| Running USA wire 77, September 25, 2005 |
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Mottram, Douma-Hussar Win Continental
Airlines Fifth Avenue Mile NEW YORK - (September 24, 2005) - Craig Mottram capped off a successful season of racing right where he began it, winning the Continental Airlines Fifth Avenue Mile in 3:49.9. The win gave the lanky Australian, who won the bronze medal at the World Championships 5000 meters, a 2-0 record in Big Apple races, making a nice bookend to his win here in the Healthy Kidney 10K last May. It also provided a measure of revenge against American Alan Webb, who had defeated Mottram in a track mile at the Bislett Games in Oslo in July by the narrowest of margins, 3:48.92 to 3:48.98. Today's margin was a bit more comfortable, as Webb of Reston, Va. finished in 3:51.4 after aggressively leading the first three quarters of the race. "My coach told me there'd be two pace makers," said Mottram. "The designated rabbit (John Itati) and Webb." That prediction proved true from the gun as Webb zipped through opening quarter mile splits of 54.9 and 1:54. "I thought I could surprise those guys and open up a margin and steal the race," said Webb, who admitted he "lulled myself to sleep" after the halfway point when he became unaware of his pursuers. That was just about when Mottram began to give chase, unwinding his long legs on the downhill final 600 meters to catch Webb about halfway to the finish and then pulled away in the final 200. "I ran the course last night and walked over parts of it, studying the terrain and landmarks," said the winner, who earned $5000 for his efforts, the first time in seven years prize money has been awarded in the race. "I always knew where I was on the course." Mottram's time was the eighth fastest in the history of the race, which began in 1981, but was well off the course record 3:47.82 set by Sydney Maree that year. Breaking the record would have meant a $10,000 dollar bonus. Mottram also gave Webb credit for his brave front-running, saying "it's quite different running alone in front than coming from behind." Webb, a 2004 Olympian, received $4000 for the runner-up spot, with Kenya's Elkanah Angwenyi pocketing $3000 for his 3:54.3 third place clocking. Olympic steeplechaser Anthony Famiglietti, who lives near the course, was fourth in 3:57.1. In the women's race, which preceded the men's by 10 minutes, New Zealand's Kim Smith, the NCAA cross country champion at Providence College last fall, presaged Webb's tactic by opening a sizable lead in the first half. She was eventually caught by the pack and finished eighth in 4:31.9. Emerging from the group of chasers was the pre-race favorite of many, Canadian Olympian Carmen Douma-Hussar, who held on for a half second victory in 4:28.0. Two-time Olympian Amy Rudolph added $4000 to her dowry for her wedding next month to Mark Carroll by taking second, with Treniere Clement third, two tenths back. 2004 Olympic Trials 1500m champion Carrie Tollefson was fourth in 4:29.2. In addition to the elite races, more than a dozen age-group divisions were contested with a stiff breeze coming off the East River that shifted slightly to a tailwind for the headline events. The 2,464 finishers - the largest competition road mile in the U.S. - raced under crisp autumn conditions. 25th Continental Airlines
Fifth Avenue Mile MEN WOMEN Full race results, photos and more at: NYRR.org Return to top / Return to main page Borling, Babcock-Key the Best
at Chicago Half Marathon Chicagoan Jeremy Borling, 25, triumphantly crossed the finish line in 1 hour, 10 minutes, 16 seconds, a pace of 5:22 per mile. Preparing for the LaSalle Bank Chicago Marathon in two weeks, Borling ran back and forth with runner-up Cameron Stuber, 30, who ran a 1:11 flat and four-time Chicago Half Marathon winner Chris Wehrman, 29, who ran 1:11:49. Borling broke away at mile 4 and made his move, turning up the speed at mile 8, then cruised in the final miles. Borling began training for the Chicago Marathon only a month ago, after completing six triathlons this year - including Chicago's Accenture Triathlon. Visiting her husband's family in Lake Bluff, women's champion Courtney Babcock-Key, 33, of Missoula, Montana, decided to try the Chicago Half Marathon and crossed the finish line in 1:18:05, a pace of 5:58. This was her second half-marathon, having run Seattle in May with a time of 1:16. A Canadian citizen, Courtney runs professionally and represented Canada in the 2004 Olympics in Greece. Marlene Key of Lake Zurich posted a second place time of 1:20:35 and Dorothy Gach of Morton Grove was third in 1:25:26. In the Masters division (40 and older), Mike Egle, 43, of Glenview, took the title in 1:14:29, while Cynthia Woods, 49, from Bollingbrook won the women's race in 1:31:16. Both finished in the Top 20. Sponsored by Chicago-based Devine Racing, The Half culminated in exuberant award ceremonies on the grounds of the Museum of Science and Industry. Awards included Devine Racing's Human Spirit Award which recognizes outstanding character, triumph over adversity and inspiration to others. This year's winner was Wendy Copeland of Palatine, who lost 170 pounds and took up running. She trained with coaches at the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society's Team in Training and raised just under $6000 in memory of her dear friend Dave Wicklund who died of leukemia when they were both 24-years-old. Ranked among the top half-marathons in the country, the Chicago Half has dedicated itself to putting a Chicago face on running. Susan Nicholl, founder and one of the few women race directors in the U.S. added, "Our focus is on Chicago/Midwest runners and running clubs, their friends and families. We've always been one of the most popular half-marathons in the country, and this year we created a Welcome Back Club, hosted by Farmers Insurance, to provide special extra perks to our repeat runners." Post race atmosphere included massages for all runners, food and the annual