The USATF-NE Masters Meet is set to run at Springfield
College this Sunday, July 27. Entry information is at the
track page.
Please note that the hammer and discus will NOT be held at
the meet, due to ongoing construction at the college's
throwing fields. We regret the inconvenience, but it's
impractical to hold them anywhere else in conjunction wtih
the meet.
Led by three individual wins, the
Greater Boston Track Club placed fourth at the USATF Club
Track & Field Championships held in the Kansas City
suburb of Olathe, KS, last weekend.
The three time champion was fourth in the women's tally
and sixth among men's clubs to combine for fourth overall.
Club winners in the competitive meet - where all participants
had to be a member of a local club - included Samyr Laine
(Triple Jump), Hector Cotto (110 Hurdles) and Tessa Clare
(High Jump). There were also four club records
established.
Men's team winner was the host Kansas City Smoke, while
frequent visitor to our area Nike Central Park TC won the
women's division. No other local clubs made the trip west.
RESULTS
Two locals won silver medals at the North American /
Central American/Caribbean (NACAC) Under-23 Championships
held in Toluca Mexico. 2008 Harvard grad Becky Christensen
scored a second in the high jump (5'11 1/2") and John Freeman
(East Greenwich RI / U.Georgia) was second in the hammer at
209'7". Because of the meet's early entry requirements, the
US squad was selected in early June based on college
performance lists. The altitude of Toluca is 8500', so those
other participants in longer running and walking events had
some problems achieving top performances!
Master duo Eric Morse and Dorcas Wonsavage
were the first to the top of Vermont's Mt. Ascutney as 131
runners answered the starter on Saturday. Morse, a six time
circuit winner, took the race in his home state in a masters
record (and 8th best time overall) 29:47 for a minute-plus
margin over Kevn Tilton and and Dave Dunham. Martin Tighe led
a 50+ contingent that clocked four of the eight fastest times
ever in that age group, with Karl Furstenburg (NH, M60) and
Frank Hurt (WMM, M70) also scoring wins.
Wonsavage, 2nd at the had half the men's gap over Laurie
Greenberg (VT), with Abby Woods (CMS) the same time back in
third. Lisa Doucet (CSU) set a new age group record in
winning the W50, while Barbara Robinson - W70- was first (and
only) over 60.
By popular (?) demand, next year's race will be lengthened
and extend all the way to the summit.
Ascutney has become the traditional end to the LaSportiva
USATF-NE Mountain Circuit, which lasts just six weeks and
provides an economical running challenge covering 27 miles
with over 11,000 feet of climb (and a grueling 5000' of
downhill as well). When the calculations were complete in
scoring the best five of six performance - as most division
the high point totals over the high peaks were recorded by
Justin Fyffe (GCST, 486.72 points) and Kathy Cook (). Fyffe
had one win and four additional top 5 finishes to secure the
$250 series prize over Todd Callaghan (GCST) and series
founder Dave Dunham (CMS), who was also top master. Despite
winning five of the the six individual races, Martin Tighe
(TNT/Providence) had a close battle to take the M50 grouping.
Alex Silverman (HHS) edged Vin Rivard among 60+ runners with
the closest win in the circuit, 2.5 points, and Frank Hurt
(WMM) led the M70 group.
Women's winner Cook, a first time circuit participant, was
aided by her 4th place finish at Ascutney to lead long-time
mountaineer Donna Smyth (CSU/VT) - also a master - by 20
points, with 2005 champ Kathy Hurst third. Lisa Doucet copped
her third straight 50+ win to match her total in the 40's,
Elizabeth Gonnerman (HHS) was best of the 60's off of one
race, and Barbara Robinson (GCST) repeated the 70+ crown,
giving her six total wins after age 60.
2008's "Mountain Goat" population - those running all six
circuit races - swelled to 59, all earning a guaranteed entry
into the 2008 Mt.Washington race.
The complete circuit results including Mountain Goat list
and all-time circuit leaders, are at this Coolrunning page.
New England youth competitors scored well at the USATF Region I Junior Olympic meet held at New York City's world class Icahn Stadium.
Five athletes recorded two wins in the competitive meet which drew competitors from six regions covering New England states and New York: Emma Fitzgerald (Waltham TC / Midget Girls / Shot Javelin), Carla Forbes (WTC / Youth Girls / Long and Triple Jump); Paul Halberstadt (WTC / Bantam Boys / Javelin and Triathlon); Sam Belcher (Sugarloaf Mt AC / Intermediate Boys / 1500 and 3000); Justin Siekierski (Worlds Longest Throw / Young Men / Javelin and Discus). Additionally, Y-Speed TC of Springfield won three relays.
