Brown, Willis Break 4 Minutes at CIGNA Falmouth Mile
Edwards easy women's winner; Darrah, Gannett win New Balance Scholastic Mile

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Posted Monday, 16 August, 2010

From Ryan Lamppa, Running USA

FALMOUTH, Mass. - (August 14, 2010) - On Saturday evening, Russell Brown of Eugene, Ore. (left, PhotoRun) edged 2008 Olympic silver medalist Nick Willis of New Zealand to win the 2010 CIGNA Falmouth Mile with a time of 3:59.61 to Willis' 3:59.73 on the James Kalperis Track at Falmouth High School. For the fourth consecutive year the professional men broke four minutes.

This year it was a close race with a tight pack, even in the final 200 meters. Liam Boylan-Pett, East Lansing, Mich. led the first quarter until Rob Novak, West Orange, N.J. stepped up to create a five meter gap to start the second lap with Brown and Willis following. Brown moved into the front at the 800 meter mark, but Ed Moran, Williamsburg, Va. took the lead with 600 meters to go. Moran, who barely missed a sub-four mile here in 2008, eventually finished fourth in 4:02.03 behind Novak who clocked a 4:01.77. Sean Brosnan, Wantagh, N.Y. and Daniel Clark, Jackson, Miss. rounded out the field and finished in 4:07.70 and 4:14.81, respectively.

In the women's race, late drop-outs left the field with two competitors, yet Nicole Edwards of Canada still pulled off a quick 4:32.45 to take the title. Gabriele Anderson from Perham, Minn. took the line with Edwards for her debut in Falmouth and finished in 4:46.27. Edwards, a University of Michigan graduate who resides in Ann Arbor, Mich., took the lead from the start. Anderson led for the second lap, but Edwards moved back to the front and went unchallenged to the finish tape.

This year kicked off the first New Balance Scholastic Mile featuring high school residents from Cape Cod. Max Darrah of Mashpee, Mass. and Dennis-Yarmouth Regional High School won the boy's division in 4:28.43, while Anna Gannett of Sandwich, Mass. and Sandwich High School took the girl's winner plaque with a time of 5:27.58. Darrah and Gannett will be headed to Georgetown and Appalachia State Universities, respectively, this fall.

On Sunday morning, Brown, Moran and Brosnan will be joining the pro field at the 38th running of the famed seven mile CIGNA Falmouth Road Race.

CIGNA Falmouth Mile
Falmouth, MA, Saturday, August 14, 2010

MEN
1) Russell Brown (OR), 3:59.61
2) Nick Willis (NZL / MI), 3:59.73
3) Rob Novak (NJ), 4:01.77
4) Ed Moran (VA), 4:02.03
5) Sean Brosnan (NY), 4:07.70

WOMEN
1) Nicole Edwards (CAN / MI), 4:32.45
2) Gabriele Anderson (MN), 4:46.27