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GRAND PRIX RESUMES SUNDAY IN NASHUA
May 6

The USATF-NE Grand Prix gets back into action this Sunday, May 11, at the Medical Center 6K in Nashua NH. This is a first time championship event, and all preparation points to a quality event. Clubs are reminded that all team scorers must have current USATF membership before the race. The same applies to , individual scorers and prize money winners.

A USATF table will be set up at registration to take care of last minute memberships, and will have entry forms for the June 1 Rhody 5K.
The 6K entry form and information are at www.medicalcenter6k.com.

 

OFFICE CLOSED MAY 6-12
May 2

The New England office will be closed Tuesday May 6 through Monday, May 12, as the staff will be representing the USA at team manager at the World Race Walk Cup in Russia.

There will be no membership, club, sanction, or insurance services available during that period. This website will be updated with any local news, and there will be representation at the May 11 Medical Center 6K NE Championship.

 

NE OUTDOOR CHAMPIONSHIP SITE TO CHANGE
May 1

The USATF New England Open Outdoor Championship meet scheduled for June 15 is looking for a new site; MIT will be putting in a new artificial turf infield starting June 1 and no meets will be held this summer after that date. That will also affect the Bay State Games Final.

Check our track schedule for updates on new locations.

 

VERMONT'S WHEATING SUB-4:00 IN OREGON
April 25, Eugene OR

Andrew Wheating (U.Oregon / Norwich VT) thrilled a crowd of 6,875 at Historic Hayward Field with a kick to win the mile at the Oregon Relays in 3:58.16. The time dropped his personal best from 4:04.77, and made him the first native Vermonter / Vermont HS alum to run a sub-4:00 mile. All six New England states now have a high school product who has run under the magic mark.

The sophomore from Kimball Union Academy and Norwich VT (coached by legendary Jeff Johnson) held on to win by half a second, running the 11th fastest time in the storied university's all-time history. Primarily a soccer player in high school, he won the 2005 USA National Junior Olympic Cross Country Championship held at Bryant College in Rhode Island. In his first full season in track in 2006, he had ranked fourth nationally in 1,500m at 3:54.28, a quality time but not totally indicative of his big breakthrough this season.

 

OLYMPIC MARATHON TRIALS HIGHLIGHT SHOW TO AIR SUNDAY APRIL 27
April 25

On a spectacular Sunday morning in Boston, the top female marathoners in the United States put forth an historic performance. Deena Kastor, Magdalena Lewy Boulet, and Blake Russell captured the three spots on the U.S. Olympic Team for the women's marathon and as a result, their next marathon will be run through the streets of Beijing as they compete in the 2008 Olympic Games.

Fans can watch the race again (or for the first time) as a one-hour highlight show of the event will air on Sunday, April 27 on MSNBC from 12:00-1:00 p.m. ET. The show will be the premier episode in a series highlighting a number of Olympic Trials events leading up to the Beijing Olympic Games in August. The Olympic Trials online and over the air broadcast is a joint production of the USOC, Boston Athletic Association, NBC Sports and USA Track & Field.

 

BOSTON MARATHON SHOW AVAILABLE ONLINE
April 25

If you were unable to watch last Monday's Boston Marathon, you can still watch it at www.wcsn.com. In fact, the entire broadcast of the race will be archived there for 12 months, race organizers announced today. There is no charge for viewing this video, thanks to sponsorship support from adidas, an official race sponsor, and MarathonGuide.com.

 

JUNIOR OLYMPIC REGION I SITE/DATE TO CHANGE
April 25

Due to a mandate from the national Youth Committee, the Region I Junior Olympic Meet date will be changed from the end of June date that was originally posted; it will move to either July 5-6 or July 12-13, and it will also not be in the New England association due to the required date change. We apologize for the late notice.

 

BLAKE, DUCLOS TOP LOCALS IN 112th BOSTON MARATHON
April 21

Eric Blake and Kim Duclos were the top New England finishers in Monday's B.A.A. Boston Marathon. Nearly 22,000 completed the eastward trek from Hopkinton to Boston, with ideal weather for much of the race. Overall winner Robert Cheruiyot hammered an uphill 4:37 from miles 18-19 to break his competition to secure a fourth Boston win in 2:07:46, a feat matched only by Bill Rodgers, Gerard Cote, and Clarence Demar. The closest finish in race history occurred in the women's race where Ethiopian Dire Tune outsprinted Russian Alvetina Biktimirova by just 2 seconds for the bigger trophy - and bigger check.

