Courtesy: Charlie Mahler/Running USA

Don't adjust your sets or refresh your browsers, it really is news that Dan Browne and Milena Glusac earned USA road titles - they've just done it again rather quickly!

Browne and Glusac, crowned USA Half-Marathon champions only 15 days ago in Parkersburg, West Virginia, swept first place again Monday at the New Haven Road Race 20K, the national championship. Browne, a member of the U.S. Army's World Class Athlete Program, clocked 1:00:10 for the 12.4 mile course, 15 seconds clear of runner-up David Morris. Team USA California team member Glusac ran 1:07:49 to become the 4th fastest American all-time and outdistance emerging marathon star Christine Clifton, second in 1:08:25.

Browne, 26, of Lafayette, Colo., sealed his victory with a decisive surge at the 10 mile mark, a move which upped the ante on Morris' own bid exactly one mile earlier. Morris used the short, steep Blatchley Street Overpass at nine miles to break apart a seven member lead pack in such fashion that only Browne could match pace. Exactly one mile later, though, Browne used the rolling hills and winding road through East Rock Park to build a decisive 10 meter gap on Morris that Browne widened only in the final blocks of the race.

Said Browne of Morris' bid, "I had actually planned to take off on the next hill, but he jumped me. I knew I had to cover the move; he's a 2:09 marathoner, so I know he can run a fast half. I didn't know it was over until the last half mile to go."

Browne, who will compete for the USA next month in the World Half-Marathon Championships in Bristol, England, earned $4000 for the victory; his eighth career USA title.

Following Browne and former U.S. marathon record-holder Morris to the finish line on New Haven Green were 1997 USA 20K Champion Brian Clas, 3rd in 1:00:48; 2000 U.S. Olympic Marathon Trials runner-up Peter DeLaCerda, 4th in 1:00:58 and Mike Donnelly, 5th in 1:01:10.

Defending U.S. champion Todd Reeser was on hand in New Haven, but he did not compete. Reeser who has been training and racing with inconsistent results lately is concerned that he may be iron deficient.

"I just haven't felt right," he explained. "It's killing me [not competing], but it's the right thing to do."

Glusac, who like Browne will also represent the U.S. in Bristol and is still undecided on a fall debut marathon, used a now-trademark strong, steady pace to win her third 2001 USA crown. Glusac's early pace - 10:18 at two miles, 26:13 through five - was enough to gap early challenger Sylvia Mosqueda by the four mile mark. Though Clifton would later catch and leave Mosqueda by the nine mile mark, her own strong late pace wasn't enough to catch Glusac, 25, who clipped low 5:30 miles from the five mile mark until just before the finish line.

A fast pace and a philosophical attitude seem to be Glusac's main weapons.

"Every race is new, every course is different and everyday is a new day!" the Fallbrook, California resident offered.

Following Glusac and Clifton were Mosqueda, third in 1:08:55; three-time South African Olympian turned U.S. Citizen Colleen de Reuck, fourth in 1:09:15 and 1998 USA 12K Champion Susannah Beck, fifth in 1:10:08. 1996 Olympian Anne Marie Lauck started the race but dropped out shortly after one mile for reasons unknown.

The New Haven 20K is also part of the USA Running Circuit (USARC), a USA Track & Field road series of USA Championships and thus as the USARC nears its season's end, important Circuit points were earned. With his win - worth 15 points, Browne moved into first place in the Men's USARC with 30 points, while Donnelly added to his second place position (26 points).

With her victory, Glusac built her USARC lead over Mosqueda, 52 points to 44 points. Beck follows in third (33).

Like last year, the final USARC Grand Prix prize money positions ($6000, $4000 and $2500) will be decided at the finale. There are only two remaining USARC races, the Food World Senior Bowl Charity Run 10K (Nov. 3) and the New York City Marathon (Nov. 4). Circuit points at New York will be doubled.

New Haven 20K: USA Championship

New Haven, CT, Monday, September 3, 2001

MEN

1) Dan Browne, CO 1:00:10 $4000

2) David Morris, NM 1:00:25 $2000

3) Brian Clas, NY 1:00:48 $1250

4) Peter DeLaCerda, CO 1:00:58 $1000

5) Mike Donnelly, RI 1:01:10 $750

6) Jim Jurcevich, MI 1:01:48 $500

7) Weldon Johnson, DC 1:01:56 $200

8) Chris Wehrman, MI 1:02:01 $150

9) Teddy Mitchell, CO 1:02:39 $100

10 Jimmy Hearld, KY 1:02:54 $50

WOMEN

1) Milena Glusac, CA 1:07:49 $4000

2) Chris Clifton, WA 1:08:25 $2000

3) Sylvia Mosqueda, CA 1:08:55 $1250

4) Colleen DeReuck, CO 1:09:15 $1000

5) Susannah Beck, OR 1:10:08 $750

6) Monica Hostetler, NY 1:10:56 $500

7) Kim Pawelek, FL 1:12:43 $200

8) Molly Tabor, MA 1:13:40 $150

9) Mary Lynn Currier, CT 1:14:48 $100

10) Heather Gardiner, CT 1:14:54 $50