Mt Wachusett 05-23-04
by Dave Dunham <dave.dunham@verizon.net>
The USATF NE Mountain circuit opened its 9th season with over 200 runners taking part in the Wachusett mountain race. Wachusett has been in the circuit since the beginning (1996) and has been run for the last 12 years, it was run sporadically prior to that. It looked bleak for this year until a new Race director stepped forward and took over the race in the last couple of months. The race moved from its traditional date of Memorial Day weekend, which also kept it from conflicting from race number two in the circuit, Mt Kearsarge.
The men's field featured last year's winner Paul Low, and five-time winner Eric Morse. Low finished 4th at the USATF NE 12K championships the previous day, and went out with in the lead pack on the aptly named "One mile hill road". A pack quickly formed with Low, Morse, Josh Ferenc from Keene State and Kevin Tilton (CMS) both running in their first Wachusett. The second group of Ben Nephew (who had also run the 12k), Sean Livingston (the Mt Washington Junior record holder), and the Moose Milers Zach Emerson slowly fell back. I watched them pull away and tried to hold onto a position in the top ten.
At the entrance to the State park (1.2 miles) Low had pulled ahead slightly and Morse passed Ferenc. Tilton began to fade from the lead group, and the second pack began to break up. On the climb I could see 3rd through 8th place strung out in front of me. I was hanging out alone about 10 seconds behind Greg Ward of the Moose Milers. By two miles (just after the "down" road) I could see Livingston moving up into 4th and Tilton hanging on to 5th. My split at 2 was 12:33, which I thought would get me into the finish around 26:30. The third mile has some good climb and a long fast drop. Low and Morse maintained about 10 second gap between them. Livingston was making up ground on Ferenc, and Nephew smoked the downhill closing on Tilton. I hit 3 at 18:30 and had Ward and Emerson in sight with each about 15 seconds ahead.
The last 1.3 miles was a return to all up, and a return to some fog and clouds. Low kept up his steady pace to hold off Morse by 11 seconds. When asked by Morse how hard he ran Low said "pretty hard....in places". The finish line placement is about as far as you can go up the mountain without falling off the face. Unfortunately you can see the clock ticking away for about the last minute of running. Livingston, a low 4 miler, passed Ferenc in the last .3 miles but was re-passed in the parking lot for third and fourth place. Tilton and Nephew held positions with only 2 seconds separating them. Tilton noted "I could hear Ben gaining, he was making a lot of noise". I couldn't gain any ground on either Emerson or Ward as they lead the Moose Milers to a second place finish behind CMS (by 8 points to 25 with the top 3 places scoring).
I was among the many surprised by how much slower the times were this year. Ward was the only one in the top who improved over last year(by 1:21). He said during our warmdown on the trails around the back of the mountain that "I hoped to run faster than last year, I've been training a lot more". I took top in the 40+ competition with the 7th fastest time for a master. My time also put me as the 5th fastest individual in the 40+. I'm in pretty good company behind Craig Fram, Geary Daniels, Bob Hodge and Joe Stanley. Mark Pitts rounded out the top 10 overall with his 2nd place finish in the 40+.
The 50+ competition had Rob Higley run the 5th fastest time. Taking the victory over Len Hall by a little over a minute. Higley is now the 3rd fastest individual and Hall moves up to 5th on the list. Peter Orni won the 60+ competition by 1:14 over CMS teammate Joseph Drugan. Orni still remains on the 50+ individuals list with his time from 1993 (6th fastest).
On the ladies side, the competition looked fierce. Nikki Kimball showed up a bit late to the race after hitting a deer on the drive over! She would be challenged by course record holder (and 5 time Olympic trials qualifier) Julie Peterson. Kelli Lusk would be making her first attempt at Wachusett the day after dueling to a second place finish in the New England 12K championships. Mountain ace Suzy West was also on hand after dominating the circuit last year and recently winning the Big Sur marathon.