Blake, a member of the host Boston Athletic Association (and out of New Britain CT) was 23rd in the men's results and clocked 2:24:30; that contributed to the club effort as the BAA won the open men's team championship. Blake was just one place ahead of Dan Vassallo (MVS/Wilmington MA), youngest finisher in the top 25 at age 22 (2:25:10).
The US women's field was obviously thinned due to the Olympic Trials, but that takes nothing from the performance of Duclos (CMS/Worcester MA), who was second American across the line, and 17th overall, in a strong PR 2:49:31. Like Blake, the performance led her Central Mass Striders to a team win (Open Women).

Top local Master on the women's side was two time Olympian Cathy O'Brien (Durham NH) in 2:59:21, 51st overall/7th 40+. Men's masters were paced by Chris Spinney (Whirlaway/Arlington MA) at 2:39:05 - just one place ahead of winner of the M50 divsion, Norm Larson (Green Mt.AA/Burlington VT) in a sharp 2:39:13!
Whirlaway Racing Team continued their successes in masters team scoring, placing second in both the Men's Masters and Women's Masters divisions.

Marathon results in many forms for every participant is at www.bostonmarathon.org.

 

Two time NE marathon champ Heid Westerling was one of six BAA runners in the Olympic Marathon Trials. (Mike Scott photo)

Two time NE marathon champ Heid Westerling was one of six BAA runners in the Olympic Marathon Trials
(Mike Scott photo)

ENMAN PACES LOCALS AT OLYMPIC MARATHON TRIALS
April 20

2004 Olympic bronze medalist Deena Kastor lived up to her favorite status going in, but it was frontrunning Magelina Lewy Boulet who made the 2008 US Olympic Team Trails for the Women's Marathon a memorable race on Sunday. Breaking away from the field in the first half mile with a specific time goal in mind, Lewy Boulet built a lead of up to 2 minutes over the first three laps of the four loop course, and forced the chase pack to put it all on the line to be among the first three across the finish line.

Kastor, the US record holder, passed the leader through the Memorial Drive underpass in Cambridge just before the 24 mile mark and strode out to the win in 2:29:35. That was all the competition could muster, with Lewy Boulet home 44 seconds later in second, as former New England resident Blake Russell completed the Olympic Team roster with a 2:32:40 third place finish. Fans lined nearly the complete course on a perfect day and the criterium course and cheered for the 144 starters, and particularly for 1984 Gold Medalist Joan Benoit-Samuelson (Freeport ME), the field's oldest qualifier, who ran her final "competitive" marathon and came away with a USA record for age 50+, 2:49:08, in 90th place.

First among the strong New England contingent was Kasie Enman of Huntington VT and the BAA, placing 11th among 124 finishers in a personal best 2:37:14. The BAA had five runners complete the event; two time NE Marathon champ Heidi Westerling (26th, 2:41:09), Brett Ely (34th, 2:41:54), Janelle Krause (57th, 2:45:02), and Emily Levan (67th, 2:45:45) who took a fall at 2 miles and yet continued banged and bloodied. Sheri Piers (Falmouth ME/Dirigo) was 2nd NE in 16th and a massive 9 minute PR of 2:38:46. Also among the elite were Caroline Bjune (MVS, 35th, 2:42:02), Nicole Hagopian (Hadley MA, 2;43:19), Sarah Donahue (GBTC, 69th, 2:46:17), and Kristin Barry (Dirigo, 73rd, 2:46:58); Carly Graytock (BAA) and Molly Taber (MVS) did not finish due to injury. A number of former NE runners and NE college alumna were also in the field, topped by recent New Hampshire grad Megan Hepp, 12th in 2:37:29. .

A veteran from both competitive and coaching perspectives noted that he had been to all men's and women's Olympic Trial marathons in the past 12 years, and this was without doubt the best ever. Check out full race results at www.BostonTrials2008.com.