The top three finishers in each event are eligible to advance to the national Junior Olympic meet in Omaha Nebraska at the end of the month. The full Region I results are at the Metropolitan association webpage
Kasie Enman (Huntington VT/BAA) led the US to a win at the North Americian / Central American / Caribbean (NACAC) Mountain Running Championship race held in Tepatitlan Mexico last weekend. Both she and BAA teammate Carly Graytock (Somerville MA) were picked based on their exceptional races up Mt. Washington, the 2008 USA Mountain Championship, in June. Graytock placed fourth overall in the 9 kilometer uphill run that started at 6000 feet altitude and climbed 2000 feet. Their placings will help merit consideration for September's World Mountain Cup competition in Switzerland.
Mexico was second team and Canada third. The USA men ran to silver behind Mexico.
Read the full race story at the mountain page.
Greater Boston TC women repeated as team champs and their
men placed second at the USATF East Region track and field
championships meet hosted by the Adirondack association on
July 5.
The women were led by Dacia Taylor, who won the 100 (12.41)
and 200 (25.04). On the field, Tessa Clare (high jump),
Deirdre Murphy (shot put) and Stacy Connor (javelin) also
scored gold, and the GBTC distance medley was also tops.
Men's individual winners were Matt Haringa in the 5000 and
the distance medley, as depth tallied the points behind
ConnQuest's winning margin.
The only other New England winner was Stephanie Reilly
(Whitinsvile MA/R.UN) who took the women's steeplechase in a
quick 10:21.04.
Check out the Full Results. GBTC and several other club
athletes are getting ready to close out the season at the
USATF Club Nationals in Kansas in two weeks.
As a sidebar to the East Regionals, Everad Samuels
of Boston set a new world masters M50-54 record in the 200
meters at the meet. The affable shift supervisor at the
Reggie Lewis Center, now representing the Greater Boston TC,
placed 8th overall in 22.53 for the best ever by a runner age
50-plus and breaking a 5 year old mark. He had twice brought
down the US mark earlier this season. Congrats to "Sam"!
A pair of GBTC athletes also picked up medals at the
Central American/Caribbean Championships in Cali Columbia.
Hector Cotto earned bronze in the 110 hurdles for his
native Puerto Rico, clocking a club record 13.55 (albeit
slightly wind aided) and Kateema Rettie brought home
the same color in the javelin (180'1") representing
Jamaica.
Heading out to the World Junior Championships are a
handful of locals with New England states ties. Ryan
Collins (Mansfield MA), a redshirt freshman at
U.Virginia, will be represening the USA in the 5000 meters.
Maine's Becky O'Brien, new New England HS shot put record
holder, will contest the same event in Bydgoszcz, and 2008 HS
grad Donn Cabral of Glastonbury CT will contest the 10,000.
Interesting stories and coverage of the meet at the IAAF
website, iaaf.org
Joanne Dow wins the Olympic Trials 20K Race
Walk.
Photo: Victah Sailor
|
Joanne Dow (Manchester NH) walked a stellar race
and is Beijing-bound after winning the 20 kilometer racewalk
at the USA Olympic Track & Field Trials on Sunday.
It was Dow's fourth Trial meet, her first being in 1996
where an injury left her a disappointing 10th. In 2000, she
placed in the toast position, fourth; the 2004 race found her
second, but only with a "B" standard. The 44 year old, a
graduate of Manchester's Trinity HS and the University of New
Hampshire came back from a significant injury in 2007 and
excuted a perfect race plan. The mother of two teenagers and
multiple time US record holder extended her lead through the
final half of the race to earn the title of "Olympian".
Also making his first Olympic team is Jake Freeman,
graduate of Rhode Island's Bishop Hendricken HS. He placed
third in the hammer at 241'5". And Marblehead MA native
Shalane Flanagan copped a berth in her second event,
taking third in the 5000 (15:02.81) to go along with her
earlier win in the 10,000.
Most populous event with locals was the women's 10K, where
Ari Lambi (Harvard MA, 6th, 15:29.99, Rebecca Donohue (8th,
15:35.48 PR), and Molly Huddle (10th, 15:42.19) backed the
quality results.
