USATF-NE Headline News

BAA Women's team is December's Athlete of the Month.
(Photo: Courtesy of Mike McGrane, BAA)

By virtue of winning the USA Fall Cross Country Championship meet, the Boston Athletic Association Women's Cross Country Team is USA Track & Field - New England's Athlete of the Month for December 2014 following an outstanding month of distance running.

The quintet of Sarah Pagano, Juliet Botorff, Elaina Balouris, Jen Rhines, and Emily Lipari, backed by displacers Katie Matthews and Heather Cappello, scored 43 points to edge Bounder Running Club by 5 points in a field of 38 teams at the meet held in Bethlehem Pennsylvania on December 13. Nationals capped a clean sweep of major harrier events this fall after wins at the Mayor's Cup in October and the USATF-NE Championship meet in November.

Check out the full list of USATF-NE Athletes of the Month.

USATF membership is annual and runs through December 31. Unless you obtained your membership after November 1, or have a multi-year membership, it's time to renew. You can check if you're current at the National Member Lookup page.

The membership remains at $30 for those over 18, and $20 for youth age 18 and under. Current membership provides the opportunity to participate and score in USATF events and series throughout the year, offers discounts at the USATF online store, other businesses, and some New England events, it provides a level of sport accident insurance, and supports our many New England programs.

You can renew online or download a form to mail in.

The 4th Annual Awards Banquet and Social takes place on Saturday, January 17, at the Montvale Plaza function hall in Stoneham, Mass. The event kicks off at 6:00 pm with a cocktail hour and appetizers, followed by dinner with guest speaker and awards presentation.

The evening will feature awards for Road, Track & Field, Cross Country, Mountain/Ultra/Trail and Race Walking series and circuits, along with special awards. Series divisional winners will receive awards.

Individual tickets are $35 which includes hors d'oeuvres, dinner and entertainment. Ten person tables may be reserved by clubs for $300.

Full banquet information and ticket order forms can be found at the awards page. Individual tickets and table tickets are available by mail using the banquet ticket request form.

We hope to see you all there. Questions can be directed to awards@usatfne.org.

The 20th annual USATF-NE mountain circuit is now finalized, and the 2015 series will include 8 races. Changes include addition of the Mount Greylock road race, and the “mountain goat” requirement change to best 6 out of 8 races. Goat status comes with not only bragging rights but a lottery by-pass into the following years Mt Washington Road Race.

The 2015 schedule:
May 17 - Sleepy Hollow
May 23 - Wachusett
June 7 - Pack Monadnock
June TBA - Ascutney
July 5 - Loon Mountain Race / USATF-NE Championships
July 12 - Cranmore Hill Climb
Sept 6 - Mt. Greylock Road Race
Oct 3 - Bretton Woods Fell Race

Circuit final scoring from 2014 and series history can be found a t www.usatfne.org/trail. Links/info on all the series races will also be posted there shortly.

The 2015 USATF-NE Grand Prix Series will cover all four states in the association, as final voting results provided clear event choices with no run-offs necessary. A record 582 members cast votes to produce the following schedule:

Feb 22, Five College Realtors 10 miler, Amherst, MA
Mar 15, New Bedford Half Marathon, New Bedford, MA
May 24, Peoples United Bank Vermont City Marathon, Burlington VT
Jun 11, Hollis Fast 5km, Hollis NH
Aug 9, Bobby Doyle 5 mile, Narragansett RI
Sep 6, Seasons 20km, Acton MA
Sep 20, Lone Gull 10 km, Gloucester, MA

The Peoples United Vermont City Marathon, Bobby Doyle 5 Mile, and Seasons 20 km will be first time championships. The Grand Prix page will be updated within a day with specifics and links on all series races.

BAA Women's team win the USATF National Cross Country Championship.
(photo: BAA)

With a strong 5-runner performance, Boston Athletic Association women won the 2014 USA Cross Country Nationals held at Lehigh University in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania, on Saturday. Led by New England champ Sarah Pagano, Juliet Bottorff, and Elaina Balouris in sixth, ninth, and tenth, respectively, the B.A.A. scored 50 points ahead of Boulder (CO) Running Company's 58. The runners-up were ahead through 4 runners, but the fifth runners made the difference for the title. Jen Rhines and Emily Lipari (19/20 overall) completed the B.A.A. scoring; the trophy adds to their women's titles in 1998, 2000, and 2006. New Balance Boston A just missed the hardware finishing sixth with 245 points as 43 teams scored.

In the men's 10K race, the B.A.A. placed second with 116 in the massive field of 72 teams. They were led by Dan Lowry in 15th and had 3 other scorers in the top 26. Zap Fitness of North Carolina was the men's team winner.

The B.A.A. M40 men continued the podium parade in placing third, led by Chris Magill in seventh, Pete Hammer in 12th, and Mike Galoob in 14th.

Complete results of all divisions at usatf.org

Caroline Fischer and Sentinel Striders ran to the highest local finishes at the USATF Junior Olympic Cross Country Championships in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina, on Saturday. Close to 3000 competitors from around the country took part.

Fischer, running for Granite State Flash, was runner-up in the 11-12 girls race; matching her place at Nationals 2 years ago in the younger division. That paced her club to a fourth place team score. The 11-12 girls was one of 2 races with over 400 finishers, the first time the meet has seen those numbers in one event.

Sentinel Striders, led by Adam Petti in 11th, made the team medal podium with a bronze medal in the boys 17-18 race.

Two other top ten individual placings were earned by New England runners; Sam Toolin, Sentinel Striders, was 5th in 13-14, the largest boys race with 405 runners, and Liara Foley of Shaftsbury, Vermont placed 10th in the 9-10 Girls.

New England Club placings and the top individual in each race:
7-8 Girls: 20.Iris East, Haverhill Elite; 8.Granite State Flash
9-10 Girls: 10.Liara Foley, Shaftsbury VT; 15.Nashua PAL
11-12 Girls: 2.Caroline Fischer, Granite State; 4.Granite State Flash (421 finishers)
13-14 Girls: 11.Violet Sullivan, Granite State; 4.Granite State Flash
15-16 Girls: 18.Claire Hanlon, Sentinels; 7.Nashua PAL
17-18 Girls: 15.Stephanie Mattson, Sentinels

7-8 Boys: 68.Logan Lucas, Granite St; 9.Granite State Flash
9-10 Boys: 19.Blake Santos, Sentinels; 11.Sentinel Striders
11-12 Boys: 12.Sean Kay, North Shore Striders; 6.Sentinel Striders
13-14 Boys: 5.Sam Toolin, Sentinels; 7.Nashua PAL 405 finishers
15-16 Boys:45.Mathiew Vinacco, Sentinels; 6.Sentinel Striders
17-18 Boys: 11.Adan Petti, SS; 3.Sentinel Striders

Results of all 12 races are at usatf.org

With a pair of marathon wins in a three week span, Dan Vassallo of Central Mass Striders (Peabody MA) is USA Track & Field - New England's Athlete of the Month for November 2014.

To begin the month on November 2, Vassallo won the USA Track & Field - New England championship at the City of Manchester Marathon, clocking 2:31:08 in windy and raw conditions, moving him into second in the 2014 USATF-NE GP final standings. That was a prelude to breaking the tape at the Philadelphia Marathon on November 23, where his time of 2:17:28 in cool weather bettered the 2016 US Olympic Trials qualifying standard; the time was a personal best time by almost 4 minutes.

Check out the full list of USATF-NE Athletes of the Month.

Four local runners took advantage of a time-friendly course at the Cal International Marathon in Sacramento on Sunday to secure qualifying times for the 2016 US Olympic Trials Marathon. In the women's division, three personal bests produced qualifier performances; Kaitlin Gregg Goodman (Providence RI) placed 9th in 2:39, Laura Hagley (Millennium Running/Lebanon NH) was 11th in 2:39:55, and Laura Paulsen (Gr.Boston TC/Cambridge MA) was one place behind in 2:39:57. From the men's results, Tyler Andrews (Concord MA) was 11th in 2:16:59, also a personal best.

New England states runners earned trips to the two major high school national races on Saturday at qualifying races in New York. At the 35th FootLocker Northeast Championships on the Van Cortlandt Park course in New York City, Connecticut runners Alex Ostberg (Darien) and Ari Klau (West Hartford) placed one-three, with Eli Moskowitz (Amherst NH) seventh and gaining a spot on the starting line for Nationals. In the girls' race, Hannah DeBalsi (Staples/Westport CT) finished second with three time RI state champion Emma McMillan (Barrington RI) third. Joining them in San Diego will be Erin Dietz (5th, Bedford MA), and Gabrielle Richichi (New Fairfield CT, 9th). The top 10 in each race qualified for the finals in San Diego CA on December 13. Results and stories.

