NCAA DIVISION II INDOOR TF HONORS GO TO LOCALS
March 1

The U.S. Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association (USTFCCCA) announced their NCAA Division II indoor track & field region athletes and coaches of the year with three individuals from the New England association given East Region honors.
Men's Field Event performer for the season is Corey Thomas of Stonehill. A junior from Brookline, Mass., Thomas cleared 7-2 1/4 (2.19m) in the high jump to win the New England Championships and was runner-up at the Northeast-10 and BU Valentine meets. The defending national champ is the number 5 seed in 2012.

Women's Track Event honors go to Amy Varsell of Bentley. The junior won the 800 in both the Northeast-10 (a meet record) and New England Championships, and will compete in the NCAA D II Nationals with a season-best 2:12.16 seed.

Women's Coach of the Year for the region is Gary Gardner of UMass Lowell. In his tenth year at the helm, Gardner led the River Hawks to victory at the Northeast-10 Championships, and the UML 4×400-meter relay has a No. 5 seed nationally.

The NCAA Division II Indoor Track & Field Championships set for in Mankato, Minnesota; www.NCAA.com will provide live coverage of the meet.

NE YOUTH WIN REGIONAL TITLES
Toms River NJ, February 26

New England youth scored several wins at the USATF East Region Indoor Youth Championship held in Toms River, New Jersey on Sunday. A pair of competitors had three wins each; Jordan Samuels (Cambridge Jets) won the Intermediate Boys (15-16) division - 55 hurdles (meet record), 55 dash, and triple jump, and Greg Moschella (Westborough MA) scored gold in the Youth Boys (13-14) division - Triple Jump, 200, and 400. Also placing first were Olivia Thorsgaard (Cambridge Jets) in the Midget Girls (11-12) high jump (meet record) and Andrew Theall (Waltham TC) in the Youth Boys pole vault.

The top 6 finishers in each event qualified for the national youth Indoor Championship in Illinois in 3 weeks. Results are at usatfnj.org.

JOHNSON, DONOVAN TAKE 10 MILER
February 26

Kevin Johnson, two time 2011 New England road champion, and NE fall cross country champ Jenn Donovan moved up in distance to take the season's first road race championship titles at Sunday's Jones Group Realtors 10 Miler hosted by the Sugarloaf Mt. AC in Amherst MA. Temperatures in the mid 30's were tempered by wind gusts, as Bob Hodge's 25 year old course record withstood another year of challenge.

Johnson, sporting the colors of Greater Boston this year, forced the pace to thin the field to three toward the end of the race, and led Nate Jenkins (CMS) and Eric Ashe (BAA) around the finish loop to finish in 51:12. Donovan (New Balance Boston) scored her first GP road win, the 58:39 giving her a minute cushion over Lindsay Willard (BAA).

Masters winners for the men were Binney Mitchell (GMAA, M40), Robert Cipriano (Somerville RR, M50), and race founder Tom Derderian (GBTC, M60), and Christin Donseki (Whirlaway, W40), Ellie Tucker (Dirigo, W50), and Karen Durante (Whir, W60) taking women's honors.

The B.A.A. showed up ready for team action, and with 10 of the first 16 across the line were easy winners. The gold and blue also took the women's win, but just 5 minutes up on the surprising Somerville Road Runners, which recorded their highest ever finish. CMS were solid winners in the M40 competition, Whirlaway continued their masters' successes of the past, taking the women's 40+ and both 50+ crowns, and Greater Springfield were fastest among the 60+ men's squads.

Results will be verified and posted with a link to results at usatfne.org/gp. Note, new for this year - individual masters scoring is now by 5 year age divisions. The series will continue at the New Bedford 1/2 Marathon on March 18.

600 ENTRANTS AT USATF NEW ENGLAND INDOOR TF CHAMP'S
February 19, Boston MA

Six hundred entrants took to Gordon Track at Harvard University today for the USATF New England Indoor Track & Field Championships, featuring a full schedule of events. One meet record was set, Susan Scavone of Brown clocking 8.53 for the 60 meter hurdles. Greater Boston again swept the team titles.

Results are at usatfne.org/track.

MT.WASHINGTON ROAD RACE ENTRY LOTTERY OPENS
February 15

Registration begins opens today for the the entry lottery for the 2012 Mt. Washington Road Race. Runners can register for the lottery between February 15 and March 15; entrant drawing is done March 16. The race takes place on Saturday, June 16.

The 52nd "Race to the Clouds" will serve as the USA Mountain Running Championship and selection event for the USA men's team to compete in the World Mountain Running Championships in the fall.

All the specifics are at mountwashingtonroadrace.com.

HARVEY, LUTZ RACE IN IRELAND
Ireland, February 9 and 12, 2012

New Englanders and B.A.A. teammates Brian Harvey and Justin Lutz had a productive weekend of racing in Ireland. Based on their finish at the 2011 New England Cross Country Championship, the pair was invited to race at the Armagh Road Race and the Ras na hEireann International Cross Country race. This exchange, offered by Charlie Breagy, CVS/Downtown 5K race director and athlete coordinator of the Ras hosted by his home Dunleer AC, has gone on for over 10 years.

At the multi-loop 5K on the roads in Armagh, Harvey was a close fifth in 14:01 with Lutz in 24th at 14:44; it was the fastest edition ever of that race. Three days later in the Ras, held at the site of the Battle of the Boyne, Harvey took the silver medal over 6K (18:03) and Lutz placed 7th (18:33). Several other Americans also took the trip over to the Emerald Isle, including winner Landon Peacock (17:50), and team scoring had USA topping Ireland.

