Women's start at Hollis Fast 5K
Photo: Wayne Flannigan
Tim Ritchie (BAA) and Erica Jesseman (Dirigo) took advantage of the point-to-point downhill course to win New England titles at the Hollis Fast 5K on Thursday evening. The pair ran the second fastest men's (13:48) and women's (15:31) 5K times in New Hampshire road racing history in the rainy conditions.
The race had its largest participation ever, and closed to all but USATF-NE members well in advance of the day; there were 1397 finishers with 22 runners breaking 15:00. Men's team wins went to BAA over Western Mass. Distance Project in the open division, Dirigo RC who got the better of Whirlaway in both M40 and M50, and CSU in M60. Whirlaway women swept the open/40/50 team trophies.
Full race results. Series standings will be posted at the GP pages after verification.
Four new members will be inducted into the Mt.Washington Road Race Hall of Fame on the eve of the 53rd running of the 7.6 mile uphill challenge. Runners Jonathan Wyatt, Simon Gutierrez and J'ne Day-Lecore own a significant number of wins and records among them. But just as important an inductee is Bob Teschek whose 29 year directorship brought the event to a new level and international prominence.
The Hall of Fame began with the 50th running of the Mt. Washington Road Race in 2010.Check out the race history at mountwashingtonroadrace.com.
James Randon running the 3000m at the 2013 ISTA League Championships.
Photo: Desiree Sheff
James Randon, a senior at the Middlesex School in Concord, MA, is USA Track & Field - New England's Athlete of the Month for May 2013. On May 23, James ran 4:09.39 in the "Dream Mile" at the Adidas Grand Prix at Icahn Stadium in New York City. Randon's mark was the 8th all-time Massachusetts scholastic outdoor mile. His successful spring season also included a win in the 1500 meters at the Brown Springtime Open with a time of 3:49.43 (2nd fastest high school time in the US for 2013), the Independent School Championship 3000 meter title in a meet record time of 8:20.80, and New England Prep School Division III championships at 800 and 1500 meters.
See the full list of USATF-NE Athletes of the Month.
Whirlaway runners Brandon Newbould and Christin Doneski led 131 runners over about 7 miles of multiple up-and-down trails at Bretton Woods NH on Sunday. Doneski was also top 40+, wtih Jackie Shakar (CSU) and Elaine Dill repeating their 50+/60+ positions from the first two races. Men's age division winners were Todd Callaghan (40+), Len Hall (50+) and John Martin (60+). Facing unseasonable heat, the Mountain/Ultra/Trail committee determined that those who did not finsih will still get participation credit for "Mountain Goat" status.
The third event in the 2013 USATF-NE Mountain Circuit, the fells race was added after the cancellation of this year's Pack Monadnock race. A fells race is unique in having a starting and finish locations, but giving several options to get from beginning to end; a shorter route is likely more difficult that the longer path.
Dave Dunham has posted circuit standings and stats at his blog.
For the fifth consecutive year, National Running Day, promoted by Running USA, will help new runners get started, or prompt longer time runners to try a fresh aspect of the sport on Wednesday, June 5.
"National Running Day is a wonderful way to bring people together to promote running and its many benefits. Running USA and its members encourage everybody to invite a friend or group to run on June 5 to celebrate the essence of running," said Ryan Lamppa, Running USA's media director.
For runners looking to use the day to put a new twist on their own running, USATF-NE hosts the third Mini-Meet of the season at M.I.T. in Cambridge MA at 6:30, with low-key events from 100 meters to the mile for ages 6 to 60+ on Steinbrenner Track.
More about National Runing Day and Running USA at RunningUSA.com.
The 2013 USATF-NE Mountain Circuit completed the second race at Mt.Wachusett on Saturday with a new distance and new course. The long used uphill road route and recent rolling loop of pavement and rugged trails gave way to a 10K up-over-the-top-and down route this year.
Whirlaway teammates Eric MacKnight and Brandon Newbould went 1-2 with Jacob Barnett (SRR) taking bronze. Women's results had the top 3 within 22 seconds; Abby Mahoney (WMDP), Kristina Folcik and top master Christin Doneski (Whirlaway). Additional overall division winners: M40+ Todd Callaghan, GCS (7 overall); M50+ Craig Fram, WRT; M60+ Brandon Kowloon (CT); M70+ George Gilder; W50+ Jackie Shakar, CSU; W60+ Elaine Dill. Full Results, and soon-to-be-posted photos by Scott Mason .
Series races run the next two weekends in the build up to Mt.Washington - the new Bretton Woods NH Fells race on June 2 and Mt.Ascutney VT on June 9. Find the links at usatfne.org/trail. Circuit scoring should be posted early this week at the website.
A pair of Massachusetts preps moved high into the all-time state rankings in the mile, running in blustery conditions at the adidas HS Dream Mile held in the adidas Grand Prix meet, an IAAF Diamond League competition, in New York City on Saturday.
Middlesex School (Concord) teammates James Randon (9th) and Garrett O'Toole (14th) ran 4:09.39 and 4:12.12, respectively, Randon's time ranking him 8th all-time Mass. outdoor miler, and O'Toole's mark is in the top 20 after doing pacesetting duties. Finishing second in the race, Connecticut's Henry Wynne (Staples) set a new state record of 4:05.04. Thanks to Larry Newman for the stats.
In the men's 5000, New Hampshire's Ben True ran 13:16.94, just shy of his personal best for the distance. Results, stories, and photos at diamondleague-newyork.com.
Online entry is now open for the June 22 USATF-NE Junior Olympic Track & Field Championship meet at Fitchburg State University. Online is the only method of entering, using the CoachO.com system, at usatfregistration.com/meet/entry/ma_usatfyouth02/. Be sure to read the entry rules and restrictions. Entry will be open through midnight, June 19. Both officiating and volunteer help is needed, as the past two years have been the largest NE Junior Olympic meets ever in the association.
