NE Mountain Running champ Gina Lucrezi (Inov-8 / Medway MA) took her skills to the national stage and won the USA 10K Trail Running Championship held at the Continental Divide Trail Race in Laurel Springs, NC. The report indicates a very difficult course with four steep up/down hills and an 18m section which requires athletes to use both hands and feet to scramble up an embankment. In the men's race, Tim van Orden (CMS / Bennington VT) earned the USA Masters title and finished fifth overall.
In weather conditions perfect for distance running, and in front of a packed stadium, Molly Huddle (Providence RI / Saucony) broke the American record in the women's 5,000 meters at the Belgacom Memorial van Damme meet in Brussels, Belgium, the final meeting of the IAAF Samsung Diamond League. Huddle clocked 14:44.76, narrowly beating Shalane Flanagan's previous record. Vivian Cheruiyot of Kenya won the race in which 13 women broke 15 minutes; Huddle finished in 10th.
The next day, Bernard Lagat set the American record in the men's 3,000m in Rieti Italy. He finished second in the race to Tariku Bekele (ETH) who won in a world-leading 7:28.70; Lagat's time of 7:29.00 broke the previous US mark of 7:30.84 set by Bob Kennedy in 1998.
And in the same meet, David Rudisha of Kenya broke the World Record at 800 meters for the second time this season with a time of 1:41.01. Wow!
Four time Olympian (1956 Olympic gold medalist) and six-time world record setter in the hammer throw, Harold Connolly passed away on Wednesday at the age of 79. Recently a resident of Virginia, Connolly was a Massachusetts native, and attended Brighton HS in Boston, as well as Boston College. He won nine US titles in the event, and three more in the weight throw. In recent years, he was instrumental in developing, coaching, and promoting the hammer throw with youth, including getting the event into the Junior Olympics at all levels for the older two age groups.
BAA runners Brian Harvey and Lesley Hocking were the tape-breakers at Saturday's Bridge of Flowers 10K in Shelburne Falls MA, the USATF New England 10K Championship.
Harvey broke from the pack after the almost-two mile loop through town, built the gap to 33 seconds up and down Crittendon Hill to the end as he secured his second straight GP series win. Nate Krah (adidas NE) took silver and GP leader Matt Ely (BAA) retained his lead with a third place finish.
Hocking built a lead in miles 2 through 5, but was caught by 2009 GP champ Sara Donohue who has spent the year battling injuries. The BAA runner regained the lead, and held off GBTC's finest across the bridge and up to the finish to win by 4 seconds in 37:34. Schenectady New York master Emily Bryans ran an excellent race for third overall. The men's race results were unusual in the fact that no masters broke into the top 25, while nearly half of the matching women's placers were over 40.
Joe Donnelly (GCST) scored his first ever GP points to take the masters title over Kent Lemme and Wayne Levy, with Craig Fram (Whirlaway), Gordon MacFarland (CSU), and Harry Carter (BAA) taking the other age divisions. NE masters age group winners were Barbara McManus CMS, 40+, Nancy Corasaro (WRT, 50+), Carol L'Esperance (GSH, 60+), and Judith Williams (GSH, 70+).
B.A.A. men (5 of top 11) and Greater Boston TC women (5 of top 15) were unchallenged team winners. In an "every second counts" example, CMS men edged Whirlaway for second place by a single tick of the watch after totaling over 2 hours 48 minutes of time placings.
Next race on tap is the women's only 5K at the Providence Ronald McDonald House 5k on October 3, the men having covered that distance in June at the Rhody 5K. Series finale is the BayState Marathon on October 17.
Note that BayState is closed except for NE club runners who are USATF members. Please enter as soon as possible, and do so by contacting the race director directly.
Several masters throwers did some heavy lifting to win medals at the USA Masters Throws Championship in Lisle, Illinois last weekend. The competition championships contested over the two days included the Weight Throw, Superweight, Throws Pentathlon, and Ultra Weight Pentathlon (really heavy weights).
Returning home as a triple winner was Bob Cedrone (Twilight Throwers/Canton MA), who took the M55 title in the superweight and both pentathlons (as well as bronze in the weight). Bill Garrahan (Twilight Throwers/Narragansett RI) was a double gold medalist in the M80 division, taking the weight and the throws pentathlon. Carl Wallin (M65, BAA/Hanover NH) tossed a pair of silver (Throws Pent, Weight) and Jim Burgoyne (M45, Twilight Throwers/Tewksbury MA) was second and third in the Ultra and Throws Pentathlons, respectively.