Results at armaghroadrace.com and rasnaheireann.com

WEEKEND INDOOR TRACK ROUNDUP
February 10-12, 2012

It was one of New England's coldest weekends this season, but action on the track was hot locally and regionally. The Boston University Valentine Invitational hosted both quantity (244 finishers in the men's mile) and quality; matching the Terrier meet 2 weeks earlier, 5 men ran better than 4:00 for the mile including winner Rich Peters of BU (3:57.83), Lowell HS alum Brian Gagnon (3:57.91), Northeastern's Eric Jenkins (3:59.18) and Julian Matthews of Providence; Gagnon and Jenkins went under 4 for the first time. Katie DiCamillo won the women's 5000 in 16:01.71. Across the river, the best college Division 3 long jump in the country was turned in at the MIT Co-Ed Invite, 25'6".

At the Millrose Games held at the New York City Armory, Mass Velocity TC fielded three masters 4 x 400 relay teams with two division wins; the M50+ ran 3:56.33 and the M60+ ran 4:15.87 for wins, with the 40+ foursome clocking 3:45.60 for third. In the Larry Byrne New Balance Boys' High School Mile, Mike Marsella of Chariho RI HS placed second in 4:14.68.

On the national scene, US indoor records were turned in over the weekend by Galen Rupp (2 mile, 8:09.72), Bernard Lagat (5000m, 13:07.18) and Jillian Camarena-Williams (shot put, 65'3.25").

The Winter National Cross Country Championships in St.Louis drew a smaller than usual field as Molly Huddle (Providence RI/Saucony) was just pipped at the finish to place second, while Phillips Andover Academy's Cayla Hatton opted to "run up" in the Senior Women's 8K race instead of the Junior race and placed a creditable thirteenth. In the masters event, Tim Van Orden (CMS, 12th), Eric Morse (Ctl VT Runners, 21st) and Dave Dunham (CMS, 22nd) ran solid races; former NE runner Rusty Snow, now in California, placed second master.

At the Reggie Lewis Center on Sunday, Needham TC hosted the Northeast Indoor Classic for youth, drawing their largest field ever which included teams from New York and Canada.

DEL PICCOLO OF WILLIAMS IS 2011 XC SCHOLAR ATHLETE OF YEAR
February 10, 2012

Chiara Del Piccolo of Williams College was named the Division III Women’s Scholar Athlete of the Year for the 2011 cross country season by the U.S. Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association (USTFCCCA). Del Piccolo was the NCAA Division III cross country champion for the 2011 fall season and has accumulated a cumulative GPA of 3.56 through the fall semester.

Del Piccolo also took the win at the NCAA New England Regional and NESCAC Championships in the fall. Scholar Athletes are determined from among those who earned All-Academic status and placed highest individually at the most recent NCAA Championships.

THORNTON IS JANUARY ATHLETE OF THE MONTH
February 5, 2012

Adrienne Thornton, a senior at O'Bryant High School in Roxbury, MA, is USA Track & Field - New England's Athlete of the Month for January 2012. On January 14 at the East Coast Championship meet in Providence, Adrienne broke the Massachusetts state record in the girls 20 pound weight throw with a toss of 51' 8 3/4", the leading indoor throw in the nation at that point in the season. It was the second time this indoor season she has broken the state record in the event. Thornton also is ranked top 5 in Massachusetts in the shot put and is a capable sprinter and hurdler.

A full list of USATF-NE Athletes of the Month are at usatfne.org

Providence Cobras won the youth relay at the New Balance GP meet.
(Photo: Vera V)

US POLE VAULT RECORD BY SUHR AT NEW BALANCE GP
February 4, 2012

In front of another sell-out crowd, Jenn Suhr set a new US record of 4.88m/ 16'0" in the pole vault at the New Balance Grand Prix meet Saturday evening at the Reggie Lewis Center. It was the third national record Surh has set in this meet over the years, and she recognized the Boston crowd for their support. The top ranked vaulter in the world for 2011 is now the #2 women's vaulter ever indoors.

A field that included numerous World and American recordholders and world competition medalists treated the house to 3 hours of exciting competitions. A facility record of 37.07 was set in the 300 meters by Olympian DeeDee Trotter, and the most exciting event may have been the men's mile where world 5000 meter champion Mo Farrah fell in the first lap but got up to clock a personal best 3:57.92 for fourth in the mile.

Local talent turned in some top performances on the blue-and-blue stage as well; Winner of the NE Open XC race last fall, Cayla Hatton (Phillips Andover) placed second in the girls Junior mile at 4:51.37 after leading for 7 of the 8 laps, and Joel Hubbard (Marshfield MA) took silver in the boys mile (4:14:35). The Boston - New York Relays went to New York clubs, top performances coming from Acton-Boxboro TC - 4:03.14 for third in the girls 4x400 - and Titans TC - 7:55.86 silver medal in the gun-to-wire battle in the boys' 4x800. Providence Cobras won the always exciting Youth Relay, and Kent Lemme (Gr.Springfield Harriers) was top New Englander in the Masters Mile at 4:29.89.

Full results are at newbalanceindoorgrandprix.com

EAST REGION / NE MASTERS RUN IN RI
January 29, 2012

The USATF East Region and New England Masters Indoor Championships returned to the Providence Career and Technical Academy track with increased numbers and produced several new pending National records age group by three New Yorkers. Nene Davis, 51, threw the 12 pound weight 17.29 meters, Pat Peterson, 85, clocked marks of 14.32 (60), 54.70 (200), and 2:28.76 (400), and Mary Louise Michaelson, 70, brought the division 3000 meter record to 13:15.88. In the team scoring, New England clubs MassVelocity and Twilight Throwers went 1-2.

