Posted: September 26, 2004

Athletics: Itati wins fourth straight Pennsylvania Avenue Mile

WASHINGTON, D.C. (Sept. 25, 2004) – Fighting off a massive late surge, John Itati of Kenya rallied to win the 10th annual Pennsylvania Avenue Mile today for the fourth consecutive year, in 4:04.57. Itati led early and appeared to have the race in hand until Australia’s Mark Fountain, 22, made a huge move with 300 meters to go, taking the lead until the veteran Itati, 30, fought back to edge him at the line. Fountain finished as runner-up in 4:04.89.

In the women’s race, Carmen Douma-Hussar of Canada closed out a spectacular year with an easy win, in 4:36.79. The 27-year-old graduate of Villanova University broke into the top echelon of middle-distance runners in 2004, winning at 1500m at both the Boston Indoor Games and Millrose Games before taking silver at the World Indoor Championships, setting a Canadian indoor national record in the process. She followed that up with a personal-best 4:02.31 in the Olympic Games, where she finished ninth. Runner-up was Amy Mortimer of Boston, in 4:39.63

Benefiting START (SummerTime and Reading Together), a youth reading program, the elite Pennsylvania Avenue Mile was part of the “Booking for Literacy” morning of events that included citizens’ miles and an international-challenge race as well as 5K and 10K races and a Walk for Literacy. For more information see www.startdc.org.

Pennsylvania Avenue Mile Results - Washington, D.C. Sept. 25, 2004

Men
1.  John Itati, Kenya                             4:04.57
2.  Mark Fountain, Australia                4:04.89
3.  Nicholas Kurgat, Kenya                  4:07.38
4.  Shadrack Kosgei, Kenya                 4:09.35
5.  Anthony Whiteman, Great Britain  4:13.21
6.  Kenneth Maiyo, Kenya                    4:15.31
7.  Chris Estwanik, United States         4:16.64
8.  Sean O’Brien, United States            4:22.06

Women
1. Carmen Douma-Hussar, Canada    4:36.79 
2. Amy Mortimer, United States        4:39.63 
3. Elena Orlova, Russia                      4:41.39 
4. Emilie Mondor, Canada                 4:45.11 
5. Larisa Michailova, Russia              4:46.41 
6. Jenelle Deatherage, United States  4:48.34 
7. Vicky Gill, Great Britain                4:48.64 
8. Colleta Chepchirchir, Kenya          4:51.83 
9. Victoria Lynch, United States        4:56.72