Full results are on the USA Championships page at the usatf.org.
A week late, but we want to recognize those masters who won medals at the USA Masters Track & Field Championships in Sacramento at the end of July; there were a lot of age groups to sift through.
As seems to be the case at recent nationals Flo Meiler (Shelburne, VT) mined the most ore. In the W75 division, she had gold in the pole vault (US record), discus, and 80 meter hurdles, silvers in the long jump and javelin, and bronze in the 100m, triple jump and 200 meters.
Also winning multiple medals was Barbara Jordan (W70, S.Burlington, VT) with wins in the long jump and 80 hurdles, second in the 100, and third in the 200. Double event winners were Mary Harada (W75, Newbury, MA) in the 1500m and 5000m - both American Records - and Dennis Branham (M80 Providence, RI) in the same events (as well as a 2nd in the 400). Other medalists included: Leonard Rosen (M75, Salem, NH) 2nd shot put and discus; Bob Cedrone (M55, Stoughton, MA) 2nd, hammer; Buzz Gagne (M60, Penacook, NH) 2nd, javelin; Roger Pierce (M65, Essex, MA) 3rd 100, 200, and 400; Deborah Kovacs (W35, Groton, MA), 3rd, 100 and 200; Carroll Blake (M60, Boston,MA) 3rd, 200; Richard Harrison (M40, Nashua NH), 1st, shot put.
The World Masters meet will run at the same facility in Sacramento next July; entry information is at www.wma2011.com (note the very early deadline). Start training!
Waltham Track Club's Carla Forbes (Hyde Park MA) was a double winner in the Intermediate Girls (age 15-16) divsion, at the USATF Junior Olympic Championships last week in Sacramento. Back on form after a viral infection in June, the high school soph-to-be first took the triple jump in 39'4", an event she won in the Youth division last year, and came back to win the long jump in 18'4.5", capping a successful season.
Right behind her for silver in the triple in 39'0.5" was Mollie Gribbin (Montpelier VT), who had actually won the New England JO meet. The only New England boy to make the medal podium was also from Vermont, Mike DiMambro of Essex Junction, eighth in the Young Men's decathlon, and Katie Cataldo (Worlds Longest Throw/Attleboro MA) placed seventh in the Young Women's javelin, 123'5". (Let us know of any additions, as there were a _lot_ of results to wade through!
The national level of youth track and field can be a learning experience for those in the northeast, as even intermediate age group performances in some events would be competitive with New England collegians. Congratulations to all from our association who qualified for and headed west for the event; JO Nationals will be in Kansas in 2011.
Check out the complete age group results at www.usatf.org.
New England Mountain Circuit champion Gina Lucrezi took second place at the USA 15-K Trail Run Championships in Spokane, WA on Saturday. Top NE male (and first master runner) was Tim Van Orden (CMS / Bennington VT), sixth in 56:36. The husband and wife team of Ian Dobson and Julia Lucas from the Nike Oregon Track Club took a break from their track specialties and were overall winners.
In Willoughby Ohio, local runners pulled in a pair of bronze medals at the USA 100 Mile Trail Championships. Jack Pilla, 52, of Charlotte VT, covered the century in 16:22:54, while Larissa Abramiuk, 41, of Wayland MA ran the distance in 19:15:09.
Full results can be found at www.usatf.org.
Recent Boston University grad Andrea Walkonen (Jaffrey NH) placed third in Saturday's Quad City Times Bix 7 Miler, in Davenport IA, the USA 7 mile road championship. Taking gold was NCAA 10,000 meter champ Lisa Koll of Iowa in 37:52, 51 seconds ahead of Walkonen. Joan Samuelson (Freeport ME) was 14th overall, and first master at 53 (43:11).
On the men's side New England alum and 2009 Mayor's Cup cross country champ Sean Quigley placed third, just 10 seconds behind winner Ryan Hall.
Quality performances from young and old local competitors as the weekend begins . Providence College freshman Shelby Greany placed 10th in the World Junior Championships in Moncton, New Brunswick, Canada, on Thursday. Running 10:18.74 in her trial heat on Tuesday to qualify for the final, Greany was involved with several other competitors in a fall in the steeplechase pit that put her out of the medal running; her qualifying for the finals and time of 10:27.33 was still a great way to end her long season. Folow the meet at www.iaaf.org.