Thanks to Providence Classical Coach Bob Palazzo (himself contributing points to the Twilight Throwers team total) and his team that supported the meet with helpers. The masters meet is the only non-high school event held at the PCTA track, and masters appreciated the quality facility.

Results

EAST REGION / NE MASTERS RUN IN RI
January 29, 2012

The USATF East Region and New England Masters Indoor Championships returned to the Providence Career and Technical Academy track with increased numbers and produced several new pending National records age group by three New Yorkers. Nene Davis, 51, threw the 12 pound weight 17.29 meters, Pat Peterson, 85, clocked marks of 14.32 (60), 54.70 (200), and 2:28.76 (400), and Mary Louise Michaelson, 70, brought the division 3000 meter record to 13:15.88. In the team scoring, New England clubs MassVelocity and Twilight Throwers went 1-2.

Thanks to Providence Classical Coach Bob Palazzo (himself contributing points to the Twilight Throwers team total) and his team that supported the meet with helpers. The masters meet is the only non-high school event held at the PCTA track, and masters appreciated the quality facility.

Results

BIG RI HS RECORD BY CHARIHO
January 29, 2012

Chariho HS crushed the Rhode Island state indoor 4 x 800 record at the Charles Sweeney Last Chance meet on Sunday. Their winning time of 7:54.3 was 10 seconds better than the previous mark set by South Kingstown in 2009, and ranks second national. More RI HS notes at ritca.com.

RITCHIE SUB-4:00, UM-LOWELL NE COLLEGE RECORD
January 28, 2012

The four minute mile is a long standing standard of excellence for middle distance runners, and another local runner was added to the list of local runners who have achieved the mark this past weekend. At Saturday's Boston University Terrier Classic, 2011 USATF-NE Runner of the Year Tim Ritchie (B.A.A.) clocked 3:58.49 for second place in the seeded section of the event, running sub-4 for the first time. Race winner David McCarthy of Providence, NE XC Champion in 2010, ran 3:55.75. Ritchie doubled back with a 8:05.48 personal best 3000 meter for an exceptional day at the races. BAA teammate Brian Harvey ran a PB 7:59.76 in fourth.

A pair of records marked the results. In the 4x400, U.Mass-Lowell ran a New England collegiate indoor all-time best time of 3:09.39. The masters quartet of Jayme Fishman, Doug Williams, Andrew Darien, and Chris Simpson from the Eliot Track Club relayed 10:55.10 in the distance medley, a US (and possibly a world) masters best. In the women's tallies, B.U.'s Katie Matthews ran the fastest collegiate 5000 of the season, 15:52.80.

Full results are at lancertiming.com

(In another fast mile at Penn State, Westerly RI HS product Andrew Springer ran a PB 4:01.17).

NE SCHOLASTICS INVITED TO "US OPEN" MILE
January 28, 2012

At the USATF sponsored "US Open" meet on Saturday night at New York's Madison Square Garden, two Bay State scholastic runners placed 2-3 in the competitive invitational high school mile on the classic 11 lap to the mile oval - quite a differnt experience from their familiar home Reggie Lewis Track. Wesley Gallagher (Pembroke) and Nick Christensen (Peabody) ran 4:20.01 and 4:20.23, respectively, behind the winning 4:19.86, with Chris Cogliano (Bp.Guertin NH) placed 8th. In the girls' race, Rhode Island sophomore Maddy Berkson (Classical/Providence) finished sixth in a time of 5:02.77. Results of the first annual meet, marking the 99th year of indoor track at Madison Square Garden, are at usatf.org.

GATORADE SCHOLASTIC XC RUNNERS OF 2011 ANNOUNCED
January 26, 2012

The National and state "Gatorade XC Runners of the Year" were announced on Thursday, with a boy and girl from each state recognized for their performances from last fall, with academic and character components factored in. The winners in the six New England States:
 

• ME: Abby Leonardi Kennebunk; Matt McClintock, Madison
  
• MA: Catarina Rocha, Peabody; Wesley Gallagher, Pembroke
  
• NH: Courtney Hawkins, Milford; Colton Hamm, Merrimack Valley
  
• VT: Elle Purrier, Richford; Malcolm Plunkett, So.Burlington
  
• RI: Molly Keating, LaSalle Academy; Mike Marsella, Chariho
  
• CT: Reid Watson, Glastonbury; Connor Rog, Fairfield Prep
  

National XC runners of the year for 2011 were Molly Seidel (WI) and Futsum Zeinasellassie (IN). Stories and profiles are found at espn.go.com

FLANAGAN WINS OLYMPIC MARATHON TRIALS
Houston TX, January 14, 2012

Marblehead MA native Shalane Flanagan took the first spot on the US Olympic women's track & field team in winning the US Olympic Marathon Trials in Houston. Living in Portland Oregon, the now three time Olympian finished in a career best and Trials record 2:25:38. The second and third spots went to runners who recently had the same placings at the Boston Marathon; silver medalist Desiree Davila (2nd, 2011 Boston) and bronze medal winner Kara Goucher (3rd, 2009 Boston). The top 5 women were under 2:30:00.