Several other New Englanders and natives fared well in the
meet's second half event finals:
M 10,000: 9.Sean Quigley (Braintree MA/Puma) 28:21.96;
M Javelin: 7.Sean Furey (Methuen MA/Dartmouth alum),
241'2"
W Hammer: 5.Krystal Yush (UVM Alum) 215'6"; 7.Kelly Godsey
(Somerville MA) 215'1"
M 20K Walk: 9.Patrick Collier (Athletics East) 1:35:00
W 1500: 5.Amy Mortimer (Providence) 4:14.98;
M 1500: 7.Said Ahmed (Boston MA) 3:42.40.
The Masters Invitational 3000M had a distinct NE flair with
four locals inthe field led by Dan Franek (Dirigo RC) in 6th
(9:01.72) followed by Kent Lemme, Francis Burdett (both GSH)
and Jason Cakouros (HFC) in 9-10-11.
Other locals competed in premliminary rounds, and many
non-New Englanders passed through the numerous quality events
held in our association on their road to Eugene. Full results
and stories can be found at usatf.org.
Mt. Washington road race champ Eric Blake (B.A.A.)
set a new course record leading the charge up Loon Mountain
on Sunday in the second largest field in race history.
Unlike the torrid rainy send off a week ago at Cranmore,
it was holiday weather from the gun and clear skies helped
the temperatures push upwards of 80 degrees by race end. And,
except for the first 200 meters, the footing was gravel,
loose dirt, and grass in the nearly 3000' of total climb;
even the winner was reduced to a walk up the aptly named
Upper Walking Boss slope in the fifth mile. Blake had 1:39
over run-up runner-up Eric Morse, also the first master.
Martin Tighe in 13th continued his undefeated season in the
M50 division. Women's winner Jennifer Johnson
(Bethlehem NH) was exactly one minute ahead of second placer
/ top master Nancy Cook (Belchertown MA), with mountain
stalwart Lisa Doucett leading the age 50+ group in 10th
overall.
Thanks to Paul Kirsch and the White Mountain Milers for
directorship of the past two races. Check out info on the
World Mountain
Running Team, and NE circuit standings at our circuit standings after five of six
events. The 2008 circuit concludes at Mt.Ascutney VT on July
12.
Coming from the back of the pack in the last 200m,
Andrew Wheating (Norwich VT / U.Oregon) passed
everyone but winner Nick Symmonds and finished second in the
800 meters to make the US Olympic team in a personal best
1:45.03. The 20 year-old soph out of Kimball Union Academy
with just over two years of serious running (including the Jr
Olympic Cross Country national title in 2005) continues to
surprise in this breakthrough season.
Someone with a little more experience, Marblehead native
Shalane Flanagan (now settled in North Carolina) followed up
her spring US record with a win in the 10,000 meters 31:34.81
to make her second Olympic team. Molly Huddle (Providence RI)
in ninth, 33:17.71, and Amy Rudolph (Providence RI) 13th in
33:33.34 also contested the final.
Dartmouth alum Adam Nelson made his fourth Olympic team in
the shot put, placing third in the Trials (68 6 1/2")
Other New England competitors making the finals in their
events in the Trials first week include:
Triple Jump: 9.Sherita Williams (Gr.Boston TC/Providence)
43'7 1/4"
Heptathlon: 11.Kasey Hill (Boston College/Montgomery Ctr
VT) 5687 (Personal best, school record).
Decathlon: 9.Mustafa Abdur-Rahim (Brookline MA/Dartmouth
Alum) 7757; 15.Matt Chisam (Brighton MA) 7429.
5000: 13.Jonathan Riley (Brookline MA alum) 13:57.58.
10,000: 9.Molly Huddle (Providence) 33:17.73; 13.Amy
Rudolph (Providence) 33:33.34.
The meet resumes on Thursday. Follow the action with
results, quotes, and statistics at usatf.org. Television coverage schedules and
other web info are also posted there.
Nearly 400 youth competed in a full schedule of events at
Saturday's USATF-NE Junior Olympic championship at Fitchburg
State College. The top 6 advance to the July 11-13 Regional
meet in New York.
Full Results
are now posted. There will be a list of those who advanced to
Region I posted later in the week.
Eric Blake (BAA/New Britain CT) led the 48th charge
up Mt.Washington on Saturday, leaving 853 runners in his
wake. The race served as the 2008 USATF National Mountain
Running Championship race, with the top 4 men and top woman
earning a spot on the US team for September's World Mountain
Running Trophy race.
Blake's time of 1:00:39 gave him just an 11 second winning
margin. Blake led the Boston Athletic Association to the team
title in 5:29:10 (5 runners score), the sixth fastest sum in
race history. It broke a 16 year team run by CMS.
