Sam Prakel takes third in New Balance Fifth Avenue Mile in close finish...

NEW YORK—University of Washington volunteer coach Sam Prakel (left/photo by Paul Merca) finished third in a close finish Sunday afternoon at the New Balance Fifth Avenue Mile on the streets of Manhattan.

Washington alum Izaic Yorks of the Brooks Beasts along with teammate Henry Wynne were in the front group through the first quarter mile before Sam Parsons of Germany, a 5000 meter specialist, went to the front to try and win the $1000 bonus awarded to the runner leading at the halfway point, provided that he breaks 4 minutes.

As the field hit the gradual downhill portion of the course, things began picking up, as Prakel and Great Britain’s Chris O’Hare went to the front just past the 1320 mark.

O’Hare had the lead with Prakel on his heels when veteran Nick Willis of New Zealand made a late charge, sneaking past O’Hare in the final strides to win, with both credited with a time of 3:51.7, and Prakel getting third in 3:51.8.

Wynne finished eleventh in 3:56.0, one spot behind Parsons, who got the half mile bonus by running 3:55.0. David Ribich of the Beasts was 13th in 3:56.6. Yorks faded to 16th in 3:57.4.

Courtesy of NBC Sports, here is the race video:



In the women’s race, Washington alum Amy-Eloise Neale was eighth in 4:27.3, while Allie Ostrander of the Brooks Beasts, who is preparing for the world championships in the steeplechase, was 16th in 4:33.5, one spot ahead of UW alum Eleanor Fulton in 4:35.0.

Former world champion Jenny Simpson won her eighth Fifth Avenue Mile, running 4:16.2, with Elinor Purrier second in the same time.

Results of the New Balance Fifth Avenue Mile are available here.

NOTE:  The New York Road Runners contributed to this report.