KidsFest. Following the awards, record crowds rocked to a free post-race concert featuring Beatles Tribute Band - British Export. For full race results and photos, visit: ChicagoHalfMarathon.com Return to top / Return to main page Contact: Tim Arem, (828) 298-4789; tbonerun@hotmail.com "T-Bone" Headed to Healthy Schools Summit 2005 in DC September 27 Tim Arem M. Ed, a nationally known kid's entertainer, fitness advocate and educator has been invited as a participant in the upcoming Healthy Schools Summit 2005 on Tuesday, September 27, 2005. The Summit will take place at the Loews L'Enfant Plaza Hotel, in Washington, DC. First Lady Laura Bush will serve for the second time as Honorary Chairperson for the Summit. The Summit is an opportunity for the public, private and non-private sectors to work together in addressing the challenge of childhood obesity and explore ways that better nutrition and increased physical activity in our schools can be part of the solution. Through years of experience and in an effort to bring back the importance of health and fitness as a way of life to American households, Arem has made it his mission to encourage and motivate children and their families to learn more about the world of health and fitness through entertainment and fun. Known world-wide as the energetic health and fitness character, "T-Bone," Arem has been involved in 500 races and has worked with 1.5 million families at fitness events for over 15 years. His mission "health and fitness as a way of life from childhood to adulthood" inspires and motivates thousands of families nationwide. Arem has a personal commitment to sharing health, fitness and entertainment with children and adults of all ages. For more information, visit: TboneRun.com Return to top / Return to main page Media contacts: New Las Vegas Marathon Announces Plans for World's First "Run-Thru Wedding Chapel" and "Issues Call for Couples" The New Las Vegas Marathon has announced plans for the world's first Run-Thru Wedding Chapel. On Sunday, December 4, 2005, up to 26 couples are invited to get married or renew their vows at this "only in Vegas" venue located at the A Very Special Memory Wedding Chapel near mile five on the 26.2 mile course. Organizers also issued a "call for couples" to join the dozen couples who have already expressed an interest in participating in the ceremony. All couples will be required to run or walk the Marathon and must complete an online questionnaire at LVMarathon.com before October 17, 2005. The group ceremony will be presided over by Reverend William Petersen, who has performed over 25,000 weddings in Las Vegas. He is currently in training with the Vegas Roadrunners to run his first marathon. The ceremony will be carried live on the CBS affiliate KLAS during its 3 hour broadcast of the New Las Vegas Marathon broadcast which begins at 6:00am. Reverend Petersen plans to run with the couples from the start line to the Run-Thru Chapel, where following the brief ceremony, Elvis will sing "Love Me Tender" and "I Can't Help Falling in Love With You" as the couples go on to complete the race. The first couple to cross the finish line will spend the night in the Honeymoon Suite at Mandalay Bay Resort & Convention Center. At a reception the day before the race, the couples will gather for a Best Kiss contest to compete for his and her spa treatments at Spa Mandalay. All participating couples will receive tickets to a special performance of the wedding themed, ABBA musical, "Mama Mia" in the Mandalay Bay Theater. The New Las Vegas Marathon will debut on Sunday, December 4, 2005 as the first marathon in history to run the world famous Las Vegas Strip. The race will begin at 6:00am in front of Race Headquarters Mandalay Bay with a spectacular display of fireworks and Elvis singing "Viva Las Vegas." The race will offer a $400,000 prize purse for an expected field of world class athletes, a record $1.25 million cash bonus for a world record per genderand $10,000 each to the fastest male and female from Clark County, Nevada. The race will take place on a fast, flat course under ideal conditions with a start line temperature of 50 degrees. Return to top / Return to main page Simonaitis, De Reuck Win USA Masters 10K Titles
at Heritage Oaks Bank 10K Dennis Simonaitis, 43, of Draper, Utah and Colleen De Reuck, 41, of Boulder, Colo. emerged as victors Sunday morning at the USA Masters 10K Championship hosted by the Heritage Oaks Bank 10K in Paso Robles, Calif. On a cool morning (about 50 degrees F), Simonaitis negotiated the flat and fast, two loop course in 31 minutes. De Reuck posted a winning 33:33 among masters women (40 and older). Both runners easily out-distanced their competition as Simonaitis tuned up for the Twin Cities Marathon next Sunday and De Reuck prepped for the LaSalle Bank Chicago Marathon in two weeks. Both national champions earned $3900 shares of the $12,000 total masters prize purse - for their overall victories and top age-graded performances. "I tried to push it a little hard early, just to get out there in the lead," Simonaitis related. "And the age group victory was something that I wanted, too." Simonaitis successfully defended his USA Masters 10K crown. "I've started my taper for Chicago," four-time Olympian De Reuck said about her upcoming marathon. "I thought I'd run 33:30, so it's about what I expected. This was the first time that I've run in a masters-only race." The event also served as the Pacific Association/USATF 10K Championship for Open and Masters divisions. In the separate Open race, Peter Gilmore, 28, of San Mateo, Calif. recorded the Pacific Association men's title in 30:22. Elissa Riedy, 28, of Oakland, Calif. was the women's Open winner in 35:59. A total of $5050 was awarded to top Pacific Association athletes and clubs. Full results will be available on the Pacific Association website at: www.PAUSATF.org or at the race website: www.HoBFunRun.com Ryan Lamppa, Running USA Media Services Director (805) 696-6232, fax (805) 696-6252 |