Up the road at Bowdoin Park in Wappingers Falls NY, harriers battled in the Nike Cross Nationals Northeast Qualifier. LaSalle RI ran away with the boys team win led by sophomore David Principe, Jr in eighth and Matthew Bouthillette in ninth. P.J.Garmon (Billerica MA) was top NE runner in seventh, and may make the trip depending on at-large team selections affecting runner ahead of him.

Girls results also produced local qualifiers, with Black Bears of Coe-Brown NH placing second for an automatic national berth; they were paced by the duo of Elisabeth Danis in fifth and Hannah Parker in seventh. The LaSalle Girls were third and await an at-large bid. Two individuals were in the automatic 5 - top NE finisher Eleanor Lawler (South Kingstown RI) in fourth and Maegan Doody (Lee NH/Oyster River HS) in eighth. Nike Cross National finals are in Portland OR on December 13. More on NXN

Online voting for the USATF New England 2015 Grand Prix Road Race series by USATF members (age 18 and older) is open November 26 through December 12, 2014 at 8:00 p.m. Please review the Bid Comparison Sheet to read more about the outstanding road races which have bid for next year’s Grand Prix. Each bidder’s full application is also available for viewing on the USATF-NE website. While on the website, please utilize the 2015 Bid Selection Worksheet, as voting is by choosing individual races from groupings by distances this year (not by slate).

The Worksheet will enable voters to see all 19 bidders and their date conflicts with other bidding races on one form as well as the important balloting rules. Please use this as a guide while using the online ballot. Date conflict rules must be followed when voting or the voter’s ballot will not be counted. Current USATF membership is required and members (must be at least age 18) can vote only once.

Please use this link to vote.

USATF Junior Olympic Region I Cross Country.
(USATF-NE photo)

USATF New England youth runners turned in a strong showing at the USATF Junior Olympic Region I Cross Country championship at the Cony High School XC Course in Augusta Maine. Association runners were up to the competition presented from the 5 other associations qualifiers over the six age divisions on the challenging and sometimes slippery route.

New Englanders composed nearly half of the fields in the twelve separate races and association clubs scored the majority of the spots earning entry into the National meet in three weeks. New England clubs swept the top 5 places in girls' 13-14 race. Sentinel Striders had 4 age division team wins in the boys' races, Granite State Flash had two girls' team wins, and Nashua PAL Striders won one race. Greater Lowell, NC Surge, Team RUN, Waltham TC, and Winooski Runners also had at least one top 5 team finish.

Four association runners were individual race winners - Gabrielle McMahon (Cambridge Jets, 8/Under), Caroline Fischer (Granite State, 11-12), Eleanor Lawler (Sentinels, 13-14), and Samuel Toolin (Sentinel Striders, 13-14) - with many other New England top 3 finishes

The top 5 teams and other runners in the top 30 qualified for the JO Nationals in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina on December 13. Results are linked at usatfne.org/cross/.

Though skies were overcast, performances were bright at Sunday's USATF-New England Junior Olympic Cross Country Championship at Freestyle Farm in Amherst NH. Over 950 entries produced 882 finishers in age groups from 8 and under to 17-18. A new time schedule made for efficient operations.

Three races had 14 scoring teams, and some new clubs broke into the ranks of regional advancers. Winning clubs included Granite State Flash (G9-10, G11-12, G13-14), Greater Lowell RR (B-8 & under), Nashua PAL Striders (G-8 & under,G15-16), and Sentinel Striders (B9-10, B11-12, B13-14, B15-16, B17-18). The top 5 teams and individuals in the top 30 advance to the Region I meet in Maine next Sunday.

Regional entry starts Tuesday morning. Results

Molly Huddle (Providence RI) moved ahead of the pack after 5K and ran on to victory in 31:57 at the .us USA National 12K Road Racing Championship in Alexandria VA. Ten seconds back in second was Providence College runner Emily Sisson, her second top 5 finish in a US Road Championship since September. The Providence College senior will run track for the Friars, but with no cross country eligibility, opted to test the road scene this fall. B.A.A. runners Elaina Balouris (sixth), Juliet Bottorff (seventh), and Jen Rhines (14th) gave New England runners a most impressive showing.

The race brought the 2014 USA Running Circuit to a close, with Huddle winning the circuit over Sarah Hall 75-61, and Sisson sixth in the standings. Full results

The Boston Athletic Association was front and center in the three races of the USATF-New England Cross Country Championships at Franklin Park on Sunday. The blue and gold won the Open Women, Open Men, and M40+ team races with individual winners in those divisions as well.

The B.A.A. women returned to the winner's circle for the first time since 2011 by impressively scoring a perfect 15 with the first 5 finishers across the line in the women's 6K. Led by Sarah Pagano in 20:45 (fastest New England time since 2003), the scorers were bunched within 3 seconds, as New Balance Boston scored 53 in second. Fifth placer Jen Rhines was also first 40+. Masters women ran the same 6K, and Western Mass Distance Project took gold among W40+ teams.

In the Open Men's 10K, the Unicorn men scored 19 points ahead of NBB's 36, led by Ethan Shaw and Dan Lowry in 1-2, with the former clocking 30:07, as 113 finished the 5 loop course. The Masters men's 8K race found B.A.A runners Mike Galoob (26:26), Chris Magill, and Pete Hammer 1-2-3 after their homestretch sprint, and a 16-61 margin over Greater Springfield

Liberty AC was first team for Women 50+, 60+, and 70+; Central Mass Striders (M50+) and Greater Boston TC (M60+) round out masters division winners.

Results of all races. Grand Prix standings will be updated by Tuesday, with the final event at the Warrior Run in Brookline MA on November 30.

Mia Cromwell (Manchester-Essex) wins the 7th grade race.
(USATF-NE photo)

Lexington turned in an unprecedented double at the sixth annual USATF-New England-hosted Massachusetts Middle School Invitational Championship on Saturday. The meet returned to the spectator friendly two loop course on Willard Field in Devens, site of the first MA Middle School Invitational.

Three grade races - 8, 7, and 5-6 - were followed by a team championship race for both boys and girls. Diamond of Lexington took gold in both the boys and girls championships, with in-town rival Clarke second on both races, the first time such a double 1-2 has been recorded in the event. Taking 3rd on the boys' side was defending champ Acton-Boxborough, with Hale MS (Stow) taking bronze for the girls.

Top times across the day were turned in by Ashley Foley (Briscoe MS, Beverly) from the 8th grade race and Will Kritzer (Bigelow, Newton) in the boy's championship. The meet saw almost 1600 finishers.

Results of all races.

With the Manchester Marathon closing the 2014 Road Racing Grand Prix, the final results have been reviewed and Central Mass Striders and Millennium Running top the Men's and Women's Open team standings.

With the top 4 men's teams within 3 points before the marathon, the long run closed the lists just as closely. CMS earned a 84-83 victory over Western Mass Distance Project based on the final race; Men's Open results stood based on the official results of Manchester with no adjustment for the course issue. Whirlaway was third with 82, and Greater Boston fourth with 81. Ruben Sanca (Whirlaway) captured the mens' individual title with quality placings in just 5 races to top the charts.

Millennium Running women became the first New Hamshire based club ever to top the open series lists, not needing to score to maintain their lead that they held from the first race of the year. Marathon winner Denise Sandahl led Millennium's scorers by winning the women's open division individual title.

In the age divisions, CMS also won the Men 40+, with Whirlaway taking three divisions - M50+, W40+ and W50+. Other winners were Greater Lowell (M60+), North Shore Striders (M70+), and Gate City Striders (W60+). Check out the full team and individual standings at Grand Prix page.

You'll also find the bids submitted for consideration in the 2015 Series. Slates and online voting dates will be announced by the end of the November.

Jen Rhines of the Boston Athletic Association (Boston MA) is USA Track & Field - New England's Athlete of the Month for October 2014 following an outstanding month of distance running.

The 40 year old scored top places in several masters and open competitions. On October 5, Rhines won USATF Masters 5K Championship at the Syracuse Festival of Races in one of the five fastest times run on the course. A week later at the Tufts 10K for Women in Boston, she won the masters division and finished 12th overall. Her time of 32:33 broke the USA masters 10K road record by 17 seconds, and contributed to the B.A.A. efforts in winning USA Women's 10K Team Championship. On October 26 at the Mayor's Cup Cross Country Races, she was the first master and 3rd overall finisher in the Women's 5K Championship race where the B.A.A. won the team title.

