Posted: July 2, 2004

Athletics: A Miraculous Day For The Mile at Harry Jerome Classic

BURNABY - The 21st annual Vancouver Sun Harry Jerome International Track Classic presented by Golder Associates celebrated the 50th anniversary of the Miracle Mile with an exciting race that saw six runners, including three Canadians, dip under the magic four-minute mark for the distance.

Kenya’s Daniel Komen led the charge of 16 runners in the 2010 LegaciesNow Miracle Mile: Gold Edition, speeding through 1,500 metres in 3:38.53 before hitting the finish line for a mile mark of 3:54.02. American Said Ahmed followed in 3:57.33 with another American, Chris Estwanik, taking third in 3:58.17.

Ryan McKenzie of Windsor, Ont., improved his best for the mile, dipping under the four-minute mark for the first time to finish fourth in 3:58.52. Compatriots Andrew Ellerton and Jason Cantin followed in 3:58.68 and 3:58.84 respectively.

The annual meet, which honours the late, great sprinter Harry Jerome of North Vancouver, celebrated the 50th anniversary of the Miracle Mile that was held as part of the British Empire Games in Vancouver in 1954. Britain’s Roger Bannister overtook Australia’s John Landy on the final turn in that race which is remembered as the Miracle Mile as both runners completed the distance in under four minutes.

Mile Legends Peter Snell and John Walker, and American Steve Scott, were special guests at the stadium Thursday as was Victor Milligan, fourth-place finisher in the 1954 Miracle Mile.

This year’s meet, held under sunny Canada Day skies at Burnaby’s Swangard Stadium, attracted more than 400 athletes from 15 countries. Many athletes were seeking to attain Olympic standards while others who have already secured the marks were using the meet to hone their preparation for the upcoming Summer Olympics in Athens.

Canadian women’s 800-metre record holder Diane Cummins led for much of the two-lap race and was ecstatic in once again dipping under the two-minute mark in what was an important final prep for her as she prepares for the July 9-11 Olympic trials in Victoria. Cummins has attained more than two Olympic A-standards and needs only to finish fourth or better in Victoria to secure her spot on the Olympic team.

“This was a similar race to what I expect at nationals, where I’ll have to race up front,” said Cummins, clearly a favourite with the more than 4,000 fans at the stadium as she cruised to victory in 1:59.78. “I’m not a front runner, it’s nerve-wracking for me to be up front. I like to be behind, chasing someone. Some people love to run up front and get incredible energy from it. This was good practice for me. I’ve run under two minutes, which is good because I’ve been consistent with that this season.

“I lost a bit of focus with about 200 metres to go and I heard everyone screaming so I got back to the moment. It was so great to have all those fans. It made it a beautiful Canada Day.”

Another popular winner was Ottawa runner Mike Woods, who at 17 is showing signs he will be a force in future years. Woods won the men’s Open mile in 4:01.95 with a 1,500 split time of 3:44.89.

“I’m really happy with the time but I was hoping I could have got into the field for the Miracle Mile because I think I could have gone under four minutes,” said Woods, who was followed by Mexico’s Isaias Cruz in 4:03.41 and Canada’s Matt Johnston in 4:04.22.
“That would have been a great achievement.”

One of the most anticipated events was the men’s high jump and American Matt Hemingway was ecstatic with his decision to come to the meet after pondering his entry a month ago.

“This is the most beautiful place I have ever been for a track meet,” he declared after winning the event with a leap of 2.28 metres. “I had been working on some things in practice, I was having trouble with my approach earlier in the year and decided to come up here to help work this out. Well, it looks like things are really coming together. So, I’m glad I came. This is my first visit to Canada and I have to say this site is a very pretty place.”

American Jamie Nieto took second at 2.25 metres with Canadian record holder Mark Boswell sharing third with another American, Charles Austin, at 2.20.

The women’s hurdles were another highlight as American Danielle Carruthers and Canada’s Priscilla Lopes battled to a photo finish. Carruthers edged Lopes to win in 13.08 seconds to the Canadian’s 13.10. But 21-year-old Lopes, of Whitby, Ont., was happy with the result in a season that has seen her personal best tumble with a recent 12.64 clocking in finishing second at the NCAA championships. Canada’s Angela Whyte finished third Thursday in 13.13.

“I was hoping to get another A-standard to qualify me for Athens,” said Lopes. “Now, I have two Bs and an A. So I have to go to Olympic trials and race with Perdita Felicien and Angela Whyte and get it there. But the season has been going great so far. A few months ago I was just hoping to run a 12.90 and to have run a 12.64 is way beyond my belief. Now, anything is possible if you put your mind to it and stay focused.”

Lopes is thrilled with the possibility that three Canadian women may qualify to run the 100-metre hurdles in Athens.

“It’s amazing for Canada. I don’t think we’ve had that many to represent Canada for a long while.”

In other events, defending Jerome meet men’s 800-metre champion Gary Reed continued his winning ways in the two-lap event. The Kamloops runner stopped the clock in 1:46.36, just ahead of Victoria’s Zach Whitmarsh in 1:46.84.

In the women’s 1,500 metres American Jenelle Deathereage outfinished Canada’s Emilie Mondor but Mondor proclaimed the race was just what she needed in preparation for the upcoming Olympic trials.

“I think the time is a PB for me anyway,” said Mondor, who finished in 4:10.86 to Deatherage’s 4:09.67. “This was a good race and it shows my training is going well. If the weather cooperates I hope to run a PB for 5,000 metres at the trials in Victoria.”

Canadian pole vaulter Dana Ellis will go to the Olympic trials secure in knowing she has already attained the requisite two A-standards. She finished third in the Jerome meet pole vault at 4.15 metres, below her Canadian record of 4.43 set earlier this year.

“Coming in to this meet I felt great, probably the best I’ve felt all year but it just work out it wasn’t my best height,” said Ellis, who finished behind Americans Becky Holliday (4.40) and Lindsay Taylor (4.30). But I have the standard and I feel blessed I can go to a meet like this without so much pressure. I still want to do really well and I was hoping to break the Canadian record again and I probably relaxed a tiny bit because I already have what I need.”

Jennifer Joyce, who on June 25 set a Canadian women’s hammer throw record, had hoped to equal or better that performance as her own Canada Day celebration. She took second behind American record holder Erin Gilreath, who won with a toss of 70.36 metres to Joyce’s 66.11.

“I was hoping to get another A-standard today,” said Joyce. “This was a bit frustrating, I’m obviously ready to throw the A-standard again but was a bit off technically. But I’ve got Olympic trials next week so it will happen there.”

The day ended with an international men’s 4x400 relay but it wasn’t the icing on the Canada Day cake for a Canadian men’s squad hoping to qualify for the Athens Olympics. Trinidad and Tobago won the race in 3:04.69 followed by the Dominican Republic at 3:05.41. The United States followed at 3:05.53 with Canada fourth at 3:05.68.