USATF-New England Headline NewsJanuary - March 2001
USATF-New England Headline NewsSBLI STEPS UP TO SPONSOR FALMOUTH ROAD RACE
(March 29) The Falmouth Road Race is back on track and running strong, thanks to Savings Bank Life Insurance (SBLI) of Massachusetts. The Woburn based company will be the principal sponsor of 29th annual 7.1 mile race on August 12. SBLI stepped in after last year's sponsor opted not to return just over a month ago. The sponsorship ensures continuation of world-class competition and one of the largest non-marathon prize purses in running. Included is an increase in the US-only prize money. Full press release: www.FalmouthRoadRace.com
CHISHUM SCORES FOR USA AT WORLD CROSS COUNTRY
(March 24-25) Conditions were 'real cross country' in Belgium where Kristin Chisum (Reebok Boston/Wayland MA) placed 49th (4th US) in the World Cross Country Championships. After the 8K race, which she covered in 31:01, Chisum noted, "This was different from anything else I have ever experienced. My ultimate goal was to run the whole race hard and keep my head in it, and I feel that I did that. This was true cross country and there's no experience like it." Winner Paula Radcliffe of Great Britain (27:49) was the Junior World Champion when the race was held in Boston in 1992. The US, 8th team, was led by Deena Drossin (29:28), with former New England runner Laura Baker, now in Arkansas, 71st in 32:27, and Sara Dupre (BAA) ran for Canada in the 8K, placing 57th in 31:29.
On the men's side, a pair of Providence College runners represented their home countries, as Keith Kelly (Ireland) placed 43rd in in the 12K race (41:15), with Hamish Thorpe (New Zealand) running 13:34 in the 4K to take 45th. New England natives Andy and Matt Downin also had strong showings in their respective races. Andy was 19th overall and third scorer (13:16) for the USA, which was fourth team. while Matt, last fall's national XC champion, was 80th (43:21) over the long course. The USA won its first world cross medals since 1986 in that race. The USA also earned a bronze medal in the men's junior 8K, as Michigan high schooler Dathan Ritzenheim (25:49) was the first American junior to step on the awards podium since 1981.
Full results and stories: www.iaaf.org
GARCIA WINS NATIONAL 100K
PITTSBURGH, Pa. - (March 24) Jim Garcia (CMS/Westford MA) won the US national 100K championship in blustery conditions at the GNC 100km in Pittsburgh. With temperatures in the low 40s and wind gusting to 25mph under heavy cloud cover, Garcia fought a nip-and-tuck battle with two-time national champion Rich Hanna before pulling clear after 45 continuous miles at 6:30 mile pace. His win, in a time of 7:05:58, was the first national title for the MIT researcher, who has been a scoring member of two World Championship silver medal winning USA national 100km squads. The victory gave him an automatic spot on the team for the World 100km, to be held in France on August 25. More race information: www.americanultra.org
RECORDS FALL AT NATIONAL MASTERS
(March 23-25) Boston -- A total of 53 US Records and 21 World were set at the National Masters Championhip. Click here for a complete list.
Ken Rouichaud took plenty of photos at the National Master Indoor Championship. Click on the image to view some of them. And be sure to check back as addtional photos are posted.
NATIONAL MASTERS THIS WEEKEND
The National Masters Indoor Championships runs at the Reggie Lewis Center in Boston Friday through Sunday, March23-25. Over 750 athletes from age 30 to 90 are entered in the meet, which is in Boston for the fifth straight year. Time schedule and results can be found at www.tracs.net.
JAMES JOYCE RAMBLE 10K ENTRY AVAILABLE
The second NE Championship of 2001, the James Joyce Ramble, takes place on Sunday, April 29. Entry form and other information will be found at www.ramble.org
*** POSTPONEMENT of Merrimack River Trail Race ***
New Date: April 14, 9AM
The Merrimack River 10 Mile Trail Race in Andover MA, a sanctioned event, has been postponed until April 14. The 30 inches of snow received last week plus the cover already on the trail has made the trail non-raceable. If you have already signed up for the race, and cannot (or wish not to) run on April 14, a refund can be requested from the race director.
DWYER LEADS REEBOK BOSTON TO 1/2 MARATHON TITLE; TUCKER, BAA WIN WOMEN'S DIVISION
(March 11) Jack Dwyer won the Law Enforcement 1/2 Marathon in Melrose MA, the first stop on the 2001 USATF-NE Championship Grand Prix. Dwyer, winner of this event in 1999 as well, won in 1:07:51, a 30 second margin. Grace Tucker of Greater Lowell topped the women's field in 1:21:13 with the B.A.A. taking the team title.