Rhines is three-time USA Olympian in three different events - the 10,000m at Sydney in 2000, the marathon at Athens in 2004, and the 5000m at Beijing in 2008. Check out the full list of USATF-NE Athletes of the Month.

The 2014 USATF-NE Road Race Grand Prix series wrapped up at the Manchester City Marathon. A forecast of potential rain and snow did not materialize, but steady winds and strong gusts that literally blew runners off of a straight running line at times tested the mettle of the 400+ marathoners and double the number of accompanying half marathoners.

Men's winner Dan Vassallo (Central Mass Striders) broke the tape in 2:31:08, though benefiting from misdirection of three runners ahead of him just after 24 miles. CMS also has the M40+ and M50+ victors in Alan Bernier and Martin Tighe, with Tom Peters (M60+, GLRR), Joe Noonan (M70+, GCS), and Larry Cole (CCAC) rounding out divisional NE champions.

Millennium Running had one of the largest leads ever seen in the women's open standings and did not need to contest the race with a full squad, so Denise Sandahl had plenty of support from her teammates around the course during a race-long battle for the win. Sandahl clocked 2:51:04, most impressive given the conditions, and also just a minute slower than her result at the Hartford Marathon just three weeks before. Barbara McManus (CMS, 40+) and Karen McGahie (CMS, 50+), and Leanne Ward (GCS. 60+) took masters NE golds.

While some divisions for both individual and team scoring were were already clinched before the race, several came down to this final event. Final standings will be totaled, verified, and posted on the GP page early this week. There are 76 Ironrunners; check the 2014 Ironrunner list and let the office know of any corrections needed.

Complete individual and team results are at linmarksports.com.

The Cross Country Committee of USATF-New England is offering subsidized bus transportation to the USA Fall Cross Country Championships running on Saturday, December 13, in Bethlehem PA. Buses will depart from 3 locations on Friday morning, December 12, bring athletes to the open and masters Championship Race course on December 13, and return on Sunday, December 14. Cost of the round trip bus transportation is $30. The trip is open to current USATF New England members age 18 and over.

Sign-up is online only, and the fee is not refundable. Each bus has a 55 traveler limit, and only one bus will depart from each of the three stations - Woburn MA, Westwood MA, and Springfield MA. Individuals are responsible for their own lodging.

The trip itinerary, details, and the link to online registration are found at the cross country page, www.usatfne.org/cross.

Meet director Mark Wetmore, Reggie Lewis Center director Keith McDermott, RCC President Dr. Valerie Robinson, and 2014 USA Indoor Pole Vault Champion Mary Saxer present a plaque of RLTAC highlights to Governor Deval Patrick.
(Photo: Courtesy Roxbury Community College)

The USA Track & Field Indoor Championships will return to Boston February 27-March 1 at the Reggie Lewis Center. "The Reggie" on the campus of Roxbury Community College was the site of the 2003-2009 meet and saw several national and world records fall in that span.

The announcement comes as the facility undergoes upgrades and renovations thanks to a $4 million award from Governor Deval Patrick. The project scope calls for a resurfacing of the track and infield, upgades to the HVAC, a refurbished entrance, and new audio visual equipment including a video scoreboard.
"The Reggie Lewis Center is a truly incredible community resource that continues its record of hosting world-class track and field events," said Governor Patrick. "Our investments in the Center have ensured that Roxbury Crossing remains the prime destination for track and field in Massachusetts and all of New England for many years to come."

The meet will be managed for USATF by Mark Wetmore and Global Athletics, directors of the New Balance Indoor Grand Prix held at the facility in February. The Reggie Lewis Center will be celebrating its 20th season in 2015; it hosts over 90 high school, collegiate, and open meets annually.

2014 Mayor's Cup Cross Country
(Photo: Jenn Brooks, Cape Ann Distance Project)

Exciting races played out at the 24th Mayor's Cup, presented by the B.A.A. and adidas, at Franklin Park on Sunday, with athletes competing in races at the youth, open, and masters levels. The Boston Athletic Association claimed Men's and Women's Championship team titles, while also taking home top honors in the Franklin Park 5-K.
In the women's 5-K Championship race, Canada's Rachel Hannah (U.Toronto TC) made a decisive move on Bear Cage Hill in the second mile to break the race open. member cruised on to the win, stopping the clock at 16:37. Taking second place in 16:47 was Juliet Bottorff, leading the Boston Athletic Association to the team title with a score of 15 points; five B.A.A. finishers placed in the top ten.

In 2013, Great Britain's Mitch Goose placed third at the Mayor's Cup Men's Championship 8-K. This year he was determined to come back and claim the top spot, which he did in 23:46. Racing for The Manhattan Project, Goose left the field behind after speeding up at the five kilometer mark. Reebok's Robert Mack was second in 23:50, followed by the B.A.A.'s Ethan Shaw, third in 24:00. Led by Shaw, the B.A.A. won the men's team title with 30 points. "I think we put it together very good," said Shaw, the top American at this month's B.A.A. Half Marathon.

The Franklin Park 5-K was won by Bryan Marsh in 15:44 and Ravenna Neville in 19:25.

Youth races were held for children ages 10 and under, 11-12, and 13-14. Sam Toolin (Sentinel Striders) and Michaela Jones (Waltham Track Club) had the fastest boys and girls times of the day for the 1.1-mile course, 5:34 and 6:16, respectively; both were winners in the 13-14 division. Three clubs accounted for the six team winners: Waltham TC (Girls 10/under and 13-14), Granite State Flash (Girls 11-12, Boys 13-14) New Haven Age Group (Boys 10/under and 11-12) Over 400 youth crossed the finish line, the largest number in race history.

Results for the 24th Mayor's Cup, presented by the B.A.A. and adidas, can be found at BAA.org or on CoolRunning.com.

The Mayor's Cup began in 1990 and the B.A.A., in partnership with adidas, has supported the event since 1997. Over that time, the event has grown to include multiple races for athletes of all abilities, has become one of the premier cross country meets on the East Coast, and has been regarded as an important tune-up for the USA Fall National Cross Country Championship. The Mayor's Cup is directed by USA Track & Field - New England with the cooperation of Boston Parks & Recreation.

The 2015 USATF Indoor Championships will return to Boston February 27-March 1 at the Reggie Lewis Track and Athletic Center, USATF announced Wednesday. “The Reggie”, on the campus of Roxbury Community College, was the site of the 2003-2009 USA Indoor Championships.

“We’re excited to have the USATF Indoor Championships return to the Reggie Lewis Center, and to continuing our great collaborative relationship with USATF and Global Athletics,” said Keith McDermott, director of the Reggie Lewis Center. “With our new Mondo Super X 720 surface, we expect more great performances than ever.” The Reggie Lewis Track and Athletic Center will be celebrating its 20th season in 2015.

The B.A.A. won the USA National 10K Team Championship at the Tufts 10K for Women.
SV photo

The 38th annual Tufts 10K for Women found over 5000 runners completing the traditional scenic urban course on Columbus Day. The race served as the USATF Club Team National Championship, and the gold medals stayed in the hometown with the Boston Athletic Association. The trio of Katie Matthews, Jen Rhies, and Juliet Bottoroff finished within 15 seconds from 32:23 to 32:38 in places 9-13 to win by over 2 minutes. Teams from 5 states took the top 5 positions with 12 clubs scoring.

One of the deepest fields in recent years found 51 runners under 38:00 and 70 under 40:00. A lead pack of 25 at one mile whittled down to four in the final mile and then two around the final turn when Jordan Hasay of Oregon outlegged Caroline Rotich by 2 seconds in a stellar 31:39, just 6 seconds off the course record, and the third fastest time in race history. Top new England finisher was Emily Sisson of Providence College in fifth; the Lady Friar is out of cross country eligibility but still has a collegiate track season remaining.

In 12th place, Jen Rhines set a new pending USA masters record of 32:33, breaking the previous mark by 17 seconds.

The usually busy Columbus Day weekend produced lots of quality of running in the association and beyond.
Saturday's 102nd running of the New England Intercollegiate Cross Country Championships at Franklin Park - celebrating the 100th anniversary of cross country meets in the park - found New Hampshire women repeating at the top of the rankings, and cross-town rivals Providence and Brown tied for the men's win with 72 points. Junior Mike Biwott (American International) made it three NE championships in a row, running unchallenged after the first mile, and sophomore Elinor Purrier of UNH confidently led the women's field. Results at neicaaa.org.

