October 23

With an increased prize purse, the Reebok USA Cross Country Grand Prix received national attention among runners, and the Mayor's Cup benefited by its selection as part of the circuit for the second year in a row. In the men's race, Abidi Bouazza, of Westchester Track Club, ended Brad Schlapak's two-year winning streak, taking first place in 23:33. Schlapak finished nine seconds back, capturing second place in 23:42. Three-time world cross country champion Lynn Jennings, of Nike International, emerged victorious in the women's race, with a time of 15:45. Ayala-Troncoso, the defending Mayor's Cup champion, was second place in 16:10. Over the next three years, the course used for the meet would be re-worked several times. Eventually, for the 1997 season, the open courses and the collegiate courses would come to be the same, thus combining a spectator-friendly venue with one that offered an appropriate athletic challenge. This year's meet again was sponsored by Reebok.

196 male finishers.
111 female finishers.