The Whirlaway RT duo of Craig Fram and Maggie Murray, second and fourth overall, were the masters individual winners and led the club to masters team titles as well. Complete results at www.coolrunning.com
GRAY EARNS SILVER MEDAL AT WORLD INDOOR CHAMPIONSHIPS
(March 9-11) Trinity Gray (Nike/Providence) ran on the silver medal winning 4 x 400 relay at the World Indoor championships in Lisbon, Portugal last weekend. The team ran 3:04.64, finishing second behind Poland. He had to fill in on the relay after an original member went down with injury; the Brown alum was there for the 800 meters, the event which he won at the USA Championships. Gray recorded times of 1:47.59 in the trial round and 1:47.90 in the semi-final, not quite fast enough to advance to the finals. In both races, as is his style, he led through 600 meters. Running for his native Ireland, Mark Carroll (Nike/Providence) finished seventh in a very competitive 3000 meters, clocking 7:46.79 (after 7:53.64 in the trials).
For the women, Jennifer Toomey (Reebok Boston/Salem MA) was the sole US runner in the 800 in her first appearance in a USA uniform. She ran 2:05.55 in her first round heat. Tasha Downing (Brockton MA) ran on the fourth-place USA 4 x 400 relay which clocked 3:32.76. Harvard's Dory Gyorffy took fifth in the high jump at 1.93m. Boston College senior Shannon Smith won the 3000 meters in 9:11.25. (Three other New England connections had strong showings, with Dartmouth grad Adam Nelson won the silver medal in the shot put (20.72m/ ). U.Conn alum Dudley Dorival (Haiti) finished seventh in the hurdles (7.73), and former Yale hurdler Peter Coghlan (Ireland) made it to the hurdle semi-final. Full results at www.iaaf.org
DONNELLY, CHISHUM TOP 5 IN USA 15K
(March 11) Mike Donnelly (New Balance/Providence) and Kristin Chisum (Reebok Boston/Wayland MA) took top five placings at the USATF 15K Championship held with the Gate River Run in Jacksonville FL. Donnelly ran 44:31 to finish fourth and earn $2000, while Chishum, who will be heading to the World Cross Country Championships at the end of the month, finished fifth in 50:27 to take home $1000.
HIGH SCHOOLERS EARN NATIONAL WINS The Nike Scholstic
Invitational (MD) and the New Balance Scholastic Indoor meet (NY) are the two season ending meets for high schoolers, both held last weekend. Two locals left no doubt as to the dominant athlete in their events, as Samantha Shepard (Weston MA) and Kate Johnston (Warwick RI) won both meets. Shepard once again broke the high school record in the pole vault in the second meet, clearing 13'3 1/2"; Johnston was a double winner in the 20 lb weight throw. Laura Gerraughty (Nashua NH) won the shot put in a meet record in Maryland. Summary of New England association "All-Americans" will be on our track page.
LOCAL COLLEGIANS TAKE NATIONAL HONORS
(March 9-10) Kart Siilats of Harvard won the NCAA Division I Women's high jump crown (6'3/4"), and Boston HS product Monique Tubbs, now running at U.Jacksonville, won the 60 meters in 7.29 Former Brookline HS star Jonathon Riley placed fourth in the 5000 and third in the 3000.
At the Division II meet, held held at the Reggie Lewis Track in Boston, U.Mass/Lowell teammates Eric Sherry, Jill Croft, and Therese Duncan earned all-American honors.
In Division III, Wheaton College women won the team championship, while Wheaton's Raheim Greenidge won triple jump and took second in the high jump on the men's side. Results of all three are at www.ncaa.org
THROWERS CLINIC ON MARCH 17
USATF-NE and M.I.T. Women's Track will present a Throwers' Clinic on Saturday, March 17, from 3:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. at the M.I.T. Indoor Track Facility. It will be led by Tom Petranoff. The clinic will focus on building a year-round training program, and present drills and workouts for the outdoor throwing events. It is open to all athletes age 14 and up; masters are encouraged to participate. Sign up on clinic day; $5 for USATF members; $7 for non-members.
THREE NEW ENGLANDERS HEAD FOR WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS
March 2-3, Georgia Dome, Atlanta. -- Congratulations to Tasha Downing, (Shore AC), Jennifer Toomey, (Reebok Boston) and Trinity Gray (Nike) on their performances at the 2001 Pontiac Grand Prix USA Indoor Track & Field Championships. Downing took third place in the Women's 400 meter dash, with at time of 53.19. Toomey took third place in the 800 meter run with a time of 2:03.62. In the Men's 800 meter run, Gray took third place with a time of 1:48.23. The threesome will represent the United States at the 2001 IAAF World Indoor Track & Field Championships in Lisbon, Portugal, to be held this weekend. Full results are available at USATF.ORG.
