Fifth Avenue Sees Fiercest Competition in Years
Professional races are both photo finishes; Westchester Track Club tops male and female NYRR Road Mile Championships
New York, September 21—On a brisk, late summer morning in New York, 3,153 runners sprinted as fast as their legs would take them down Fifth Avenue to the famous Continental Airlines Fifth Avenue Mile finish line at 60th Street. Young and young-at-heart runners, ranging in age from eight to 98, took to the streets to put forth their best effort over the 5,280-foot course.
In the women’s professional race, Kenyan Rose Kosgei set the initial pace for the first half of the race until Olympians Lisa Dobriskey of Great Britain and Shannon Rowbury of San Francisco matched, and then passed, the frontrunner. Dobriskey and Rowbury, both 24 years old, vied side by side for the finish line—Dobriskey finished in 4:18.6, outkicking Rowbury by six-tenths of a second; it was the second-fastest time in Fifth Avenue Mile history (PattiSue Plumer holds the 4:16.6 course record, set in 1990). Rowbury’s 4:19.2 was the third-fastest time. Kosgei settled for third in 4:23.9.
In the men’s professional race, Jon Rankin surprised his competitors with similar tactics by taking an early lead. But his initial pace was not too fast for Olympians Bernard Lagat, Nick Willis, and Nate Brannen. Lagat pushed to the front before Willis matched his move, and they fought for a shoulder-to-shoulder race to the finish that was too close to judge by sight. Willis, the bronze medalist in the 1500 meters in Beijing, leaned in at the tape and finished in 3:50.5, which beat Lagat’s best effort by one-tenth of a second. Nate Brannan, Olympian and Willis’ training partner in Michigan, was third.
“This was a big year and a huge finale,” said NYRR president and CEO Mary Wittenberg. “To save something for a sprint finish in New York City really means something.”
In the NYRR Road Mile Championships, Westchester Track Club (WTC) dominated the men’s podium. Abraham Ng’Etich edged Worku Beyi for first in 4:02, and Abiyot Endale finished third.
In the women’s championship race, Buzunesh Deba joined her WTC teammates atop the podium with a 4:43.4, which was good for first place. Lesley Higgins of the New York Athletic Club took second in 4:47.1, while Aileen Conlon of the Nike Central Park Track Club grabbed third place.
In the most talked-about race of the day, teammates and fellow age-group runners Bob Matteson, 92, of the Greater New York Racing Team and Abe Weintraub, 98, amazed the spectators on Fifth Avenue once again. Matteson finished in 12:21 and Weintraub, the most senior runner in the race, broke the tape in 22:10.
Post race, children from the KIPP Academy in the Bronx lined the awards stage to congratulate the athletes. Many Fifth Avenue Mile champions first made history while in high school; will one of these middle school kids be next? Dobriskey, who thanked New York for star treatment in her victorious debut said it just right: “It’s amazing to see so many people passionate about running here in New York.”
