Sub-4s At Congress Avenue Mile
At the 2004 Congress Avenue Mile, Jean Marie Ndikumana, the 2004 Statesman Capitol 10,000 Champion, showed he’s pretty good at the shorter stuff too. Actually, Ndikumana’s is a former 1,500 track star from Abilene Chistian, so he has the goods for a quick mile. Still, seeing a sub-four minute race is always exciting.
With the weather setting the stage for a perfect race- mid 70s and a slight tailwind- a quartet of speedsters blasted off from the steps of the Capitol, blazing through the first quarter in 54-55 seconds. The pack was young and fast: Ndikumana, 24, Chis Dugan, 24, an 8:34 steeplechaser, Brian Rue, 25, a former UT track standout with a 1:48 800 meter best, and Jesus Torres, 22, a Mexican runner who took fifth at last month’s Scholtzsky’s Bun Run.
Lots of guys can blast a 55 second 400, but not many can hang on to that speed for a mile.
“I knew we had three guys capable of winning, and that drove the competition,” said race sponsor Paul Carrozza of RunTex. “It was anyone’s race. Jean Marie really showed his abilities, and I was so impressed with Dugan, a very tough steeplechaser.”
At about the halfway mark, (1:56), Dugan moved into the lead, but remained cautious.
“Right then, the pack was starting to break up a bit, and at three quarters (2:56) I knew I really had to push the pace so I wouldn’t get out-kicked,” he said. “I knew Jean Marie had good closing speed.”
Sure enough, just onto the Congress Avenue Bridge, Ndikumana passed Dugan hard on the right. “At that point my legs had a lot of lactic acid, and I couldn’t really match his move,” said Dugan. “He just kind of blew by.”
Ndikumana hit the tape in a 3:56.7, edging out Dugan’s 3:58.3, while Torres just nipped the four minute mark in 3:59.9 for third. Rue held on for fourth in 4:02.3.
“I was able to catch him by closing hard,” said Ndikumana “This was my first road mile, and of course my first time under 4:00. I’m still hoping to get on the Olympic 1,500 team for Burundi, my native country. “Right now I’ve got a 3:44 best, but I’ll need to get under 3:40 to make the team.”
The women’s elite race failed to materialize, with only Kira Jorgensen and Lori Stich-Zimmerman entered. The pair could not have been more different. Jorgensen, 32, of Seabrook, is a former national high school cross country champion, comfortable at distances of 5,000 meters or less, while Zimmerman, 33, is a tried-and-true marathoner, used to going long and easy. Jorgensen knocked out a 4:42, for the win, while Stich-Zimmerman, fresh off of a 2:38:44 15th place at the women’s Olympic marathon trials, clocked a 5:02.
Results