First New Englander across the line was Heidi Westover (Walpole NH) in 15th at 2:35:45, with Rebecca Donaghue (New Balance Boston) 17th in a debut 2:35:57 and Jeannette Faber (B.A.A.) 21st in a personal best 2:36:50. Others association runners in the results were Sheri Piers (Dirigo, 24th, 2:37:09), Meagan Nedlo (Marblehead MA, 49th, 2:41:06 PB), Kasie Enman (B.A.A., 53rd, 2:45:25), Heather Cappello (B.A.A., 54th, 2:43:07), Kristin Barry (Dirigo, 83rd, 2:45:43), Erica KJesseman (Scarborough ME, 88th, 2:46;11), Jodie Conway (Framingham MA, 104th, 2:48:02), and Jess Minty (New Balance Boston, 148th, 3:02:14); Brett Ely and Diana Bowser did not finish among the 183 runner field.

The men's marathon team will be composed of three veterans of the Olympic Games - Meb Keflighizi, Ryan Hall, and Abdi Abdirahmen, as for the first time at the Trials, the top 4 men finished under 2:10:00. Braintree MA native Sean Quigley, who qualified at a shorter distance race, clocked 2:14:12 for 16th in his debut at the full 26.2 miles, and and Zach Hine (S.Hadley MA) had a personal best 2:16:40 for 31st. Alex Crabill (Boston, 52nd, 2:20:17) and Lucas Meyer (BAA, 54th, 2:20:21) were the other New Englanders among the 83 finishers (111 starters).

Full results at usatf.org.

PILLA WINS USA 100K AGE GROUP GOLD
January 5, 2012

Jack Pilla, 53, of Charlotte Vermont started the year on a gold medal note, winning the M50-54 division and placing 17th overall at the USA 100 Km Trail Championship race held in Bandera Texas on January 7. Pilla's time was 10:46:32, making him the only New Englander to complete the event which had 215 starters and 153 finishers. Winner Timothy Olson of Oregon ran 8:28:40 for the 62.2+ miles.

Full results at tejastrails.com.

DEFENDING CHAMPIONS TO RETURN TO BOSTON MARATHON
January 5, 2012

The Boston Athletic Association announces that defending champions Geoffrey Mutai and Caroline Kilel will return to the Boston Marathon no April 16 to defend their titles.
Mutai's 2011 winning time of 2:03:02 was te fastest marathon ever run on a certified course. He followed that up with a course-record (2:05:06) win at the 2011 ING New York City Marathon in November. Kilel won the women's race in a three way sprint finish down Boylston street, her 2:22:36 giving just a 2 second margin.

The third largest marathon in the US, 2012 will mark the 27th year of financial sponsorship by John Hancock Financial. See bostonmarathon.org for more race news and information.

The Waltham TC at the 2011 National JO Cross Country Championship
(photo: Waltham TC)

WALTHAM TC GIRLS ARE DECEMBER ATHLETES OF THE MONTH
January 1, 2012

The Waltham Track Club Youth Girls cross country team is the USATF-New England Athlete of the Month for December 2011. The team won their division (age 13-14) at the USA Junior Olympic National Championships on December 10 in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina. The Youth Girls race was the largest of the 6 girls races at the national meet. Team members are Leah Brams, Rebecca Grusby, Lauren Ilsley, Sonya Jampel, Courtney Aylaian, Zoe Gompers, Charlotte Sykes, and Lindsey Mogan.

Find the complete list of monthly award winners at usatfne.org on the awards page.

MASTERS RELAY RECORD BESTS CLOSE OUT 2011
Boston University, December 31

Three US Masters Relay bests in the 11th annual Lou's 4 x 1600 Relay, run following the B.U.Mini-meet #3, closed out the 2011 competitive year at Boston University on December 31. Fourteen teams required two sections to be run, with records in each.

The Whirlaway Racing Team Men's 50+ foursome of Mike Cooney, Paul Doe, Paul Hammond, and Craig Fram carried the baton in 19:17.61, breaking the old record by a whopping minute and half (old mark 20:47.8). Fastest leg was Cooney's opening 4:44.45. Three of the four also have a stake in the existing M40 4 x 1600 record set 9 years ago.

In section 2, Liberty AC Women's 60+ foursome bettered their own mark set a year ago; Sue Gustafson, Regina Wright, Lenore Webber, and Jan Holmquist relayed in 28:57.57 (Holmquist fastest at 6:40.09), pulling down the year old standard by 35 seconds. While many records are set by runners just turning the new age group, Liberty's four runners ranged from 64 to 69.

A men's 70+ mark had not been recorded until race; the New England 65+ RC quartet of Jerry LeVasseur, Joe Cordero, Harry Carter, and Bill Borla ran 29:06.20 for a first time record (fast leg - 6:19.05 by ) The mark will be listed as a "national team" record, as all four do not have their USATF club membership with NE65.

The overall race was won by the new Club Janji, whose anchor, Mike Burnstein, turned in the day's fastest leg at 4:20.09. Full results with all split times will be posted Monday at usatfne.org/track.

DICAMILLO PICKED FOR INTERNATIONAL CROSS MEET
December 21

Based on her finish at the USA Fall Cross Country Championships, Katie DiCamillo (New Balance Boston / Providence RI) will be representing the USA at the Bupa Great Edinburgh Cross Country International Challenge in Scotland on January 7. The 2010 New England and Mayor's Cup Champion finished ninth at the Nationals to earn the USA uniform.

The full US team can be found in the press release at usatf.org.

AMERICAN WORLD MEDALISTS TO COMPETE AT 2012 NEW BALANCE INDOOR GRAND PRIX IN BOSTON
December 19, Boston

Reigning World 1500 Meter Champion Jenny Simpson will open her 2012 season, and 1500 meter bronze medalist Matthew Centrowitz will make his professional track debut on February 4 at the 2012 New Balance Indoor Grand Prix at Boston's Reggie Lewis Track and Center.

