Elliott and Plumer Take Titles in Fifth Avenue Mile

Britain’s Peter Elliott became the first three-time winner in the 10-year history of the Mercedes Mile on Fifth Avenue, taking the men’s title in 3 minutes 47.83 seconds Saturday, the second-fastest clocking in the event’s history.

PattiSue Plumer broke the course record to win the women’s race in 4:16.68.

Both races were run in the rain, but most runners said the conditions were good because there was no wind and the course was newly paved, ridding it of the potholes down the middle of the road.

Elliott barely missed breaking the course record of 3:47.52, set by Sydney Maree in 1981.

Steve Cram was second in 3:48.39 and William Tanui of Kenya third in 3:50.52.

Two-time winner Steve Scott wound up 14th in the field of 17 at 3:57.16. Said Aouita of Morocco was 15th in 3:58.42.

Plumer, the only American in the women’s race, breezed past leaders Yvonne Mai of East Germany and Natalya Artyomova of the Soviet Union with about 200 meters remaining to break the record of 4:19.48 set by Maricica Puica of Romania in 1986.