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|  Fifth Avenue Mile Races Back into the Headlines By Chris Turner September 22, 2005 Courtesy of IAAF
The 1980s, like the 1950s was a great decade for mile running. Just as
we remember the 50s for the race to break the 4-minute barrier, the 80s
was equally famous for the burgeoning number of street mile
races which took place in major city centres around the world. Arguably, the most famous of these races was New York's 'Fifth Avenue
Mile', which after a number of years out of the sporting headlines is back
in 2005, with a top quality elite field lining up for this Saturday's
Continental Airlines Fifth Avenue Mile (September 24). Unmatched pedigree Sydney Maree, former South African turned USA citizen, who was to
break the World 1500m record in 1983 (3:31.24), was the winner of the
inaugural 'Fifth Avenue Mile' in 1981. Leann Warren, the women's
victor. During the next decade many of the principal names in world 1500m
and Mile running were to feature as winners of the race: Steve Scott,
John Walker, Frank O'Mara, Jose-Luis Gonzalez, Peter Elliott, Wendy
Sly, Maricicia Puica, Lynn Williams, Mary Slaney, Paula Ivan, PattiSue
Plumer to name but a few. More recently, the multiple victories of Issac
Viciosa and Paula Radcliffe also showed the New York race retained its
class long after most other major street miles had disappeared from the
international calendar. $30,000 prize purse But this weekend, with a total prize purse of $30,000, with the men's and
women's champions each winning $5000, and the race now sponsored
by Continental Airlines, the Fifth Avenue Mile is very much back at the
top. Also, aired live on ESPNEWS, the race is returning to national
television for the first time in more than a decade. There is also a $10,000 bonus on offer for a men's or women's course
record. Maree's inaugural run of 3:47.52 in 1981 still holds the standard,
while the women's fastest of 4:16.68 was set by Plummer in 1990. Webb vs Mottram vs Silva It is in the men's race where it is felt the record is most likely to fall.
Battling for honours on Saturday will be USA Olympian Alan Webb, who
will race against Craig Mottram of Australia, the World 5000m bronze
medallist, and Rui Silva of Portugal, the World and Olympic 1500m
bronze medallist, and former World Indoor champion. "My goal is not to get the American record. It is basically to compete and
be the best in the world," confirmed Webb. "I'm not thinking, 'I'm going to
be the saviour of track and field, so I have to work hard.' It's just about
going out and doing the work. It's all about doing your best."
Steve Scott, the great American miler says this of Webb. "By the time
he's done with his career, Alan will be the greatest American distance
runner ever."
Mary Wittenberg President of NYRR says this of Webb, "Whenever Alan
steps to the line you know there's a shot that he's going to go faster than
he ever has in his life. He's always goes after it. He's not afraid to take
risks" The women's field will be headlined by Canada's Carmen Douma-
Hussar, World Indoor 1500m silver medallist and a World outdoor
Championships and Olympic finalist, Carrie Tollefson, a 2004 U.S.
Olympian, Amy Mortimer, the former NCAA All American, and two-time
Olympian Amy Rudolph of Providence. The Start List MEN 1 Alan Webb USA Reston, VA 22 WOMEN 2 Carrie Tollefson USA St. Paul, MN 28 Top Performances - Men 1 1981 Sydney Maree 3:47.52 1st Top Performances - Women 1 1990 PattiSue Plumer 4:16.68 1st
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