Olympian Carmen Douma-Hussar Wins Women's Penn. Ave Mile
Fighting off a massive late surge, John Itati of Kenya rallied to win the 10th annual Pennsylvania Avenue Mile Saturday, September 25th, for the fourth consecutive year, in 4:04.57. Itati led early and appeared to have the race in hand until Australia's Mark Fountain, 22, made a huge move with 300 meters to go, taking the lead until the veteran Itati, 30, fought back to edge him at the line. Fountain finished as runner-up in 4:04.89.

In the women's race, Carmen Douma-Hussar of Canada closed out a spectacular year with an easy win, in 4:36.79. The 27- year-old graduate of Villanova University broke into the top echelon of middle-distance runners in 2004, winning at 1500m at both the Boston Indoor Games and Millrose Games before taking silver at the World Indoor Championships, setting a Canadian indoor national record in the process. She followed that up with a personal-best 4:02.31 in the Olympic Games, where she finished ninth. Runner-up was Amy Mortimer of Boston, in 4:39.63

Benefiting START (SummerTime and Reading Together), a youth reading program, the elite Pennsylvania Avenue Mile was part of the "Booking for Literacy" morning of events that included citizens' miles and an international-challenge race as well as 5K and 10K races and a Walk for Literacy. For more information see www.startdc.org.

Results for the Pennsylvania Avenue Mile

Men's Mile
1.  John Itati, Kenya                       4:04.57
2.  Mark Fountain, Australia                4:04.89
3.  Nicholas Kurgat, Kenya                  4:07.38
4.  Shadrack Kosgei, Kenya                  4:09.35
5.  Anthony Whiteman, Great Britain         4:13.21
6.  Kenneth Maiyo, Kenya                    4:15.31
7.  Chris Estwanik, United States           4:16.64
8.  Sean O'Brien, United States             4:22.06
 
Women's Mile
1.Carmen Douma-Hussar, Canada               4:36.79 
2.Amy Mortimer, United States               4:39.63 
3.Elena Orlova, Russia                      4:41.39 
4.Emilie Mondor, Canada                     4:45.11 
5.Larisa Michailova, Russia                 4:46.41 
6.Jenelle Deatherage, United States         4:48.34 
7.Vicky Gill, Great Britain                 4:48.64 
8.Colleta Chepchirchir, Kenya               4:51.83 
9.Victoria Lynch, United States             4:56.72