Peterson tucked in behind Kimball with Lusk following for most of the race. Kimball held on to win with the 10th fastest time and moved up to 5th fastest individual with her 8 second win over Peterson. Peterson's time was the 2nd fastest for a master, behind only her record of 29:38. Lusk took third 25 seconds back, which makes her the 7th fastest individual. Deidre Bird took the 50+ competition in 31 seconds shy of the course record. The 60+ went uncontested.
RESULTS
Wachusett Mt. Road Race (13th) Wachusett Mt., Westminster/Princeton MA, May 23, 2004 PLACE TIME FIRST LAST CATEGORY CLUB CITY STATE 1 25:17 Paul Low M20-39 CMS Amherst MA 2 25:28 Eric Morse M20-39 CMS Berlin VT 3 26:09 Josh Ferenc M20-39 Keene State Keene NH 4 26:12 Sean Livingston M20-39 BAA Barrington RI 5 26:55 Kevin Tilton M20-39 CMS Conway NH 6 26:57 Ben Nephew M20-39 CMS Foxboro MA 7 27:07 Zach Emerson M00-19 Moose Milers Hillsboro MA 8 27:19 Greg Ward M20-39 Moose Milers Holden MA 9 27:33 Dave Dunham M40-49 CMS Bradford MA 10 28:53 Mark Pitts M40-49 Moose Milers North Woodstock NH 11 29:13 Robert Chasen M40-49 Tri-Valley Frontrunners Weymouth MA 12 29:55 Rob Higley M50-59 WMAC Amherst MA 13 30:03 Matthew Twarog M20-39 Hubbardston MA 14 30:14 Richard Molloy M20-39 Millis MA 15 30:22 Robert Smith M20-39 CMS Charleston MA 16 30:30 Michael Vitelli M40-49 Marshfield Roadrunners Marshfield Hills MA 17 30:32 Dan Sullivan M00-19 Wesleyan Univ Jaffrey NH 18 30:38 Nikki Kimball F20-39 CMS Elizabethtown NY 19 30:46 Julie Peterson F40-49 BAA Beverly MA 20 30:54 Bernard Hyland M20-39 Brighton MA 21 31:11 Kelli Lusk F20-39 CMS Amherst MA 22 31:110 Skip Wiemeyer M20-39 Duxbury MA 23 31:16 Len Hall M50-59 Moose Milers Enfield NH 24 31:26 David Loutzenheiser M20-39 CRC Cambridge MA 25 31:30 Domingo Elias M20-39 BAA Dorchester MA 26 31:300 Dick Byers M40-49 Trafford Athletic Club Newton MA 27 31:37 Ricardo Hernandez-Pinzon M40-49 PRC Hyde Park MA 28 31:50 Richard Stockdale M50-59 Gate City Striders Mason NH 29 32:01 Suzy West F40-49 CSU Putney VT 30 32:04 Keith O'Brien M40-49 GLRR Chelmsford MA 31 32:07 Brian Patrick Mulligan M40-49 Wampanoag Providence RI 32 32:33 Wesley Lassen M20-39 Team Gloucester Gloucester MA 33 32:41 Todd Brown M40-49 NMC Rocky Hill CT 34 32:45 Bob Mulvaney M50-59 MMM Derry NH 35 32:55 Ted MacMahon M20-39 CMS Groton MA 36 33:06 Paul Bazanchuk M40-49 Amherst MA 37 33:09 Jenn BrooksLassen F20-39 Team Gloucester Gloucester MA 38 33:11 Robert Naser M40-49 Thirsty Irish Runners Dedham MA 39 33:13 Jonathan Shaw M20-39 CSU Plympton MA 40 33:59 Jon Stableford M50-59 MVS Andover MA 41 34:09 Dan Poliquin M20-39 Rochester