On a picture perfect Sunday for racing, Ethiopians Mamitu Daska and Lelisa Desisa were crowned champions at the 14th B.A.A. Half Marathon, presented by Dana-Farber Cancer Institute and the Jimmy Fund. Daska established a new event record of 1:08:20, while Desisa earned his second consecutive B.A.A. Half Marathon victory in 1:01:38, the first male to ever win the race twice.

Stephen Sambu, champion of this year's B.A.A. 10K, took home the B.A.A. Distance Medley series title for the second consecutive year, with lowest cumulative time for the B.A.A. 5K (13:27), 10K (27:25), and Half Marathon (1:02:00).

The top American finisher was Ethan Shaw of the B.A.A. in eighth in 1:05:10, and Molly Huddle (Providence) third in 1:09:23. Results at baa.org.

In Chicago on Sunday, Amy Hastings (Providence) was first American and fifth overall at the Bank of America Chicago Marathon, matching her PR of 2:27:03.

B.A.A teammates Brian Harvey (Boston) and Eric Ashe (Boston) recorded personal bests and top 10 finishes at Sunday’s USATF Marathon Championships, hosted by the Medtronic Twin Cities Marathon in Minneapolis. Harvey clocked 2:17:05 and Ashe 2:17:56 while placing 8th and 10th, respectively.

Sheri Piers (Dirigo RC/Falmouth ME) won the USA Women's Masters Marathon title in 2:42:46, with teammate Kristin Barry taking third in 2:52:16; they were 12 and 19 overall in the open women's ranks.

USATF press release

Just 2 weeks after placing 8th in the USA Open 5K Championship, Jen Rhines (B.A.A./Lexington MA) won the USA Masters 5K Championship held at the Syracuse Festival of Races in Syracuse NY on Sunday. Her 15:58 today was 3 seconds better than her time at the CVS Downtown 5K on September 21.

Winning the W70 division was Jan Holmquist (Liberty AC/Burlington MA) with a 22:16, leading her Liberty team to 2nd place in the W60+ standings. Also on that team were Sue Gustafson (2nd overall W65) and Lenore Webber. Joan Miller (Liberty/Chestnut Hill MA) also brought home a medal, running second W55.

The only New England men's medalist was Milt Schumacher (GCS/N.Scituate RI), third M70 in 21:05.

All the results

Laurie Boemker (Cranston RI/RI TF Officials Guild) will be one of five inductees for the 2014 class entering the USATF National Officials Hall of Fame. The honor is based not only expertise in officiating but making contributions to the promotion of our sport, all inductees having donated time and talents to improving officiating across the country. Laurie, who started officiating while still competing (a USA team member at the Pan American Games), has nearly 40 years of experience in New England and her native Ohio. She's worked from the local youth level to the NCAA Championship and World Championship level and is a National Technical Official.

The induction dinner will take place at the USATF Annual Meeting in Anaheim CA in December.

Seven individuals were newly elected to serve on the USATF New England Board of Governors at the association's Annual Meeting held on Sunday in Newton, Mass. Athlete of the Month presentations opened the afternoon, and following general remarks and short committee meetings, elections took most of the meeting time.

President Tom Derderian won re-election for a second term. Chris Pasko (Wellesley Youth TF Club) will join incumbents Jim Garcia and John Oleski as Vice Presidents. Stephen Peckiconis returns as treasurer, and past president Steve Viegas was elected to fill the Secretary position. All officer positions serve for two years.

Four new sports chairs will join the monthly meetings for 1 year terms. John Barbour (GLRR) and Jan Holmquist (NE 65+ RC) will now head mens's and Masters LDR, respectively, while Lisa Doucett returns to the Women's LDR chair. Franklin Pierce University head coach Zach Emerson earned votes for Track & Field Chair, and Chris Canning (HFC Striders) , who has worked on the sport's programs this fall, is new Cross Country chair. Alex Ivanov (Youth), Paul Kirsch (Mountain/Ultra/Trail), Justin Kuo (Race Walking), and Mike Travers (Masters TF), andwere unopposed to continue in their positions.

Returning Athlete Representative Eric Ashe will be joined by Jim Burgoyne (Twilight Throwers) and Jen Mortimer (Millennium Running). Joel Bergeron (Manchester NH) was named as new Coaches Education Committee coordinator.

There were no by-Law change proposal this year, and a slate of individuals was selected to represent New England at the USATF Annual Meeting in December. Information on the new board members, the various reports presented and distributed at the meeting, and full meeting minutes will be posted in the coming week on the Board page.

Molly Huddle (Providence RI/Saucony) won her third straight and fourth overall USA 5K Championship at Sunday's 25th annual CVSHealth Downtown 5K in Providence. Running on familiar hometown roads with quick early splits among the lead women, Huddle made her decisive move just before 3 miles and up the steep Francis Street hill, turning in a time of 15:10, more impressive given the stiff breezes over the first half of the course. She smartly pulled away from runner-up Jordan Hassay (Oregon Project) for a 15 second margin. Led by Katie Matthews 6th place finish (15:50), the B.A.A. was the convincing team winner. Teammate Jen Rhines was first master, 9th in 16:00.

Leading the field home in RI's largest race (3195 finishers) and winning the USA men's title in a more tactical race was Diego Estrada (Salinas CA). He laid down the best kick for a 13:56.4 time as the top 6 had just a four second spread. Top New England finisher was Julian Saad (Providence) in 9th/14:09. New York AC won the team title with HFC Striders third
More news and results at www.runrhody.com

Entry is still open for Sunday's 25th annual CVSHealth Downtown 5K in Providence, the USA 5K Road Race Championship for both men and women. Leading the women's field is hometown runner and defending champ Molly Huddle, who won national titles in 2010, 2012, and 2013 at the race. Last year's men's champion Andrew Bumbalough will also return to the starting line. There is three places of team money as well.

News and information at www.cvsdowntown5k.com/usatf/

Team RUN convincingly won the men's team race
(Photo: Mark Coddaire)

Amos Sang (Team RUN/Chicopee MA) and Heather Cappello (BAA/Arlington MA) ran to the titles in the USATF-New England 15k Championship held at the Lone Gull 10K in Gloucester MA. Seasonally cool temps made for an excellent racing day despite stiff onshore breezes that were head on in the final mile.

Sang outlegged Ruben Sanca (Whirlaway) by three seconds in the final stretch, recording a time of 30:14, one of the fastest in the New England association this year. With runners finishing 1-3-5-7-11, Team RUN took club honors. Cappello, finishing in 34:45, had 45 seconds on teammate and hometown favorite Katie Misuraca, but that 1-2 finish only contributed to a second place for the BAA as Millenium continued their dominance in the women's team results; the Granite Staters went 3-5-6-8-10 for another victory.

Mike Galoob took another 40+ title in 32:24 and, now with the BAA, led the Unicorns to the age division win. Women's masters winner Regina Loiacano (CMS/Gloucester MA) was 9th overall and her club's top scorer.

The 1261 finishers was a record number for the race. Results and preliminary scores by North Shore Timing Co. can be found at coolrunning.com before final scores are posted at our usatfne.org/gp.

Several New Englanders visited Austria to take part in the 2014 Masters Mountain Running World Championships last weekend. The M35-M50 started in the town of Telfes and covered a 11.5 km (7.1 miles) course that climbed 1,200 meters (3,900’), while he M55-M75 age groups covered a 7.2km course with 760 meters of climb (4.4 miles and 2,500’ of climb). Each 5 year age group started 15 minutes apart.

Eric Blake (W.Hartford CT/La Sportiva) won the M35 division, running 59:31 with no other runner finishing within 3 minutes of that time. The performance bodes well for Blake as he heads to Italy for the (Open) World Mountain Running Championships.

In the M45 competition, Francis Burdett (Gr.Springfield Harriers) finished tenth, running a 1:10:18, Dave Dunham (CMS) finished in eighth place among M50 in 1:10:50, and Len Hall (Gate City Striders) took 34th place in the M60 running 55:38.

Past USATF-NE Mountain Running Chairman Richard Bolt, now in California, finished in 26th in the M40 in 1:15:20. He is serving as manager for the US team at the World Championships. (And current Mountain Running Chair, Paul Kirsch is team manager for the World Junior team.)

In all, over 800 runners from 29 countries contested the event.

GBTC XC Festival
photo: USATF-NE

Sam Alexander and Alyse Rocco won their respective races at the GBTC XC Festival, the first event of the 2014 USATF New England Cross Country Grand Prix. After several days of heat and oppressive humidity. Sunday morning's races at Elm Bank Park in Wellesley, home of the Mass. Horticultural Society, were cool and dry under sunny skies. Five races, including a youth 1.2 mile, citizens 5K, and men's / women's / masters men's 5K made up the morning's schedule.