Brandy Erholtz of Colorado was a strong but surprise
winner (37 overall) in 1:11:08, chased up by Kasie
Enman (BAA/Huntington VT) who improved her place by 2
over last year (1:13:26). Backed by teammates Carly Graytock
(4), and Brett Ely (23), the BAA women matched the men's
success in winning the team title; their total of 3:57:47 was
the second swiftest women's total ever.
Three time open winner Simon Gutierrez (CO) placed fifth
and broke the masters record (1:01:34), and women's 40+
winner (3rd woman) Laura Haefli (CO) also set a new standard
in 1:13:34. Both won bonuses sponsored by New England Runner
magazine.
Results, stories, and race history are found at www.gsrs.com.
It was a busy weekend for athletes 19 and under as,
besides the New England Junior Olympic meet, top area runners
had their choice of the National Scholastic Outdoor meet and
the US Junior Nationals for competitions.
Two New England association athletes returned from the
National Scholastic Outdoor meet in North Carolina as
champions; Craig Bariasz (Milford NH) took the high
jump as he cleared 7'1", the third time over the 7' barrier
in four weeks, and Mike Gama (Wakefield RI) added the
hammer - 204'1" - to his indoor weight throw gold.
Neighboring athletes from Maine deserve mention, as Becky
O'Brien set a new NE record of 52'1 3/4" in winning the shot
(and she also placed 2nd in the discus) and NE HS record
holder David Slovenski topped 16'4 1/2".
Taking silver were Emily Jones (Harvard MA) in the
two mile at 10:22.40, Victoria Flowers (Providence) in
the hammer - 167'10" - and Newton Center Athletics in the 4 x
1 mile at 20:37.51. Jones returned to anchor her Bromfield
team to third in the 4 x mile, with Rhode Islanders Thomas
Davis (E.Greenwich) and Meaghan McGovern
(N.Kingston RI) both bronze in the respective hammers.
Big news out of the meet was a new national HS record in
the 2 mile, the 8:34.40 by Californian German Hernandez
breaking a 29 year old standard.
At Junior Nationals, conditions were windy and affected
some performances. The aforementioned Barbiasz was 4th in the
high jump (6'11") while O'Brien was 2nd in the shot with the
exact same distance - and will be on the team for the World
Junior Championships later this summer. Also making the team
was Danbury CT's Donn Cabral in the 10,000 (2nd,
30:50.28).
Other top finishers included Mike Lauro (World's Longest
Throw/RI) 6th, hammer, 202-5; Crystal Bourque (URI), 7th,
hammer, 170-5; Leigh Petranoff (WLT/Cranston RI), javelin, 9,
137'8:; Theodore Vrountis, Northeastern, 10K, 9, 32:08.81,
Dan Withrow (BU), discus, 10, 166'6. MA state mile champ Omar
Aden (Charlestown) was 6th among qualifiers for the 1500
final (3:54.21, among top 10 HS times for the year) and
placed 13th in the final (4:01.86)
Plenty of stories, pictures, and results are found at the
resource for high school TF, dyestat.com. Junior Nationals results are
posted at usatf.org.
Shauneen Garrahan (Amherst MA) set a new meet record
in the steeplechase (10:13.33) and bettered the Olympic
Trials "B" standard.
Photo: Tom Derderian
|
Rebecca Donohue and Shauneen
Garrahan met the US Olympic Trial qualifying standards at
the USATF-NE Track and Field Championship meet on Sunday at
Bentley College. Rains before noon became overcast skies and
temperature were in the mid-60's, not prime for the sprint
crowd but ideal for the longer distances.
Garrahan, former All-American at Amherst College, ran a
solo race over the barriers and water, clocking 10:13.33 - a
new meet record. The effort found her collapse to the track
after crossing the finish line. She was able to return later
in the evening to pace the opening few laps for Donoghue (new
balance Boston), who nearly lapped the entire field in
attaining the Trials time. Both met the B" standard, meaning
they'll have to wait til declarations to see if they are in
the final entry field of 32.
Top mark on the field was by former Northeastern record
holder Zara Northover who also etched her name onto the meet
record list with her win at 53'2 1/4" in the shot put; she's
in line for a berth on the Jamaican Olympic team.
Everad Samuels bettered the existing Men 50-54 US record in
the 200 meters with a 22.77 clocking. A number of other races
produced spirited competition.
Full results are at the
Track page, as is the updated summer
schedule - still plenty of meets left to participate in.
