(9-4-07) From USATF press release (by Jim Estes) - 2004 Olympian Dan Browne (Portland, Ore.) returned to New Haven for the first time since 2003 to lead the men's field at the 2007 USA 20K Championships, winning his third national title (2001-02) at that distance in 59:19. Two-time NCAA 10,000 meter champion Alicia Shay, formerly Craig, (Flagstaff, Ariz.), claimed her first USA women's title in 1:06:56. Each national champion took home $7500 and produced personal records and the #7 and #6 all-time U.S. 20K times, respectively. The race was hosted by the 30th Stratton Faxon New Haven 20K.
A group of about 12 men cruised through the first 10K in 30:10 before Browne, Jason Lehmkuhle (Minneapolis, Minn.), James Carney (Boulder, Colo.) and Ryan Sheehan (Rochester Hills, Mich.) made their break from the pack with a 4:31 mile.
Shortly after eight miles, Sheehan fell off the pace while Browne, Carney and Lehmkuhle each took their shot at breaking away. As the trio passed 11 miles, Browne made one more move, covering the 12th mile in 4:31 and bringing him to the finish 19 seconds up on Carney (59:38). Lehmkuhle finished third in 59:42, with Sheehan and 2004 USA 20K champion Ryan Shay (Flagstaff, Ariz.) rounding out the top five in 1:00:33 and 1:01:21 respectively.
In the women's race, Shay, Kate O'Neill (Milton, Mass.) and Elva Dryer (Gunnison, Colo.) ran together through four miles when 2004 Olympians O'Neill and Dryer opened a small gap on Shay. Never letting the pair out of her sight, Shay rejoined them at six miles before dropping a sub-five minute mile to make her bid for the title.
At 11 miles, Dryer made an attempt to cut-down the 200 meter lead held by Shay, pulling away from O' Neill in the process; however, she would see her second consecutive year as national runner-up, finishing 22 seconds behind Shay.
O'Neill placed third in 1:08:04, while Tara Storage (Dayton, Ohio) finished fourth in 1:09:39 and Desiree Davila (Rochester Hills, Mich.) fifth in 1:10:08.
In addition to nearly $40,000 in prize money, athletes were competing for a berth on the U.S. team that will compete at the IAAF World Road Running Championships in Udine, Italy on Sunday, October 14. The Team USA squad for the global championships will be named the week of September 10.
This marks the 15th year that the Stratton Faxon New Haven 20K has hosted the USA 20K Championships for men and the seventh for women and was the fifth stop on the 2007 USA Running Circuit (USARC).
30th Stratton Faxon New Haven 20K: USA Championship New Haven, CT, Monday, September 3, 2007
MEN
1) Dan Browne (OR), 59:19, $7500
2) James Carney (CO), 59:38, $4000
3) Jason Lehmkuhle (MN), 59:42, $2000
4) Ryan Sheehan (MI), 1:00:33, $1250
5) Ryan Shay (MI), 1:01:21, $1000
6) Justin Young (CO), 1:01:31, $600
7) Peter Gilmore (CA), 1:01:40, $400
8) Sergio Reyes (CA), 1:01:46, $300
9) Steve Sundell (CA), 1:02:45, $250
10) Jeff Eggleston (VA), 1:02:54, $200
WOMEN
1) Alicia Shay (AZ), 1:06:56, $7500
2) Elva Dryer (CO), 1:07:18, $4000
3) Kate O'Neill (CA), 1:08:04, $2000
4) Tara Storage (OH), 1:09:39, $1250
5) Desiree Davila (MI), 1:10:08, $1000
6) Tera Moody (CO), 1:11:02, $600
7) Melissa White (MI), 1:11:12, $400
8) Dot McMahan (MI), 1:11:25, $300
9) Paige Higgins (CO), 1:11:35, $250
10) Janelle Kraus (RI), 1:11:42, $200
Complete results: NewHavenRoadRace.org