Simpson become the first American woman to win an outdoor world 1500 title since Mary Slaney’s victory at the inaugural IAAF World Championships in Helsinki 1983. "Track fans at Reggie Lewis have shown that they particularly appreciate the distance races so I am looking forward to hopefully giving them a glimpse of things to come this summer", said Simpson.

Centrowitz' World Championships medal was an impressive end to a standout season that included victories at the NCAA Championships and USA Outdoor Championships. He announced last month that he will forgo his last year of NCAA eligibility at the University of Oregon and will have his indoor track professional debut in Boston.

Since it began in 1996, the New Balance Indoor Grand Prix has showcased nine US and six world records, and has brought Olympians and World Champions to the intimate confines of the Reggie Lewis Track and Athletic Center. Ticket ordering and meet information for meet, the second stop in USA Track & Field's Visa Championship Series, can be found on-line at www.nbindoorgrandprix.com or by calling 1-877-TIX-TRAC.

If you need extra motivation to get prime seats for the traditionally sold-out meet, you can save 15% off the price of your tickets from now until December 24. Visit the New Balance Indoor Grand Prix ticket page or call 1-877-849-8722 and use the promo code "DEC2011" when purchasing your tickets to receive a special 15% holiday discount! This offer is only good until 11:59PM EST on December 24!

KEN MUELLER PASSES AWAY
December 16

Past New England champion runner Ken Mueller passed away on December 9 at age 75. He ran his first Boston Marathon in 1959 and completed the race 19 times with a best of 2:22.26. A long time resident of Bellingham and member of the Boston Athletic Association, Ken competed in road, cross country, and track events on the national, regional and local level, and earned championship gold medals at all levels. He taught physical education for many years in the Woonsocket RI school system.

Daniel O'Donoghue runs to an All-American 24th palce in the Midget Boys race
(photo: Emer)

WALTHAM TC, NASHUA PAL GATE CITY WIN NATIONAL JUNIOR OLYMPIC XC TITLES
December 10, Myrtle Beach SC

Waltham Track Club Youth (13-14) Girls and Nashua PAL Sub-Bantam (7-8) Boys ended their seasons as gold medalists, winning their divisions at the National Junior Olympic meet in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina on Saturday; well over 2000 competitors from around the country took part.

Led by Leah Brams (24th overall, 11th team scorer), Waltham totaled 131 to win by 12 points over San Diego RoadRunners, with Granite State Flash fourth (164) in the same race. The Youth Girls race was the largest girls race of the day, had the closest top 5 team scoring of all events, and the best New England team showing in the meet.

Nashua PAL Gate City were top in the first year of Sub-Bantam (age 7-8) national level competition, with top finisher Nicholas Dahl placing 24th.

Granite State Flash Bantam (9-10) Girls also made the awards podium placing third; their 91 points matched second place, but they were edged on the tiebreaker fifth place finisher.

Top individual placings were a pair of bronze medal runs. Caroline Fischer (Granite State Flash) ran to third in the Bantam (9-10) girls race, and Samuel Toolin of Sentinel Striders matched that in the Bantam Boys run, one place ahead of Noah Strout of Nashua PAL who also won an individual medal.

New England Club placings and the top individual in each race:

• Sub Bantam Girls: 9.Morgan Nault, Granite Sate Flash;
• Bantam Girls: 3.Caroline Fischer, Granite State Flash; 3.Granite State Flash 92, 11.Greater Lowell RoadRunners 255 (14 teams);
• Midget Girls: 33.Cecelia Orcutt, Team RUN; 6.Waltham TC 197; 8.Granite State Flash 232 (20 teams);
• Youth Girls: 8.Rylee Gillen, Team RUN; 1.Waltham TC 131, 4.Granite State Flash 164 (23 teams);
• Intermediate Girls: 16.Maeve Westover;
• Young Women: 16.Erica Notini, Nashua PAL; 4.Sentinel Striders 100.
• Sub Bantam Boys: 9.Peter Crapsey, Bradford Huskies; 1.Nashual PAL Gate City,45 (5 teams)
• Bantam Boys: 3.Samuel Toolin, Sentinel Striders; 5.Nashua PAL Gate City 157, 10.Sentinel Striders 219 (17 teams);
• Midget Boys: 24.Daniel O'Donoghue, Waltham TC; 10.Waltham TC 281; 13.Nashua PAL Gate City 339 (24 teams);
• Youth Boys: 20.Eli Moskowitz, Granite State Flash; 7.Granite State Flash 206, 9.Sentinel Striders 240; 13.Nashua PAL Gate City 331 (25 teams);
• Intermediate Boys: 44.Arthur Whitehead, Nitehawks; 9.Granite State Flash 195 (13 teams);
• Young Men: 7.Ben Bunnell, Green Mountain AA;

Results of all 12 races are at usatf.org/events/2011.

BAA, NEW BALANCE BOSTON FIFTH AT US CROSS NATIONALS
Greater Springfield, Five Individuals win masters medals
December 10, Seattle WA

The Boston Athletic Association men and New Balance Boston women took fifth in their respective races at the USA Cross Country Nationals held in Seattle Washington on Saturday. An event record 1,226 athletes in two open and two masters championship competitions which featured America's top post-collegiate club teams from across the United States vying for top honors as the nation's top cross country team. The championships offered a total prize purse of $30,000.

