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MOUTAIN/TRAIL NEWS AND NOTES

Enman, Graytock pace USA to gold at NACAC Championship

Paul Kirsch is the current NE Mountain/Ultra/Trail chair (contact info below)

USATF National Mountain/Ultra/Trail home page and selection race info

MT.WASHINGTON ROAD RACE ALERT:

BECOME A MOUNTAIN GOAT AND BYPASS THE 2009 MT. WASHINGTON LOTTERY!

The LaSportiva USATF-New England Mountain Running Circuit has teamed up with the Mt. Washington Road Race to offer you a special opportunity to bypass the Mt. Washington Road Race Lottery in 2009. To qualify for the lottery bypass, you need to
do the following:

Information on registering for the 2009 race can be found at www.mountwashingtonroadrace.com.
Entry is by online lottery only, and closes within a week of entry! (Entry runs March 1 to March 15)

2008 La Sportiva USATF NEW ENGLAND
MOUNTAIN RUNNING CIRCUIT

The 2008 LaSportiva USATF New England Mountain Running Circuit is the 13th annual series promoting competition in New England Mountain Running and encouraging the running community "to support the sport" by becoming a USATF member. The circuit consists of six races, with runners' points scored from their best five races. The Northfield Mountain race repeats as the USATF-NE Trail Championship, and the Loon Mountain Race serves as the NE Mountain Championship.

Most events in the circuit take place on the same weekend each year, but there may be changes in dates and times. Regretably there are always going to be conflicts with other running events and running series. Entry forms and results are posted here when available.
Standings after 5 events

The 2008 series:

Courses and more race info available here.

La Sportiva USATF New England Circuit rules and scoring

SCORING: Runners score points based on their time as a percentage of the winner's overall time, making every second count! For example, a winning time of 41:08 gets 100.00 points; a time of 42:21 is worth 97.13, and 1:20:32 gets 51.08 (the winning time being just about 50 percent of that runner's time). Women's scoring is now based on 100.00 points for the first female finisher. A runner's top 5 of 6 races are totaled.

SCORING ELIGIBILITY CUTOFF: Because the primary goals of the series are to promote the sport of Mountain Running and encourage membership in USATF, runners' scores for all races they participate in will be counted in scoring if they join USATF before the start of the fifth event in the circuit. This year's 5th race is the Loon Mountain Race on July 6th.

AWARDS: A combination of cash and gift certificates will be divided among the top 3 men and women in the overall series scoring. USATF New England provides awards for the top finisher in the Open, Masters, Seniors, and Veterans age groups. The circuit awards special T-shirts to "Mountain Goats", USATF members who run all six circuit races.
Title and primary sponsor is La Sportiva; Hammer Nutrition is the official endurance drink and energy gel supplier with additional support at events from Teva, Inov-8, and the American Trail Running Association (ATRA)

As a USATF-New England program, circuit scoring eligibility is limited to individuals who are USATF members. Though all races are open to all runners, USATF membership is required to score and win awards in the circuit. If you have additional questions, feel free to email or call the USATF-NE office, (617)566-7600.

The circuit was founded by Dave Dunham and continues under the watchful eye of Dave and current USATF-NE Mountain / Trail Running chairman Paul Kirsch! Thanks for your interest in Mountain Running!

CIRCUIT HISTORY

2007 La Sportiva USATF NEW ENGLAND
MOUNTAIN RUNNING CIRCUIT

The six race, USATF New England mountain running circuit wrapped up at the top of Mount Ascutney, Vermont, on July 15 with Paul Low (CMS) and Dawn Heinrich (PRMM) at the apex of the scoring charts. The top 5 scores were included in the totals.

Low (CMS) again was just one place away from a perfect circuit record; his second place finish at the Cranmore Hill Climb / USA Championship left him with a total of 499.74 points. Circuit founder Dave Dunham (CMS) was second overall as well as masters winner (472.87). The 60+ division was the closest for the men, with Peter Orni (CMS) edging Vincent Rivard (NMC) by less than 2 points. All three of those took their third consecutive series age group titles.

Women's winner Abby Woods (GSH) had to make every second count, edging masters winner and past Olympian in nordic skiing Dorcas Wonsavage (CSU) by a slim .3 points over the 5 race totaling. Lisa Doucett (CSU) continued dominance among the 50+ crowd.