First placers all had comfortable leads at the tape; Alexander (BAA) had a 9 second margin in the men's race, Rocco (GBTC) was 44 seconds up at the tape in the women's event, and masters race victor Ethan Nedeau (acidotic Racing) was 16 seconds ahead of second. Womens masters gold went to Trish Bourne of Greater Lowell, running 12th overall in the combined open/masters run. Greater Boston TC took the team pie for both men and women in open scoring, as did Greater Lowell for the men and women 40+ divisions.

Results will be found at gbtc.org and GP scoring will be posted at www.usatfne.org/cross.

Bob Arello of North Oxford MA and Lakewood Ranch FL, and the Twilight Throwers, USA Track & Field - New England's Athlete of the Month for August 2014. At the USA Masters Throws Championship held at Holy Cross in Worcester on August 2-3, Bob won three gold medals. His national titles were in the M55-59 throws pentathlon in which he scored 3962 points, the superweight throw, which he tossed 9.12 meters, and the ultraweight pentathlon in which he scored 4120 points. He ranks first in the world in his age group this year in the throws pentathlon and superweight, and is in the world top 5 the shot put, weight throw, and hammer throw as well. Bob runs a multi-state business that has him commuting between branches in Massachusets and Florida, and the company poured one of the new throwing circles used at the meet.

Check out the full list of USATF-NE Athletes of the Month.

Start of the 15K
photo: Jean Cann

Ruben Sanca and Laura Paulsen ran to the titles in the USATF-New England 15k Championship held at the second annual GMAA 15K in South Burlington VT. It was the first NE title race held in the Green Mountain state since the Stowe 8 Miler several years ago.

Sanca clocked 47:10 in wet conditions on the newly certified course, leading his Whirlaway Racing Team to victory, with runner-up Nate Jenkins (47:28) pulling his CMS-men to the second team place. Paulsen, recently moved from Minnesota and representing Greater Boston TC, had 11 seconds on runner-up Denise Sandahl, first of a Millennium Running 2-3-4-5 finish as the New Hampshire squad strengthened their hold on the series lead.

In the masters competition, Mike Galoob continued his perfect record, 55 seconds up on Chris Magill; GMAA won team trophies at 40+ and 50+, with Greater Lowell edging them in 60+. The women's 40+ were led by Kim Loeffler of GMAA, and while the host club had 4 in the top 10, Whirlaway had a better three runner time total. The same teams matched those places in W50, and Gate City was top W60+.

Results were produced by and preliminary scores can be found at 802timing.com before final scores are posted at our usatfne.org/gp.

Hour Record Setter Katie Misuraca(photo from Bill Mullen)

Hour Record Setter Katie Misuraca
photo: Bill Mullen

Records were made to be broken; some just take a bit more time. On Monday evening at Manning Field in Lynn, Katie Misuraca (B.A.A./Gloucester MA) broke the US record for the one hour run - in a women's only race - by covering a distance of 16,021 meters (9.95 miles) in sixty minutes. Overall, the top 7 women bettered the previous mark of 13,792 meters set in 1985. (Long distance US track records are kept separately for both women's only and co-ed races; the overall record, set in a mixed men/women race in 1981, is 17,273 meters by Nancy Conz of Amherst MA.

Long a staple of summer running, the hour was more popular through the late 1980's, when the growth of road running and the 'challenge' of running long distances on a 400 meter track led to the event becoming a rare contest. Illustrating the fact is that all open and masters age group records except one for both men and women were set in 1986 or earlier. The New England revival has come courtesy of the Lynn Parks Department summer track series, which hosted two hour runs this summer.

Also etching a pending mark into the record boards was Jennifer Rapaport (Somerville Road Runners/Melrose MA) who improved the overall women's age 50-54 record with a 14,440 meter performance. And while missing the hour mark, Regina Loiacano (Team Gloucester/Gloucester MA) looks to have improved the 40-44 mark at 15,000 meters (separate records for road and track at long distances).

In the men's race that followed, Somerville Road Runners teammates Chris Smith and Joe O'Leary went 1-2, Smith covering 15,897 meters; that, though, was far off the US record set by New England's own Bill Rodgers back in 1977 in Boston - 20,547 meters. Thanks to directors Joe Abelon and Bill Mullen for bringing the event back, and to the clubs that supported the record run; hour runs will return to Lynn next summer.

Winner Maria Michta-Coffey (left) with the top 3 Juniors at the One Hour Championships
photo: Jonathan McElvery

A pair of US National team members walked to wins at the uSA National One Hour Race Walk Championships at Newell Stadium's New Balance Track in Gloucester, Mass. on Sunday. The meet was hosted by USATF-NE and New England Walkers.

Women's race winner and USA Champion was 2012 Olympian and US 20K Record Holder Maria Michta-Coffey (Walk USA/Nesconset NY) gathering 12,210 meters around the facility's year old seaside oval, outdistancing Erin Taylor-Talcott (Shore AC / Owego NY) by 500 meters. Junior champion honors went to Meaghan Podlaski (Niskayuna NY), who finished fourth overall.

Covering the most distance in sixty minutes in the men's race was Michael Mannozzi (Shore AC / Youngstown OH) with 12,525 meters. He was closely followed most of the way by El Salvadoran Olympian Emerson Hernandez.

The meet also served as the New England Championship race. Local titles went to Ed O'Rourke(Groton MA / New England Walkers) at 10554 meters, and Valentina Vaitones (Derry NH / Golden Spikes TFC) at 8596 meters./p>

Complete race results at the race walk page. A photo gallery will be linked there as well.

Bobby Colantonio is USATF-NE Athlete of the Month.
Photo courtesy of Bob Colantonio

Bobby Colantonio of Barrington, RI, is USA Track & Field - New England's Athlete of the Month for July 2014. On July 23 at the National Junior Olympic Track & Field Championships in Humble, Texas, Bobby won the national title in the hammer throw for the age 15- 16 Boy's Division with a toss of 215-01 (65.56m). This set a new Junior Olympic championship meet record by more than 7 feet, and won the competition by more than 30 feet over the second place thrower.

On July 11, at the USATF Region I Junior Olympic Championships held at Fitchburg State University, Colantonio won the hammer with a mighty throw of 219-07 (66.93m), and in June, he won the New England Junior Olympic meet as well as the Rhode Island State High School Championships, only the second sophomore to do so.

Check out the full list of USATF-NE Athletes of the Month.

USATF NE Road Mile champions Larissa Park and Pat Fullerton (Jean Cann photo)

USATF NE Road Mile champions Larissa Park and Pat Fullerton.
photo by Jean Cann

Pat Fullerton and Larissa Park ran to the titles at the first ever USATF-New England Road Mile Championship at the 24th annual High Street Mile in Newburyport on Sunday morning. Four separate races filled the card, which consisted of a youth mile, open mile, and women's and men's championship races on a certified point-to-point course along the town parade route.

Fullerton (Unattached/Haverhill MA) won the men's event for the second year in a row, clocking 4:03.1, 2+ seconds ahead of new Georgetown grad Andrew Springer of Westerley RI. Masters winner was Christian Blondin (GBTC) in 4:27.8. Host Winners Circle RC was the top club to total 5 finishers. Visiting New York runner Alice Kamunya (Adirondack AC) was a runaway winner of the women's race in 4:40.2. Park (Somerville Road Runners/Marblehead MA) was third overall in 5:25.7, with masters champ Kelly Bradbury (Winner Circle) clocking 5:47.6

Thanks to the Winners Circle for hosting the first of what should become an annual association championship. Results

Four New England high school alumni athletes performed well at the World Junior Track & Field Championships in Eugene Oregon last week. Elinor Purrier (Montgomery VT/UNH) set a personal best of 10:08.33 in the 3000 meter steeplechase trial round and returned for a ninth place in the final (10:21.59).

Charles Ionata (Barrington RI/Wake Forest) added seven feet to his best hammer throw ever with the 6kg international implement with a 69.93m/229-5 throw that ranked him 20th overall, And Clarence Gallop (Providence RI/Charleston) threw a strong 65.95m/216-4 for 24th. Jon Green (Shrewsbury MA/Georgetown) placed 24 (31:15.69) in the 10,000, and hammer throwers.

Harvard University soph-to-be Jade Miller won a bronze medal in the 400 hurdles in a personal best time of 56.22, and Crimson teammate Nikki Okwelogu, representing Nigeria, threw in the discus and shot put, making the final in the latter. See summaries at iaaf.org.

