Torrence, Pierce Win USA 1 Mile Road Titles

Defending champion David Torrence and 2008 U.S. Olympian Anna Pierce out-kicked their competitors Thursday night to win the Medtronic TC 1 Mile, a race that served as the 2010 USA 1 Mile Road Championships.

Torrence, of Oakland , Calif. , out-ran a phalanx of contenders in the final 200 meters to win his second straight Medtronic TC 1 Mile in 4:04.0. Dan Huling, of Columbus , Ohio , was second in 4:05.4. Jordan Horn, of Flagstaff , Ariz. , was third in 4:05.7. Winona native Garrett Heath finished 5th in 4:06.4.

Last year, Torrence jump-started his fledging professional career with a surprise win in the annual race down the Nicollet Mall.

“I love Minneapolis ,” an American flag-draped Torrence said after the race. “It’s good to me; it’s been great to me! I love the crowd, the fans – they were awesome. This is an awesome event.”

In the women’s race, Pierce, of Mammoth Lakes , Calif., chased leader and fellow Olympian Christin Wurth-Thomas, of Fayetteville , Ark. , for more than three-quarters of the race before kicking away with the win in the final 100 meters. Pierce clocked 4:33.9 against a chilly Minnesota headwind. Sarah Bowman, of Knoxville , Tenn. , was runner-up with 4:34.9. Wurth-Thomas had to settle for third in 4:36.3.

“I didn’t feel that great,” Pierce admitted. “But, I know that with 200, 250 [meters] to go I always start feeling better, because I know the end is near and I can start sprinting.”

Team USA Minnesota's Heather Dorniden finished 6th overall in 4:42.1. Burnsville High School alum Laura Jasnuszewski was 9th in 4:46.0, with Team USA Minnesota's Meghan Armstrong one place behind in 10th with 4:46.2.

Torrence and Pierce earned $4000 each for their victories. Neither was able to claim the $10,000 “bounty” for a sub-4:00 men’s win or a sub-4:32 women’s victory. In all, the event paid $22,500 to runners in the USA Championship portion of the event.

In all, more than 3200 runners competed in the event in eight separate waves of races. Competitors ranged in age from 5-years-old to 80-years-old. The event also included a corporate team challenge division.

“It was thrilling to be a part of all the fine running that took place tonight,” Twin Cities In Motion executive director Virginia Brophy Achman said. “We’re happy for David and Anna and pleased with all the runners who made up our championship fields. American middle distance running made an excellent showing on the streets of Minneapolis tonight.”

Find results of the USA Championships HERE.

Find complete results HERE.

Find a photo gallery from the event HERE.

Watch a replay of the women's race HERE.

Watch a replay of the men's race HERE.

Photo: Anna Pierce (right) kicks away from Sarah Bowman (center) and Christin Wurth-Thomas (left) at the Medtronic TC 1 Mile. Photo by Paul Phillips/Competitive Image.