5,000 runners faced a hot Saturday morning in NYC's Central Park with temperatures 'only' at 22 degrees Celsius but a humidity of 95%.Solid domination by the guys from West Side over NY Athletic Club in the fifth points race for the 2009 NYC club ranking.
The real winners though seem to be third to fifth placed team (overall) Central Park Track Club, Greater NY and Westchester Track Club as the only clubs in the Top 5 not relying on athletes from outer state.
NYAC deems the local club races worthy enough to bring collegiate runners from outside NY to compete. In the meantime, no one would be a match for Westchester and their speedy Africans living in the Bronx, if they would race every points race. However, they stick to their guns and restrict themselves to races with prize money.
mzungo.org says: NYAC needs to grow a pair and let their local speedsters like Jon Henwood speak for themselves. They would still be a strong contender for the win.
August 8 will bring extra excitment for the 60+ NYC clubs. The 5 miler is restricted to club runners, serves as "club champs" and will be awarded with double points for the final rankings. Pre race smack talk and post race picnicks guaranteed!
INDIVIDUAL MALE
1 WORKU MERDESSA BADO M20 737 WSX NEW YORK NY 1 1 1 18:51 4:42
2 GIRMA TESFAYE M26 255 WSX NEW YORK NY 2 2 1 18:52 4:43
3 NIGUSSE KETEMA M28 907 WSX BRONX NY 3 3 2 18:54 4:43
4 LEMMA FIKADU M25 790 WSX BRONX NY 4 4 3 18:56 4:44
5 CHEMLANY STEPHEN M26 114 WTC SLEEPY HOLLOW NY 5 5 4 18:58 4:44
6 ABEBE TSEGAYE HALEFOM M26 11 WSX NEW YORK NY 6 6 5 19:15 4:48
7 AWOL MOHAMMED M31 28 WSX BRONX NY 7 7 1 19:23 4:50
8 OLIVIER MARK M24 512 NYAC GROTON CT 8 8 2 19:27 4:51
9 DENEKE TEKLU TEFERA M29 174 WSX NEW YORK NY 9 9 6 19:42 4:55
10 GARCIA FELIPE M27 239 WSX BROOKLYN NY 10 10 7 19:43 4:55
TEAM
1 West Side Runners 1:34:48
2 New York Athletic Cl 1:39:19
3 Greater New York RT 1:45:21
4 Nike Central Park TC 1:46:24
5 Urban Athletics 1:47:26
6 New York Harriers 1:49:05
7 Warren Street S&AC 1:50:58
8 Front Runners NY 1:55:05
9 Iron Runners 1:56:22
10 Hellgate RR 1:59:11
PROVISIONAL TEAM 5 out of 10 races
1 New York Athletic Club
2 West Side Runners
3 Nike Central Park TC
4 Greater New York RT
5 Westchester TC
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