Nine New England states officials worked the meet at competition officials: Laurie Boemker (Cranston RI - Video Review), Joe Bullock (Swansea MA - Shot Put - Head), Nicole Bullock (Swansea MA - Hammer), Bob Gidari (Deering NH -Discus - head) Justin Kuo (Brookline MA - Electronic Measurement - Head), Tom Meagher (Duxbury MA - Starter), Lance Turley (Laconia NH - Hammer), along with Don Berry (Searsmont ME - Umpire) and Ron Daniel (Clinton CT - Referee).

Eighty-year-old Masters athlete Florence Meiler (Shelburne VT/Mass Velocity TC) was named USATF’s Athlete of the Week after her impressive 14-event weekend at the USA Masters National Track & Field Championships in Winston-Salem NC July 17-20. She broke several world and US age group records in the competition.

Press Release

Molly Huddle (Providence RI/Saucony) was in Monaco for one reason, re-setting the American 5000m record, and at the "Meeting Herculis" Friday, she achieved that goal in a time of 14:42.64, almost two seconds better than her previous mark. That was good for sixth overall in a star-filled field, with the race won by Genzebe Dibaba of Ethiopia in a world leading 14:28.88. During most of the race, Huddle had the company of Shannon Rowbury who followed her every move as she had at last month's US Championship; Rowbury finshed in 14:48.58. (Story from RunningNetork)

To open the four day USA Masters Outdoor Track & Field Championships on Thursday, Caroline Bjune (Boston Athletic Association) won the W40 10,000 meter race in 40:17.30. Caroline had received a national travel grant to compete in the meet and took advantage of the opportunity; she's also entered in the 5000 later in the meet.

Other NE winners on Day 1 were Len Rosen (Twilight Throwers, M80 Shot Put 10.31m and Discus 27.37m) and Flo Meiler (Mass Velocity TC, W80 pentathlon 4319, hammer, and pole vault 1.65m). Silver medalists were Katrina Geurkink (Thor's Stone. W50 hammer 33.24m), Bob Keating (NE Walkers M65 5000m Race Walk), Diane Pomeroy (MVTC, W45 800 2:34.20), and Susan Weimer (MVTC, W45 Pentathlon 2271), and bronze medalists Carl Wallin (Thor's Stone, M70 Shot Put 12.77m) and Jerry LeVasseur (NE65+ RC M75 10,000 1:07:51.57)

Check the complete list of New England Entries

Follow results and see video at USATF.TV

Girl's High Jump at 2014 JO's at Fitchburg. (photo by Steve Vaitones)

Girl's High Jump at 2014 JO's in Fitchburg.
photo by Steve Vaitones

A national Junior Olympic record was set at the USATF Region I Junior Olympic Championships held at Fitchburg State University last Friday through Sunday. The meet, hosted by the New England association, found over 1100 competitors from 6 USATF associations contesting a full schedule of events for ages 7-8 through 17-18.

On Friday, Bobby Colantonio (Barrington RI) twice bettered the age 15-16 Junior Olympic record in the hammer, spinning a best 66.93 meters / 219'7", improving the mark he set at the New England meet 3 weeks ago. Many outstanding age group performances were achieved over the course of the meet.

The event was one of the largest Region I meets ever, and had great support from over 50 certified officials and from the Fitchburg State track and field coaches, team, and support staff. The top 5 in each event (top 3 combined events) can advance to the National meet July 21-27 in Houston TX.

Complete meet results are at the Track Page. Photo galleries are at FrankPoulinPhotography.smugmug.com

Charlie Ionata (Barrington RI) and Elinor Purrier (Montgomery VT), and Jonathan Green (Shewsbury MA) won their events at the USA Junior Track & Field Championships on Sunday in Eugene Oregon. The meet was the qualifier for the World Junior (not turning 20 in the calendar year) Championships which will also be held in Eugene July 22-27.

Ionata, the 2013 Rhode Island state champion in the hammer and a freshman at Wake Forest, won the 6kg hammer in 222'1". He noted, "It’s been a dream of mine for a while and it feels great to finally (get the chance to) compete at a world event.” Placing second by an inch and also making the US team is Clarence Gallop of Providence, a freshman at Charleston Southern. The Rhode Island presence continued down the results as Mahlik Handley (Providence/URI) and Adam Kelly (Barrington RI) were fourth and fifth; all competed in the NE Junior Olympic program.

A University of New Hampshire freshman, Purrier took honors in the 3000 meter steeplechase in 10:24.46. A USATF-NE athlete of the month for cross country in 2012, she had won the steeplechase at last weekend's USATF-NE championship as a tune-up.

Green, a mulit-time Massachusetts state champ out of St.Johns-Shrewsbury now at Georgetown University, won the 10,000 meter race in a personal best 30:54.62 and also advances to the Worlds.

Full results and links to video

Colorado Springs residents Joseph Gray and Allie McLaughlin led the races up Loon Mountain to take USA Mountain Running titles on Sunday. Gray had almost 6 minutes on his nearest challenger over the approximately 7 mile route, while McLaughlin had a minute gap on her nearest challenger over the 4.8 miles; both races had over 2000' of gain from bottom to top. Separate races were held this year to accommodate the championship/selection and the record field of 156 women and 340 men.

Third placers in both runs were the top New Englanders and both Kasie Enman (Huntington VT) and Eric Blake (West Hartford CT) secured a spot on the USA team heading to the 30th World Mountain Running Championships in Italy on September 13.

The race also served as the fourth eent in the USATF-NE Mountain Running circuit. Results

Garrett O'Toole with Olympian and 2014 USA Champion Leo Manzano after the Adrian Martinez Mile.
photo by Chris Lotsbom

Middle distance runner Garrett O'Toole is winner of the USATF - New England Athlete of the Month for June 2014. The graduating senior at the Middlesex School in Concord MA. At the Adrian Martinez Classic in Concord On June 5, the Weston Mass. resident ran 4:01.89 for the mile. That performance not only set new Massachusetts and New England High School records for the mile, but it also put him among the top 10 all-time U.S. high school milers. Garrett has excelled at distances ranging from the 800m to the 3000m this outdoor season. He'll enroll at Princeton University this fall.

Our awards page of this website has information on all USATF-NE Athletes of the Month.

NE 65+ Club member (and member of many other running clubs) Louise Rossetti of Saugus Massachusetts passed away this week at age 93. She started her running career late in life, but still completed more than 25 Tufts 10K for Women races, and had age-group ranking performances through her 70's and 80's, though her plain enjoyment of road running was her primary goal. The 21st annual women's race in her honor just took place on June 18.

Over 200 athletes enjoyed good competition at the USATF-NE Open and Masters Track & Field Championships on a warm day at the top quality facility at Regis College.

The top male and female championship performances by eligible England association athletes in track and field events using IAAF scoring tables for their best marks were Nate Hunter (shot, 18.93m/1057 pts), Cyrstal Bourque (hammer, 65.35m/1002), and the 10,000m winners from the championship run on 5/17, Dan Vassallo (CMS, 29:42.9/979), and Melissa Nash (NBBoston, 34:36.9/1005) Those top New England scorers earned $100, with Hunter taking an extra helping with the overall top score. (Top overall track marks were run by non-eligible performers - Amadou Gueye (Adirondack Assn, 110 hurdles, 14.10/1049) and Elinor Purrier (U.New Hampshire, Steeplechase, 10:24.3/1038).

Greater Boston TC repeated as team titlists for both men and women, with newcomers Sprinticity of Vermont taking second in the men's standings. Results by heat/flight and by 5 year age groups are posted at usatfne.org/track. Team scores will be added after full review of results. Thanks to the officials who made the meet an enjoyable experience for all participants.

Over 600 youth from the association contested a full schedule of events at the USATF-New Engalnd Association Junior Olympic Championships at Fitchburg State on Saturday. The six age divisions from 7-8 to 17-18 (based on year of birth) ran, jumped, and threw to qualify for the Region I meet - that will also be held at Fitchburg - on July 11-13.

Highest quality event was the final field event of the day. In the boys hammer, Bobby Colantonio (Barrington) broke the age 15-16 Junior Olympic National record in the event with a spin of 66.72 meters - 218'11" - as five boys age 15-18 bettered 200', a feat never achieved in a NE JO meet before.

The top 8 placers in each event advance to Region I; that signup begins on Wednesday, June 25. Thanks to the officials and workers who spent the day ensuring a quality experience for all participants.

Preliminary results can be found at usatfne.org/track.

Long time local rivals - and good friends - Dave Dunham (CMS / Bradford MA) and Craig Fram (Whirlaway RT/Plaistow NH) were inducted into the Mt.Washington Road Race Hall of Fame on June 21 during the race awards ceremony. The Hall recognizes outstanding performers in the history of the race to the summit of the highest peak in the northeastern US.

