Webb, Douma-Hussar Win Continental Airlines® Fifth Avenue Mile
By Sabrina Tillman
Posted Monday, 1 October, 2007
NEW YORK - (September 29, 2007) - At the end of a long season, some of the world's top milers showed they still had some kick left at the 27th Continental Airlines® Fifth Avenue Mile. U.S. mile record-holder Alan Webb of Reston, Va., thrilled the uproarious crowd lining Fifth Avenue as he pulled away from the lead pack in the final meters, with defending champion Kevin Sullivan of Canada a close second and Jon Rankin of San Diego, third. The women's winner, Canadian Carmen Douma-Hussar, ran the fastest time here since 1998 to upset defending champion Sara Hall of Big Bear Lake, Calif., who finished third. Amy Mortimer of Providence, R.I. was runner-up.
A tailwind in the first quarter-mile of the race resulted in a conservative start from Webb, who was confident in allowing his DC Elite teammate, Chris Lukezic, to lead in the early stages. Lukezic maintained the lead to the half-mile (1:58), with former UCLA standout Rankin in second. Webb, 24, patiently waited until the three-quarter mark before making a move, which Sullivan attempted to answer.
"I covered all of the moves that were made," Sullivan said. "I was lucky and I got on Alan's shoulder, and he's great to follow. For a bit in that last 100, I thought I might be able to sneak by him, but he had another gear."
When they had 100 meters left, a spectator gasped that Webb might be celebrating prematurely, as Sullivan made a final surge to try to erase Webb's tiny lead. But, after a disappointing eighth place finish at the IAAF World Championship 1500 meter in Osaka, Webb was determined to end his otherwise outstanding season on a high note. He broke the tape in 3:52.7. Sullivan's chase ended in 3:52.9, while Rankin followed in 3:53.3.
"They put on a world-class event here. You can look at every guy in the field here, and he has a great résumé," said Webb, a four-time USA champion. "To pull it out here was the perfect end to my year. I roomed with both Jon and Kevin this past summer, so I figured out all of their tricks - I used the Jedi mind trick on them."
In the fastest women's Fifth Avenue mile in just less than a decade, there was no shoo-in. At the quarter-mile mark, Meskerem Legesse of Ethiopia and Molly Huddle of Providence, R.I., were leading; at halfway, New Zealand's fastest female miler and 2006 Fifth Avenue Mile runner-up Kim Smith took the lead in 2:12, with 2005 race champion Douma-Hussar in close pursuit. Team Running USA's Hall joined the lead pack shortly afterward.
With 200 meters to go, Douma-Hussar, 30, pushed the pace, with Smith one second behind. Douma-Hussar held off all attacks and prevailed in 4:22.8, and a last-moment shakeup saw Mortimer take second (4:23.6) and Hall third (4:24.1).
"In that last 400, we were all just going really hard," Douma-Hussar said afterward. "If you're going to finish off the season, it's great to finish with a fun win in New York. This win definitely gives me confidence for 2008."
The top three finishers in the NYRR Road Mile Championships race were Stephen Chemlany of Westchester Track Club (WTC) in 4:05.6, Matt Deshane of Plattsburgh, N.Y. in 4:07.6 and Demesse Tefera of WTC in 4:08.1. The women's top three were Catha Mullen of the New York Athletic Club in 4:41.7, Atalalech Ketema of WTC in 4:42.8 and Natalie Gingerich of the Central Park Track Club in 4:43.7.
"Today, we had close to 5,000 runners, and next year, we want to grow this race to 10,000 runners," said Mary Wittenberg, NYRR president and CEO. "We had a lot of fun today, with participation from all ages, from eight-year-olds to a 98-year-old. This race is like watching Derek Jeter play baseball. These are the best runners in our sport out here on the roads of New York today."
It was celebration time after the race as illustrated by Webb picking up the finish line tape and tossing it into the air. The 2004 Olympian joked to reporters that he was going to take a few weeks off, sit on the couch, eat potato chips and watch football like everyone else before beginning training for the 2008 Beijing Olympics.
27th Continental Airlines Fifth Avenue Mile
New York, NY, Saturday, September 29, 2007
MEN
1) Alan Webb (USA / VA), 3:52.7, $5000
2) Kevin Sullivan (CAN), 3:52.9, $3500
3) Jon Rankin (USA / CA), 3:53.3, $2500
4) Lachlan Chisholm (AUS), 3:53.8, $1500
5) Juan Luis Barrios (MEX), 3:56.0, $1000
6) Pat Tarpy (USA / RI), 3:57.1, $750
7) Chris Lukezic (USA / DC), 3:58.0, $500
8) Abiyot Endale (ETH), 3:58.9, $250
9) Steve Slattery (USA / CO), 4:02.3
10) Aucencio Martinez (USA / CO), 4:03.0
WOMEN
1) Carmen Douma-Hussar (CAN), 4:22.8, $5000
2) Amy Mortimer (USA / RI), 4:23.6, $3500
3) Sara Hall (USA / CA), 4:24.1, $2500
4) Kim Smith (NZL), 4:25.0, $1500
5) Meskerem Legesse (ETH), 4:30.6, $1000
6) Marina Muncan (SER), 4:31.2, $750
7) Yuriko Kobayashi (JPN), 4:32.6, $500
8) Sara Slattery (USA / CO), 4:34.0, $250
9) Roisin McGettigan (IRL), 4:35.2
10) Molly Huddle (USA / RI), 4:39.2
Full results, photos and video at: www.NYRR.org
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