Led by New England champ Tim Ritchie in 13th, and Brian Harvey in 21st, the B.A.A. men scored 179 points for fifth place and $1000 at the "club nationals". Repeating as team champions were McMillan Elite of Arizona with 72 points. Other local teams in the 358 runner field were New Balance Boston (23rd, 650), Greater Boston TC (27th, 753), and Greater Boston B (27th, 750) (45 teams). Men's race individual winner John Gray of Team USA Minnesota ran 29:38.

In the women's race, Katie DiCamillo (New Balance Boston / Providence RI) was first local home for the second straight year, improving her placing to 9th in a field of 265. With New England champion and clubmate Jenn Donovan in 22nd, New Balance Boston placed fifth with 169 points. The B.A.A. women, with Diana Bowser and Kasie Enman in 29-30, placed sixth and Greater Boston TC was 12th and all well in the top half of the 32 team field. Overall winners were adidas/Team Rogue Elite (74 points), and Brie Felnagle (WA, 19:54).

Among the 356 men's masters competitors, Sandu Rebenciuc (Greater Springfield Harriers) was second overall and New England masters champ Pete Hammer (B.A.A.) ran to sixth overall, both earning silver medals in the M40 and M45 divisions, respectively. Greater Springfield placed second M40 with 72 points behind Atlanta Track Club (22). Also representing the area in the 21 team M40 totals were Dirigo RC (6th, 201 pts) and Greater Boston TC (11th, 314 pts).

In the M55-59 individual scoring, Norm Larson (Green Mountain AA) and John Barbour (Gr.Lowell RR) won gold-bronze for the 55-59 division, and led their clubs to 9th and 10th, respectively, for M50+ clubs (17 teams).

In the masters' women's 6K race, Top New Englanders among the 152 finsihers was Trish Bourne (W45, GLRR) in 43rd, 24:51. Only one club fielded a scoring squad, The W50+ Greater Lowell RR led by Liane Pancoast placing 7th.

Complete results of all divisions at usatf.org

SIX NE SCHOLASTICS IN FOOTLOCKER FINAL
December 10, San Diego CA

Seven scholastic runners from the New England states enjoyed the pleasant San Diego weather and met national elite counterparts at the 33rd Foot Locer Cross Country Championships in San Diego on Saturday. Maine runners were top regional runners in both races.

Two girls represented the six state region; Abbey Leonardi of Kennebunkport ME placed 4th in 17:36 in her third national appearance, and Catarina Rocha (Peabody MA), in her second Footlocker final, was 7th in 17:38. Winner Molly Seidel (Hartland WI) clocked 17:22.

In the boys race, five first time finalists from New England were led by Matthew McClintock (Madison, ME) in 15th at 15:32. Behind him were Connor Rog (Fairfield CT, 18th, 15:35), Jonathan Green (St.Johns/Shrewsbury MA, 22nd, 15:46), Christopher Allen (King Phillip/Norfolk MA, 24th, 15:47), and Joel Hubbard (Marshfield MA, 35th, 16:10), all racing well in the elite field of 40 runners. Boys winner Edward Chererek (St.Benedicts, Newark NJ) completed an undefeated season, running 14:51.5 for a 1 second win.

Results and stories at footlockercc.com

NEW ENGLAND HONORS AT USATF MEETINGS
December 1-4, St.Louis

Several New England competitors and administrators were recognized by sports committees at the USATF Annual Meetings held in St.Louis last week. Among athletes, the Mountain/Ultra/Trail Running Council named Kasie Enman (Huntington VT/BAA) as their Mountain Runner of the year, and the duo of Tim Van Orden (Bennington VT/CMS) and Jackie Shakar (Sutton MA/CSU) as the masters men's and women's Mountain and Trail ROY's.

Masters Track & Field selected Flo Meiler (Shelburne VT/Mass Velocity) as their female co-athelte of the year. Teammate Barbara Jordan (Burlington VT) was an athlete honoree for the age 75+ division.

Race Walking Committee gave its "Mike Riban Award" for long term service to NE chairman Justin Kuo (NEWalkers/Brookline MA). The late marathon legend Clarence Demar was formally inducted into the US Track & Field Hall of Fame with five other individuals.

Full information on the USATF Annual Meeting and awards can be found at usatf.org.

NEW ENGLAND OFFICIALS SELECTED TO WORK OLYMPIC TRIALS
December 1-4, St.Louis

Eight New England states officials were selected to officiate the 2012 USA Olympic Trials Track & Field meet in June. The selections were done at the USATF Annual Meeting. Those heading to the Trials in Eugene, Oregon, are: Joe Bullock (Swansea MA, shot put), Nicole Bullock (Swansea MA, hammer), Bob Gidari (Deering NH, discus), Justin Kuo (Brookline MA, Electronic Distance Measurement), Rick Lajoie (Holyoke MA, long/triple jump), Pat Lavelle (Holyoke MA, hammer) Tom Meagher (Duxbury MA, starter), and Lance Turley (Laconia NH, hammer)

Several other officials received assignments at major USA Championships; Dave Grant (Keene NH, Junior Nationals, shot put), Sarah Grant (Keene NH, Junior Nationals, discus/javelin), Jim Wilcox (Fall River MA, Indoor Nationals, Clerk).

NE SCHOOLS REPRESENT AT NIKE CROSS NATIONALS
December 3, Portland OR

Three New England school clubs and several at-large individuals lined up against the country's top ranked teams at the Nike Cross Nationals (NXN) at Portland (OR) Meadows Race Track on Saturday. The group qualified a week earlier with a top 2 finish at the Northeast Region meet in Wappinger Falls NY.