 

RECORDS, INSPIRATION AT MASTERS NATIONALS
Mass.Velocity 2nd team, Twilight Throwers 7th

March 28-30, Boston

The USA Masters Indoor National Track and Field Championships returned to Boston for the 11th time in 12 years, and brought the of competition, camaraderie, and records. Nearly 800 competitors took over the Reggie Lewis Track for three days, and despite it being just a week after the World Masters Championship, a flurry of US and World records were added to the books in age groups up to 90+.

Among the top performers was Phillipa "Phil" Raschker of Marietta, Georgia, nominee for the 2008 Sullivan Award as the country's outstanding amateur athlete, who clocked 68.34 for 400 meters for a world record by 1.8 seconds in the women's 60-64 division.

Orville Rogers from Dallas set world bests for men 90 and over in both the 800 (4:19.97) and mile (9:56.58), and 40 year old Rod Jett (Sacramento CA) ran 8.21 in the 60m hurdles to shave .01 off the US record.

In the women's field events, Former Millrose Games champion Oneithea Lewis continues to rewrite age-group records throwing 53-5 in the W45 weight, while 55 year old Kay Glynn cleared 9'7" in the pole vault, both marks still college varsity quality a generation removed from school.

Local athletes were part of two records. GCS Triad members Jerry LeVasseur and Bill Spencer were half of a 4x800 relay that ran 12:09.35, a world record for men age 70-plus, and David Schlothauer of Westport MA annihilated the American record in the M90+ weight throw, tossing the 12 pound ball 32'11".

Team scoring, totaled among all age divisions, both men and women, found our local Mass. Velocity TC move up a place from last year to take second behind powerhouse Southern California - FleetFeetC, cutting the margin by over forty points; congratulations! Twilight Throwers also finished in the top 10 among the 88 scoring clubs.

The meet could not be a success held without the many officials, some who worked three full days to make the meet a memorable and efficiently-run competition. Complete results of the Championships, visit the USA Championships section of www.usatf.org. Meet photos will be posted at prettysporty.com.

 

NEW GP SEASON BEGINS AT NEW BEDFORD
CARRARA, WESTERLING TAKE NE TITLES

March 17

The 2008 USATF-NE Grand Prix season began with a strong showing in the Whaling City at the 31st annual New Bedford 1/2 Marathon. 1664 finishers had a traffic free course on a pretty fair day for running - low 40's and light breeze.

New England champs included something old and something new. Women's winner Heidi Westerling began the series as she ended 2007 (having won the Cape Cod Marathon), her 1:14:30 the fastest time since 2000. The BAA ace led an impressive parade of the region's top female distance runners as placers 1-2-3-5-6-8-9 are all entrants in the US Olympic Team trials for the marathon running in Boston on Sunday, April 20.

Men's winner Ryan Carrara had his most successful half and ran 1:08:07 for his first individual NE championship. The New Balance Boston standout was second to New Yorker via Ethiopia Derese Deniboba (a NE runner hasn't been the overall winner since 1998). The race closed out a 100 mile week for Carrara, and he expressed confidence going into next month's Boston Marathon.

More depth among open runners was evident this year than in recent years, as first Master, Titus Mutinda (R.UN/Lowell) could only manage 30th place. Green Mountain AA runner Norm Larson had a convincing win in the 50-59 division, almost 3 minutes over'07 series winner Dave Oliver and 6th total over 40. Fellow Vermonter Bill Dixon (GLRR) was even more dominant at 60 - 4th 50+ and a 10 minute margin, and Harry Carter (GSCT) was top 70+.

Simonetta Piergentili (Whirlaway) led the masters women, with Sidney Letendre (CMS) topping the GP scoring in the 50+ division (2nd overall) and teammate Mary Ryczek taking gold in the 60+.

The Boston Athletic Association showed depth across the board in winning both the men's and women's open team scoring, with Whirlaway duplicating the feat for masters 40+. Greater Lowell (M50+), GCS Triad (M60+) and CMS (W50+) completed club honors.

