Providence College senior Mary Cullen, who is ranked #2 in both the 5k and 10k on the Division I NCAA Performance list, easily won the 5,000-metre event at the East Region Championships held in Greensboro, North Carolina.
Cullen was firmly ensconced in the pack for the first five circuits of the race. Perhaps it was panic or a loss of patience but at the 2,000m mark which was covered in 6.36.1, Cullen infused the race with a 71-second lap putting a tremendous gap on the field.The peleton never gave chase, instead worried about finishing in the next four coveted spots to gain admittance to the National Championships. The Sligo native continued her piston-pace winning by more than ten seconds and covering the last 3,000 metres in an impressive 9.14.
Cullen, 23, went on to win unchallenged with a time of 15.50.18 in humid conditions with Pittsburgh's Maureen McCandless running a fine last lap to win silver in 16.01.30.
Mary Cullen Wins East Region 5,000m in 15.50.18
photo by Tim O'Dowd