Runners Farmington NH 42 34:16 Don Slovenkai M40-49 NMC Fitchburg MA 43 34:20 Jim Panaccione M20-39 Newmarket NH 44 34:30 Loren Siebert M40-49 NMC Pepperell MA 45 34:33 Chris Keyes M20-39 Sutton MA 46 34:42 Pilar Rodriguez F20-39 Boston MA 47 34:45 Tony Mariano M40-49 Carlisle MA 48 34:51 Donna Smyth F40-49 CSU Vernon VT 49 34:55 Steve Davis M40-49 Team Gloucester Gloucester MA 50 34:58 Cheryl Mcfague F20-39 Townsend MA 51 35:07 Sean OSullivan M20-39 Templeton MA 52 35:15 Joshua Curtis M20-39 NMC Newport RI 53 35:20 Robert Bradlee M40-49 CSU Reading MA 54 35:21 Nixie Raymond F40-49 CSU Roslindale MA 55 35:23 Jeffrey Mailhot M20-39 Princeton MA 56 35:25 Kelly Robison F20-39 Webster MA 57 35:44 John Neuhauser M20-39 Heartbreak Hill Striders Maynard MA 58 35:59 Vinnie Rivard M50-59 CMS Leominster MA 59 36:00 Lester Forgit M40-49 CMS Worcester MA 60 36:04 James Drew M50-59 CSU Boxborough MA 61 36:09 Ray Dauphinais M40-49 NMC Rindge NH 62 36:10 Mike Sikorski M40-49 CMS Sterling MA 63 36:12 Peter Orni M60-69 CMS Ashburnham MA 64 36:13 Paulette Bolton F40-49 Manchester NH 65 36:17 Dan Wagner M40-49 CMS Sterling MA 66 36:170 Todd Richards M20-39 NMC Winchendon MA 67 36:19 Heidi Havron F20-39 Gate City Striders Merrimack NH 68 36:20 Rob Thomas M40-49 CMS Charlton MA 69 36:22 William Sicard M40-49 CMS Fitchburg MA 70 36:34 Glenn Swanboa M20-39 GLRR Maynard MA 71 36:43 Andre Perrault M20-39 Boston College Gardner MA 72 36:53 Amy Zaferacopoulos F20-39 Littleton MA 73 36:530 Louis Economo M40-49 Winchester MA 74 37:01 George Corff M50-59 NMC Stow MA 75 37:010 Frank Sylvia M50-59 Andover Striders Shrewsbury MA 76 37:04 Mellisa Hult F20-39 Lancaster MA 77 37:07 John Schaechter M40-49 NBTC Canton MA 78 37:08 Deb Willard-Parker F40-49 NMC Fitchburg MA 79 37:080 John Tallarico M40-49 MRM Wilton NH 80 37:13 Roger Myers M50-59 Athol MA 81 37:17 Walter Kuklinski M50-59 Princeton MA 82 37:26 Joseph Drugan M60-69 CMS Hopedale MA 83 37:28 Helen Bradler F40-49 MRM Temple NH 84 37:50 John Lorway M50-59 Princeton MA 85 37:52 Basil Thompson M40-49 Andover MA 86 37:57 Neil Lacey M40-49 CMS Ayer MA 87 38:01 Andrew Galvin M20-39 Newton MA 88 38:10 Deidre Bird F50-59 Wampanoag Lincoln RI 89 38:14 Darlene Murray F40-49 CMS/NMC Sterling MA 90 38:23 Janice Badessa F40-49 Dedham MA 91 38:230 Jack O'Connor M40-49 Thirsty Irish Runners Dedham MA 92 38:24 Brian Majoy M20-39 New Braintree MA 93 38:29 Joe Panepinto M40-49 Holliston MA 94 38:31 Keith Bockus M50-59 Hubbardston MA 95 38:43 Kenneth Johnson M20-39 Holden MA 96 38:49 Donald Hogardt M50-59 HHS Needham MA 97 38:57 Peter Shea M40-49 Blue Hill Bird Brains North