Mt. Kearsarge 05-06-2000

The sixth running of the Mount Kearsarge road race was held under sunny skies and temperatures in the upper 60’s. This was the first time in the races history that rain did not fall during the race. The excellent conditions were balanced off by the early hatching of black flies. None the less, the race drew its largest crowd to date.

The 8.5m race which climbs over 2000’ also served as the first run in the 3 race New England Mountain running circuit. Kearsarge has been the kick-off event in the circuit every year, and enjoys a dedicated following of runners. The race attracted 6 former US Mountain running team members (Casner, Dunham, Fram, Morse, Peterson, and West) along with many runners preparing for Mount Washington.

Eric Morse (last years circuit champion and two time New England Mountain champion) and Craig Fram (one of the top Master runners in the country) established an early lead over the field. Morse pulled ahead after the 3 mile mark and ran unchallenged to the finish. Morse’s time (a PR) was the second fastest time recorded at Kearsarge, only 20 seconds short of the record. Fram continued on alone in second to record the 7^th fastest time ever, and the Masters course record by more than 6 minutes. Fram’s point total of 97.8 (percentage of the winners time) was the highest ever for a master in the New England mountain circuit. The previous high score was held by Wayne Jacob (93.9) at Stratton mountain in 1999.

Dave Dunham finished the circuit champion in 1996 and 1998 took third, with the 9^th fastest time at Kearsarge. Morse and Dunham hold 7 of the top ten times. The remaining spots are held by former mountain team members (Fram, Dan Verrington, and Richard Bolt).

Additional excellent performances were turned in despite the warm conditions. GBTC’s Mark Reeder ran the third fastest masters time, 3 seconds shy of the previous course record. Jack Donahue ran the second fastest time for 50+ men, and Walt Kuklinski made his second appearance on the top 10 list with the 7^th fastest time. In the 60+ group John Pelton crushed the previous course record by over five minutes. Frank Salvatore also bettered the previous course record with the second fastest time.

On the women’s side Suzy West and Nikki Kimball both placed in the top ten list with a 5^th and 10^th fastest time respectively. Suzy’s 14 ^th place overall was the second highest for a women. In the 40+ group, Tracey Lombardi ran the 2^nd fastest time, missed the course record by 13 seconds. Gail Breslow had the 5^th and Pamela Hall had the 10^th fastest times. The 50+ ladies had Heidi McGaffigan and Jane Levesque pick up the 5^th and 6^th on the top ten list. Diana Avery took the win in the 60+ age group with the 4^th fastest time.

Other notes:
The field was 80% male and 20% female, the lowest percentage of women runners ever. The male open group had the most change from last year (+5%). Mike Casner continues to lead the circuit point totals (from 1996 to present) with 1,310.5 points in 14 races. Morse confuted to extend his lead in average points with 99.66 in 9 races. Roger Gosselin maintained his lead in appearances with 15 (out of 15).

The circuit continues at Wachusett mountain on May 27th and concludes at Pack Monadnock on June 11th approximately 50 runners are expected to complete the entire circuit.

ALL TIME TOP TIMES
Men 00-39		Time	Overall Place	Year
1	Dave Dunham	51:02	1	1999
2	Eric Morse	51:22	1	2000
3	Dave Dunham	51:23	1	1996
4	Eric Morse	51:26	2	1999
5	Eric Morse	52:23	1	1997
6	Dan Verrington	52:26	2	1996
7	Craig Fram	52:30	2	2000
8	Richard Bolt	52:42	3	1999
9	Dave Dunham	53:08	3	2000
10	Dave Dunham	53:09	1	1995
Men 40+
1	Craig Fram	52:30	2	2000
2	Len Hall	58:41	9	1999
3	Mark Reeder	58:44	8	2000
4	Charlie Gunn	59:10	9	1996
5	Len Hall	60:20	8	1997
6	Charlie Gunn	60:29	11	1998
7	Len Hall	60:40	12	1998
8	Brad Hurst	61:03	6	1995
9	Cliff Evans	62:02	11	1999
10	Gary Wallace	62:28	7	1995
Men 50+
1	Charles Kellogg	66:47	26	1998
2	Jack Donahue	68:06	24	2000
3	Cal Cameron	71:13	42	1998
4	Walter Kuklinski	71:22	27	1999
5	Lucien Trudeau	71:59	46	1998
6	Kenneth Morrissey	72:12	32	1997
7	Walter Kuklinski	72:15	39	2000
8	James Prentice	72:18	32	1996
9	Fred Ross	72:28	35	1999
10	Cal Cameron	72:44	34	1997
Men 60+
1	John Pelton	70:40	33	2000
2	Frank Salvatore	75:03	56	2000
3	Jack Kick	76:01	43	1999
4	Eldon Burkinshaw	76:23	45	1999
5	Don Ross	76:49	47	1996
Women 00-39		Time	Overall Place	Year
1	Margo Webber	64:50	13	1997
2	Amber Duncan	65:29	21	1998
3	Margo Webber	65:53	15	1996
4	Margo Webber	65:56	23	1998
5	Suzy West	65:58	14	2000
6	Kerry Arsenault	65:58	15	1997
7	Suzy West	66:29	17	1999
8	Susan Lachance	66:59	18	1999
9	Renee Riedel	68:28	20	1995
10	Nikki Kimball	68:28	26	2000
Women 40+
1	Lisa Doucett	74:14	39	1997
2	Tracy Lombardi	74 27	54	2000
3	Deborah Sheedy	74:33	62	1998
4	Lisa Doucett	75:07	45	1996
5	Deborah Sheedy	75:26	40	1999
6	Gail Breslow	75:37	60	2000
7	Lisa Doucett	75:49	69	1998
8	Deborah Sheedy	76:32	50	1997
9	Lisa Doucett	76:47	47	1999
10	Pamela Hall	77:00	70	2000
10	Nancy Correia	79:	66	1997
Women 50+
1	Mary Bart	79:46	65	1995
2	Jane Levesque	82:09	73	1997
3	Jane Levesque	83:07	70	1999
4	Linsey Molloy	85:03	82	1999
5	Heidi McGaffigan	85:21	109	2000
6	Jane Levesque	86:56	116	2000
7	Martha Rumley	89:45	89	1999
8	Gail Connolly	94:07	100	1995
9	Diane Avery	94:21	116	1997
10	Martha Rumley	94:30	136	1998
Women 60+
1	Barbara Robinson	83:45	73	1999
2	Barbara Robinson	83:48	109	1998
3	Diane Avery	100:19	147	1998
4	Diane Avery	103:04	149	2000
5	Jane Goodman	122:51	97	1996

Mt Kearsarge 05-06-2000

by Dave Dunham <mtnman@greennet.net>