BAA’s Pagano Defends at NYRR Midnight Run

NEW YORK (31-Dec) — Sarah Pagano and Andy Vernon dominated the 38th
edition of the NYRR Midnight Run here in Central Park.  Running the
four-mile course in comfortably cold conditions while a colorful
fireworks display boomed overhead, Pagano successfully defended her
title in 21:06, and Vernon got his first win here in 18:27.

Pagano, 25, who represents the Boston Athletic Association, went
straight to the lead ahead of teammate Katie Matthews right from the
gun.  Her gap growing with every step, she crossed the finish line with
a 40-second cushion on her teammate who was the runner-up for the
second consecutive year.

“It was awesome,” said Pagano, who shaved seven seconds off of her time
from last year.  “This is such a great race. I love coming here every
year for the past couple of years, and I hope to make that more.  It
was a good test today.  I’ve been feeling good, so I thought I would
just go out and give it my best effort.”

Third place went to Panamanian steeplechaser, Rolanda Bell, who clocked
22:00.  British Olympian Hannah England, who is still coming back from
a foot injury, finished sixth.

Vernon –a 31 year-old British Olympian who runs for the Aldershot,
Farnham and District club– followed the lead of last year’s champion
Daniel Winn in the early miles.  Steadily working his way up, he caught
Winn in the uphill third mile on the Park’s west side, passed him, then
ran unchallenged to the finish on the 72nd Street Transverse.

“The race went off pretty hard, and I was a little bit back, maybe
fourth for the first mile or so,” Vernon said.  “Going through the
second mile, it turns left and you started going up that hill.  That’s
when I caught the leader and pushed on from there.”

Winn, who also represents the Boston Athletic Association, was able to
hold on to second place in 18:49. Third place went to Louis Serafini,
last year’s runner-up, in 18:56.

Both Pagano and Vernon earned $600 in prize money and time bonuses. 

Behind the top finishers, about 5000 runners took part.  Many attended the pre-race dance party and competed in costume.