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The Honolulu Advertiser
Updated at 5:24 a.m., Thursday, January 1, 2009

Running: 4,000 complete Midnight Run through frigid Central Park

Associated Press

NEW YORK — Sean Quigley of Philadelphia won the men's title and Aziza Aliyu of Ethiopia took the women's in the Emerald Nuts Midnight Run through a frigid Central Park early today.

Quigley, a former All-American at La Salle, covered the four-mile course in 18 minutes, 45 seconds. Brian Olinger of Columbus, Ohio, was second in 18:53, followed by Abiyot Endale of Ethiopia in 18:59.

A field of about 4,000 competed in the event sponsored by the New York Road Runners. The temperature was 18 degrees when the race started at midnight and a 16-mph wind made the wind chill just 3 degrees.

"I never ran in weather as cold as this," said the 23-year-old Quigley.

Aliyu outkicked Emily Brown of Minneapolis by 1 second to finish a in 21:21. Buzunesh Deba of Ethiopia was third in 22:05.