Pembroke MA placed 18th in the boys race, with teams from Champlain Valley Union VT (21st) and Hamilton-Wenham MA (22nd) in the girls run. Top individual finishers from New England were the NE HS champions in November; Mike Marsella (Chariho, RI) in 19th (the first RI individual qualifier for the meet) and Elle Purrier (Richford, VT) in 32nd and New England HS champ. Full results at runnerspace.com.

2012 GRAND PRIX SCHEDULE FINALIZED
December 1

Voting is closed for the 2012 USATF-NE Road Race Grand Prix, and Slate "B" received an absolute majority of the 400+ votes cast online. The line-up for the coming year will be:

February 26 - Jones 10 Mile, Amherst MA
March 18 - New Bedford Half Marathon
May 19 - Bedford Rotary 12K, Bedford NH
June 10 - Newton 10K, Newton MA
July 28 - Carver Cranberry 5 Mile, Carver MA
September 23 - Legacy 5K, Dedham MA
October 28 - Cape Cod Marathon, Falmouth MA

Details on races will be posted next week.

Greater Boston TC - Club of the Year
(Photo: Roger Perham)

FIRST NEW ENGLAND AWARDS NIGHT A SUCCESS
November 19, Stoneham MA

The first USATF-New England Association Awards Banquet was held on Saturday in Stoneham MA with 130 members in attendance. The evening included a buffet dinner, program, and awards emceed by Andy Schachat, "the Voice of New England Running", and was co-ordinated by association President Steve Viegas, Vice President Jim Garcia, and Greater Boston TC coach and co-director Tom Derderian.

The evening included awards from all of athletic disciplines, including Road, Track & Field, Cross Country, Mountain/Ultra/Trail and Race Walking, and Track & Field. The Athlete of the Year awards went to Brett Ely and Tim Ritchie, both members of the BAA, with Greater Boston TC earning the Club of the Year honor.

All division winners in the various event Series received an embroidered blue vest with a "2011 Series Winner" designation. Special awards went to President’s Award recipients, and winners of the Road Running Grand Prix, Cross Country and Mountain Circuit, and were presented by association officers.

Nationally recognized sports nutritionist and GBTC member Nancy Clark, gave a presentation on sports nutrition and videos on the arduous Mount Washington Road Race were shown.

Suggestions for next year are welcome as planning and promoting the event will begin earlier for 2012.

KUO MEASURES UP INTERNATIONALLY
November 23

USATF New England Board member Justin Kuo (NEWalkers / Brookline MA) was named as an IAAF/AIMS Grade "A" road race course measurer, one of only 75 in the world. A measurer and the final review person for all courses measured for certification in Massachusetts, Vermont and Maine, Kuo is also chair of the USATF Records Committee; congratulations and thanks go out for his dedicated work locally. For information on road race course measurement and certification, check usatf.org.

First place Gwenyth Winship with 4th place Waltham Leah Brams
(Photo: Granite State Flash / Justin Platt)

NEW ENGLAND YOUTH LEAD REGION I JUNIOR OLYMPICS
November 20, Queensbury NY

The strength and numbers of the New England association youth cross country were evident at the USATF Region I Junior Olympic Cross Country Championships held in Queensbury NY on Sunday. At the end of the perfect day for running, New England clubs composed 21 of the 29 teams qualifying for the National championship in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina, on December 10.

The local contingent won the team title in 9 of 12 divisions and came home with half of the individual gold medals. Granite State Flash topped four divisions (Bantam/Midget/Youth Girls and Youth Boys), Sentinel Striders had two wins (Young Women, Youth Boys) and Nashua PAL Gate City (Sub Bantam Boys), Waltham TC (Midget Boys), and Green Mountain AA (Young Men) each had one victory. Individual Winners in New York were Samuel Toolin (SS, Bantam), Caroline Fisher (GSF, Bantam), Jessica Ewing (GSF, Midget), Gwenyth Winship (GSF, Youth), Dage Minors (GMAA, Intermediate), and Ben Bunnell (GMAA, Young Men).

Full results are posted at CoachO.com.

NATIONAL COLLEGIATE XC - D'AGOSTINO THIRD IN DI; DEL PICCOLO WINS D3
November 19-21

The three NCAA collegiate divisions held their cross country championships this weekend, with New England runners and teams visible on results.
At Monday's Division I National at Indiana State, Abbey D'Agostino (Dartmouth) placed third, just 1.7 seconds away from the top step. Winning team Georgetown had three New Englanders in their seven; Emily Jones (Harvard MA), Kirsten Kasper (N.Andover MA) and Katrina Coogan (Exeter NH). Lone NE rep Boston College finished a creditable 12th (Jillian King, 38th) In the men's tally, a pair of local products and an NE collegian earned all-American honors; Ryan Collins (Mansfield MA/Wisconsin) was 23rd and Mark Amirault (Westwood MA/Virginia) was 27th, followed by Dan Lowry (Brown) in 28th; Providence, the only NE team, placed 22nd (David McCarthy, 41).

Divsion II and III were held on Saturday. On a snow-covered course in Spokane Washington, Glarius Rop (AIC) led the New England qualifiers in 17th, with U.Mass Lowell and Stonehill placing 20 and 21, respectively. Top women's finishers were Jeptui Cherutich (AIC, 43rd) and Tara Dooley (Bentley, 49), and Stonehill and Bentley checked in at 19th and 22nd.

