BOSTON, Mass. – The Mayor’s Cup Cross Country races at historic Franklin Park in Dorchester are signature athletic events for the City of Boston and its Parks and Recreation Department. On this blustery, fall day, Sandu Rebencuic of the U.S. Army and Priscilla Hein of the Indiana Invaders added their names to the impressive list of champions at the 12^th annual competition.

The meet’s presenter, Boston Athletic Association, won the men’s team title and the Indiana Invaders were the victorious women. For their efforts, both clubs claimed the William J. Squires Trophy, named for the legendary Boston-area running coach and the inspiration for the meet. Squires was present and awarded his namesake prizes.

In its fifth year sponsoring the cross country races, the partnership between the Boston Athletic Association and adidas has helped transform the event into one of the City’s most popular Mayor’s Cup contests. USA Track & Field’s New England association directed the meet for the Parks and Recreation Department, and the cross country races concluded the Mayor’s Cup calendar of events for the year.

In the men’s 8-kilometer race, Sandu Rebencuic, 32, ran with a pack of five leaders for most of the race before dispensing of his final two contenders (Vinny Mulvey and Graeme Reid, both of Iona College but running without affiliation this season) with 150 meters remaining. With his victory, Rebencuic broke a five-year-string of consecutive wins by Kenyan runners from Georgia’s Life University. The champion posted times of 4:28 for the first mile, 9:22 at two miles, 14:52 at 5-kilometers, and 19:15 at the four-mile mark.

With 92 total points (lowest score of a team’s top five finishers), B.A.A. – second place last year – won the men’s team title by virtue of its fifth finisher after being tied in the scoring with Westchester Puma Track Club. Surekill Track Club, of Pennsylvania, was third with 102 points; 19 college teams or post-collegiate running clubs fielded teams.

In the women’s 5-kilometer race, Hein, 25, came within eight seconds of the 1997 meet record, posting a time of 16:30 and beating runner-up Sarah Hann, of the Greater Lowell Road Runners, by four seconds. Hein was in the lead group for the entire race, but took command of the race before the two-mile mark. Her time was 4:58 at the first mile and 10:30 at two miles, at which point she held a seven-second advantage over Hann. Marie McMahon Davenport was third, and Sarah Dupre, last year’s champion, was fourth. Hein and teammate Kelly French (fifth place, 17:09) led the Indiana Invaders to a three point margin of victory over the B.A.A., last year’s women’s team champs.

The City of Boston Boston Parks and Recreation Department conducts Mayor’s Cup championship events in soccer, ice hockey, baseball, softball, volleyball, track and field, golf, roller hockey, tennis and cross country running. A jamboree format for the Mayor’s Cup is presented for the sports of lacrosse and Pop Warner football.

This year’s Mayor’s Cup Cross Country races drew 659 finishers, including 195 in the youth 1.1-mile boys and girls races. The first Mayor’s Cup in 1990 drew a field of nine (9) finishers.

During the administration of Boston Mayor Thomas M. Menino and Boston Parks and Recreation Commissioner Justine M. Liff, the event has risen in prominence and prestige. The Mayor’s Cup Cross Country races have become the East Coast’s premier hill-and-dale event for post-collegiate runners. The national cross country championships for running clubs will be held on December 1 in Mobile, Alabama. Following today’s Mayor’s Cup, many of this area’s top teams will take their next preparatory step for the national meet at the USA Track & Field New England Championships on November 11, also at Franklin Park in Boston.

2. Vinny Mulvey, 23, unattached, 23:30;

3. Graeme Reid, 22, unattached, 23:32;

4. Paul Mwangi, 34, Westchester Puma Track Club, 23:40;
5. Peter Riley, 22, unattached, 23:49.

1. Boston Athletic Association, 92 points;
2. Westchester Puma Track Club, 92 points;
3. Surekill Track Club (Penn.), 102 points.

1. Priscilla Hein, 25, Indiana Invaders, 16:30;
2. Sarah Hann, 28, Greater Lowell Road Runners, 16:34;
3. Marie McMahon Davenport, 26, Team New Balance, 16:50;
4. Sarah Dupre, 25, Boston Athletic Association, 16:53;
5. Kelly French, 26, Indiana Invaders, 17:09.

1. Indiana Invaders, 63 points;
2. Boston Athletic Association, 66 points;
3. Greater Lowell Road Runners, 111 points.

Girls (60 finishers): Siobhan Breagy, 12, North Kingstown, RI, 6:30.

2000 Francis Kirwa Life University

1999 Sammy Nyamongo Life University

1998 Francis Kirwa Life University

1996 Silah Misoi Life College

1995 Seamus McElligott ASICS Fleet Feet

1994 Abidi Bouazza Westchester Track Club

1993 Brad Schlapak NYAC

1992 Brad Schlapak NYAC

1991 Andy Ball NIKE Running Room

1990 Michael Baugh HFC Striders

WOMEN

2001 Priscilla Hein Indiana Invaders

2000 Sarah Dupre Boston Athletic Association

1999 Christine Junkermann adidas Club Connecticut

1998 Lesley Lehane Boston Athletic Association

1996 Kate Fonshell ASICS

1995 Lynn Jennings NIKE International

1994 Lynn Jennings NIKE International

1993 Carmen Troncoso NIKE Texas

1992 Kathy Franey Reebok Racing Club

1991 Gwyn Coogan NIKE Boston

1990 Michelle DiMuro Reebok Racing Club