Marathon legend Dick Beardsley will speak at the Whirlaway Running Center in Methuen MA on Wedenesday evening, June 18.
The runner-up in the 1982 Boston Marathon's epic battle, Beardsley had other major successes until a work injury led to a variety of other problems that he has battled through.
There is no admission charge for the presentation. Whirlaway is located at 500 Merrimack Street in Methuen, just off of I-93 and Rt. 213. Call 978-688-8356 for more info and directions.
Heading into this weekend's NCAA Division I National
Championships, the US Track & Field and Cross Country
Coaches Association have announced their top athletes and
coaches for the outdoor season in nine Division I regions
across the country, and the list includes two New England
based coaches and three athletes.
Robyne Johnson of Boston University is Women's Head
Coach of the year for the Northeast Region. Johnson's
Terriers won the America East Conference women's title for
the first time since 1993 and qualified three women for the
NCAA Championships. She just completed her third year as
director of track and field and cross country at BU.
The Southeast Region Women's Head Coach honoree is Ron
Grigg of Jacksonville U. The Sharon MA native, and former
hurdler for U.Mass-Dartmouth and assistant coach at Wheaton,
is in his sixth season as Jacksonville's head coach, as the
Dolphins won their third straight Atlantic Sun Conference
women's championship and finished eighth at the NCAA East
Region meet.
Athlete honorees are all track runners - Sean
Quigley, Andrew Wheating, and Danette
Doetzel.
The Mid-Atlantic Athlete of the Year, LaSalle University's
Quigley is the leading qualifier for this weekend's 10,000
with his 28:03.72, and he ranks second in the 5000 at
13:30.25 (though he'll only run the later at NC's). Quigley
is a senior out of Archbishop Williams HS and Braintree
MA.
West Region Track honoree Wheating, a sophomore from
Norwich VT, had an undefeated season for U.Oregon in the 800
meters. Victories included the NCAA West Regional and
Pacific-10 Championships (a 1:46.83 personal best). Earlier
in the season, he clocked the fastest collegiate 1500 meters
for 2008 (3:38.60) and became the first Vermont native to
break four minutes in the mile.
Doetzel, women's Track AOY in the Northeast, is a senior
at Providence College via Canada. She won the 10,000 at the
Big East Championships in 33:27.64, an NCAA automatic
qualifyier and also qualified in the 5000 meters with a 5th
at the NCAA East Regional.
Despite the sweltering conditions, the Rhode Island state
high school championships produced five new all-state records
on Saturday.
In the boys results, Andrew Springer (Westerly) broke a 23
year old standard in the 1500 with his 3:55.05 winning time,
while Jacob Mathews (Middletown) became the first Ocean
Stater to clear 15'0" in the pole vault.
The girls' summaries saw Micky Jusme (Providence
Classical) break her own triple jump mark with a 39'8 1/4"
three step. On the track, two winning fully automatic times
were recorded that are intrinsically better than the
hand-times listed as state bests. Didi Jusme (Classical)
cruised the 300 hurdles in 44.69 (44.6 listed record) and
Alexa Monti (E.Greenwich) sped 12.12 in the 100 (12.0
record).
Mark Miller and Amy Nedeau led the second
largest field in the history of the Northfield mountain up
and over the mountain in the USATF-NE Trail Championship on
Saturday morning. A low fog kept the sun from breaking
through and kept temperatures in the 60's to low 70's but the
air thick for most of the race. The footing was dry, the
field fast, and many personal bests and several age group and
course records were broken.
Miller (Mizuno / Keene NH), no stranger to steep hills
with his history at the nearby Bridge of Flowers race, posted
the second fastest time run ever run (35:47) on the 6.5 mile
(10.3 km) loop course first run in 2006. Miller and 2008 Road
Race Grand Prix leader Ryan Carrara (New Balance
Boston) had a back and forth race with Carrara leading
through the summit water stop (3.8 miles) after climbing over
900' and Miller pulling away during the 2.7 mile descent.
Justin Fyffe rounded out the top three taking 3:31 off of his
time from last year; he currently tops the USATF-NE La
Sportiva mountain circuit scoring.
Nedeau (BAA/Belchertown MA), a proficient track and cross
country runner who won Mt.Wachusett two weeks earlier, ran
the early miles just outside of the top 15 overall and
powered to a course record of 41:12 which took over three
minutes off of Kelli Lusk's record from 2007. Nedeau ran
unopposed, finishing close to 3 minutes ahead of Chrisy
Carrara (New Balance Boston-44:08), and another minute ahead
of teammate Lara Johnson (45:13), the latter clocking the
third and fourth fastest times ever, respectively.
