts of it, studying the terrain and landmarks," said the winner, who earned $5000 for his efforts, the first time in seven years prize money has been awarded in the race. "I always knew where I was on the course."
Mottram's time was the eighth fastest in the history of the race, which began in 1981, but was well off the course record 3:47.82 set by Sydney Maree that year. Breaking the record would have meant a $10,000 dollar bonus.
Mottram also gave Webb credit for his brave front-running, saying "it's quite different running alone in front than coming from behind." Webb, a 2004 Olympian, received $4000 for the runner-up spot, with Kenya's Elkanah Angwenyi pocketing $3000 for his 3:54.3 third place clocking.
Olympic steeplechaser Anthony Famiglietti, who lives near the course, was fourth in 3:57.1.
In the women's race, which preceded the men's by 10 minutes, New Zealand's Kim Smith, the NCAA cross country champion at Providence College last fall, presaged Webb's tactic by opening a sizable lead in the first half. She was eventually caught by the pack and finished eighth in 4:31.9. Emerging from the group of chasers was the pre-race favorite of many, Canadian Olympian Carmen Douma-Hussar, who held on for a half second victory in 4:28.0. Two-time Olympian Amy Rudolph added $4000 to her dowry for her wedding next month to Mark Carroll by taking second, with Treniere Clement third, two tenths back. 2004 Olympic Trials 1500m champion Carrie Tollefson was fourth in 4:29.2.
In addition to the elite races, more than a dozen age-group divisions were contested with a stiff breeze coming off the East River that shifted slightly to a tailwind for the headline events. The 2,464 finishers - the largest competition road mile in the U.S. - raced under crisp autumn conditions.
25th Continental Airlines Fifth Avenue Mile
New York, NY, Saturday, September 24, 2005
MEN
1) Craig Mottram, AUS, 3:49:9, $5000
2) Alan Webb, USA/VA, 3:51.4, $4000
3) Elkanah Angwenyi, KEN, 3:54.3, $3000
4) Anthony Famiglietti, USA, 3:57.1, $2000
5) Rui Silva, POR, 3:57.4, $1000
6) James Thie, GBR, 3:58.4
7) Jason Lunn, USA/CO, 3:59.6
8) Kevin Sullivan, CAN, 4:01.4
9) Nate Brannen, CAN, 4:03.4
10) Issac Viciosa, ESP, 4:08.4
WOMEN
1) Carmen Douma-Hussar, CAN, 4:28.0, $5000
2) Amy Rudolph, USA/RI, 4:28.5, $4000
3) Treniere Clement, USA/TN, 4:28.7, $3000
4) Carrie Tollefson, USA/MN, 4:29.2, $2000
5) Amy Mortimer, USA/MA, 4:30.3, $1000
6) Jenelle Deatherage, USA/MN, 4:31.6
7) Jen Toomey, USA/MA, 4:31.7
8) Kim Smith, NZL, 4:31.9
9) Sinead Delahunty-Evans, IRL, 4:32.3
10) Lindsey Gallo, USA/MI, 4:33.1
Full race results, photos and more at: NYRR.org
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