Mark Carroll wins the 2004 Mayor's Cup Cross Country race in Boston (© Victah Sailer)
Ireland's Mark Carroll, 32, and Ethiopian Atalelech Ketema, 21, were the respective winners of the men's and women's races at the 15th Annual Mayor's Cup Cross Country Races in Boston, USA on Sunday 24 October.
Carroll's winning time was 23:53 for the 8km, multiple loop course in Boston's Franklin Park. The race was run in cool, damp conditions with adequate footing. He won by 10 seconds over runner-up John Mortimer, 28, of Boston.
Ketema, who was sixth in this same race last year, and who resides in the Bronx, New York City, ran in similarly impressive fashion as Carroll, notching a wire-to-wire victory in 16:47 in her 5km race. Rebecca Stallwood, 26, of Canada, finished second in 17:04.
This year's Mayor's Cup races drew the largest total number of finishers (825) in the event’s history.
Carroll who resides in Providence, Rhode Island, is the Irish record-holder at three distances - 3000m (7:30.36; 1999); 5000m (13:03.93; 1998); 10,000m (27:46.82; 2000) - and set the early pace over John Mortimer, an assistant coach at Boston College. Carroll's leading splits were 4:30 at the mile mark, 9:37 at two miles, 15:03 at 5km (3.1 miles), and 19:20 at four miles.
Ketema who led for two thirds of last year's race before fading in the final mile, this year challenged the meet record of 16:22 by posting a first mile split of 5:06 and a second mile split time of 10:41 before succumbing to the gusty winds. Ketema was a prospect for the Ethiopian athletics federation before seeking asylum in the United States two years ago, and currently she competes for Westchester (New York) Track Club.
Jack Fleming (BAA) for the IAAF
Results -
Men
8km (187 finishers)
1. Mark Carroll, Ireland/adidas, 23:53
2. John Mortimer, Boston, B.A.A., 24:03
3. Scott Defilippis, Saucony, 24:11
Women
5km (97 finishers)
1. Atalelech Ketema, Ethiopia/Westchester Track Club 16:47
2. Rebecca Stallwood, Canada/Saucony Hamilton, 17:04
3. Trish Nervo, Fleet Feet Racing, 17:07
MAYOR'S CUP HISTORY... Champions Year-by-Year
MEN
2004. Mark Carroll, adidas
2003 Keith Kelly, New Balance
2002 Keith Kelly, New Balance
2001 Sandu Rebencuic, U.S. Army
2000 Francis Kirwa, Life University
1999 Sammy Nyamongo, Life University
1998 Francis Kirwa, Life University
1997 Silah Misoi, Life University *22:53
1996 Silah Misoi, Life University
1995 Seamus McElligott, ASICS Fleet Feet
1994 Abidi Bouazza, Westchester Track Club
1993 Brad Schlapak, NYAC
1992 Brad Schlapak, NYAC
1991 Andy Ball, NIKE Running Room
1990 Michael Baugh, HFC Striders
WOMEN
2004. Atalelech Ketema, Westchester Track Club
2003 Kate O'Neill, Nike
2002 Kristin Chisum, New Balance
2001 Priscilla Hein, Indiana Invaders
2000 Sarah Dupre, Boston Athletic Association
1999 Christine Junkermann, adidas Club Connecticut
1998 Lesley Lehane, Boston Athletic Association
1997 Kathy Franey, NIKE International *16:22
1996 Kate Fonshell, ASICS
1995 Lynn Jennings, NIKE International
1994 Lynn Jennings, NIKE International
1993 Carmen Troncoso, NIKE Texas
1992 Kathy Franey, Reebok Racing Club
1991 Gwyn Coogan, NIKE Boston
1990 Michelle DiMuro, Reebok Racing Club
* Mayor's Cup meet record.