On the DIII women's scoreboard in Winneconne Wisconsin, Chiara Del Piccolo of Williams brought home the gold with a 5 second margin over the 6K circuit; the Middlebury duo of Margo Cramer and Addie Tousley were 5-6, and Amherst's Keri Lambert was 8th. New England teams were also visible at the front with Middlebury second, Williams third, and MIT fifth, with Amherst (11) and Tufts (20) also in the mix.
In the men's competition, Brookline MA alum Mike Burnstein placed 10th overall leading his Washington U team to a bronze medal, with Coby Horowitz (Bowdoin, 13) and Matt Rand (Tufts, 19) top local scorers. Team placings by NE schools were all in the top half of the field - Williams (6), Bates (7), Tufts (9), Middlebury (13) and Bowdoin (15).

Full results at www.ncaa.org

Jacob Meier and Ethan Randall head to the finish in the Midget Boys 3K
(Vera Vaitones photo)

JUNIOR OLYMPIC CROSS COUNTRY
GREAT DAY ON THE FARM
November 13, Amherst NH

Freestyle Farm in Amherst NH, a working equestrian farm, was the site of the New England Junior Olympic Cross Country Championships on Sunday on a perfect day for running. Ably hosted by Amherst Track Club and site director George Bower, the meet had 597 finishers in the six divisions, the largest ever NE JO XC meet. Results are posted at usatfne.org/cross.

Clubs winning one or more divisions included Green Mt. AA, Granite State Flash, Nashua PAL Gate City, Sentinel Striders, and Waltham Track Club, with seven total clubs having teams qualify for the next round; the top 3 or 4 clubs (depending on size of race), as well as individuals finishing in the top 25 in each division advance to the Region I meet on Sunday, November 20, in Queensbury NY. The information brochure for Region I is at usatfadir.org.

Entry for the meet is online only on Monday night through Thursday, Nov.17, at 5 p.m. at CoachO.com.

The National meet is on Saturday, December 10, in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina. Top 3 teams and individuals in the top 20 at Region I advance. Find the nationals brochure at usatf.org

CAPPELLO IS USATF-NE ATHLETE OF THE MONTH FOR OCTOBER
November 6

Heather Cappello of Arlington, Mass. and the Boston Athletic Association has been named USA Track& Field-New England Athlete of the Month for October 2011. At the 11th Annual B.A.A. Half Marathon run on October 9, Heather was third overall women's finisher with a time of 1:13:44 - the fastest by a New Englander this year. The time earned her a spot in the 2012 U.S. Olympic Marathon Trials to be held in Houston in January, 2012.

Find the complete list of monthly award winners at usatfne.org on the awards page.

RITCHIE, DONOVAN TAKE CROSS COUNTRY TITLES
November 6, Franklin Park

Tim Ritchie and Jenn Donovan added additional New England cross country titles to their resumes at Franklin Park on Sunday. Sunny and seasonally cool temperatures in the 40's and 50's with a damp course made for an ideal cross country day (though numbers were down from 2010 in each race).

The overall winner of the women's race was prep Cayla Hatton, a student at Phillips Academy not running for the school. A Conneticut native, Hatton was sixth at the Mayor's Cup (3 places behind Donovan), and defeated a number of national caliber harriers on Sunday; not running a scholastic season, she's below the radar coming into the big HS national meets. Donovan (New Balance Boston, 20:58) improved her time from last year to add a third NE title to those won in 2008 and 2009.

Women's team scores found both the B.A.A. and New Balance Boston with 37 points, but the tiebreaker of best 5th runner - by one place - gives the gold to the B.A.A.

A year ago, Ritchie (B.A.A.) was NE champ but second overall. This year, he repeated with the overall win in 30:25, a few seconds off his previous run. The winner also led the B.A.A. to a comfortable win at 20-44 over New Balance Boston.

The B.A.A. also had the masters men's victor over 8K in Pete Hammer, just a tick ahead of GMAA's Binney Mitchell as the top 5 were within 5 seconds. Dirigo RC's depth gave them a 36-64 margin over GMAA. Breaking out the age groups, Dirigo also the 50+ with GMAA taking 60+ divisions, as Pete Bottomley (Dirigo) and Tom Derderian (GBTC) were individual division winners.

Women's masters ran with the open 6k runners, and Jess Cover (GMAA) brings the gold home to Vermont, and led the team to the 40+ win. Cambridge Sports Union won the 50+, and Liberty AC was the only club to field a scoring trio for 60+ and 70+ divisions; top individuals at 50/6070+ were Jacqueline Shaker (CSU), Nancy Clark (GBTC) and Carrie Parsi (Liberty).

Full individual and team scores are found at usatfne.org/cross/

IMPORTANT JUNIOR OLYMPIC CROSS COUNTRY NEWS
November 4

This Sunday's November 6 Amherst NH Preliminary Junior Olympic Meet / course preview meet is cancelled; potential for damage to both course and parking areas is too great just a week before the NE JO meet, as well as because this is a working farm.

Course tours have been added on Saturday November 12, the afternoon before the NE meet - 2 to 4 p.m. only - and there are course walks on race morning. Please check amhersttrack.org for maps and details.

Note: Those are the only times to preview the course. Any unauthorized running at Freestyle Farm may result in not being able to run in the JO meet!

On-line entry at CoachO.com ends on Wednesday November 9 at 11:59 pm

NOVEMBER 6 CROSS COUNTRY MEETS - IMPORTANT NEWS
November 3

The on-line entry for the November 6 USATF New England Open/Masters Championship will now close on Thursday, Nov 3, at 6 p.m. Link at www.usatfne.org/cross/.

The November 6 Amherst NH Preliminary Junior Olympic Meet / course preview meet looks like it may be cancelled due to snow on the course and parking areas. Please check amhersttrack.org before going to the meet. A decision will be made by early Friday afternoon.