Other impressive performances include Tim Van Orden
(CMS-38:26) setting a 40+ CR by 57 seconds (8th overall), and
race director Dave Dunham (39:22) also slipped under the old
record. Martin Tighe (Tuesday Nite Turtles) made it
three for three on the circuit and knocked 41 seconds off of
the old record (16th overall, 40:52) in the 50+ with an
excellent 42:12 while on the ends, Max Thomas (WMM) set a new
record for Junior men (under age 20) with his time of 45:00
and Vincent Rivard (NMC) broke the 60+ course record by
nearly a minute in 50:33, that division having a strong 17
finishers.
On the ladies side, 14 year old Felicia Lombardi
(GCS Triad) broke the existing junior record by 1:26 with her
53:12, and dependable Lisa Doucett (CSU) made her
third win of the year a record by over half a minute in
52:34. Winners in the 40+ and 60+ divisions were Nancy
Cook and Laura Clark
The race, under the direction of Dave Dunham from
the first year, could not be held without the efforts of the
volunteer crew he assembled including wife Cathy, and mom and
dad Art and Regina Dunham, not to mention the clean-up crew
who re-ran the 6.5 miles to pick up nearly 400 marking
flags. The series has a two week break (Mt.Washington
running on June 21) and will resume on June 28 at Mt.
Cranmore. Follow the series at the Mountain/Trail page.
Milford NH senior Dwight Barbiasz upped the state
scholastic record in the high jump for the second week in a
row, scaling 7'1" at the New Hampshire Meet of Champions at
U.N.H. on Saturday. The height is the highest cleared by a
New England high schooler in over 10 years.
Barbiasz will be competing at the USA Junior Championships
the weekend of June 19-22 in Columbus OH, vying for a spot on
the US Junior Team. But first, can he raise the bar again at
this Saturday's New England HS meet at Thornton Academy in
Saco Maine (10 a.m. start)? Check results after the meet.
Senior Dwight Barbiasz of Milford High School
established a New Hampshire state high school record in the
high jump at the Class I meet held at Merrimack Valley HS in
Pennacook on Saturday by leaping 7'0". The senior broke the
15 year old mark of 6'10" set by Dan Plurde of Newfound in
1993.
Four of six NE states can now boast a state record of over
7'. The New England outdoor best was achieved by Greg
Gonsalves (Falmouth MA) in 1980, soaring 7'2 1/2" (and having
cleared 7'3" indoors in 1981). Other state seven-foot
records: RI, 7'1", Dave Arundel, (S.Kingstown), 1997; CT,
7'1/4", Omar Braswell (Hartford) and Shammett Hamer
(Hillhouse), both 1994.
Two additional all-state records were established by girls
at the NH Class L meet in Concord on Friday; Bree
Robinson of Pinkerton erased one of the Granite State's
oldest marks by spanning 19'4 1/2" in the long jump (former
mark: Tina Guerin, Concord, 18'11 1/2", 1977) and Lindsey
Patterson of Timberlane skied 11'7" in the pole vault to
better a 2 year old standard (Rita Ciambra, Hanover, 11'4
3/4", 2006).
All will be competing at the NH Meet of Champions at UNH
on Saturday. The other New England states also hold their
state-wide champioship meet this weekend, with the New
England HS championships scheduled for Thornton Academy in
Saco Maine on June 14.
Race three in the 2008 USATF New England Grand Prix
returned to the redesigned and renamed Twin River
entertainment facility (formerly Lincoln Park) after a year
away, but a warm sunny day on a shadeless and almost
perfectly flat course made for competitive races in all
categories. And over seven hundred runners crossed the finish
on the dog track before digging into one of the deepest
refreshment lines in New England.
New England native Pat Moulton, in the area for a break
before heading back to Michigan- based Hansons-Brooks
Distance project, broke away after two miles to win in 14:.
New Yorker Paul Mwangi out of New York held off challenges
for second place overall and first master, relegating the New
England Champion title to the BAA's Terry Shea. Backed by
Wilson Perez and Matt Carter, the Boston Athletic Association
scored a solid open team victory, their third of the
season.
Women's New England champion Kristen Coon (New Balance
Boston), most recently successful on the track and cross
country trails, moved strongly through the race to record her
first NE road title in 17:23, second overall behind Claudia
Camargo of Connecticut. A dense team gave the BAA matching
team wins, the women a minute plus up on Merrimack
Valley.