The second series race will runs May 11 at the Medical Center 6K in Nashua NH.
Check the team and individual standings after one event.

 

COLLEGE NATIONALS
FIND NEW ENGLANDERS IN MIX

March 13-14

Three divisions of NCAA Collegiate Championships took place around the country last weekend on Friday and Saturday, with successes by both local collegians and transplanted high school products.

The Division I championship, regularly the most competitive indoor event of the season, returned to Arkansas results had local talent scoring hard-earned top 8 finishes - all-American honors. Running in two events, Sean Quigley (Braintree MA/Abp.Williams HS) of Lasalle University doubled his awards of 2007 as he placed third in the 5000 and seventh in the 3000. In the women's 3000, Ari Lambie (Harvard MA / Stanford) and Marisa Ryan (Boston U) were third and fifth, respectively; Lambie also anchored the Stanford distance medley relay to third. Boston U's Tahari James was sixth in the triple jump (44'1/2" PR) and Harvard's Becky Christiansen matched that placing in the high jump (6'0").

The Division II meet at Mankato (MN) State had several New England athletes in the all-American listings. UMass Lowell had eighth places by Olive Thibou in the triple jump, and by their distance medley relay. On the men's ledger, Stonehill and Lowell finished 5-6 in the distance medley, with Kevin Gill placing sixth in the mile.

Results from the Division III at Ohio Northern found six victors from New England colleges, including a pair from Keene State (NH) College - Jennifer Adams in the 5000 (16:58.71) and Kristin Blamy (Keene State) in the high jump (5'7.75"). Other NE gold went to Tufts in the women's distance medley (moving up one place from 2007, 11:46.79), a repeat win by Salem State's Eddie Bynum in the 55 meters (6.25), and wins by Jonathan Garcia (UMass Dartmouth, 55 hurdles, 7.46), and Noah Gauthier (Bates, weight, 63'1.5").

Links to all of these various meet results are at www.trackandfieldnews.com.

 

SCHOLASTIC NATIONALS CLOSES HS INDOOR
WITH LOCAL HONORS

March 13-14

The pair of scholastic national meets ended the HS outdoor season (is outdoors really only two weeks away?) with a plethora of quality marks by NE association athletes including national titles.

At the Nike Indoor Nationals in Landover MD, Rhode Island weight throwers won both the girls' and boys' competitions. Victoria Flowers scored yet another big mark to win, her 61'2" only surpassed by her 62'2" HS record set of the season set on March 3. Michael Guava (Warwick RI) surprised the field with a win in 73'5 1/4". Other top 5 finishers down south included Russell Dinkins (Wilbraham-Monson, 400, 3rd, 49.32), Patrick Onye (Providence, weight, 3rd, 70'7 1/4"), Dwight Barbiasz (Milford NH, high jump, 4th, 6'8 1/4", 4th), and Thomas Davis (E.Greenwich RI, weight, 4th, 67'8").

That meet moves up to the Reggie Lewis Center for a three year run starting in 2009.

Closer to home, the National Scholastic Indoor at the New York City Armory drew a larger NE crowd. Flowers made it two national titles for the weekend with a spin of 62'1/2", just short of a third record this season. Woburn (MA) boys passed the stick in the 4 x 400 in 3:19.16 to win (and returned for a 4th in the sprint medley).
Local girls results among the top 5 were Keeley McGuire (Triton, MA, mile, 5th, 4:56.13) and Newton Centre Athletics (4x800 4th 9:16.27 and 4x1600 5th 20:52.48).

Boys honor winners included Andrew Powell (Charlton MA, pentathlon, 3rd, 3554, and HJ, 5th, 6'7"), Omar Aden (Charlestown MA, mile, 4th 4:13.20), Bill Godfrey (Merrimack NH, 800, 5th, 1:53.24), Michael McPherson (Mansfield MA, shot, 4th, 55'6 1/2"), Patrick Onye (Providence, weight, 3rd, 68'8"), Dominic Filiano (Lebanon NH, shot, 5th, 55'5") Brookline MA (Distance Medley, 5th, 10:23.42) and Belmont MA (4x800, 5th, 3:22.89).

