Dobriskey, Willis Win Continental Airlines Fifth Avenue Mile

September 22, 2008 from Running USA wire / By David Monti (NEW YORK NY) Britain's Lisa Dobriskey and New Zealand's Nick Willis won the professional races at the 28th Continental Airlines Fifth Avenue Mile here this afternoon. Dobriskey, who only entered the race last Wednesday, followed the fast early pace of Kenyan Rose Kosgei . San Francisco's Shannon Rowbury also followed closely. Fourth and seventh in the Olympic 1500 meters, respectively, Dobriskey and Rowbury were able to pull away from Kosgei and battle for the win in the final meters. Dobriskey just got to the line slightly ahead of Rowbury, winning in 4:18.6, the second fastest time in the history of the race. She is the first British women's champion here since Paula Radcliffe in 1997. Rowbury, who like Dobriskey was making her Fifth Avenue debut, was runner-up in 4:19.2. Kosgei held on for third in 4:23.9.

In the men's race, it was former UCLA star Jon Rankin who took out the early pace, hitting the first quarter in about 56 seconds. Most of the pack followed, and at half-way Tucson's Bernard Lagat , last year's world 1500m and 5000m champion, decided to make his bid for victory. Willis, the Olympic 1500m bronze medalist, followed Lagat and the two came to the finish line just below East 60th street side-by-side. Willis earned the win with a lean, 3:50.5 to 3:50.6, becoming the first Kiwi champion here since John Walker in 1984. Canada's Nate Brannen finished third in 3:51.9.

University of Michigan coach, Ron Warhurst , who coaches both Willis and Brannen, was on hand with his cross country team to see the finish. They had competed in Van Cortlandt Park on Saturday in the B.R. Doyle Meet of Champions.

More than 4,000 runners competed in various heats, and more than $30,000 in prize money was awarded. Race champions Dobriskey and Willis will receive $5000.

28th Continental Airlines Fifth Avenue Mile
New York, NY, Sunday, September 21, 2008

MEN
1) Nick Willis (NZL), 3:50.5, $5000
2) Bernard Lagat (USA / AZ), 3:50.6, $3500
3) Nate Brannen (CAN), 3:51.9, $2500
4) Jon Rankin (USA / CA), 3:52.7, $1500
5) Chris Solinsky (USA / WI), 3:54.1, $1000
6) Chris Lukezic (USA / DC), 3:54.5, $750
7) Phil Sakala (USA / CO), 3:55.8, $500
8) Will Leer (USA / OR), 3:56.4, $250
9) James Thie (GBR), 3:57.0
10) David Torrence (USA / CA), 3:57.5

WOMEN
1) Lisa Dobriskey (GBR), 4:18.6, $5000
2) Shannon Rowbury (USA / CA), 4:19.2, $3500
3) Rose Kosgei (KEN), 4:23.9, $2500
4) Erin Donohue (USA / NJ), 4:24.9, $1500
5) Meskerem Legesse (ETH), 4:28.6, $1000
6) Sarah Jamieson (AUS), 4:28.9, $750
7) Amy Mortimer (USA / RI), 4:30.9, $500
8) Sara Hall (USA / CA), 4:32.6, $250
9) Lindsey Gallo (USA / MI), 4:36.4
10) Marina Muncan (SRB), 4:36.9

Complete results, photos and more at: NYRR.org