RECORD SETTING DAY AT USATF NE INDOOR CHAMPIONSHIP
Mark Carroll (3:54.5) and Amy Rudolph (4:32.2) set meet records in the mile at the USATF New England Indoor Championships at Boston University on Sunday. Tom Dalton set a pending US Masters record in the 5000 (14:42.36) and Harvard's Dora Gyorffy jumped 6'5" to qualify for the World Indoor Championships.
Results of the USATF NE Indoor Championship are available by clicking here.
USATF NE INDOOR CHAMPIONSHIP FEB 17
Please note the following changes to the schedule:
- Pole Vault - starts at 12:30
- 5000 - 12:40
- Walk - 1:20
- Hurdles 1:40
- Open Mile 1:50
HS Throws Coach Needed
Concord-Carlisle (Mass.) HS is looking for a throws coach for the outdoor season. 5 days a week is preferred, but it is flexible. Contact Stephen Lane, (617) 288-7007
NEW BALANCE INVITATIONAL BRINGS TALENT FEB. 4
The Fifth annual New Balance Invitational will run on Sunday afternoon, February 4 at the Reggie Lewis Track and Athletic Center in Boston, with the first gun at 3:00 p.m. (following the Mass HS Coaches Invitational). Over 40 Olympians will be in attendance, including Olympic Gold Medalist in the pole vault, Stacy Dragila. The feature track event will likely be the 3000 meters, where former Mass. HS state champions and now top collegians Jonathon Riley, Andy Powell, and Franklin Sanchez will meet wearing their collegiate colors. The meet opens with a masters mile with a field of top regional runners.
For tickets, contact Global Athletics at 617 536 7030.
RECORDS FOR GERRAUGHTY, LEDERMAN
New England girls set a pair of high school indoor records over the past weekend. On Friday at the New Hampshire HS Indoor League meet, held at the University of New Hampshire, Laura Gerraughty of Nashua NH set a new best in the shot put. The top ranked scholastic thrower of 2000 recorded a distance of 53'11", shattering the old mark of 52'5 3/4" set by Heather Colyer of East Juniata HS in Cocolamus PA set in 1997. Saturday, at the Brandeis (Waltham MA) Invitational, Molly Lederman upped her own record in the pole vault by 1/2". Competing for Air Time Athletics, as New Jewish HS in Waltham has no team, the junior cleared 13'1" (3.99 meters) to raise her own mark of 13'1/2" set on December 19.
GR.BOSTON TC INVITATIONAL RESULTS
Results of the Janaury 21 meet can be found at www.gbtc.org
Former UConn Standout Dies During Training Run
Former Newburyport, Mass. star runner and U.Conn All-American Travis Landreth collapsed and died suddenly of apparent heart failure during a training run in California on Friday. Landreth was 24 years old and a member of the Nike Farm Team. He represented the USA in the World Junior Cross Country Championships and the Pan American Junior Track & Field Championships in 1997. Our sympathies go out to his family.
LOCALS RUN WELL IN IRELAND
Four New England runners scored well in the Ras na hEireann (Race of Ireland) international cross country race on Sunday. Amy Lyman (BAA) placed 5th in the women's 5K, won by Olympian Colleen deReuck. Artie Gilkes (Reebok Boston) was top man in 10th, followed by Justin Niedzialek (BAA) in 11th and Sandu Rebenciuc (GSH) in 13th. Irish counties champion Seamus Power and Olympian Mark Carroll (Providence RI) went 1-2. Their trip was sponsored by the race and by USATF-NE, with selection based on their finish at the New England championships in November. Check www.Irishrunner.com for a story.
MASTERS RELAY BESTS FOR GATE CITY AND LIBERTY
Two local masters teams recorded pending US and World indoor age group bests in the 4 x 1600 meter relay which was run as part of the Boston U. All-Comers meet on January 6.
The Gate City Striders men's age 60+ team turned in a time of 24:55.7, bettering the listed mark of 27:30.0 set by the Syracuse Chargers in 1981. Based out of Nashua NH, the Striders foursome consisted of Bill Engle (age 69, 6:38.2), Eldon Birkinshaw (62, 6:16.3), Jack Kick (68, 6:08.9) and Bill Spencer (64, 5:52.3).
Liberty AC's Women 50+ quartet (from the Greater Boston area) of Deb Bullerjahn (age 51, 6:18.9), Anne Igoe (51, 7:05.3), Andrea Hatch (57, 7:36.3), and Regina Wright (58, 7:01.9) combined for a time of 28:02.4. No other women's team in this age group has recorded an approved time in the event.
NE INDOOR CHAMPIONSHIP MEET - FEBRUARY 18
The USATF-New England Indoor Championship meet entry form is now available. The meet will be held at the Boston University Armory track facility on Sunday, February 18, from 1:00 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. The team and individual entry forms can be found at the track page.
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