Dan Harper (BAA) won the NE 10,000m championship at Boston Twilight #2
Photo: Tom Derderian
Dan Harper (BAA) and Sydney Fitzpatrick (New Balance Boston) won USATF-NE 10,000 meter championships in races held with New Balance Boston Twilight Meet #2 at U.Mass-Lowell on Saturday night. Harper recorded a commendable 30:25.92 for the overall win, followed by Stephen Polito (NBB, 31:09.96), and Brian Masterson (Dartmouth, 31:17.89). Fitzpatrick clocked 34:17.57 and finished second overall in the women's race, won by Sarah Cummings of NYAC. Larissa Park (Somerville RR) and Melissa Nash (BAA) finished 2-3 in the NE title standings, scoring points for their club. The full USATF-NE Championship meet will be held on Sunday, June 23, at Regis College. Online entry is available at the Track page.
Full 10,000m results, and Twilight Meet 2 complete results
The 2013 USATF-NE Mountain Circuit opened on Sunday at the Sleepy Hollow Race in Huntington VT with their largest field ever, 168 finishers. Leading the way in the event, which also served as the USATF-NE Mountain Championship, were Josh Ferenc (BAA) and Christin Doneski (Whirlaway), with the latter also taking Masters honors. Todd Callaghan (Gate City), in fifth, was Men's Masters Champ. Winning in the 50+ division were Ernest Brake (CMS, 10th overall) and Jackie Shakar (CSU), and in the 60+ division, John Martin (CCAC) and Elaine Dill (GSH). AcidoticRACING won both team titles.
Full Results and Photos by Scott Mason (to be posted shortly).
The 117th Boston Marathon, held on April 15, is recipient of USA Track & Field - New England's Athlete of the Month award for April 2013. This honor is being given to the B.A.A., to all who ran the marathon, to all who assisted with the race in any capacity, to all who participated as spectators, to the first responders and medical personnel in the finishing area, and especially to all who have suffered losses. It is the first time an event has been named as the recipient of the award.
James Joyce Ramble M70 team and individual winners, and Jan Holmquist.
Photo courtesy of Jan Holmquist
The 30th unabridged edition of the James Joyce Ramble hosted the 2013 USA Masters 10K on Sunday, and New England association clubs and runners were well represented at the top of the results. Kara Haas (Gr.Lowell/Chelmsford MA) was overall women's winner in 37:51, and Kent Lemme (Gr.Springfield/Pittsfield MA) ran 2nd overall among men at 33:08. Jan Holmquist (68, Liberty AC/Burlington MA) earned the top overall age graded performance in 46:06, with Norm Larson (57, GreenMtAA/Burlington VT) second male age-graded, 35:49.
Local clubs taking team wins included CMS (M40+), Whirlaway (M50+), NE 65+ (M70+), Greater Lowell RR (W40+), and Liberty AC (W60+).
The ideal weather and Dedham's Endicott Estate setting, the separate masters' "wave" start, and the efficient operation were well received by participants, and the race is looking to extend the championship agreement for up to 3 more years.
Results and Photos
In the results of the 2013 Boston Marathon, New England competitors ran to awards in several age division competitions. Sheri Piers (Dirigo RC, Falmouth ME) was second Female Master (and 20th overall) in 2:39:25, 1983 Boston Marathon winner Joan Samuelson (Freeport ME) was first W55 in 2:50:29, and Whirlaway RT's Reno Stirrat (Quincy MA) was second M55 in 2:47:17.
New England clubs won both Open team titles. Men Open was won by the B.A.A. (Tim Ritchie, Ryan McCalmon, Ian Nurse) and Women's Open by Dirigo RC (Sheri Piers, Erica Jesseman, Mary Pardi).
Top finishers from the New England states:
MA: 25.Tim Ritchie (Boston/BAA) 2:21:31; 21.Hilary Dionne (Boston/BAA) 2:39:34
NH: 46.Brandon Newbould (Nottingham/Whirlaway) 2:25:45; 69.Alexandra Varanka (Amherst/NBB) 2:54:35
RI: 181.Jason Reilly, Cumberland, 2:37:27; 99.Karolyn Bowley (Middletown) 2:57:41
VT: 233.Todd Smith (Bristol/GMAA) 2:39:00; 176.Meghan Lout (Bristol/GMAA) 3:02:42
ME: 32.Robert Gomez (Saco/Dirigo) 2:22:53; 20.Sheri Piers (Falmouth/Dirigo) 2:39:25
CT: 59.Joseph Darda, Willamantic, 2:28:03; 84.Laura Brustolon (Mystic/BAA)
Wheelchair: 30.Jason Fowler, Belmont MA, 1:57:01
More results at baa.org. Publication of further results beyond the 17580 official finishers will be addressed by the BAA in the near future.
Like nearly everyone touched by the bombings at the finish of the Boston Marathon we are shocked, angered, and sad. We are shocked because we are the governing body of sport, recreation, and essentially, play. People compete in the marathon and follow the race as something aside from the horrors of the world, but are now part of those enormities. We are angry because people have been hurt and murdered for reasons that cannot possibly justify the crimes, and we are sad because of the pain and loss in our community. Most officers and employees of USATF-NE were at the marathon. Some worked as volunteers at the finish line so were quite close to the explosions. Others were racing or watching. We are relieved that none were hurt. At USATF we have held safety in the utmost importance in conducting events when we issue sanctions. As we wish the best recovery to those injured and their families we will spend the coming months thinking hard about how to make our sports the safe and joyous events they are intended to be.
Tom Derderian, president USATF-NE