Only 15 other runners have been inducted to the Hall since its founding in 2010. Both are past open winners, age group winners, and record setters. Fram broke the M40+ and M50+ records in his career, the 40 having previously lated for 40 years before him. He's also the oldest runner to break 1:10 for the climb.

Dunham has 24 finishes and his 1988 win was the first clocking under 1:01:00. The three-time winner also has the most top 5 finishes in the history of the race, 15. Additionally, Dave is the author of the definitive book on the race history, "Only One Hill". Neither ran this year due to injuries. Here is more race history information.

Saturday's race had 1300 entrants, and multi-time US Mountain Running Team member Joe Gray (Club Northewest/Colorado Springs) won the battle over last year's winner and local runner Eric Blake. Gray ran a 59:09 with Blake at 1:00:01, just missing a coveted sub-hour clocking. Shannon Payne (Colorado Springs) won over Italian national team member Velentina Belotti 1:10:12-1:11:58, with Kasie Enman (Huntington VT) top New Englander in fourth. Team winners were Team Colorado over CMS for men, and Team Gloucester repeating as winners for women. More at mountwashingtonroadrace.com.

The winning Millennium Running team at the 5 Miler.
USATF-NE photo

Jeff Veiga (Team RUN) and Denise Sandahl (Millennium Running) outran quality fields at the St.Joseph Healthcare Ribfest 5 Miler, the USATF-NE Championship on Sunday. After a winter of injury recovery, Veiga made it two championship wins in a row following his 5K victory. Wind was stiff on the out-and-back course, but the pace picked up as the tape neared, and Veiga (24:20) held off the charges of Brian Harvey (24:27) and Nate Jenkins (24:37) on the final downhill and sprint to the finish. The BAA took team honors over Team RUN and Western Mass DP, all three squads of five finishing within 49 seconds

The women's race saw a rarity for any championship event in recent history, one club's runners taking the first three places. Sandahl (28:40), with her first NE Championship win, led the Millennium Running trio, as she was followed by Laura Hagley (28:48) and Christine Shaw (29:05). This gave the local clubd to a dominant team 8+ minute win over Gr.Boston TC and solidified their series lead; no NH based team has won the open Grand Prix series.

In the age division scoring, Christin Doneski (Whirlaway) continued her hot year, placing fourt overall while winning the masters division, and Mike Galoob is now 4 for 4 among the 40+ crowd.

The first championship event hosted by Millennium Running was well received by clubs and many competitors enjoyed the accompanying "Ribfest". Results are found at MillenniumRunning.com. Series standings are being reviewed and totaled, and will be found at the GP page. A summer break follows, with the next series race the GMAA 15K on August 31 in South Burlington VT.

Eric Blake blazed to a new course record at USATF NE Mountain Circuit Race #4, Ascutney Mountain in Vermont, on June 8. He won by over 3 minutes in 27:57, breaking the previous mark by 19 seconds for the 3.7 mile all-uphill climb. Christin Doneski (Whirlaway) clocked 35:10 for the overall women's win, the third best ever on the women's list and a new masters best by 1:42. Also breaking division records were Cathy Pearce (WRT, W50+), Dave Dunham (CMS, M50+), and Len Hall (GCS, M60+). The final record of the day was the total of finishers - 201. Thanks to Dave for the race notes. Results

Series standings will be posted shortly at the DD blogsite.

After the Mount Washington Road Race, the series will continue at the Loon Mountain Race (all uphill) on July 6. That event is also the USA Mountain Championship and the selection race for the USA Team to compete at the world event in September. Follow the series on Facebook.

Events for the 2014 fall cross country grand prix are set and announced; the five races can be found at the cross country page. There will be some changes to individual and team scoring for the coming season; those new rules will be announced shortly on the same page.

Entry material for the June 21 USATF-New England Junior Olympic Track & Field Championship is up and posted. Youth born from 1996 through 2007 can compete in 2 year age groups in a full schedule of events at Fitchburg State University. Individuals must have USATF membership, and date of birth must be verified before the entry process can be started.

Find Junior Olympic information at usatfne.org/jo and entry link at usatfne.org/track.

Eric MacKnight and Kim Nedeau led a field of 299 over the new 10K up-and-down course at Wachusett Moutain on Saturday, the third stop on the 2014 USATF-NE Mountain Running Circuit. The top group was unusually spread out for a mountain race, as MacKnight, from Fleet Feet in Balston Spa NY, was almost a minute up on first New England association runner Justin Freeman (Team RUN), with Jim Johnson (CMS) another 40 seconds back. Nedeau (Acidotic RACING) had just 18 seconds on the 2013 NE Road Race GP champion Steph Reilly (Team RUN), with 2013 Circuit Masters champ Christin Doneski (Whirlaway) third overall. A pair of clubs swept the team titles, with Central Mass Striders Men and Acidotic RACING Women taking the open, 40+, and 50+ divisions.

Following Saturday's Mt.Wachusett Race, Jim Johnson (CMS) and Christin Doneski (WRT) lead the series, the latter also topping W40+ lists. Age division leaders include Todd Callaghan (M40, CMS), Dave Dunham (M50, CMS), Len Hall (M60, GCS), Ashley Krause (39/under), Jaqueline Shakar (W50, CSU), and Elaine DIll (W60, acidotic). Full series standings and all-time series stats compiled by Dave Dunham are found at his blogsite. Following a week break, the series resumes at Mt.Ascutney VT on June 8. Follow the series on Facebook.

Collegians from the New England states made a number of trips to to the awards podium at the NCAA Divison II and III Championship meets last weekend. Winners at the Division III meet held at Ohio Wesleyan University in Delaware OH, were Jana Hieber (Tufts) in the 400 Hurdles, 58.63, Naomi Bates (Amherst) in the Long Jump, 19-9, and Amina Avril (Williams) in the hammer, 192-0, along with Michael LeDuc (Connecticut College) in the steeplechase, 8:45.77, and Jamie Ruginski (Southern Maine) in the triple jump, 49-7.75 (he also placed second in the long jump, 24-0.25.

Indoor 400 champion Ashante Little (Wheaton) was second in the 400, 54.17, and third in the 400 hurdles, 59.38, and ran on the Wheaton all-American 4x400 relay. Also winning silver were Julie Eagle (WPI), High Jump, 5-9.25; Cimran Virdi (MIT), Pole Vault, 13-5.25; Mitchell Black (Tufts), 800, 1:51.30; and Steven Vazquez (RI College), High Jump, 6-10.25. Bronze medalists included Hulerie McGuffie (UMass Boston), 400, 54.24; Travon Godette (Westfield State), Javelin, 213-1; Jacob Ellis (Bowdoin), 800, 1:51.37; and Adam Scalesse (Coast Guard), 110 Hurdles, 14.34. Full results

In the Division II meet held at Grand Valley State in Michigan, three second places were won by local sudent-athletes; Michael Biwott (American International) in the 10,000 in 29:43.41, Carly Muscaro (Merrimack) in the 400 in 53.43, and Ada Udaya (New Haven) in the 100 in 11.63; she was also third in the 200 in 23.55. Full results

Dan Vassallo (CMS) and Melissa Nash (New Balance Boston) won USATF-NE 10,000 meter championships titles in the New Balance Boston Twilight Meet #2 race held at U.Mass-Lowell on Saturday night. Vassallo recorded one of the faster open times in recent years with a 30:16.3, placing second overall to Iona's Jake Byrne (29:42.9). In the NE Championship, he was followed by Chris Kibler (GBTC, 31:07.4, 4th overall) and Anrew Erskine (NBB, 31:18.5, 5th). Nash moved up to NE Champion after placing third last year. She clocked 34:36.9, finishing second overall in the women's race won by Andie Cozzarelli (34:15.2). Jessica Minty (NBB, 34:48.7) and Molly Rouillard (Unattched) finished 2-3 in the NE medal standings, 3-4 overall.

The race finished in the dark, as power and lights were lost at the UML track facility just as the 10,000m runners took to the starting line; running conditions were excellent as 18 runners completed the 25 lap contest. Full 10,000m results, and Twilight Meet 2 complete results

Runners earned the first team points for their clubs for the USATF-NE Championship meet, the remaining events in the full meet being Sunday, June 20, at Regis College. Schedule and online entry are available at the Track page.

Kara Haas (Greater Lowell Road Runners) was awarded the "first timers" travel award from USATF-NE to compete at the 2014 USA Outdoor National Masters Track and Field Championship July 17-20 in Winston-Salem NC. A regular on the New England Road Race Championship Circuit who has turned in some quality track times in the past, this will be her first time competing in a USA Masters TF Meet. She plans to compete in the 1500 and 5000.

