Comfortable eight second victory for Sean Quigley at the US 20Km championships in New Haven (© John Nepolitan (ESPNRise.com))
Sean Quigley and Magdalena Lewy Boulet took the men's and women's titles Monday (6) at the USA 20 km Championships hosted by the Stratton Faxon New Haven 20K. Quigley ran 59:21 to win by eight seconds over Mo Trafeh, while Boulet cruised home in 1:07:41 for a 45 second win over Stephanie Rothstein.
Warm, sunny skies met a record field of more than 6400 as a pack of 15 men led the field through a relaxed opening mile of 4:52. The lead pack included defending champion Brett Gotcher, Ben Bruce, James Carney, Patrick Smyth, Justin Young and Quigley.
As the pace steadily picked up, the main pack remained largely intact with various contenders taking a turn at the lead. By seven miles, Young had taken charge of the lead pack as it was reduced to Carney, Smyth, Quigley and Trafeh.
Young made several surges, gaining as much as five metres on his rivals only to have the gap closed each time. As the pack raced down the final hill on the course past ten miles, Trafeh made his bid for the title. Opening a 15 metre lead, the race looked to be his but Carney and Quigley fought their way back, catching Trafeh.
At 11 miles, the race looked to be Carney's as he opened a five metre lead but a half mile later Quigley made his move and steadily pulled away to take his first USA road title. Trafeh held on for second, running 59:29, as Carney took third in 59:33. Young held on for third in 59:45 while Smyth rounded out the top-five in 59:54.
In the women's race, Boulet took charge of the lead pack early with a group of six that included Rothstein, Amy Hastings, Tera Moody, Clara Grandt and Nan Kennard.
After seven miles, Boulet steadily pulled away from the field, capturing her first U.S. title of 2010. Rothstein finished 45 seconds later to take the runner-up spot in 1:08:26, while Kennard took third in 1:08:38. Grandt and Moody took fourth and fifth in 1:09:02 and 1:09:38 respectively.
USATF for the IAAF
Warm, sunny skies met a record field of more than 6400 as a pack of 15 men led the field through a relaxed opening mile of 4:52. The lead pack included defending champion Brett Gotcher, Ben Bruce, James Carney, Patrick Smyth, Justin Young and Quigley.
As the pace steadily picked up, the main pack remained largely intact with various contenders taking a turn at the lead. By seven miles, Young had taken charge of the lead pack as it was reduced to Carney, Smyth, Quigley and Trafeh.
Young made several surges, gaining as much as five metres on his rivals only to have the gap closed each time. As the pack raced down the final hill on the course past ten miles, Trafeh made his bid for the title. Opening a 15 metre lead, the race looked to be his but Carney and Quigley fought their way back, catching Trafeh.
At 11 miles, the race looked to be Carney's as he opened a five metre lead but a half mile later Quigley made his move and steadily pulled away to take his first USA road title. Trafeh held on for second, running 59:29, as Carney took third in 59:33. Young held on for third in 59:45 while Smyth rounded out the top-five in 59:54.
In the women's race, Boulet took charge of the lead pack early with a group of six that included Rothstein, Amy Hastings, Tera Moody, Clara Grandt and Nan Kennard.
After seven miles, Boulet steadily pulled away from the field, capturing her first U.S. title of 2010. Rothstein finished 45 seconds later to take the runner-up spot in 1:08:26, while Kennard took third in 1:08:38. Grandt and Moody took fourth and fifth in 1:09:02 and 1:09:38 respectively.
USATF for the IAAF
