Posted: March 15, 2004

Athletics: Father And Daughter Shine In Baltimore 5-K

From David Monti

(c) 2004 Race Results Weekly, all rights reserved RaceResultsWeekly.com

When Steve Spence earned the bronze medal at the 1991 IAAF World Championships in Athletics in the marathon that was surely the greatest prize in his athletics career.

But raising daughter, Neely, to run like her father may be nearly as good.

At yesterday's 180s St. Patrick's Parade 5-K in Baltimore, Md., Spence cruised to a solo victory at age 41 in 14 minutes and 46 seconds, while Neely, just 13 years-old, finished fourth in the women's race 17:45. Naoko Ishibe won in 16:37.

"Good genes," commented race director, Dave Cooley, with tongue-in-cheek in an e-mail message to RRW.

Neely Spence's performance came just two days after 13 year-old Briana Jackucewicz won the National Scholastic Indoor Championship over 5000m in New York City in an eye-popping 16:43.02, a U.S. scholastic record.

The Spences live in Shippensburg, Pa., where Steve is the cross country coach at Shippensburg University.

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