On the west coast, Mary Harada (Liberty AC/W.Newbury MA) added another age group record in the first event of the USA Masters Outdoor Track and Field Championships in Sacramento, breaking the US W75-59 mark for 5000 meters with her winning time of 26:55.11, 15 seconds better than the existing 19 year old record. She is entered in two more events in the meet, which runs through Sunday. Further New Englander medal performances will be noted here next week; daily updated of the results at www.usatf.org.
Wayne Levy maintains the 40+ division lead with a win at Stowe.
SV photo
B.A.A. teammates Brian Harvey and Katie Twarog took the wins Sunday's 29th annual Stowe 8 Miler in Vermont. An even 1000 entrants produced 884 finishers on a most scenic course surrounded by the Green Mountains, and, unlike several prior years of championship status, July temperatures were not accompanied by oppressive humidity this time.
Harvey had 14 seconds on Justin Fyffe (CMS) who broke up a potential Unicorn sweep of the medals; Fyffe outlegged Mountain Circuit champ Eric Blake and continuing GP leader Matt Ely. Twarog was one overall place ahead of Caroline Bjune (adidas New England, the margin of victory just one second per mile. The winners led their B.A.A. open teams to team wins, a five minute gap for the men, but the women's race found adidas NE and Gr.Boston TC both within 43 seconds.
In age group results, Wayne Levy (BAA) topped the men's 40+ crowd with Craig Fram (Whirlaway), Gordon MacFarland and Harry Carter (BAA) leading the 50+, 60+ and 70+ lists, respectively. In the women's results, NE division winners were Barb McManus (CMS, 40+), Cathy Merra (GCS Triad, 50+), and Dot Helling (CVR, 2nd overall 60+).
The performances by fifty-plus duo Fram and Merra, both third overall masters, were the top age-graded times of the race. Whirlaway swept the 40+ and 50+ team cups, and the local Green Mountain AA crew took 60+ honors (and second in the M40/50 scoring).
Standings are updated at the gp page, and results are at stowe8miler.org.
Next on the schedule - Bridge of Flowers 10K in Shelburne Falls MA on August 14; pre-entry is online only.
Member club Narragansett Running Association of Rhode Island is the recipient of one of 14 Youth Grants given to track clubs around the country to assist with program expenses of many types. The club runs a summer-long series that serves several hundred youth each week.
USA Track & Field Foundation Executive Director Tom Jackovic noted, "It is very rewarding to assist so many young people with opportunities to compete in track & field. This is where it all starts, with clubs like these."
Find out more about the USATF Foundation (run as a separate organization from USATF's national office) at usatffoundation.org.
The 2010 USATF-NE Mountain Circuit at the summit of Mt.Ascutney in Windsor VT on Sunday, with the winners coming as a surprise to no one. Eric Blake and Gina Lucrezi completed perfect seasons in being first to the finish of the shortest but steepest of the series six - climbing 2300 feet with an average 12% grade. For the just the third time, both the men's and women's winners had perfect scores, though the previous times (1996-1997), there were only three races in the circuit. Blake set a new course in the final race, running the 3.7 mile race to the summit in 28:16, nearly 2 minutes on Karl Remson of Colorado and another minute-plus over Jim Johnson (CMS) Lucrezi got her perfect 600 with a finishing time of 37:48, the 5th fastest time ever for a woman at Mt. Ascutney, and a minute and a half better than Dawn Roberts (GSH).
Results
With the sweep, Lucrezi was the hands-down circuit winner with 500.00 points. Behind her up were a pair of 2009 winners; last year's open champ Abby Mahoney (CMS/Inov-8) at 479.20 and masters repeater Karen Encarnacion (SRR) at 461.33.
The closest division was W50-59 where Donna Smyth (CSU) edged teammate and four time division winner Lisa Doucett by just .2 point, 419.62-419.42. Also taking age wins were Haley Heinrich (WMM / Wolfboro NH) 19 and under, 384.35; Linda Usher (CMS/Upton MA), 60-69, 71.25; and Barbara Robinson (GCS/NH) 70+, 61.12, the latter two running just one race each,
His perfect record also gave Blake the series title (500.00) ahead of Jim Johnson (CMS), 480.56, who beat bronze medalist Kevin Tilton (CMS) up Ascutney to eke out a .5 point circuit edge.
