LAALOU, ROWBURY VICTORIOUS ON FIFTH AVENUE
By David Monti
(c) 2010 Race Results Weekly, all rights reserved - used with permission
NEW
YORK (26-Sep) -- Amine Laalou of Morocco and Shannon Rowbury of San
Francisco were the winners of today's 30th edition of the Continental
Airlines Fifth Avenue Mile here today.
Laalou, 28, a two-time
Olympian, won in the final sprint over the 2007 double world champion
Bernard Lagat of Tucson, Ariz., and defending Fifth Avenue champion
Andy Baddeley of England. Laalou clocked 3:52.83 in his first
appearance at the race, to Lagat's 3:53.30 and Baddeley's 3:53.34.
American Olympians Alan Webb and Leo Manzano were fourth and fifth,
respectively, in 3:53.72 and 3:54.17.
Irishman Alistair Cragg
almost stole the race, surging after the halfway mark and opening up a
15-meter lead. Cragg, who ran a half-marathon one week ago, faded in
the final 150 meters to finish 17th in 3:58.59. He was the last man to
break four minutes in today's race.
Rowbury, 26, followed the
lead of her former training partner Erin Donohue of Haddonfield, N.J.,
who picked up a prime of $1000 for leading the race at halfway.
Donohue ran in the center of the roadway, with 2006 champion Sara Hall
on her right, and Rowbury on her left. Rowbury waited for the final 40
meters to surge, collecting her second victory here in 4:24.12. Hall,
of Mammoth Lakes, Calif., just nipped Donohue to take second in
4:24.34, 6/100ths of a second up on her rival. Hannah England of
England (4:24.40) and Molly Huddle of Providence, R.I., (4:25.92)
finished fourth and fifth, respectively.
Both Laalou and Rowbury
earned $5000 in prize money for their victories, part of a $30,000
total prize money purse. Athletes of all ages and abilities competed
in 16 heats over a four hour period.
ENDS
Elite Results - Webcast Replays