Also of note, though only a HS event in RI, Conor McCullough (CA) demolished the boys weight record, pushing it out to a staggering 87'10 3/4"; he's the son of former BU all-American Connor McCullough.

Find stories, pictures, and links to the meets at www.dyestat.com.

 

MA AND RI COACHES CLINICS IN MARCH
March 6

During the short break for most coaches between the indoor and outdoor seasons, there is a chance to take advantage of some clinic opportunities around the region. Coaches' association clinics tend to cover a wide range of events in their presentations, and all coaches are welcome (not just from the state's HS ranks).

The 34th annual Massachusetts State Track Coaches Assn. clinic will take place March 14-15 (Friday afternoon/Saturday) at the Sheraton Hotel in Framingham and include a pole vault coaches certification session. Find the entry at www.mstca.org or Email Mark Thornhill.

New this year on March 29 is the innaugural RI Coaches Clinic, hosted by the Ri Track and Field Foundation. The clinic is at the Radisson Airport Hotel in Warwick, and has three sessions; Warmups and Drills, Building and Managing a HS Program, and Pole Vault. There is no fee, but there is a maximum of participants. Contact Rick Marshall at 401 295 3227.

 

MOUNT WASHINGTON ROAD RACE ENTRY OPENS
February 28

Entry for the Mount Washington Road Race opens on March 1. Event registration is totally on-line, and it is by lottery.

All race applicants, both lottery and lottery bypass, must register between March 1 and March 15. Successful selectees will be posted on March 20; there is no waiting list for non-drawn names. This year's event is the USATF National Mountain Running Championship and is one of the qualifiers for the US Team to compete at the World Mountain Trophy Race in the fall.

All information can be found at www.mountwashingtonroadrace.com. Please read all information and instructions carefully.

 

BROWN, RILEY TO REPRESENT USA AT WORLDS
February 27

Two New England HS grads will be representing the USA at the World Indoor Track & Field Championships in Spain March 7-9. Up to 2 athletes can represent a country in each event.

Russell Brown (Hanover NH HS and Lynx Elite club) and Jonathan Riley (Brookline MA HS) made the team based on their placing at the USA Championships at the Reggie Lewis Center, as well as achieving the tough qualifying standards. Brown placed second in the 1500, while Riley placed third in the 3000 with winner Matt Tegenkamp opting not to go to Worlds.

 

SOUND MIND, SOUND BODY
February 26

A dozen New England based harriers were named to the U.S. Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association NCAA Division I All-Academic Cross Country Team from the fall.

The award honors student-athletes who have succeeded both academically and athletically. A student-athlete must carry a minimum 3.25 grade point average and have completed a minimum 24 semester hours. Additionally, the student-athlete must finish in the top 15 or top ten percent at their NCAA regional meet, or receive All-American honors.

Representatives from New England schools and New England natives: Women: Jena Ridgway (Brown); Smita Gupta (Brown); Stephanie Pancoast (Cornell/Westford MA); Claire Richardson (Harvard); Arianna Lambie (Stanford/Harvard MA); Catherine Parker (New Hampshire); Lindsay Donaldson (Yale/Lincoln MA)

Men: Patrick Mellea (Boston College); Ari Zamir (Brown); Harry Norton (Dartmouth); Russell Brown (Stanford/Hanover NH); Owen Washburn (U.Texas/Amherst MA).

 

NEW ENGLANDERS RACE IN IRELAND
February 25

Two New England runners scored well at International Race Week in Northern Ireland/Ireland last week. Jeff Caron (Medford MA) and Kristen Coon (Chestnut Hill MA), both members of New Balance Boston, earned a trip to the Emerald Isle based on their finishes at the 2007 New England association cross country championship.

Competition began On Thursday at the 18th Armagh road race on a multiple loop course through the center of town. In the men's 5K race, American Christian Hesch scored a win over Irishman and Providence resident Mark Carroll as the top 4 broke the old course record and Pat Tarpy of Providence in fifth tied the old standard. Caron placed 25th in a close finish where five national teams were represented ahead of him. Women's 3K race winner was Providence College alum and Irishwoman Maria McCambridge (9:36) with Coon in 8th (top American).