Age diversity in the circuit was evidenced by three age division winners in the overall top 10 scorers; Todd Callaghan (GCS), 40-49, 4th, 463.52; 19 and under Michael Robinson (GDTC), 8th, 403.10, and Paul Bazanchuk (WMM) 50-59, 10th, 392.51. Other age winners were Vincent Rivard (NMC), 60-69, 328.12, and Frank Hurt (WMM), 70+, 288.17.
There were record fields in four of the six races, and a record 105 runners earned "Mountain Goat" status for finishing all six events. Blake and Lucrezi took it a step further, as they were 11 for 11 in the races they entered. Final standings are temporarily at coolruning.com but will also be posted at the USATF-NE mountain/trail/ultra page.
The 2010 USATF-NE Mountain Circuit at the summit of Mt.Ascutney in Windsor VT on Sunday, with the winners coming as a surprise to no one. Eric Blake and Gina Lucrezi completed perfect seasons in being first to the finish of the shortest but steepest of the series six - climbing 2300 feet with an average 12% grade. For the just the third time, both the men's and women's winners had perfect scores, though the previous times (1996-1997), there were only three races in the circuit. Blake set a new course in the final race, running the 3.7 mile race to the summit in 28:16, nearly 2 minutes on Karl Remson of Colorado and another minute-plus over Jim Johnson (CMS) Lucrezi got her perfect 600 with a finishing time of 37:48, the 5th fastest time ever for a woman at Mt. Ascutney, and a minute and a half better than Dawn Roberts (GSH).
Results
With the sweep, Lucrezi was the hands-down circuit winner with 500.00 points. Behind her up were a pair of 2009 winners; last year's open champ Abby Mahoney (CMS/Inov-8) at 479.20 and masters repeater Karen Encarnacion (SRR) at 461.33.
The closest division was W50-59 where Donna Smyth (CSU) edged teammate and four time division winner Lisa Doucett by just .2 point, 419.62-419.42. Also taking age wins were Haley Heinrich (WMM / Wolfboro NH) 19 and under, 384.35; Linda Usher (CMS/Upton MA), 60-69, 71.25; and Barbara Robinson (GCS/NH) 70+, 61.12, the latter two running just one race each,
His perfect record also gave Blake the series title (500.00) ahead of Jim Johnson (CMS), 480.56, who beat bronze medalist Kevin Tilton (CMS) up Ascutney to eke out a .5 point circuit edge.
Age diversity in the circuit was evidenced by three age division winners in the overall top 10 scorers; Todd Callaghan (GCS), 40-49, 4th, 463.52; 19 and under Michael Robinson (GDTC), 8th, 403.10, and Paul Bazanchuk (WMM) 50-59, 10th, 392.51. Other age winners were Vincent Rivard (NMC), 60-69, 328.12, and Frank Hurt (WMM), 70+, 288.17.
There were record fields in four of the six races, and a record 105 runners earned "Mountain Goat" status for finishing all six events. Blake and Lucrezi took it a step further, as they were 11 for 11 in the races they entered. Final standings are temporarily at coolruning.com but will also be posted at the USATF-NE mountain/trail/ultra page.
Greater Boston Track Club placed fourth (165 points) at the USA Club National meet in San Francisco over the weekend. Central Park TC (NY) was an easy winner with 288 points, and ConnQuest of Connecticut was sixth with 110. GBTC was the only New England association club to send athletes to the meet.
The men in red placed seventh among men's squads with 49 points, as Central Park won that division. Norfolk Real Deal TC won the women's side by 2 points over CPTC with Greater Boston third.
GBTC had four individual winners in the meet - Hector Cotto (110 hurdles, 13.91; Jessica Klett (400H, 1:02.63); Casey Taylor (Long Jump, 18-7.25); and Ayanna Alexander (Triple Jump, 43-7).
Full results are at usatf.org. The meet returns the the east coast in 2011.
Waltham Track Club's Laurie Femmel (Natick MA) won the Young Women's division 400 meter hurdles at the USATF Youth Championship meet in Lisle IL over the weekend. The junior to be from Natick MA clocked 1:03.51 for the lap over the barriers, her second best time ever and winning by .9 seconds. She was only seventh fastest coming out of the trial round.
Teammate Amanda Pasko (Wellesley MA) was tenth in the Youth Girls Pentathlon; hitting a hurdle in the first of the five pent events kept her from a higher placing.
