JACKSONVILLE, Fla. - (March 10, 2001) - Whether they realized it or not, the residents of stately River Oaks neighborhood played witness to the defining moments in the USA 15K National Championship, hosted by the Gate River Run in Jacksonville. Mebrahtom Keflezighi broke up a tight duel with fellow 2000 Olympian Alan Culpepper between 3 and 4 miles as they toured past beautiful mansions and towering oak trees in the city's most prestigious hangout. Just a minute or so later, at almost the same place on the course, Deena Drossin and Sylvia Mosqueda pulled a similar breakaway from Jen Rhines in the women's race.
Keflezighi held onto his advantage on his way to capturing the USA men's 15K title in 43:16, while Drossin out-battled Mosqueda for the women's gold medal in 49:09.
"I felt good all the way," said "Meb", a naturalized U.S. citizen born in Eritrea, a tiny country north of Ethiopia along the Red Sea. "I was feeling great at mile 4 so I made my move. I feel more comfortable as a front runner."
Culpepper thinned down the lead pack immediately after the thunderous sound of the opening cannon. "My race plan was to take it out hard, at U.S. record pace," said Culpepper, who also finished second to Keflezighi at the recent U.S. Cross Country 12K Trials. True to his word, Culpepper's pace through 4 miles challenged Todd Williams' U.S. and course record (42:22).
"I had to decide whether to go with Alan or not," said Keflezighi, 25, a 1998 graduate of UCLA. "But I was feeling good so I decided to go with him after the first mile. I didn't realize we were on record pace. I wasn't running for time, even though my coach said something about going for a record. I just wanted to win."
Keflezighi and Culpepper were shadows of each other from mile 1 to mile 3. They matched strides and turn signals as they zigged and zagged through the narrow streets of River Oaks. Several times they had to scatter while the bulky press truck maneuvered the stingy turns. During his breakaway, Keflezighi took advantage of the turns and curves to put distance on Culpepper while boisterous fans cheered their support as they enjoyed a makeshift curbside breakfast outside their estates.
"After Meb made his move, I tried to stay with him," said Culpepper from Superior, Colo. "But we were already going fast, so I couldn't make up any ground. I decided to try and hold my ground, and just see what happened."
He successfully held ground for most of the race, until they hit the notorious Hart St. Bridge, a long and tortuous climb between 7.5 and 8 miles. Culpepper was only about 10 seconds in arrears as they entered the ramp, but the deficit steadily grew as they climbed the seemingly endless span of the bridge. If there was any hope for the 1999 U.S. 10,000 meter champion, it soon vanished as he watched Keflezighi charge down the other side of the bridge to the welcome sight of the finish line. Keflezighi's final margin was 21 seconds, 43:16 to 43:37. For his efforts, the San Diego resident--who finished second here in 1999--won $10,000 and his first U.S. road title.
Five-time USA 15K champion at Gate River, Todd Williams came from out of the second pack to finish 3rd in 44:30. Mike Donnelly and Rod DeHaven finished just a few strides behind for 4th and 5th respectively.
As is her custom, Mosqueda took out the pace hard. Drossin was the only woman to accept the early challenge and the two waged war for most of the race. Rhines crept up and joined the fray just past 2 miles, but her membership in the lead pack would only last about one mile. Drossin and Mosqueda continued their assault on the course as they traversed River Oaks, and Rhines could only watch from 3rd place.
"I wasn't sure how I would feel, so I wanted a conservative pace," said 2000 Olympian Drossin. "But with Sylvia in the race, I knew that wouldn't happen. I didn't know if we were on a record or not, but when we went through two miles in 10:11, I knew the pace was blistering."
They passed mile 4 in 20:46, indeed on Francie Larrieu Smith's 48:43 course-record pace. Drossin, 28, from Alamosa, Colo. threw in small surges, but each time, Mosqueda would respond.
"Sylvia is so strong," said Drossin, the four-time U.S. 8K Cross Country champ. "She's not easy to break. I could feel Sylvia and Jen the whole way."
Drossin opened up a small lead past 5 miles, and finally just past 7 miles, the gap was a little more than Mosqueda, a Los Angeles resident could overcome. Mosqueda, 34, came back slightly down the bridge near the finish, but Drossin prevailed in 49:09. Mosqueda finished in 49:22 with Rhines in 50:05. Milena Glusac and Kristin Beaney Chisum followed for 4th and 5th.
"I got too comfortable," lamented Mosqueda. "I got into a rhythm run and felt too good and I couldn't make myself catch up to Deena. My goal was to win, so I'm a little disappointed. But when you finish second to someone like Deena, it's never a bad race. And it was a PR for me, so I'm happy."
"I really admire Sylvia's racing style," said Drossin, the U.S. 5K record-holder. "She really takes it out hard and runs hard the whole way. I wish every distance runner would run with her spirit and tenacity. "
Gate River Run 15K: USA Championship Jacksonville, FL, Saturday, March 10, 2001 MEN 1) Mebrahtom Keflezighi, CA 43:16 $10,000 2) Alan Culpepper, CO 43:37 $4,000 3) Todd Williams, TN 44:30 $3,000 4) Mike Donnelly, RI 44:31 $2,000 5) Rod DeHaven, WI 44:38 $1,000 6) Peter Sherry, VA 45:04 $900 7) Nick Rogers, OR 45:07 $800 8) Weldon Johnson, DC 45:07 $700 9) Nolan Swanson, OR 45:09 $600 10) Mike Mykytok, NJ 45:10 $500 Masters (40+) 1) Eddy Hellebuyck, NM 45:12 2) Andrey Kuznetsov (RUS) 45:45 3) Peter Fleming (GBR) 46:06 (U.S. masters record, Steve Plasencia, 45:14) WOMEN 1) Deena Drossin, CO 49:09 $10,000 2) Sylvia Mosqueda, CA 49:22 $4,000 3) Jennifer Rhines, PA 50:05 $3,000 4) Milena Glusac, CA 50:14 $2,000 5) Kristin Beaney Chisum, MA50:27 $1,000 6) Susannah Beck, OR 51:38 $900 7) Kelly Cordell, CA 52:02 $800 8) Turena Johnson Lane, GA 52:16 $700 9) Carmen Troncoso, TX 52:45 $600 10) Kim Pawelek, FL 53:01 $500 Masters (40+) 1) Carmen Troncoso, TX 52:45 2) Tatiana Pozdniakova (UKR)54:23 3) Jeanne Johnson, CA 54:42 (unofficial time)