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Mortimer sets women’s Millennium Mile mark
By KEVIN GRAY
Union Leader Staff Sports Writer
1/1/05
Londonderry — Amy Mortimer has won a bronze medal at the U.S. National Outdoor Track and Field Championships, but she’s never had competition quite like this.
Reindeer are tough to beat this time of year.
Challenged by four men wearing holiday attire, Mortimer set a course record while running the Millennium Mile for the first time in her career. Near the finish she zoomed past race co-founders Andy and Matt Downin, who may have been aerodynamically challenged by donning reindeer antlers.
“My goal today was to beat the reindeer. They were talking a lot of trash before the race,” said the 24-year-old Mortimer, setting a women’s record at 4 minutes, 20 seconds. “I had a lot of fun today. I love running downhill.”
Mortimer won the women’s title by four seconds, defeating 2002 champion Katie McGregor of Minnesota, a U.S. National 10K champion. Other world-class runners included two-time Olympian Kevin Sullivan of Canada, who led a field of almost 700 runners to the finish on Mammoth Road.
Sullivan ran a blistering 3:53 and missed the course record by two seconds. The red-haired Reebok man claimed the victory by holding off Patrick Tarpy of Rhode Island by one second.
“I wasn’t really sure what to expect today. I wasn’t sure whether there would be anybody with me. Luckily or unluckily, I got some competition. In that last quarter mile, I was able to catch him,” Sullivan said. “I saw him kind of break his stride a little bit with maybe 200 meters to go. I worked that little uphill hard (at the end) and was able to keep that momentum to the finish.”
Sullivan thanked the crowd for helping raise money for the June E. Mortimer Scholarship, named in honor of organizer John Mortimer’s mother, who died from ovarian cancer.
“I had the pleasure of knowing John’s Mom. She’d be ecstatic with the turnout today and all the support that you guys are giving to all the young kids out here,” Sullivan said.
Amy Mortimer, McGregor and Sullivan all signed autographs after the race and provided inspiration to the younger runners. Three kids broke course records, including 12-year-old Jonathan Bouchard of Manchester, who set the 12-year-old record at 4:52.
Julia Ann Donohue of Amherst ran the fastest-ever race among 7-year-olds at 7:18, while Nathan Wright set the record for 4-year-olds at 12:44.
“This is one of the biggest fields I’ve seen here. It’s amazing how many children come to run every year. It draws kids from all over the state,” said Nancy Peabody of Londonderry, who has participated in all seven Millennium Mile events. “My older son has followed John (Mortimer) for years. We come every year because it’s a great running event for the community. We always want to see how many runners can break a four-minute mile.”
In the 60-and-over division, Stanley Dutton of Antrim broke the course record by crossing at 5:04. Isobel Parke, 79, of Epping and John Noftle, 78, of Londonderry were the oldest finishers.
“Today is my 49th road race this year,” said Noftle, who turns 79 this month. “My record is 53 races, but I couldn’t quite get it.”
There’s always 2006, which ends with Millennium Mile 8 on the speedy course in Londonderry.
“I’m sure I speak for everybody when I say it feels really good to take 10 seconds off your (personal record),” Amy Mortimer said. “I wish all the tracks were downhill races, too.” |
