From Jim Estes, USATF
INDIANAPOLIS, Ind. - (September 1, 2008) - James Carney (Boulder, Colo.) took charge early on his way to his second USA title of 2008, winning the USA 20K Championships in 59 minutes, 11 seconds. In the women's race, Jill Steffens (Athens, Ga.) overtook Elva Dryer (Gunnison Colo.) just after the 12 mile mark to win the women's title in 1:08:48, her first USA crown. The national road championships were hosted again by the Stratton Faxon New Haven 20K on Monday in New Haven, Conn.
The men's race saw Carney, 30, take the lead from the gun, with only Josh Rohatinsky (Beaverton, Ore.) and defending champion Dan Browne (Beaverton, Ore.) briefly able to make contact near five miles. From that point, Carney surged ahead to open a five-second lead at six miles. By ten miles, passed in 47:26, the 2008 USA half-marathon champion continued to extend his lead, and from there he easily cruised to the national title, finishing 47 seconds ahead of Rohatinsky. Team Running USA's Browne held on for third, running 1:00:06. Fernando Cabada (Boulder, Colo.) and Celedonio Rodriguez (Flagstaff, Ariz.) rounded out the top five, finishing in 1:00:39 and 1:00:42 respectively.
In the women's race, Dryer, a two-time Olympian, led much of the way, occasionally opening a small gap on a chase pack that included eventual champion Steffens and third place finisher Ilsa Paulson (Flagstaff, Ariz.). Near the seven mile mark, new masters standout Stephanie Herbst-Lucke (Atlanta, Ga.) briefly challenged for the lead, before Dryer surged to a four second lead.
Approaching eight miles, Steffens and Paulson began to work together to close the gap on Dryer and just past 12 miles, Steffens, 24, moved past Dryer to hit the finish at the New Haven Green with a six-second win, while Paulson, the 19-year-old former Northern Arizona University star, narrowly missed overtaking Dryer for third, running 1:08:55. Herbst-Lucke held on for fourth in 1:09:24, while Dot McMahan (Rochester Hills, Mich.) took fifth in 1:09:33.
With a total prize purse of $41,550 on the line, Carney and Steffens earned $8000 each as U.S. champion and were also the top athletes to qualify for the Team USA squad that will compete at the IAAF World Road Running Championships in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil on Sunday, October 12.
At the 31st edition, nearly 5,000 runners completed either the 20K, 5K or kids race during the New Haven Labor Day tradition.
31st Stratton Faxon New Haven Road Race: USA 20K Championships - New Haven, CT, Monday, September 1, 2008
MEN
1) James Carney (CO), 59:11, $8000
2) Josh Rohatinsky (OR), 59:58, $4500
3) Dan Browne (OR), 1:00:06, $2500
4) Fernando Cabada (CO), 1:00:39, $1500
5) Celedonino Rodriguez (AZ), 1:00:42, $1000
6) Nick Arciniaga (MI), 1:00:47, $700
7) Edwardo Torres (CO), 1:01:01, $600
8) Ian Burrell (AZ), 1:01:02, $500
9) Justin Young (CO), 1:01:12, $400
10) Matt Downin (WI), 1:01:21, $300
WOMEN
1) Jill Steffens (GA), 1:08:48, $8000
2) Elva Dryer (CO), 1:08:54, $4500
3) Ilsa Paulson, 19, AZ, 1:08:55, $2500
4) Stephanie Herbst-Lucke, 42, GA, 1:09:24, $1500
5) Dot McMahan (MI), 1:09:33, $1000
6) Melissa White (MI), 1:09:47, $700
7) Zoila Gomez (CO), 1:09:52, $600
8) Kristen Fryburg (CO), 1:10:33, $500
9) Ann Alyanak (OH), 1:10:37, $400
10) Paige Higgins (CO), 1:11:02, $300
Complete results at: NewHavenRoadRace.org.
Ryan Lamppa, Running USA Media Director
(805) 696-6232; Fax = (805) 659-0016
Ryan@RunningUSA.org
www.RunningUSA.org.
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