On the other end of the competitive spectrum at the Prefontaine Classic in Eugene OR - the second of two international "Diamond League" meets in the USA - a trio of New England natives ran among the fields of world's best athletes. A pair of men dropped their personal bests way down in the mile; Andrew Wheating (Norwich VT), in his last race in U.Oregon colors, was fifth in the first section of the mile in 3:51.74, and Russell Brown (Hanover NH) ran eighth in section two in 3:56.92. Overall, 20 runners broke 4:00 in the two sections combined. Shalane Flanagan (Marblehead MA) ran second in the 5000 in 14:49.08.
Eric Blake's only competition at Loon was a heavy-set local.
Photo: scottmasonphoto.com
Repeating a headline for the fourth time this season that only needed a location change, Eric Blake ()BAA) and Gina Lucrezi (INOV-8) were first at Sunday's Loon Mountain 5.5+ mile race, the fifth hill in the 2010 Mountain Circuit. Blake, who earned a spot on the US Mountain Running team for the world championships with his finish at Mt.Washington on June 19, punctuated his fourth circuit win in four starts with an eye-popping 2:29 margin over last week's winner at Cranmore, Kevin Tilton (CMS) with 2009 NE marathon champ Brandon Newbould (Whirlaway) another half minute back.
Lucrezi made it a gloveful, placing 18th among 208 finishers who took the challenge, as she'll be attempting a perfect season at Ascutney on July 11. The news was in a new runner-up, as Dawn Roberts (GSH) was 2:26 behind the champ. Karen Encarnacion (BAA) took bronze, and she and Todd Callaghan (GCST) matched their 40+ wins of the previous week, fourth and third overall, respectively. Richard Morris (Franconia, 1:01:54) and Lisa Doucett (CSU, 1:10:32) were fastest 50+, while Donovan Freeman (Andover NH) was first 60+ in 1:05:47, and Frank Hurt (WMM) best of the 70+ at 1:21:40.
With over 2,200' of hill climb over the course, few competitors were able to complete the Walking Boss hill section without modifying their pace to a walk; great pix, including an encounter Blake had with a "local" on the course at scottmasonphoto.com . Results at coolrunning.com. The 2010 circuit winds up at the top of Mt.Ascutney in Vermont next Sunday.
Many New England association athletes made the medal stand and set personal bests in the Region I Junior Olympics held at picturesque Bowdoin College in Brunswick ME last weekend.
Eight NE association competitors were double winners (one a triple winner):
- Midget Boys - Shayne Simpson, Prov.Cobras, 100/200; David Principe, TNT, 1500/3000; Dominic Cirillo, Wilbraham MA, Shot put/Discus/Javelin.
- Youth Girls - Margaret Barrie, Manchester NH, 100/200; Colleen Sands Princeton, MA 1500/3000; Katie HoSang, Granite State Flash, 400/High Jump;
- Youth Boys - Nicholas Schutz, Brookline NH, 100/Long Jump;
- Intermediate Boys - Justin Conor, Holden MA, 110H/400H;
- Young Women - Melissa Derrico, Newburyport MA, Shot Put/Discus
Additionally, it was a family affair in the multi-events where brothers Nathan, Paul, and Luke Halberstadt (Waltham TC) won the Bantam Triathlon, Midget Pentathlon, and Youth Pentathlon, respectively.
Full results for the Region I Meet can be found at the Maine USATF site.
Athletes who finished in the top 3 in their events (top 2 in multi-events) can sign up for nationals at CoachO.com from July 1-17.
Kevin Tilton and Gina Lucrezi took the wins at the Mt.Cranmore Hill Climb, USATF-NE Mountain Championship and fourth race in the 2010 Mountain Circuit, on Sunday. It was the first circuit win of the year for Tilton - Eric Blake won the first three events - who led Jim Johnson (CMS) and 2010 US Mountain Running Team member Tommy Manning (Colorado) to the finish after two up-and-down loops on the mountain. Lucrezi made it four for four, finishing the 11.4 km ahead of Abby Mahoney who took the bridesmaid's place for the fourth time this circuit, 25 seconds behind the winner. Todd Callaghan (GCST) and Karen Encarnacion (BAA) were masters winners. Race director Paul Kirsch delegated well enough to run and finish 30th of 181 finishers.
No time to rest; race 5 of 6 is this coming Sunday, July 4, at Loon Mountain.
