by Larry Eder
photo by PhotoRun.net
Jenny Simpson, 2011 WC 1,500m champion, gold medalist,
photo by PhotoRun.net
Bernard Lagat, 2011 WC 5,000m, silver medalist, photo by PhotoRun.net
Jenny Simpson was the first American women since 1983 to win the 1,500 meters at the World Championships. Jenny Simpson has excited many in the country, (along with her teammate Matt Centrowitz, who took the bronze in the 1,500 men’s race, who is doing his Duck thing).
Bernard Lagat took the silver medal in the 5,000 meters in the World Champs, his second silver medal in a row in WC (2009). In 2007, Bernard won both the 1,500m and 5,000m at the World Champs. Lagat is one of the best middle distance racers in the world. The man runs fast, but also is dangerous with fifty or 80 meters to go!
Victory Tour for World Champion Jenny Simpson to Wrap Up at Fifth Avenue Mile
Bernard
Lagat returns to chase his first Fifth Avenue Mile crown
against strong men’s field at 31st edition of iconic road mile
on September 24; stellar field also includes World Championships
medalists Hannah England, Sally Kipyego and two-time defending
race champion Shannon Rowbury and men’s defending champion
Amine Laalou
NEW YORK – (September 14, 2011) – Just weeks after her stunning 1500 meter victory at the World Championships, Jenny Simpson of the United States will conclude her “victory lap” tour by running the Fifth Avenue Mile on Saturday, September 24, it was announced by New York Road Runners president and CEO Mary Wittenberg.
Simpson became the first American woman to win the 1500m world title since Mary Decker
in 1983 with her surprising victory at the World Championships
in Daegu, South Korea, earlier this month. The win capped a
spectacular comeback for Simpson, who was slowed last year by a
stress fracture and earlier this year by flu-like symptoms.
“After winning a World Championship medal, I can’t
think of a more American place to return than New York City,” said
Simpson, 25, of Monument, CO, who is the U.S. record holder in
the 3000 meter steeplechase. “I want to share the excitement of
my season with everyone who had touched my career in a
positive way. The Fifth Avenue Mile’s spirit of community
running and celebration will be the perfect stage for me to
complete my season. I’m so excited to be a part of it!”
World Championships silver medalists Sally Kipyego, 25, of Kenya (10,000m) and Hannah England,
24, of Great Britain (1500m), two-time defending champion and
2009 World Championships 1500m bronze medalist Shannon Rowbury, 26, of the USA, and USA 800m champion Alysia Montano, 25, are sure to give Simpson lots of competition in the 31st edition of the road mile.
“It has been a breakout season for Jenny, and a strong
performance here in the most famous city mile in the world
against a glittering lineup of rivals would put an exclamation
point on her year,” said Wittenberg.
Two-time Olympic medalist and multi-World Championships medalist Bernard Lagat
of the United States will continue his quest to add this crown
to his glittering trophy case against a stellar field
featuring defending champion Amine Laalou of Morocco and reigning USA 800m champion and 2008 Olympian Nick Symmonds.
Lagat, of Tucson, AZ, finished runner-up in 2010 and
2008 and was fourth in 2009 in the race down one of the most
famous thoroughfares in the world.
“I said I’m coming until I win it, so this year I’m
going to win it and will be prepared for that,” said Lagat, 36, who
took the silver medal at the World Championships 5000 meters
this month. “I’m going to be tough to beat in New York.”
Lagat is the U.S. record holder in the 1500, 3000 and
5000 meters outdoors, an eight-time Wanamaker Mile winner at
the Millrose Games, and a four-time medalist at the World
Championships, including a double victory at 1500 and 5000
meters in 2007. He was also a two-time Olympic medalist at 1500
meters while running for his native Kenya, earning the silver
in 2004 and the bronze in 2000. Lagat has had a successful 2011,
including breaking the 21-year-old U.S. indoor record in the 2-mile
run; he also holds the American indoor records at 1500 meters, 1
mile and 3000 meters.
Laalou, 29, of Morocco, won the Fifth Avenue Mile in
2010 in a time of 3 minutes, 50.83 seconds. He finished fifth
in the 2009 World Championship 800 meters and won the 1500
meters at the 2010 IAAF Continental Cup.
Other top entrants in the field:
- Symmonds, 27, of Eugene, OR, is the reigning and four-time U.S. 800m
champion. He recently placed fifth at that distance at the
2011 World Championships. - Ingvill MÃ¥kestad Bovim, 30, of Norway, placed sixth
at the World Championships and fifth at the 2011 European
Indoor Championships, both at 1500 meters. - Anthony Famiglietti, 32, of Davidson, NC, is a
two-time Olympian in the 3000m steeplechase and a versatile
middle- to long-distance runner with a range from 1500 meters
to the half-marathon. He has run 3:55.71 for the mile. He has
seen limited competitive action in 2010 and 2011.
The Fifth Avenue Mile begins near East 80th Street and
finishes at East 60th Street. The wheelchair and handcycle race
will kick off the event at 9:00am. After that, entrants will
run in heats according to age and gender. The professional
women’s race is scheduled to start at 12:50pm, followed by the
professional men’s race at 1:05pm. A total prize purse of
$30,000 for the men’s and women’s professional races will be offered,
with the two race champions each receiving $5000.
For more information, visit: www.nyrr.org