Champions are determined by totaling points earned with the best five counting. The points were determined based on the finisher's percent behind the winner (Example: the winner runs 1:00:00 and Runner-X runs 2:00:00. Runner-X gets 50 points). Women are scored based on the winning woman's time to give them equivalent scores to the men.

USATF New England Mountain running champions (500 possible points)
Women
Open: Abby Woods, GSH, 452.73; 40+: Dorcas Wonsavage, CSU, 452.43; 50+: Lisa Doucett, CSU, 381.70; 60+: Carol Kane, WMAC, 72.67; 70+: Barbara Robinson, GCST, 247.66

Men
Open: Paul Low, CMS, 499.74; 40+: Dave Dunham, CMS, 472.89; 50+: Marty Ellowitz, CMS, 396.64; 60+: Peter Orni, CMS, 354.16; 70+: Paul McDermott, NMC, 260.49;

2007 circuit results

2006 CIRCUIT TOPPED BY LOW, HEINRICH

The six race, USATF New England mountain running circuit wrapped up at the top of Mount Ascutney, Vermont, on July 15 with Paul Low (CMS) and Dawn Heinrich (PRMM) at the apex of the scoring charts. The top 5 scores were included in the totals.

Nineteeen runners completed the full six race circuit, earning the distinction of being dubbed "Mountain Goats".
The USATF champions were determined by totaling points earned with the best five counting. The points were determined based on the finisher's percent behind the winner (Example: the winner runs 1:00:00 and Runner-X runs 2:00:00. Runner-X gets 50 points). Women scored based on the winning woman's time to give women equivalent scores to the men.

Low was just one place out of a perfect record, his 499.26 only off by a runner-up spot at Northfield. Dave Dunham, masters winner, had the 2nd highest score at 457.57; both were repeat winners. Closest division standing was the men's 50-59 group where Paul Bazanchuk was just over 4 points better than Len Hall; both battled through the full sixpack. Peter Orni and Richard Snyder led the 60+ and 70+ divisions, respectively.

In the women's ranks, Heinrich and Donna Smyth were 1-2 among masters as well as overall. Kate Naples was tops in the open division and third overall with 381.38 points in five attempts. Lisa Doucett took 50+ honors, and Carol Kane with a single race was atop the 60's. Scoring well - fourth overall - was 13 year old Haley Heinrich, the best junior total ever.

USATF New England Mountain running champions (500 possible points)
Women
Open: Kate Naples, CCAC, 381.38; 40+: Dawn Heinrich, PRMM 458.08; 50+: Lisa Doucett, CSU, 325.91; 60+: Carol Kane, WMAC, 79.55

Men
Open: Paul Low, CMS, 499.26; 40+: Dave Dunham, CMS, 457.67; 50+: Paul Bazanchuk, GSH, 391.13; 60+: Peter Orni, CMS, 341.53; 70+: Richard Snyder, GLRR, 142.77;

2006 circuit results

2005 CIRCUIT TOPPED BY LOW, WEST

The six race, USATF New England mountain running circuit wrapped up in North Conway with the August 7 running of the 18th annual Mt. Cranmore race, and found Paul Low (CMS) and Suzy West (CSU) at the summit of the scoring. More than 90 runners from 11 states and Canada raced over the up/down course featuring grades up to 20%.

Twenty-one runners completed all six races earning the distinction of being dubbed "Mountain Goats", and an additional 16 runners completed five races. The USATF champions were determined by totaling points earned with the best five counting. Points were determined based on the finisher's percent behind the winner (Example: the winner runs 1:00:00 and Runner-X runs 2:00:00. Runner-X gets 50 points). For the first time in the circuit's ten year history, women were scored based on the winning woman's time to give women equivalent scores to the men.

Many of the age group victories were close, going down to the last race. Low took the overall victory with 488.48 points, narrowly topping teammate Kevin Tilton who finished 9 points back. West was the top female point totaler as well as leader in the masters (age 40+) division. The 50+ men's age group was one of the deepest fields with the top seven runners within 80 points. Robert 'Doc' Chasen took the victory with 387.91 points.

A total of 109 USATF members scored points in 2005. Points and race finishes have been totaled since the first race in 1996. Eldon Burkinshaw (Gate City Striders) leads with 35 finishes out of 40 races and Donna Smyth (CSU) is the top woman with 28 finishes. Dave Dunham (CMS) leads the lifetime scoring with 3,166.92 points and Smyth leads the women's point parade with 1,958.15. Emer O'Donoghue (SRR) has a string of 24 straight finishes.