Mary Harada (Liberty AC / West Newbury MA) established a new World Masters Record in the mile for Women 75-79 at last weekend's Hayward Masters Classic in Eugene OR, clocking 7:55.74 for the distance. That time beat her own pending mark of 8:11.55 set on her 75th birthday on June 17 at the Adrien Martinez Classic in Concord MA.
In the same meet in Oregon, previous W75 mile record holder Suzi MacLeod ran a new Amercian Record for the same age division in the 800m with a 3:35.22.
The results of the USATF New England, held at Fitchburg State College on Saturday, are available at the Results are posted at www.usatfne.org/track. An even 500 entrants filled the facility.
Those individuals and relays finishing in the top 6 are eligible to advance to the Region I meet this weekend at Bowdoin College in Brunswick Maine.
Entry for Region I is ONLINE ONLY. Entry is open on Tues-Wed-Thurs, June 22-23-24 at the COACHO registration site. Payment is by credit card, or may be brought to the meet. Signed waivers must be on file.
A detailed overview of the online entry process can be found here.
Info on the meet in general, schedule, and Brunswick area hotels is at brunswickevents.org.
First time Mt.Washington Road Race participants Chris Siemers of not so hilly Chicago, and Ethiopian Shewarge Amare, now based in New York City, were first to the top of New Hampshire's highest peak on Saturday at the 50th running of the Mt. Washington Road Race. The event also served as the USA Mountain Running Championship, and, along with serving as the single qualifier for the U.S. national team that will compete in the World Mountain Running Championship this fall in Slovenia, had a field deeper in quality than usual.
Siemers took the lead that would give him his win after the 7 mile mark, his time of 1:00:22 gapping past winner and NE Mountain Circuit leader Eric Blake of the B.A.A. by 18 seconds in the final surge. Amare used a pair of borrowed shoes to break the 12 year old women's course record by well over a minute with a time of 1:08:21, earning a bonus of $5000. Another first timer, Kristen Price (Raleigh NC) was "the best of the rest" and US Champion in 1:11:13. In fourth, Nicole Hunt (Deer Lodge, Montana) set a new mastes standard of 1:12:59. Top New Englanders in the women's race was Amber Ferreira (7th, 1:19:47) and Jennifer Campbell (9th, 1:21:06).
916 completed the "run to the clouds", coming from 39 states, and a handful of foreign countries. Results, stories on the anniversary festivities, and pictures at www.mountwashingtonroadrace.com.
Greater Boston TC repeated their team wins at the USATF NE Track and Field Championship at Regis College on Sunday. The red team outdistanced other clubs by significant amounts for both men and women. The new facility was well received, and will be the meet's regular home for the foreseeable future. Results are posted at www.usatfne.org/track.
A new meet for open, masters, and youth competitors has been added to the schedule on Saturday, June 26 at MIT. The entry form is available at mitpv.com; pre entry is strongly suggested.
Brown University's Craig Kinsley busted the form charts at the NCAA Division I championships in Eugene Oregon, setting a personal best to win the javelin. Kinsley reached 250'3" on his fifth throw, bettering 2nd place by 9 feet, and earning the university's first outdoor NCAA gold medal since 1952.
Andrew Wheating (Norwich VT / U.Oregon), though, lived up to his status as a favorite to win both the 800 (1:45.69) and 1500 (3:47.94) leading a Duck 1-2-3 sweep in the latter. Two other locals had an all-American placing; former MA state champ Arantxa King (Medford MA/Stanford) won silver in the long jump (21'6.75"), and Tim Morse (Hingham MA / Radford U) was 8th in the hammer at 212-7.
Missed in our earlier collegiate action reporting, Nia Howard of Roxbury Community College won her second consecutive National Junior College Division 3 championship in the long jump. She also won the 100 and placed second in the 200. An academic all-American, she recently accepted a full scholarship to Northeastern University for next year.
An important late change for those entering the June 19 New England Junior Olympic meet at Fitchburg State College. There is now an online entry process for the meet, using CoachO.com. The National Committee is "requiring" this, but we are trying to make this work for our local competitors.
Those who have already entered need not resubmit, but new entries should use this new procedure. Please go to usatfne.org/track for a link to a detailed procedure. This new process was only instituted 3 weeks ago, and may cause some confusion, but our materials should guide one through it step by step.