Easton MA 98 38:59 Charles Johnson M50-59 sqrr club Groton MA 99 39:00 Adailton Soares M40-49 Hudson MA 100 39:07 Steve Vaitones M40-49 SRR Waltham MA 101 39:14 C. Robert Suarez M20-39 Boston MA 102 39:23 Eldon Burkinshaw M60-69 Gate City Striders Londonderry NH 103 39:28 George Kocyan M50-59 Northbridge MA 104 39:33 Jennifer Rivers F20-39 SRR Charleston MA 105 39:36 Steven McCallan M40-49 W Groton MA 106 39:40 Lisa Mentzer F20-39 CMS Millbury MA 107 39:50 Jim Kokernak M20-39 Nipmuc Ski Club Webster MA 108 39:51 James Shope M50-59 CMS/NMC Leominster MA 109 39:54 Chris Nelson M20-39 West Hartford CT 110 39:58 John Loring M50-59 Jamaica Plain MA 111 40:02 Stu Thurston M60-69 CMS Boylston MA 112 40:06 Joanie Kelly F20-39 Belmont MA 113 40:07 Steve Dukich M40-49 Wakefield MA 114 40:11 Chris Vaughan M40-49 N. Easton MA 115 40:15 Ken Goodin M40-49 Lowell MA 116 40:24 Paul Grant M50-59 CSU Carver MA 117 40:29 Mike Farmer M40-49 Shrewsbury MA 118 40:290 Steve Haynes M20-39 Millbury MA 119 40:36 Heinz Ludwig M50-59 New Boston NH 120 40:40 Stephanie Nephew F20-39 CMS Foxboro MA 121 40:48 Bob Lashua M40-49 Leominster MA 122 40:50 Mike Walsh M20-39 Mansfield MA 123 41:00 Kim Maxwell F20-39 Charlestown MA 124 41:06 Jack Bakstran M40-49 Northborough MA 125 41:07 John Lanza M20-39 Wellesley MA 126 41:09 David Keeler M20-39 Oxford MA 127 41:20 Karl Barney M20-39 Amherst NH 128 41:27 Ann Kucharski F50-59 WCRC Haverhill MA 129 41:36 Orapin Asarangchai F20-39 Westborough MA 130 41:39 Jim Sicard M40-49 CMS Fitchburg MA 131 41:43 John Beischel M40-49 Worcester MA 132 41:48 Steven McAvoy M50-59 NMC Everett MA 133 41:54 John Kleczka M50-59 CMS/NMC Lunenburg MA 134 41:57 Ellen Richards F50-59 MVS Millis MA 135 41:58 Michael Thatcher M40-49 Gate City Striders Manchester NH 136 42:01 Larry Morris M50-59 CMS/NMC/RAT Leominster MA 137 42:06 Arnie Pollinger M40-49 GFRC Holliston MA 138 42:13 Allison Paulson F20-39 Boston MA 139 42:14 Krista Olsen F20-39 Brookline MA 140 42:19 Benjamin Massouh M20-39 Leicester MA 141 42:22 Rod L'Italien M60-69 Newburyport MA 142 42:28 Peter Covill M40-49 RIRR E Providence RI 143 42:32 Mark Officer M40-49 GDTC Londonderry NH 144 42:35 George Kocur M50-59 Cambridge Sports Union Cambridge MA 145 42:42 Andrew Park M40-49 Westboro MA 146 42:53 Dennis Zajehowski M60-69 Griswold CT 147 43:10 John Londa M40-49 Lunenburg MA 148 43:19 Donald Dayton M70+ GNBTC/65+ RR Dartmouth MA 149 43:21 Tom Telicki M20-39 Westminster MA 150 43:22 Eve DiPietro F20-39 Southbridge MA 151 43:24 Fred Ross III M50-59 CSU Vernon VT 152 43:26 Richard Hunt M60-69 CMS Auburn MA 153 43:28 Emer O'Donoghue F40-49 Somerville