Three days later, most of the same field toed the line at the 38th Ras na hEireann cross country race in Termonfeckin, County Louth. Both New England reps improved their placings on the turf with Caron moving up to 11th and Coon up to 6th. Tarpy was sixth and Carroll seventh, and seven national teams scored in the men's race, while McCambridge scored her second win of the week.

Thanks to event director Charlie Breagy for providing this opportunity to our New England runners for many years.

 

LOCAL PRODUCTS IN NATIONAL RESULTS
USA National Indoor Championships

Boston MA, February 23-24

Despite a delayed start and some missing entrants due to storm related travel delays, the two day 2008 AT&T USA Indoor Track & Field Championships was a competition worthy of the selection meet for the US team where the first two who had qualifying marks would wear the red, white, and blue at the coming world indoor championships. US and World leading performances, and finishes to the 1/100 second peppered the results.

Several New England resident and alumni performers left the arena with medals. Joanne Dow (Manchester NH) continued her prep for the Olympic Trials after an injury filled 2007 and was just a tick away from first in the 3000 meter race walk. The walk isn't a world indoor event, but the men's 1500 is, and recent Stanford grad Russell Brown, out of Hanover NH HS and the Lynx Elite club, ran a solid second in the 1500 tor earn a ticket to Valencia Spain for the Worlds. Brookline MA HS alum Jonathan Riley ran to bronze in the 3000, and Bp.Hendricken RI alum Jake Freeman tossed the weight for third.

U.Rhode Island's Sarah Thornton was a finalist in weight in her first USATF Championship, and improving her school record to 63'0.75".

The always popular youth 4x200 relays were won by the Cambridge Jets boys and Providence Cobras girls, while the New England states scholastic challenge 4x400 found Rhode Island girls and Connecticut boys running stellar times in exciting races.

Best local performances in the club distance medley relays were fifth by Bentley College men and third by Greater Boston TC women.

The meet concluded the USA Visa Indoor Championship Series, and Dartmouth grad ('97) Adam Nelson picked up the winner's $25,000 check for top performance of the season, his 73'6" shot put 2 weeks ago. Women's winner was two-time hurdle Lolo Jones.

The meet will return for at least one more year, having developed a following in the area. Full results at www.usatf.org

 

NEW ENGLAND OPEN CHAMPIONSHIPS AT HARVARD
February 24

Across town at Harvard, the USATF New England Indoor Championships drew the largest crowd in a number of years on Sunday morning. Scheduling produced the conflicting dates, but the NE meet drew a mix of clubs, colleges, and preps for a fast pace five hour meet wich finished before the Nationals got rolling, and a number of folks hit both meets.

Greater Boston TC won yet another double men's / women's team title, over the BAA (men) and Air Time Athletics (women). There was a new meet record in the men's 60 meter, Arman Dixon of Sacred Heart University running 6.70 to break the old mark by a full tenth of a second. He also won the 200. Akilah King of Brown was the only women's double winner, outdistancing competition in the long and triple jumps. David Neumann (Mass Velocity) took both special masters sprints (60 and 200) Championship results are posted at usatfne.org. Thanks to the officials and to First Time Out timing who ran a lot of bodies through the meet efficiently with a lot of bodies in t.

 

CAPE COD A.C. INITIATES CLUB HALL OF FAME
February 2

At their annual banquet and awards ceremony, Cape Cod Athletic Club president Bob Eckerson announced the creation of the Cape Cod Athletic Club Hall Of Fame. Current and past club members who have made significant contributions to the sports of running and triathlon and to the operations and promotion of the Cape Cod Athletic Club will now be annually honored with induction into the Hall of Fame. This year's class consisted of 15 inductees: Don Bates, Bob Borglund, Scotty Carter, John Gray, Johnny Kelley, Cathy Klim, Jeff Mello, Margie Crowell Wallace, Barry Merrill, Mike Naughton, Beth Nelson, Kevin Petrovek, Charlie Ratti, Bill Riley and Andy Rogovin. In addition to having their names displayed on a special plaque to be displayed at Hanlons Shoes in Hyannis, recipients were honored with special crystal trophies.

More information can be found at capecodathleticclub.org.

 


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