Posted: October 26, 2004

Athletics: USATF News and Notes

Browne sets course record at Army Ten-Miler

Army National Guard Captain and 2004 Olympic marathoner Dan Browne set a new course record Sunday in winning the men's race at the 2004 Army Ten-Miler in Washington, D.C.

A 1997 graduate of West Point, Browne took an early lead and ran virtually by himself in winning the race in 47 minutes, 29 seconds. 2002 winner Capt. Ryan Kirkpatrick was the runner-up in 48:43. Italian Luigi La Bella was third in 49:32, with Sgt. Teddy Mitchell fourth in 50:03.

Casey Smith of Arlington, Va., won the women's race in 57:26, with Christine Clifton the runner-up in 58:02. Sharon Lemberger was third in 58:32, with Susannah Krasnicka fourth in 58:53.

Runners from 49 states and 11 foreign countries competed Sunday at the nation's largest 10-mile race. For more information on the 2004 Army Ten-Miler in Washington, D.C., visit www.armytenmiler.com.

Riley, Liss lead Team USA at North American 5 km Championship

Jonathon Riley and Collette Liss posted the top individual performances for Team USA Sunday at the 2004 North American 5 km Championship in Chula Vista, California. The competition was the showcase event of the 16th Arturo Barrios Invitational.

A two-time U.S. indoor 3,000m champion and 2004 Olympian at 5,000 meters, Riley was the top finishing American in the men's race finishing fifth in 14 minutes, 12 seconds. American finishers included Chad Johnson (7th in 14:26) and Josh Eberly (8th in 14:36). Mexico's Alejandro Suarez won the race in 13:56.

The 2001 U.S. 5 km road champion and 2001 U.S. indoor mile champion Collette Liss was the fastest U.S. finisher in the women's race placing third in 16 minutes, 3 seconds. Amy Mortimer was fourth in 16:07, with Jody Hawkins sixth in 16:43. Emilie Mondor won the women's race for the second consecutive year, setting a new Canadian national record with her time of 15:16.

Canada won the overall team title with 12 points. Mexico was the runner-up with 16 points and Team USA placed third with 19 points. With Canada's win, the three North American countries each share one victory in the three-year-old team format.

For more information on the 2004 North American 5 km Team Championship, visit USATF.org.

Carroll, Ketema win Boston Mayor's Cup Races

Ireland's Mark Carroll and Ethiopia's Atalelech Ketema were the respective men's and women's winners Sunday at the 15th Mayor's Cup Cross Country Races at Boston's historic Franklin Park.

Carroll's winning time was 23 minutes, 53 seconds for the 8-kilometer, multiple loop course in cool, damp conditions with adequate footing. He won by 10 seconds over runner-up John Mortimer, 28, of Boston. Ketema, who was sixth at this same race last year, ran in similarly impressive fashion as Carroll, notching a wire-to-wire victory in 16:47 in her 5-kilometer race. Rebecca Stallwood, 26, of Canada, finished second in 17:04.

The Boston Athletic Association men's and women's squads both successfully defended their team titles on Sunday. B.A.A. squads have finished no worse than runner-up in the team competition each of the last five years. The men's team has won in three of the last five years and the women have won in four of the last five years. The B.A.A. men's team placed all five of its scorers, led by Mortimer, among the top 20 finishers. The club's women's team placed its five scorers among the top 13 finishers, and were paced by fifth placer Orla O'Mahoney (17:14).

This year's Mayor's Cup races drew the largest total number of finishers (825) in event history, with 338 youth finishers in separate boys and girls races and 202 finishers in the Franklin Park 5-kilometer "open" race.

John Bitok, 23, a Kenyan citizen who competes for the B.A.A. and who lives in Brighton, Mass., won the men's Franklin Park 5 km race in 15:57, with Governor Dummer Academy's Keara Thomas, 15, of Haverhill, Mass., the first female finisher in 19:29.

The 1.1-mile youth races were won by Nick Poles, 13, of Quincy Track Club (5:53) and Ashley Farnsworth, 14, of Lynx Elite Athletics, who successfully defended her girl's title (6:25).

The Boston Mayor's Cup Cross Country Races are presented by adidas and the Boston Athletic Association. The races are directed by USA Track & Field - New England and Boston Centers for Youth & Families; and significant cooperation is given by Boston Parks & Recreation Department and the City of Boston's Park Rangers. Proceeds from the event are directed towards the improvement, preservation and maintenance of the Franklin Park cross country courses.

Crawford to appear on UPN sitcom

2004 Olympic 200-meter gold medalist Shawn Crawford will appear on the UPN sitcom "Half and Half" on Monday, October 25. The half-hour program airs at 8:30 p.m., Eastern Time. For more information, visit: http://www.upn.com.

On Tuesday, October 26, Crawford will appear on BET's Rap City, which airs from 4-6 p.m., Eastern. Check local listings for air times in your area.