There were no big-name stars present Sunday morning, but runners of all ages proved there is magic in the mile as they strutted down Congress Avenue.

The past three editions of the Congress Avenue Mile have showcased elite national runners, who stormed down the avenue and across the bridge in less than four minutes. But this year’s race was a people’s event, featuring some of the state’s finest age-group competitors in addition to an elite men’s division. David Whitman led the elite men in a hard-fought battle across the bridge in four minutes flat, holding off Mark Wyckoff (4:01). Scott Garvin was two seconds back in 4:03, a step ahead of Paul Perrone’s 4:04.

“I ran pretty evenly,” said Whitman, who runs for Team Nike. “I went through half in about 2:01 and tried to press it with about 400-500 meters to go.”

Whitman, a former NCAA All-American, broke the four-minute barrier twice last year, including a 3:58 at the Prefontaine Classic in Oregon.

About 600 runners competed under cloudy skies in warm, humid conditions.

A separate boy’s high school division featured some excellent runners. Austin High’s Adam Dailey, coming off a cross country race on Saturday, sped to an age-group record of 4:14. He was followed by John Scholl in 4:21 and Pedro Montaniz in 4:25.

This year’s Capitol 10K winner, 24-year-old Cassandra Henkiel, was the fastest woman in 4:56. There was no elite women’s race.

Marathoner Donna Moore showed her range with a 5:01, winning the 35-39 group with the second-fastest women’s time.

Talent surfaced in the men’s 40-and-older group, with 1994 North American 800-meter champion Rick Easley clocking a 4:37 to win the 40-44 divsion and 49-year-old Greg Evans making a terrific comeback from several years of injuries to win the 45-49 division in 4:49.

Outstanding times were clocked in the older divisions. Ino Cantu, 60, had a 5:17 win, while Austin’s Jack Caldwell, 67, won his division in 6:07. In the 70-plus group, 73-year-old Bob McIntyre was victorious in 6:10, ahead of Jim Southard’s 7:11 and Paul Galloway’s 7:52.

Alice Spoonts, 47, recorded the fastest women’s 40-and-older time with a 5:47, while 60-and-older women included Mimi Malis’ 7:49 win in the 60-64 group, Lillie Doss in 9:12 (65-69), and an outstanding 8:58 by 72-year-old Wanda Hall.

The Clydesdale (weight) divisions were won by Tom Richardson in 5:04, and Barbara Martin in 6:12.

PUBLICATION: Austin American-Statesman
SECTION: SPORTS
PAGE: E2