Continental Airlines Fifth Avenue Mile: Pro GallerySeptember 26, 2009[Results] [Pro Gallery] [Event Gallery] [Winners Gallery] [All Coverage] |
| At the end of a long summer racing season, some of the world’s best middle-distance runners blazed down New York’s famed thoroughfare at the 29th Continental Airlines Fifth Avenue Mile. Both races were extremely close among the top-four finishers. Among the women, Shannon Rowbury edged 2008 winner Lisa Dobriskey for the title, while in the men’s race, it was Andy Baddeley just a half-step ahead of Boaz Lalang. | |||
 The women’s field featured Olympians, World Championships medalists, and former event champions. |
 Erin Donohue of the United States, fourth here last year, made a bold early move. |
 In the final quarter-mile, 2006 champion Sara Hall of the United States looked ready to grab another title. |
 Rowbury was keeping close tabs on Great Britain’s Dobriskey, who’d edged her for the win last year…. |
 …and this year the American had an answer. |
 Rowbury, the reigning two-time U.S. 1500-meter champion, broke the tape in 4:23.3. |
 Dobriskey was the runner-up, with Hall just inches behind in third. |
 Rising British middle-distance star Hannah England was fourth. |
 The runners’ intensity showed at the start of the men’s race. |
 U.S. Olympian Bernard Lagat, last year’s runner-up, controlled the downhill first quarter-mile… |
 …but Lagat had plenty of company as the course climbed uphill in the second quarter. |
 Lagat and 20-year-old Boaz Lalang of Kenya attempted to make it a two-man race. |
 Though Lalang gained ground with 200 yards to go, the pack was never far behind. |
 Great Britain’s Andy Baddeley started his kick with just 50 yards remaining. |
 At the tape it was all Baddeley, with Lalang second and Texan Leonel Manzano third. |
 Rowbury and Baddeley celebrated a satisfying end to their 2009 seasons. |
