Turnbull Triumphant in Penn Relays Mile

A crowd in excess of 50,000 watched the historic Penn Relays on Saturday, 27th April, the final day of three-day relay extravaganza. After enduring more than 40, 4 x 400-metre relay races and a dozen more 400-metre relays, one of which saw the World Fastest Man, Maurice Greene pipped by USA teammate Tim Montgomery, the runners took the track for the Penn Relays Olympic Development Mile.

At the sound of the starter's pistol, a pair of Kenyans, perhaps inspired by the sprinters before them, dashed out leaving eleven runners in their wake with a five-metre gap at the 20-metre mark! If the remainder of the field was contemplating the Kenyan tactic of the day, it was dreadfully obvious before they reached the backstretch on lap one. Leonard Mucheru and Shadrack Kosgei passed the quarter-mile in 54.2 seconds. The race appeared over with nearly three laps left.

St Malachy's Gareth Turnbull found himself in a most unenviable position, alone. He was 10-metres adrift of the leaders and had about the same lead on the rest of the bewildered field. By lap two Turnbull who turns 23 on 15th May cut their lead in half as the African pair laboured a bit. Like a cycling classic, Turnbull chased the breakaway duo while the peleton patiently surveyed the situation.

One turn into the penultimate lap, Turnbull caught the leaders. He commented after the race, "I knew the Kenyans would go off hard so the brief from John [Coach John Morrin] was to follow the Kenyans. He told me they would run 54-55 and I had a second thought about it. They blasted away from the start. It was quite nice to have something to do during the race - to gradually to catch them."

Mucheru began to falter - his smooth strides were now choppy. Kosgei was no-doubt sharing the sensation along with the added fatigue from Thursday evening's 5,000m race where he was runner-up in 13.36.50. At this point in the race, Turnbull's strength took over allowing him to open a gap while the Kenyan's pride would fend off the pursuing pack. Turnbull chugged along widening the gap to 20 metres. He crossed the line in 3.57.69, more than three seconds clear of Mucheru who placed second in 4:00.97.

Anonymously ensconced in the chase pack for most of the race was Turnbull's St Malachy's mate, Conor Sweeney. Sweeney is no stranger to Penn Relays and its oft-frantic fans. Sweeney thrice anchored his St Malachy's College team to victories in the secondary school races. Two years ago he held off a late charge by American prodigy Alan Webb.

Unlike Turnbull, Sweeney didn't have the endurance from a successful cross-country season but appeared miraculously comfortable during the race. Once on the final bend, memories of strong finishes took over and Sweeney burst from the pack and just missed third by a mere .16. A pleasantly surprised Sweeney put his happiness and hold and congratulated Turnbull with a "Well done." For the next few minutes on the crowded infield, the 20-year-old was at a rare loss for words as he caught his breath.

Turnbull talked about his victory, "That's my best by a tenth or so but I can't say going through [400m] 55 is to be recommended. I felt strong which was good. I am nowhere near fit. I am not fit. It's fantastic! The last time I ran 3.57 [29/04/00, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA] in the Olympic year, I was fit. And, I was happy to run 3.57 and I would have been disappointed not to had done it. This time around I'm surprised that I could run 3.57. I am very pleased with my first race on the track since last September."

Next, Turnbull turned to his goals for the upcoming season in the 1,500m and the 5,000m. "I'll be doing the Commonwealth Games, doing the 1,500 all the way. I'll be doing a couple of 5ks but the 1,500m is there for me. I haven't had an injury free season in four years. I haven't run a race after leaving Loughborough in the middle of May. I haven't run after that race for the last three years, for two months because something's gone wrong. The aim so far has been to do very, very easy distance. As I said, this was a great start."

The third Irishman in the field was Aidan Walsh. Walsh, who runs for Fairleigh Dickinson University failed to make the most of his opportunity in this prestigious event. Walsh (Kilnamanagh, Co. Dublin) ran 3.48.10 a fortnight and seemed primed for a breakthrough but it wasn't to be. He stayed with the pack for a kilometre before dropping off the pace and struggled home in 4.16.83.

Penn Relays, Saturday, 27th April 2002
Olympic Development Men's Mile

1) Gareth Turnbull, Ireland, (St. Malachy's) 3:57.61; 2) Leonard Mucheru, Kenya (Elite Sports Management) 4:00.97; 3) Shadrack Kosgei, Kenya, (Elite Sports Management) 4:01.42; 4) Conor Sweeney, Ireland, (St. Malachy's) 4:01.58; 5) Robert Gary, USA (adidas) 4:02.01; 6) Clay Schwabe, USA, (United States Army) 4:02.34; 7) Kurt Michaelis, USA, (Youngstown State) 4:03.37; 8) Justin Niedzialek, USA, (Boston Athletic Assoc.) 4:03.52; 9) Ray Biersbach, USA, (New York AC) 4:03.62; 10) Hunter Spencer, USA, (unattached) 4:04.30; 11) Sean Graham, USA, (William & Mary - redshirt) 4:05.94; 12) Brad Tighe, Ireland, (Minot State) 4:09.34; 13) Aidan Walsh, Ireland, (Fairleigh Dickinson University) 4:16.83