Baddeley claims victory on New York's Fifth Avenue.

Byline: PHIL CASEY

ANDY BADDELEY won the Fifth Avenue Mile but compatriot Lisa Dobriskey was denied a successful defence of her women's title on Saturday night.

Wirral-born runner Baddeley became the first British winner of the men's race since Matthew Yates in 1991 when he edged out Kenya's Boaz Lalang on the line to win in 3:51.8 seconds.

American Leo Manzano, on his road-race debut, finished third with former double world 1500 and 5000 metre champion Bernard Lagat fourth.

World championship silver medallist Dobriskey was bidding to defend her title but was still recuperating from a stress fracture of her left femur when she went to the line in New York.

Her gamble very nearly paid off as she and Shannon Rowbury pulled clear of the pack in the closing metres but the American crossed the line first to win in 4:23.3.

Dobriskey held off a fast finishing Sara Hall in a photo finish, both women clocking 4:23.9.

Britain's Hannah England and Barbara Parker were fifth and ninth respectively.

Baddeley, who won the Great North Run Road Mile last Sunday, said he had targeted Lagat as the man to beat but did not want to pull the trigger too soon in his kick for home over the inclines alongside Central Park.

"Lagat put himself in front early on and I think we all were watching him," Baddeley said.

"At the top of the hill and halfway we were flying. I was looking for the sign that says 200 (metres) to go because I know that's where a lot of people start to go in a road mile but for me that's too early because you can't run all out for 200 metres.

"Even 100 to go is too early. "I was waiting until the last 50."

Dobriskey will now take at least four weeks off for complete rest to see her injured femur finally heal properly but said it was important to her that she returned to New York.

"I really wanted to finish my season off here," she said.

CAPTION(S):

Fifth Avenue Mile winner Andy Baddeley