Road Runners Lexington MA 154 43:29 Zack Tibbetts F40-49 North Medford Running Club Westford MA 155 43:290 Donna LeBlanc F40-49 NMC Sutton MA 156 43:40 Richard MacDonald M50-59 Gate City Striders Milford NH 157 43:43 Wayne Hilson M50-59 Gate City Striders Litchfield NH 158 43:57 Peter Watson M60-69 Team Gloucester Rockpot MA 159 44:06 Barbara Whitehead F50-59 Westminster MA 160 44:12 Brenda Squires F20-39 CMS Worcester MA 161 44:18 Max Teto M50-59 Templeton MA 162 44:27 Peter Colonis M60-69 Waterford CT 163 44:58 Mark Walsh M20-39 Nashua NH 164 45:06 Chris Harrison M50-59 L Street Boston MA 165 45:12 Emily Trespas F20-39 Rochester Runners Andover MA 166 45:32 Allison Hayward F20-39 Danvers MA 167 45:35 Michael Villemaire M50-59 CMS Uxbridge MA 168 45:350 Joseph Leader M60-69 Cambridge Sports Union Lexington MA 169 45:41 Joe O'Connor M40-49 RSC Sterling MA 170 45:43 Daniel O'Brien M20-39 Bellingham MA 171 45:48 John Mitchell M20-39 Holliston MA 172 45:53 Chris Olsen M20-39 Brookline MA 173 45:57 Linda Fisher F40-49 Hudson MA 174 46:02 Bob Wurtele M60-69 Manchester NH 175 46:20 Jim Terry M50-59 CSU Roslindale MA 176 46:45 Jerry Gavin M40-49 Upton MA 177 47:04 Helen Dudley F40-49 Marlboro MA 178 47:24 Raymond Boutotte M50-59 CMS/NMC Pepperell MA 179 47:40 Nancy Craig F20-39 Westford MA 180 47:45 Peter Young M20-39 Cambridge MA 181 47:48 Peter Durfee M50-59 RIRR N Scituate RI 182 47:52 Judy Sikorski F40-49 CMS Sterling MA 183 47:57 Barbara Deane F20-39 Brockton MA 184 48:00 Laurie Curtin F20-39 Beverly MA 185 48:18 Mildred Mugica F20-39 Nashua NH 186 48:24 Mike Cravedi M20-39 Sterling MA 187 48:32 Cindi Hanley F20-39 Stoneham MA 188 49:03 Richard Busa M70+ Team Saucony Marlboro MA 189 49:33 Marshall McCloskey M60-69 MVS Brighton MA 190 51:37 Gregory Carson M40-49 Londonderry NH 191 51:57 Diane Massouh F20-39 Leicester MA 192 52:33 Pam Zawada F20-39 Adrenelin Multi Sport Marlboro MA 193 53:04 Rebecca Ramirez F20-39 Brookline MA 194 53:14 Megan Therriault F20-39 Gardner MA 195 53:34 Steve Locke M40-49 Boston MA 196 53:37 Dan Donovan M50-59 Clinton MA 197 53:44 Laurel Shortell F20-39 WMAC Northampton MA 198 54:29 Peter Pantelis M70+ Mohegan Striders Waterford CT 199 54:52 Douglas Raymond M40-49 Millbury MA 200 55:25 Michael Garofano M40-49 Westminster MA 201 56:52 Leesa Lewon F40-49 Griswold CT 202 56:520 Lisa Torchia F20-39 Griswold CT 203 56:53 Kris Carlson M50-59 Concord MA 204 67:37 Richard Hudson M50-59 Worcester MA
Home | Track & Field | Road Running | Race Walking | Cross Country | Mountain/Trail Running | Membership
Comments? Email Webmaster with suggestions for this page. Thanks!