For about one kilometer Saturday morning at the Abbott Dash 5K, a prelude to Sunday’s New York City Marathon, Hoka NAZ Elite’s Ahmed Muhumed hung with a pack that fluctuated between five to seven runners, including NAU’s Drew Bosley and Flagstaff’s Biya Simbassa.
Then, with a decisive surge, Muhumed took off.
No one would catch him.
Muhumed, a 5K specialist both on the roads and track, had to earn his $12,000 first place award, though. When he made the turn onto Central Park South and entered the park, no one was within camera distance of him.
But in the final 400 meters, right about where a slight hill intruded, Muhumed slowed a bit and Seattle Sam Prakel closed the gap significantly. But Muhumed’s lead was too big and he was able to beat Prakel by a second.
Muhumed apparently runs well in New York City. Last year, in the same race, he finished second to Morgan Beadlescomb.
The next Flagstaff finisher was Bosley, making his debut in an exclusively pro race. Bosley is out of cross country eligibility, but still will compete for the Lumberjacks in indoor and outdoor track in 2025. In his first race since February, Bosley finished seventh after hanging with the lead pack until Muhumed broke it up. Bosley’s time of 13:49 was three seconds ahead of eighth place Afewerki Zeru of McKirdy Trained. Simbassa placed ninth in 13:57.
The women’s winner was repeat champion Annie Rodenfels in 15:20. Six Flagstaff-based runners finished in the top 20. NAZ Elite’s Abby Nichols and Paige Wood finished sixth and seventh, respectively, both notching a time of 15:41.
Elly Henes, part of Mike Smith’s Flagstaff group, was 11th in 15:50, and NAZ Elite’ Katie Wasserman was 13th in 15:57. Former NAU star Annika Reiss, making her debut with Under Aremour Dark Sky Distance, was 14th in 16:00, and teammate Angelina Ellis was18th in 16:10.
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