Entry does not require payment in advance this year - payment should be mailed, or brought to the meet. The waiver - signed by the parent if under 18- must also be brought to the meet.
A key item, that a single contact person is supposed to enter any and all entrants for athletes with a club affiliation; club contacts will receive a separate email message on this.
Any waiver requests for the Region I meet must be in the NE office by the close of the day Friday, June 18, and those must be on the paper form. Thanks for your patience with this new process.
Matt Ely (BAA) and Joseph Koech (RUN) won open and masters 5K titles on Sunday in Rhode Island
Photo: Steve Vaitones
Matt Ely (BAA) earned the USATF-NE 5K championship at the Rhody 5K at Twin River in Lincoln RI on Sunday. The event served only as the men's championship this year, with 418 crossing the mats, as the women will go head to head in Providence in October, the first time in almost 20 years where championships have been split.
Overall winner was past NE champ Pat Tarpy who recently moved to Yarmouth Maine. Leading from the gun, the Brown grad clocked 14:55 on the flat course. Conditions were warm and a bit humid as the race dodged the severe storms later that day. Ely and BAA mate Pat Moulton ran 15:14 and 15:22, respectively, and with a third BAA runner in the top 10, and that would generally lead to team honors. However, Team RUN, led by Justin Freeman, finished 4-5-6-7 and their depth won out by 47 seconds.
In 7th, Joseph Koech was first 40+, while Norm Larson (GMAA, 50+) and Gordon MacFarland (CSU, M60+) recorded their third wins of the year to increase their division leads, and Bill Riley (BAA, 70+) ran an amazing 20:47. Whirlaway RT (40+, 50+) and CSU (60+) brought home the big team checks.
The women's race was not as deep as a championship event but still showed quality with Stephanie Reilly (NBBoston) winning in 16:59 and 1/2 marathon champ Jennifer Campbell (BAA) second in 17:52; Central Mass Striders won the open team award.
The event was prepared for all weather conditions, and the traditional lavish refreshment spread was enjoyed by all. Results are posted, and team scores will be up at www.usatfne.org/gp/ on Tuesday
The series next stop is the Stowe 8 Miler in Stowe VT on July 18.
Pack Monadnock is the longest race in the USATF-GP Mountain Circuit at 10 miles, and is uphill-only, but those differences did not change the names at the top of the results as Eric Blake (BAA / New Britain CT) and Gina Lucrezi (INOV-8 / Medway MA) made it three in a row for the series on Sunday. The race, hosted by Gate City Striders, found 361 finsihers up to age 75, as it was also part of the NH Grand Prix series. The point-to-point race from Wilton-Lyndeborough High School to the top of Pack Monadnock, included sections of the final mile that are steeper than the Mt.Washington race
Lucrezi broke the four year old course record with her 1:13:25 for 21st place overall, and Abby Mahoney (Holyoke) completed the daily double with her third second place of the season. CSU teammates Suzy West (1-40+, 7th overall) and Lisa Doucett (50), along with the GCS duo of Aline Kenney (60) and Barbara Robinson (70) took the age division titles.
Blake was the only finisher under an hour (59:55), outlegging Kevin Tilton for the second week by 1:12. Keiron Tumbleton (HopkintonRC) matched his mark from Northfield as fourth overall / first master, with Matt Curran (Gloucester MA) (50+), Jim Imprescia (NMC, 60+) and Frank Hurt (WMM, 70+, 3 straight) taking the remaining divisions.
Full race results are at coolrunning.com.
The current standings are posted. After a two week break, circuit resumes at Mt.Cranmore in New Hampshire on Sunday, June 27, hosted by the White Mountain Milers - though many will be running "the big one" - Mount Washington - on June 19.
Springfield College senior Steve Headley was named NCAA Division III Runner of the Year by the US Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association. The product of Wilbraham, Mass., won his second consecutive national crown at 100 meters last weekend in 10.33, as well as adding a second-place national showing in the 200 meters and running second leg of Springfield's 4×100-meter relay that finished as the national runner-up. All told, Headley accounted for 20 of Springfield's 26 points at the national championships, helping the Pride to a fifth-place national team finish.
Earlier in the year, Hedaley won NEWMAC titles in the 100 meters and 200 meters, setting conference records in both. He also recorded top finishes in the Division III New England Championships in the 100 meters, 200 meters, and 4×100 meters, and won Eastern College Athletic Conference titles in the 100 meters and 200 meters, both in record times.
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