Race organizer is first across the finish line
By JOHN HABIB
Union Leader Sports
LONDONDERRY — John Mortimer finally won his own race.
"I guess I had to win it at least one time," said Mortimer, who glided past the finish line yesterday in 4:00.1 in the sixth annual Millennium Mile, which set a national record with its 704 participants.
"We are now the largest millennium event in the country and that means more to me than winning this race," said Mortimer, who is the organizer of The Union Leader-sponsored event. "Seeing the smiles on so many faces, along with all the little kids, is so gratifying. This community has been so good to me and to be able to give something back to it, that's what really makes me happy."
John Mortimer takes an early lead in the Millennium Mile in Londonderry yesterday. (TOM THIBEAULT/UNION LEADER)
Mortimer, 28, a graduate of Londonderry High and a seven-time All-America selection at the University of Michigan, has good reason to be proud.
Six years ago, 121 runners competed in the inaugural race.
Now, according to Mortimer, yesterday's record field surpassed the popular Fifth Avenue Millennium Mile in New York. Mortimer said there were at least 20 other millennium mile races across the country.
And 160 children, ages 12 and under, participated in yesterday's race, an increase of 33 kids from last year's event.
"John (Mortimer) and his staff deserve all the credit for turning this into a family event, much like a little reunion " said Kara Hass of Westford, Mass., 34, a former winner and runner-up of this race. She finished third yesterday in 4:44.6.
Kathy Fleming of Natick, Mass., was the top female finisher in 4:39.5, followed by former Manchester Central standout Liz Gesel, 20, at 4:41.7.
Kathy Fleming of Natick, Mass., was the top female finisher.
Fleming, a graduate of Villanova, said she missed qualifying for the 1996 Olympic team in Atlanta, Ga., by a half-second in the mile.
"I had a 4:12 time, but missed out," she said. "After that, back problems ended my career. Now I have two children and coming here for the first time was fun. I know John and he does a great job running this event. It is fun and being a mother, this is the only time I have to myself now."
The 37-year-old Fleming also said she ran a world best 8:46 in the 3,000-meters in Helsinki, Finland, in 1994 that was eclipsed later that same year.
Yesterday, the weather wasn't exactly hot and balmy, but Mortimer was happy Mother Nature didn't disrupt the festivities, which included an awards ceremony at Mack's Apples near the finish line.
"We've been lucky all six years, 35 degrees today, cold, but no weather problems," noted Mortimer, who also said he was donating his first-place prize money toward a scholarship — the June E. Mortimer Memorial College Scholarship Fund — named after his late mother, who died of cancer last April.
This year's scholarship was awarded to Zach Emerson of Hillsborough, who placed 17th overall in 4:16.8 yesterday.
If there was one moment that captured the spirit of the whole event yesterday, it was Deena Kastor of Mammoth Lakes, Calif., who stopped short of the finish line for a short period to encourage kids to run past her.
There's more local news in today's Derry-Londonderry edition, the hometown daily paper for those two towns, plus Chester, Sandown, Danville, Hampstead, Plaistow, Atkinson, Salem, Windham and Pelham.
Kastor is an Olympic bronze medalist and a United States record holder in the marathon. Last summer, she was the first American in 20 years to capture a women's marathon medal. Kastor, 31, holds the United States marathon and 10,000-meter records.
"Having the kids participate in this is what makes it fun for me," said Kastor. "I was just doing what others did for me when I was a young girl. It meant a lot to me as a young kid to have someone encourage me on and today I was doing the same for the children."
Olympic bronze medalist Deena Kastor hands an autograph to 7-year-old Jeffrey Baroody before the start of the Millennium Mile in Londonderry yesterday. (TOM THIBEAULT/UNION LEADER)
No records were broken yesterday.
Andy Downin of Hampstead and Scott Anderson of Washington, D.C., still share the men's mark (3:51) while Katie McGregor of Minneapolis still possesses the women's record of 4:27.
The Millennium Mile kicked off a three-race series of The Union Leader Open Roads Challenge. The second leg takes place in May with the 12K and 5K Bedford Rotary Memorial Road Race and culminates with The Union Leader Classic 8K race on Sept. 10.
