NEW YORK – After sprinting down the streets of Manhattan on Sunday to take her second consecutive victory in the Fifth Avenue Mile in 4 minutes, 24.12 seconds, Shannon Rowbury walked into the press tent wearing the Stars and Stripes like an enormous shawl, placed an oversized bouquet in her lap, and reflected on the home stretch.

“With about 100 meters to go, I think I was in fifth and was like, ‘I don’t know about this,’” she said of her season finale. “I tried to push myself, but I wasn’t really sure what I had.”

Ultimately, Rowbury had the winning kick and, ultimately, a satisfying season.