Posted: February 23, 2005

Athletics: Famiglietti Is First At Olympic Bid Run

From David Monti

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

NEW YORK (22-Feb) -- Olympic steeplechaser Anthony Famiglietti led a field of approximately 2000 runners at a specially organized race held in Central Park tonight to show support for the city's 2012 Olympic Games bid.

Starting just north of the Plaza Hotel were the International Olympic Committee evaluation team are staying, Famiglietti covered the 5 km course of the NYC2012 Run for the Olympic Bid in an unofficial time of 14 minutes and seven seconds.

"Just my usual workout," said Famiglietti who lives in Manhattan close to the park and often trains there.

The race was organized by the New York Road Runners in cooperation with NYC2012, New York's Olympic bid committee.

Besides Famiglietti, several other Olympians attended the race including medalists Grete Waitz of Norway (silver medal, 1984 Olympic Marathon) and Bernard Lagat of Kenya (bronze medal, 2000 1500m and silver medal, 2004 1500m). Irish miler Eamonn Coughlin also attended.

Michelle Bleakley, an Australian citizen who lives in the nearby suburb of Mamaroneck, won the women's race in just under 18 minutes.