In the age groups, Kent Lemme took a second
straight win (14th overall) and led his Gr.Springfield
Harriers to their first M40 team title in years. Mimi
Fallon (BAA) was back in the women's 40+ winners' circle
(13th), with places 2-7 finishing in a row at 23rd on;
Whirlaway repeated team honors. With Norm Larson (GMAA) not
present, the 50+ win went to 2007 champ Dave Oliver
(GLRR), with teammate Bill Dixon at age 61 the second
finisher over 50. Dixon mastered Larry Olsen by a half minute
and the TVFR Legend was 5th over 50. BAA Bill Riley
was the class of the M70 class.
Marge Bellisle (CMS) and Patty Foltz (GLRR) had
one and two minute margins, respectively, to win the W50 and
W60 groups, CMS taking the 50+ team.
Whirlaway swept the 40+ team titles, Greater Lowell
men and CMS women took the 50+ group, and GCS
Triad was the best over-60 trio.
The series has 8 weeks til it makes a return to scenic
Newburyport for the 48th annaul 10 Mile. Info is at www.yankeerace.com.
The number of runners competing in the La Sportiva USATF
NE mountain series continues to grow as a record 277
finishers completed the Pack Monadnock 10 mile run from
Wilton, NH to the summit of Pack Monadnock on Sunday. This
broke the record of 227 from 2007.
First to the top of Pack Monadnock was Glen
Guillemette (Narragansett RI), winning in 1:05:52. Glen
was also top master, his time the 3rd fastest time ever for a
40+ runner trailing only Craig Fram's two efforts. The
winning margin was 44 seconds over Justin Fyffe of Gate City
Triad. Martin Tighe took his second straight series win in
the 50+ division, breaking mountain-ace Keith Woodward's 50+
course record by 31 seconds to place 8th overall in
1:10:43.
Tara Cardi took the victory on the women's side
with a 1:15:35 which ranks seventh fastest all-time, and with
it the overall women's series lead. Master Simonetta
Piergentili (Whirlaway) chased her up, taking second place
overall in the second fastest time ever for 40+ women
(1:18:27). Lisa Doucett (CSU) topped 50+ finishers for the
second straight week in 1:33:35.
Thanks to GCS Triad for hosting the challenging road run.
The series continues on Saturday at the up-and-down
Northfield (MA) Mountain Race. See the mountain-trail page for
information and series results.
After a month's search, the open outdoor championship on June 15 has found a site at Bentley College in Waltham MA. The facility is the site of the Boston High Performance Meets.
Because of limitations, there are several event that cannot be held there, but this is the only site we were able to access on short notice. There will be no hammer, javelin, high jump, or pole vault; separate competitions in those events may be held elsewhere after (hammer on June 21 at the JO meet).
The meet info and entry will be available at www.usatfne.org/track this weekend.
Matt Pelletier (Running Heritage/Warwick RI) won
his third straight KeyBank Vermont City Marathon on Sunday.
Pelletier, who set a personal best at the distance at the US
Olympic Trials race in New York City last November, ran
2:20:43 to win by 2 1/2 minutes. Michael Wardian of Virginia
won the "king of agony" award, as he finished second for the
fourth consecutive year.
A 'three-peat' was not in the cards for Heidi
Westerling (BAA/Acworth NH); just five weeks after the US
Women's Olympic Trials Marathon in Boston, the three time New
England champ placed third behind women's winner Caroline
Chemwolo of Kenya (2:47:38).
This was the 20th annual running of the event. Stories can
be found at the Burlington Free Press site.
Ryan Carrara (new balance Boston) and Amy
Nedeau (BAA) took honors at the first event of the 2008
LaSportiva USATF-NE Mountain Running Series, the Mt.Wachusett
Run.
Records were frequent on the women's side. Nedeau's time
of 29:13, a half minute up on BAA teammate Carly Graytock was
a new record by 11 seconds - and good for 20th overall.
Mountain circuit stalwart Lisa Doucett (CSU) set a new
F50-59 record by 51 seconds with her 36:48, and Barbara
Robinson became the first women 70+ to ever finish the race
(47:38). W40 winner Barbara McManus is now #5 on the all time
masters list (31:42), and W60 champ Betsy Gonnerman ran the
second best division time (41:29).
