Heath third, Lagat fifth in road mile at Puma Great North CityGames...

NEWCASTLE,  United Kingdom--Defending Puma Great North CityGames mile champion Garrett Heath (above/photo courtesy Brooks Sports) of the Seattle based Brooks Beasts finished third Saturday after going to the front early in this road race along the Quayside cheered on by a throng of thousands in this unique setting combining the best elements of track and field in a street venue.

Heath went to the front early along with Washington State alum Bernard Lagat, fresh off a season best in the 5000 in Berlin on Sunday.

After a 62 second first 400, Augustine Choge of Kenya took the lead and held it for the next 800 meters, crossing the 3/4 mile mark in 3:08.

As they entered the track for the last 150 meter straightaway, eventual winner Homiyu Tesfaye of Germany swung wide to give himself room to sprint, with Heath trying to follow.  Meanwhile, former Olympic champ Asbel Kiprop of Kenya shot past Heath but could not close quickly as Tesfaye won in a course record 4:01, with Kiprop second in 4:02.  

Heath was third in 4:02, while Lagat, who was pinned near some temporary fencing with about 300 meters to go, finished fifth in 4:03 (all times from road mile rounded up to whole seconds from time posted on official results).


In the women's one mile road race, Tacoma's Brie Felnagle finished fifth in 4:38, as Laura Murr of Great Britain won in a time of 4:35.



In a race that we completely overlooked, University of Washington alum Katie Mackey finished seventh in the 1500 at the Palio Citta della Quercia  meeting in Rovereto, Italy on September 2nd.

Mackey ran 4:13.03, as Federica del Buono of Italy won in 4:05.32.


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