Record Fields and Record Run Highlight 19th Mayor's Cup Cross Country Races

Mary Cullen, Jacob Korir triumphant in championship races

BOSTON, MA – A record field of more than 1,000 entrants and a course-record run by Mary Cullen (IRL / Providence, RI) highlighted the 19th edition of the Mayor's Cup Cross Country Races, presented by the Boston Athletic Association and adidas, and directed by USATF-New England and the Boston Centers for Youth & Families.

Overnight rains didn't discourage anyone from making the trip to Boston's Franklin Park, site of the 1992 World Cross Country Championships. As more than 300 kids, ages 14 and under, took part in the morning slate of youth races, the rain and clouds gave way to sunny, blue skies.

Next on the schedule was the Franklin Park 5K, open to men and women of all ages and ability levels. The fastest-growing of the Mayor's Cup events, the Franklin Park 5K boasted 280 finishers this year, up from 187 a year ago. Leading the charge was Jordan Hamm, a senior from Canisius High School in Buffalo, NY. Hamm trailed Omar Aden and Ahmed Ali--high school teammates from Charlestown, MA--through a 5:00 opening mile. By two miles, passed in 10:19, the threesome had broken away from the rest of the field. Hamm then used the final mile to pull into the lead, holding on for a 2-second victory over Aden. Brandeis grad Caitlin Malloy recorded a comfortable 37-second victory in the women's division.

In the Women's Championship 5K, two-time defending champ Aziza Aliyu (ETH / Westchester, NY) of the Westchester Track Club was looking to become the first woman to win three straight Mayor's Cup titles. Yet despite running faster than she had in either of her victories, Ayilu found herself chasing former Providence College star Mary Cullen (IRL / Providence, RI) from the gun. Cullen, the runner-up here in 2005, led the pack through one mile in a brisk 5:07, and by two miles she was alone in front. By the time she broke the finish tape in 16:08, Cullen wasn't just 28 seconds ahead of runner-up Ayilu, she was also 14 seconds under the meet and course record set by Kathy Franey in 1997. Cullen is preparing for the European Cross Country Championships in Belgium, where she will represent her native Ireland.

In the Men's Championship 8K a large pack, which included 2006 champ Stephen Chemlany (KEN / Westchester, NY), passed through one mile in 4:35 and two miles in 9:35. By four miles, reached in 19:35, Jacob Korir (KEN / Richmond, KY) had emerged at the front, and shortly after that he surged away from Sean Burris, Ben Rosario, and the rest of the lead group. Korir, a three-time NCAA All-American during his recently-completed senior year at Eastern Kentucky University (sixth in cross country in 2007 and third at 5,000m and fourth at 10,000m in 2008), was unopposed over the closing mile of the race, breaking the tape in 23:54, 10 seconds ahead of runner-up Burris.

The Westchester Track Club and New Balance Boston captured the men's and women's team titles, respectively.

2008 Mayor's Cup Champions:
10-and-under 1.1-mile
Boys: Jeremy Taylor (Waltham TC) 6:56
Girls: Leah Brams (Waltham TC) 7:18

11-12 1.1-mile
Boys: Jeremy Alley-Tarter (Nitehawks SC) 6:11
Girls: Julia Kern (Waltham TC) 6:37

13-14 1.1-mile
Boys: Daniel Ewart (Granite State Flash) 5:44
Girls: Robin Gross (Waltham TC) 6:30

Franklin Park 5K
Men: Jordan Hamm 15:57
Women: Caitlin Malloy 19:09

Women's Championship 5K
Mary Cullen (Reebok) 16:08 (Course Record*)
*Old course record: 16:22, Kathy Franey (1997)

Men's Championship 8K
Jacob Korir (RIADHA) 23:54