- - Peter Glavin
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| Carolyn Smith-Hanna |
The previous Women's World and American Record, ages 50-54, for the Indoor Mile Run was set by Mila Kania of the United States in 1983 in a time of 5:40.1. Smith-Hanna, a resident of Pittsford, took second place overall in the Master's Women's race at Hartshorne to Patti Ford of the Syracuse Chargers, who herself set a World and American record for the 45-49 age group. Ford ran 5:18 to win the 40 and over division.
A month ago Smith-Hanna had established the American 50-54 age record for the Indoor 1500 meter run (5:05.01) at the Niagara Association Indoor Championships in Geneva. This past fall, Smith-Hanna was also honored by the USA Track & Field Association as the 2000 National Female Masters Cross Country Runner of the Year. "Carolyn ran aggressively throughout the race and I expect she will be close to 5:20 or better by the end of the indoor season, " said Coach Mike Reif. He anticipates Smith-Hanna to go after the American 800 meter and 3,000 meter records next.
Genesee Valley Harrier's Tim McMullen, age 47, of Churchville, won the Elite Men's section of the Hartshorne Mile in a time of 4:33.6. McMullen, who won the event by a wide margin is the reigning National Master's Indoor Mile Champion, age 45-49. McMullen raced nine other competitors in his heat.
GVH teammates Jim Robinson and Tony Vodacek each ran very fine early season performances with 4:51 each. Bob Nugent, nursing a recent injury, ran a conservative 4:55.2. Charlie McMullen, running his tenth consecutive Hartshorne Mile, who injured himself a few days prior to the event, finished with a 5:07. Charlie has previously won the race three times and took second on several other occassions. GVH's Jim Davis ran a very respectable 5:32 in an earlier heat. The overall second place prize was taken by Casey Carlstrom of the High Noon A.C. in a time of 4:38.2.