LONDONDERRY — For the past two years,
the Millennium Mile might well have been re-named the Duel of the Downins.
But this year a couple of newcomers provided a most exciting finish in the
fourth running of the region’s most prestigious of outdoor one-mile
races.
Each of the last two years, Andy Downin, the 2001
USA 1,500 meter champion, has finished first, followed closely by his
younger brother, Matt. But this time around, University of Delaware grad
and Essex, Mass., native Mike DiGennaro claimed first place. He won by
less than a step, holding off a late charge by Shawn Wallace, a
22-year-old resident of Wakefield, Mass., who is a senior at Boston
College.
DiGennaro, now of Newark, Del., and a track and
cross country coach at the University of Delaware, claimed the lead about
a quarter of a mile into the race and held on as Wallace closed the gap
and was on DiGennaro’s heels right through the finish line.
Both DiGennaro and Wallace recorded an official
time of 3:58 on the downhill course, which aided runners with a brisk tail
wind. But it was DiGennaro who crossed the line a half step ahead of
Wallace.
“I heard him right behind me,” said DiGennaro,
referring to Wallace. “When I took the lead about a quarter of a mile in
I thought they’d be coming after me. I thought they were waiting.
“I took the lead, went with it, and had
something left over the last 400 meters.”
Before yesterday’s race, DiGennaro’s best
time in the mile had been a 4:03. So his 3:58 wasn’t so bad considering
he almost didn’t make the one-hour trip from his family’s home in
Essex.
Both of the top runners were last-minute entries
who were glad they chose to travel to Londonderry.
“It was a last-minute decision,” said
DiGennaro. “A friend of mine talked me into it. It was my first time
here, but it’s a great race.”
Second place finisher Wallace felt he simply ran
out of real estate.
“The finish came up so fast,” said Wallace,
who runs for race organizer John Mortimer, who coaches at Boston College.
“I picked up ground on the little hill (in front of Mac’s Apples), but
I didn’t realize how quickly the finish would come up. I started my kick
a little too late.”
Rounding out the top 10 were Erik Nedeau, 29, of
Amherst, Mass., who ran 4:00, followed by Andy Downin, 29, now of Madison,
Wisc., who ran 4:02. Taking fifth was Eric Bonnette, 23, of Haddonfield,
N.J., running 4:04, while sixth went to Bryon Gartrell, 20, of Boston, who
ran 4:06.Mortimer, a former Londonderry High and Wisconsin star, who now
makes his home in Goffstown, ran seventh in 4:06 crossing the line a nose
ahead of Matt Downin, 25, who now lives in Chula Vista, Calif., but is a
former Hampstead resident and Pinkerton Academy grad. Ninth place went to
Luke McGuinness, 28, of New York City while Hans Freysnah, 21, of Oakton,
Va., was 10th, both were timed in 4:07.
Yesterday’s race was a comeback of sorts for
Andy Downin, marking the first time in nearly a year in which Downin had
taken part in a competitive race. His time of 4:02 was good for fourth
place, but was off his 2001 first-place time of 3:51. He won the 2000
event in 3:58.
“I was hurt most of the year,” said Downin
who is battling back from tendonitis. “This was my first race in 10
months and it was a good way to come back. This race is so much fun. I’m
pretty happy with my time. I can’t complain.”
Both Downins, whose family lives in Hampstead,
will compete in the U.S. Cross Country championships to be held in Houston
in February.
In the women’s event Katie McGregor, 25, of
Wisconsin, took first, with a time of 4:27. McGregor, who was 36th
overall, was a classmate of Mortimer when the two attended Wisconsin.
Taking second in the women’s field was Kara Molloy-Haas, 32. of
Westford, Mass., who ran 4:42. Maribel Sanchez, 27, of Enfield was third
in 4:44 with Jessica McGarrity, 26, of Salem, Mass., fourth in 4:53.
Christine Reaser, 36, of Dayton, Maine, was fifth in 5:55 while 13-year
old Nicole Slane of Milford, ran sixth in 4:55. Dana Breener (15) of Derry
was fifth in 5:04.
This year’s event drew 300 participants, making
it the largest race in the four-year history of the event.
“I’m very happy with the turnout,” said
Mortimer, who not only helped run the event, but he ran the race, then
directed the post-race activities. “This was a great day for it.
Proceeds from the race will go to a yet-to-be
established scholarship fund.
“People like Andy (Downin) and Matt (Downin)
and myself have had the benefit of having a scholarship. One of our goals,
with this race, is to give something back, so we’re starting a
scholarship fund to help out one boy and one girl.”