USATF New England Mountain running champions (500 possible points)
Women
Open: Kathy Hurst, unattached, 427.54; 40+: Suzy West, CSU, 473.49; 50+: Jacqueline Keith, NMC, 309.93; 60+: No competitors; 70+: Barbara Robinson, MMM, 71.01

Men
Open: Paul Low, CMS, 488.48; 40+: Dave Dunham, CMS, 439.81; 50+: Robert Chasen, Tri-Valley, 387.91; 60+: Peter Orni, CMS, 325.87; 70+: Paul McDermott, NMC, 186.25;

2005 circuit results

2004 CIRCUIT COMPLETE: FERENC, BRADLER TOP SCORERS

Series Summary
Mountain running newcomer Josh Ferenc (Keene NH) outdueled Kevin Tilton (CMS/Conway NH) to win the 2004 USATF New England Mountain Running Circuit. Each had a race win (with Paul Low taking two races), but the points earned by Ferenc in a 3-1 man-to-man match gave him the edge, 392.42-383.48.

Masters winner was Mark Pitts (Moose Milers) with 350.73, with top 50 runner Rob Higley (Western MA AC) not far back at 339.08. Acing the 60+ division was Eldon Burkinshaw (Gate City Striders) who not only was a grand slammer, but moved into the lead for all-time race appearances.

Women's winner was also the masters' master; Helen Bradler (MRM) scored 269.77 and was the top Goat as well. Open division winner Kelli Lusk (CMS) ran just 3 races in totalling 242.68 points, while Anne Kucharski was highest among W50's with 120.88 in two appearances.

New this year, the top three scorers from teams were totaled, and the Moose Milers and Marathoners upset CMS 1022 to 1009 points; Team Gloucester was top mixed team (at least 1 female), and CMS was the top women's team. 25 clubs were represented in the scoring, and 23 runners earned Mountain Goat status by completing all four events.
2004 circuit results

MORSE, WEST TOP OF THE HILL IN 2003 USATF-NE CIRCUIT

Green Mountain runners Eric Morse (CMS/Berlin VT) and Suzy West (CSU/Putney VT) are the king and queen of the hills, winning the 2003 USATF-NE Mountain Running Circuit following the Mt.Ascutney 3.8 mile hill run on June 28.
Morse won his fifth straight crown - and sixth in the circuit's 8 year history. He had two overall race wins, but if it's any consolation for his opponents, his 396.64 points were the lowest average total of his winning years. West won her second circuit title while also finishing as first master.

Also garnering repeat wins were Richard Stockdale, with a three-peat in the 50-59 division (and his fourth overall, having won the 40-49 division in 2000), and Anne Kucharski, with a repeat among the F50-59 crowd.

In the quest for the "Mountain Goat" award, 11 runners finished the full 5 race calendar, with 34 runners completing 4 of 5 races necessary for the special honors. Mountain running popularity grows, as 510 different runners finished at least one race. Only USATF members are eligible for circuit scoring.

2003 supporters and participating sponsors included: All American Trail Running Association (cash), Red Bull Energy Drink, BioFreeze, Nancy Hobbs / Adam Chase, and Running Times magazine (product).
Click here for Final 2003 Standings.

SERIES RESULTS AND MOUNTAIN - ULTRA - TRAIL NEWS

2008
2007
2006
2005
2004
2003
2002
2001
2000
1999
1998
1997
1996 - Initial Year of Circuit

MEET PAUL KIRSCH - NE MOUNTAIN/TRAIL CHAIR

Paul Kirsch of Madison, NH took over the position of Mountain/Ultra/Trail Chair for USATF-New England in September 2006, replacing Richard Bolt who relocated to Oregon in the Spring of '06. Rich continues to hold a prominent position in US Mountain Running as a member of the USATF-MUT council.

Paul is an avid trail, mountain and snowshoe runner who got his start in mountain running with his first Mount Washington race in 1998. He is President of the White Mountain Milers (Conway, NH), a member of the national USATF MUT Council, and race director of the Cranmore Hill Climb and Loon Mountain Race, which are both part of the USATF-NE Mountain Circuit. He has the good fortune to live in the Mount Washington Valley, where he does almost all of his running on trails.

Paul's goals for Mountain/Ultra/Traul running follow those of his predecessors:

You can contact Paul via email at pkirsch@adelphia.net.

CHAIR HISTORY:
2006-present - Paul Kirsch
2002-2006 - Rich Bolt
1995-2002 - Dave Dunham.

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