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Rankin Wins CIGNA Falmouth Mile in Record-Setting Style!

Published on Saturday, August 09, 2008


By James Womboldt, Race Staff

The 2008 CIGNA Falmouth Men's Mile concluded with a meet record and two personal bests, as Jon Rankin of San Diego, Calif., crossed the line in 3:56.45. John Jefferson of Eugene, Ore., finished second in 3:56.82, a personal best by three seconds, while Kurt Benninger, recent Notre Dame grad., of Canada followed close behind for third in 3:56.99, also a personal best. Ed Moran, Williamsburg, Va., barely missed breaking four minutes, finishing in 4:00.01. Will Leer of Eugene took fifth in 4:00.58 while Tim Nelson Madison, Wisc., ran 4:01.14 for sixth and Sean Quigley of Philadelphia ran 4:01.97 for seventh. Last year’s Falmouth Mile champion, Jonathon Riley, Madison, Wisc., a former Brookline high school distance star, crossed the line in 4:02.51 for eighth place. Riley’s time was off his 2007 performance and previous meet record of 3:57.07. Places nine and ten were taken by Abiyot Endale of Ethiopia and Christian Hesch of Morro Beach, Calif.

The men were led for the first 660 yards by pacer Robert Gibson, a recent graduate of Brookline High School and soon-to-be freshman at the University of Texas. Gibson came across the line at the 440 in 57.5 before dropping off at 660 and making way for Rankin to move to lead until the finish. Rankin came through 880 yards in 1:57.6 and three-quarter mile mark in 2:58.6.

Rankin, Benninger and Moran broke away from the rest of the men after 900 meters, and with 600 meters to go Jefferson made his move and secured second place in 3:56.82. Jon Rankin’s performance in Falmouth follows his sixth place finish in the 1500 meters at this year’s U.S. Olympic Trials. 

 

Three different runners led the women's mile before Amy Mortimer separated herself from the pack with 150 meters to go. Mary Jayne Reeves, Jenelle Deatherage and Tiffany McWilliams each led a lap until Mortimer, of Providence, R.I., ran her last 400 meters in 65.1 seconds and finished the race in 4:32.90. McWilliams, of Starkville, Miss., followed Mortimer and finished second in 4:33.89. Julie Culley, Arlington, Va. took third with a personal best by four seconds in 4:34.39. Fourth place went to Reeves Newnan, Ga., who crossed the line in 4:37.27 while fifth place was claimed by Deatherage in 4:38.10.

Mary Jayne Reeves led the women through the opening 440 yards in 68.1 seconds before Deatherage took the lead and brought them through the 880 yard mark in 2:16.0. McWilliams then carried the closely spaced group to three-quarters in 3:26 and continued pressing forward until the final stretch where she had to settle for second, as Mortimer, who was fifth at this year’s Olympic Trials in the 1,500m, sprinted by for the victory. Last year Mortimer finished second in 4:38.44.

Tomorrow most of the men and women milers will also compete in the 36th running of the CIGNA Falmouth Road Race.

 

RESULTS

WOMEN

1. Amy Mortimer, Providence, R.I. 4:32.90 2. Tiffany McWilliams, Starkville, Miss. 4:33.89 3. Julie Culley, Arlington, Vir. 4:34.39 PR 4. MaryJayne Reeves, Newnan, Ga. 4:37.27 5. Jenelle Deatherage, St. Louis Park, Minn. 4:38.10

  

MEN

1. Jon Rankin, San Diego, Calif. 3:56.45 2. John Jefferson, Eugene, Ore. 3:56.82 PR 3. Kurt Benninger, Providence RI/Canada, 3:56.99 PR 4. Ed Moran, Williamsburg, Vir. 4:00.01 5. Will Leer, Eugene, Ore. 4:00.58 6. Tim Nelson, Madison, Wisc. 4:01.14 7. Sean Quigley, Philadelphia, PA. 4:01.97 8. Jonathon Riley, Madison, Wisc. 4:02.51 9. Abiyot Endale, Ethiopia nt 10. Christian Hesch, Morro Beach, Cal nt