Sept. 26, 2005

New York, N.Y. - Carmen Douma-Hussar won her debut in the Continental Airlines Fifth Avenue Mile on Saturday, Sept. 24 with a time of 4:28.0 to cap the 2005 running season.

Douma-Hussar, running for New Balance TC, chased down race leader Kim Smith of New Zealand in the final 400 meters and then had to hold off two fast-closing Americans Amy Rudolph (4:28.5) and Treniere Clement (4:28.7), who finished second and third respectively. Former Villanovan Carrie Tollefson, running for adidas, finished fourth (4:29.2).

Douma-Hussar received $5,000 for placing first in a field of 14 professional runners. While the former Wildcat was running her first Fifth Avenue Mile, she has two prior mile victories in New York City this season: at the Millrose Games and the New Balance Games.

The race ran from 80th to 60th streets along the east side of Central Park.