Carrara, the USATF-NE 1/2 Marathon Champion, had the same
winning margin as the women's leader did, taking the measure
of mountain vet Kevin Tilton in 25:21. Masters course record
holder Craig Fram was M40 winner, just off 16 seconds
off the record in 26:41, leading an assault on the masters
all-time list, the results producing the 3-4-8th best times
up the hill. Martin Tighe (29:02) was just 11 seconds off the
M50 record with his age group win, while Sumner Brown (M60,
33:19) and Frank Hurt (M70, 44:10) are now among the races's
top 5.
Eric Smith now has the longest finisher streak at 19
consecutive series event finishes, followed by Ray Boutotte
(16) and a quartet at 13. Of the record 338 finishers, 122
finishers were USATF members eligible for series
scoring.
Currently Standings and story will be posted shortly at the
Mountain/Trail
page.
The thirteenth annual USATF-NE Mountain Running Circuit
takes off with the Mt.Wachusett Run-Up on Saturday. The 4.3
mile run -up begins at 9:30 a.m. at the ski lodge in
Westminster MA.
It's the first of the six races, a mixture of all-uphill
and up -and-down courses. The 2007 Circuit saw a big increase
in participation, with some races seeing a 100% increase in
participants from the 2006 races. This is due in no small
part to the fact that now runners who finish all 6 races and
are USATF members receive a lottery bypass to the next year's
Mount Washington Road Race. They also receive the coveted
"Mountain Goat" t-shirt.
Hammer Nutrition has signed on
as a product sponsor. Hammer will be supplying over $3500
worth of Hammer Gel and HEED Sports drink to the 6 races in
the Mountain Circuit.
"One of the great things about the LaSportiva USATF-NE
Mountain Circuit is that it not only exposes runners to a
wide variety of mountain races, it also does it at a bargain
price," said Paul Kirsch, USATF-NE Mountain Ultra Trail
Chair. "You can run all six races for less than $100. That's
a great bargain. We can only keep costs down at races through
the generosity of our sponsors, like LaSportiva and Hammer
Nutrition."
Besides Hammer's support, LaSportiva provides over $3000
in cash, prizes and advertising support for the circuit.
Links to all six 2008 series races, news, and pictures can
be found at www.usatfne.org/trail.
Almost missed in results a week ago was the new pending
USA Men's 50+ record by Everad Samuels (Boston MA) set at the
New Balance Qualifying Challenge in New York City. The
double-M45 winner at age 49 in this year's USA Indoor Masters
Championships back in March, "Sam" cruised the half-lap in
22.66 into a 0.9 headwind. The Reggie Lewis Center shift
supervisor broke the old M50 mark by .06 set in 2002 by
masters legend Bill Collins of Texas.
The meet results and schedule for the rest of the summer
at the stadium at www.icahnstadium.org.
Ben Ndaya and Stephanie Reilly paced the
pack at Sunday's Medical Center 6K in Nashua NH, the second
stop on the 2008 Grand Prix. There were records for both
numbers and times as the results found over 600 finishers in
the first time championship event. The previous course record
was eclipsed by the first 27 men, and the first 7 women broke
the distaff standard.
Ndaya, the 2007 USATF-NE series runner-up now competing
for Retailers Union (RUN), edged teammate Casey Moulton by
three seconds in 18:20. Third finisher Ben Schmeckpeper (BAA)
was just one more tick down, and led the BAA to their
second straight GP win of the year.
Reilly, also representing RUN, clocked a 20:41 for a
half-minute bulge on New Bedford winner Heidi Westerling
(BAA), who was just three weeks off the Olympic Trials - as
were the next two across the line, Brett Ely (BAA) and
Caroline Bjune (MVS). The latter paced the Merrimack
Valley squad to a close win over the BAA and Greater
Boston, all three within 1:10.
Master wins went to Kent Lemme (GSH) - 10th overall
- and Chrissy Anderson (WRT), her first division win.
Norm Larson (GMAA) again dominated the 50+ division as
did Bill Dixon (GLRR) in the 60's and Harry
Carter (GCST) in the M70 class, while Carol Hurley
(CMS) and Patty Foltz (GLRR) headed the W50 and W60
groups.
Whirlaway swept the 40+ team titles, Greater Lowell
men and CMS women took the 50+ group, and Cambridge
Sports Union topped the six-decaders.
The next event is another short distance event, the Rhody
5K at Twin Rivers in Lincoln RI. Check the details at
www.rhody5k.com.
The USATF New England Open Outdoor Championship meet
scheduled for June 15 is looking for a new site; MIT will be
putting in a new artificial turf infield starting June 1 and
no meets will be held this summer after that date. That will
also affect the Bay State Games Final.
Check our track schedule for updates on new locations.
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