Participation climbed to a record 72–one more than in 2001–and the runners and racewalkers broke a dozen of the existing 31 records and established five more in the fifth annual Pittsylvania Mile Run on June 5 at Carnegie Mellon University.

Two college athletes won the featured Jerry Richey Miles named for the former North Allegheny High and Pitt great. Richey’s brilliant schoolboy career saw him win six PIAA titles in XC and track from 1965-67. He won the 1970 NCAA indoor 2-mile title.

Duquesne University’s Brent Rogus–Atlantic 10 medalist in the 10,000 this year as a freshman–won the men’s Richey Mile in 4:37 and just missed the 4:36.7 record set by Steve Gonzales of Westmont-Hilltop High in 2002. Gonzales now runs for Pitt.

Providence College swimmer Annie Nemeth won the women’s Richey Mile in 6:00.7. Earlier in the meet, Nemeth–second in the Richey Mile in 2002 as a schoolgirl–won the mile racewalk in 7:57.3 to become the first double winner in the meet’s history.

Three repeat winners–George Dieffenbach (2), Joyce Geroux (3), and Carmella Salem (2)–led the way as the host West Penn Track Club claimed wins in 12 of the 26 races (six of 15 for men and six of 11 for women), broke six records and established two.

Six men broke or established records: Seamus Love of St. Bede (6-7), George Kelly of West Penn (8-9), Rich Crowley (25-29) and repeat winner Dan Holland of the Pharaoh Hounds (35-39), and Gehrett Smith (70-74) and Sam Madia of West Penn (80-84).

Eight women claimed records: Marissa Cooper of Butler (8-9), Brighid Kelly of West Penn (12-13), Diana Filtz of Penn-Trafford High (14-15), Carmen Blissit of Wheeling Jesuit (20-14), and West Penners Salem (30-34), Karen Mizikar (40-44), and Geroux (60-64).

Three racewalkers posted records: Annie Nemeth of Providence College established a 16-19 record, Arthur Androkites of Greensburg established a 40-44 record, and repeat winner BK Kosmach of the South Park Runners broke her own record.

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