MOBILE, AL - Chad Pearson from Raleigh, N.C. used an authoritative move at the 4 mile mark to win his first national title at the Food World Senior Bowl Charity Run 10K, the USA Men's Championship, in Mobile, Ala. Pearson's time of 28:33 was a personal record, and almost identical to Bob Kennedy's 28:35 winning time from last year. Adam Tenforde from Palo Alto, Calif. finished 2nd in 28:50 and Jason Hubbard, Alamosa, Colo., followed in 28:57.

"I knew if it came down to a kick, the odds were against me," said Pearson after the race. "I started hurting a little that last mile, so I tried to relax a little. I was just glad to see the finish line."

It was a Mobile Chamber of Commerce day for the start - clear skies, cool 50 degrees, light wind. The course is straight and fast, with practically no change in elevation, a perfect venue for road racing. The first 2 miles are straight ahead, no turns, traversing under a canopy of imposing live oak trees. A huge pack went through mile 1 in 4:34, and mile 2 in 9:12. A lead group of 10 had separated slightly from a second pack of another 10 or more, all working hard to whittle down the remaining players.

The first pack consisted of Pearson, Hubbard, Tenforde, Justin Young, Ryan Kirkpatrick, Chris Seaton, James Carney, Scott Strand, Scott Defilippis and Teddy Mitchell. About 7 seconds back were Chad Johnson, Matt Gabrielson, Mark Menefee, Paul Kezes, Josh Eberly and others. The only time the cluster dismissed their tight-knit formation was when they scattered around the small traffic islands in the cozy residential streets.

"There was a big pack of about 20 guys at 2 miles," said Hubbard, who also ran a road PR. "I put in a little surge at 2 miles to string it out a little, and Carney pushed it between Mile 3 and 4."

Hubbard and Carney successfully pulled the first group through mile 3 in 13:54 with the second pack still loitering around about 10 seconds back. Mile 4 was more of the same with Kirkpatrick, Pearson and Hubbard on the front line. Just past mile 4, passed in 18:32, Pearson took off like a getaway car in a bank robbery. Within seconds, he had opened up a gap of 20 meters. Tenforde was the only chaser with everyone else content to let Pearson go.

"My plan was to make a move at mile 4," revealed Pearson. "I felt good so I just decided to go."

The gap grew as Pearson continued to slam down the accelerator. His 5th mile was 4:25, 22:57 and everyone else could only chase. He made a left and then a right, and then had only one way to go - straight ahead to the finish. He glanced back a couple of times to make sure nobody was within striking distance, and cruised the final stretch.

"Yeah, I know I shouldn't look back," said the recent North Carolina State graduate who pocketed $7500 as national champion. "That last stretch seemed to take forever!"

Collette Liss from Indianapolis, Ind. won a fierce battle with Kelly Keane and Laura O'Neill to win in 33:04. Keane, from The Woodlands, Tex. edged O'Neill, New Haven, Conn., for 2nd, both timed in 33:06. Liss' time was also a road PR.

Liss needed help walking through the finish chute and collapsed in the grass after receiving some medical attention.

"I hardly had vision by the finish line," said Liss. "It was a tough battle today."

Liss and O'Neill waged a duel in the early miles with O'Neill surging to hold off Liss' attempts to pass.

"Laura is so tough," said Liss. "Everytime I tried to come up on her, she would speed up. Then Kelly came up on us and I tried to put in a surge. When we turned on Government, we were all three together."

Liss opened up a slight lead, but the skirmish waged all the way to the finish. "Gosh, that was a long stretch down Government," said Liss. "I was really hurting and just hoping one of them wouldn't come by me. I'm just happy now. When you hurt that bad, it feels good to be rewarded."

Pearson can also feel happy about his rewards. "I've been working really hard, training 90-100 miles per week. I guess I just knew if I was going to do anything post-collegiate, I had to get committed."

MEN

1. Chad Pearson, NC 28:33 $7500
2. Adam Tenforde, CA 28:50 $5000
3. Jason Hubbard, NM 28:57 $3500
4. James Carney, CA 29:00 $2500
5. Justin Young, CO 29:01 $1500
6. Ryan Kirkpatrick, CO 29:01 $1000
7. Teddy Mitchell, NM 29:02 $800
8. Chad Johnson, OR 29:02 $700
9. Matt Gabrielson, MN 29:03 $600
10. Scott Strand, AL 29:07 $500
11. Scott Defilippis, TN 29:12 $450
12. Mark Menefee, KS 29:15 $350
13. Paul Kezes, OR 29:20 $300
14. Chris Seaton, NC 29:21 $200
15. Josh Eberly, MI 29:35 $100

WOMEN

1. Collette Liss, IN 33:04 $3500
2. Kelly Keane, TX 33:06 $2500
3. Laura O'Neill, CT 33:06 $1500
4. Jenelle Deatherage, MN 33:42 $1000
5. Jill Hennessy, NJ 35:19 $750
6. Melissa White, MI 35:44 $500
7. Sarah Kramer, UT 37:43 $250

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