The opportunity is funded by the USATF Masters TF Committee, and the meet is open to all individuals age 30 and up. Find information at the USATF website.

Two New Englanders moved to the top of the 2014 US Rankings with their performances at the Peyton Jordan Cardinal Invitational at Stanford University over the weekend.

In ideal distance running conditions, Ben True (Saucony/Hanover NH) won the 5000 by just 6/100 of a second in a time of 13:02.74. Molly Huddle (Saucony/Providence RI) placed second in the 10,000 in a personal record 30:47.59, the second fastest time ever by an American. Winner Sally Kipyego clocked a 2014 World leading 30:42.26. Former U.Maine miler Riley Masters moved to the US lead for 1500 with a 3:38.42 clocking.

The USATF-NE Mountain Running Circuit kicked off at the Sleepy Holllow Mountain Race in Huntington VT. The long and late winter left the primarily trail course with significant mud that slowed the 10 kilometer trek. Leading the record 215 runner field to the finish line were B.A.A. runners Josh Ferenc (Saxtons River VT) and event director Kasie Enman (Huntington VT), both having 2 minute-plus winning margins. Age division winners were Todd Callaghan (CMS, 9th overall) and Christin Doneski (Whirlaway) for 40+, Mountain Circuit founder Dave Dunham (CMS) and Jacqueline Shakar (CSU) for 50+, Len Hall (Gate City Striders) and Margaret Hedstrom (Liberty AC) for 60+, and Peter Orni for 70+.

The first round of Circuit Standings are posted. The next race is this Sunday, May 11 at the Pack Monadnock 10 Miler. Check the Mountain/Trail page for the full schedule and scoring. There is team scoring in this season's circuit. The event was also the first event in the USATF-NE All Terrain Runner series.

Boston Athletic Association distance runner Pete Hammer (Needham MA) is the USATF - New England Athlete of the Month for April 2014. On April 21 in the B.A.A. Boston Marathon, Hammer ran a time of 2:33:02 to place 2nd in the 45-49 division (8th overall among all age 40+ competitors). Six days later, he was the overall runner-up at the USA Masters 10K Road Race Championship held in conjunction with the James Joyce Ramble in Dedham MA on April 27, recording a time of 32:41 that was just 4 seconds behind overall winner Mike Galoob. In both races, he led his B.A.A. club to the Masters (age 40+) team titles.

Check out the list of all USATF-NE Athletes of the Month.

Mike Galoob (Westerly TC/Peace Dale RI) continued his successful first year as a 40 year old, running to the USA Masters 10K championship title at the James Joyce Ramble 10K in Dedham MA on Sunday. Galoob held off Peter Hammer (BAA/Needham MA) by 4 seconds, with Hammer first M45. Women's overall winner Melody Fairchild of Boulder CO had a 2+ minute winning margin with her 35:15.

USATF-NE recorded eight age division winners: M40 Galoob, M45 Hammer, M50 Rob Edson (Upper Valley AC/Hanover NH), M65 Bill Dixon (GLRR/Brattleboro VT), W70 Charlene Francis (Liberty AC/Hyde Park MA), W75 Carrie Parsi (Liberty AC/Gloucester MA), M75 Bill Riley (NE65+/Centerville MA), and M80 Lawrence Cole (Cape Cod AC/Harwich MA).

The day's top age graded performance was turned in by 62 year old Kathrine Martin of New York, her 40:10 topping 100% on the charts.

The BAA trio of Hammer, Chris Magill, and Wayne Levy won M40+ title by three seconds - one tick per scorer. Hammer and Levy were back just 6 days after being part of a Boston Marathon masters team win. Also winning top team honors were New England 65+ RC M70+, and Tri-Valley Frontrunners W60.

All the results.

Meb Keflezighi won the 118th Boston Marathon.
Photo: Victah Sailer/PhotoRun.com

With frontrunning determination and tremendous fan support, Meb Keflezighi (San Diego CA) won the 118th B.A.A. Boston Marathon, the first American man to do so since Greg Meyer in 1983. Rita Jeptoo (Kenya) won her third Boston, leading the elite women home in a course record 2:18:57, with the next three also bettering the old standard. Nearly 99% of the 34,000+ starters completed the race this year.

First of the impressive local talent to finish was Ruben Sanca (Whirlaway/Lowell MA) in 2:19:05 for 21st place, 3 spots ahead of Brian Harvey (BAA/Boston) in 2:20:31; 9 NE men were in the top 50.

Hilary Dionne (BAA/Charlestown MA) and Andrea Walkonen (Lebanon NH) placed 23-25 (2:35:08/2:37:06) in the women's elite race.

Top USATF-NE state finishers:
MA: Ruben Sanca (Whirlaway) 2:19:05; Hilary Dionne (BAA) 2:35:08
NH: Kevin Johnson (WMDP/Hanover) 2:26:14; Andrea Walkonen (Lebanon) 2:37:06
RI: Jason Reilly (Cumberland) 2:38:08; Megan Jaswell (Wakefield) 3:05:37
VT: David Sinclair (Burlington) 2:36:03; Meghan Lout (GMAA/Colchester) 2:58:45

Team competition
Men's Open: 1.BAA 7:05:33; 2.Western MA Distance Project 7:20:52; 7.Whirlaway 7:34:32; 9.GrBoston TC 7:38:37
Women's Open: 2.BAA 8:26:10; 3.GBTC 8:41:58; 6.Somerville RR 8:53:50; 7.Dirigo 8:55:20
Men's Masters: 1.BAA 7:54:45; 3.SRR 8:07:25; 10.Central MA Striders 8:28:55
Women's Masters: 1.Dirigo 9:04:43; 3.Whirlaway 9:38:09; 5.Green Mt.AA 9:46:41

All the results and details at baa.org.

Greater Lowell Road Runners welcomed four women into their Hall of Fame over the weekend at their annual meeting. Team stalwarts Patty Foltz, Diane Geehan, Kara Molloy-Haas, and Liane Pancoast have made significant competitive and substantive contributions to the club over many years. Check out their festivities at glrr.net.

Wheaton College senior Ashante Little is winner of the USATF - New England Athlete of the Month for March 2014. Little, a graduate of Winnacunnet H.S. in Seabrook New Hampshire, won the NCAA Division III national 400 meter title in 55.10, and also placed fourth in the 60 meter hurdles and 10th in the 200 meters. Following the meet, she was named Division III National Track Athlete of the Year for the indoor season. Earlier in the year, her 54.82 personal best was the country's top Division III performance and ranks as the second fastest ever time in D-III history.

Check out the list of all USATF-NE Athletes of the Month.

Emma Fitzgerald won the javelin at the World Youth Olympics in Miramar, Florida.
Photo courtesy of National Scholastic Athletics Foundation

Emma Fitzgerald (Braintree MA) won the javelin at the North and Central American Area trials meet for the World Youth Olympics held April 4-5 in Miramar, Florida. The Thayer Academy sophomore threw the 500 gram youth javelin a personal best 168'2" (51.25m) to top the field by 10 feet.

The 2nd World Youth Athletics will be held August 16-28 in Nanjing, China. The meet is for athletes not turning 18 during the calendar year, and has a 16 competitor limit in each event with no more than one entry per country. There are also quotas on the number of competitors from the several global areas; Americas (combining athletes from the US meet plus Caribbean and South American meets) can have up to 4 javelin throwers total, and the USA may have only 14 athletes total. Final selection for the US team will be announced after all Americas trials are complete in May.

Results and info on the World Youth Olympics.

Jeff Veiga (3) finished #1 at the An Ras Mor / USATF-NE 5K.
Photo: MarxRunning

Jeff Veiga(Team RUN) and Larissa Park (Somerville RR) used every second of their times to lead the rain-sodden fields and take wins at the 17th annual An Ras Mor 5K USATF-New England Championship race on Sunday. 667 runners braved the just plain miserable conditions in Cambridge to complete the third race of the 2014 Grand Prix schedule, yet the top 29 bettered 2013's winning time, and 80 were better then last year's 5th runner.

Veiga beat former U.Mass-Lowell teammate Ruben Sanca (Whirlaway Racing Team/Lowell MA) by one second in 14:39. With a win at New Bedford and second at the 10 Mile, Sanca holds the individual series lead as he preps for Boston next month. Park, part of the host club's organizing committee and USATF-NE Women's long distance running chair, had a similar one tick margin of victory over Caitlin Fahey (Gr.Springfield Harriers) in 17:37, as the women had a 15 minute head start and virtually a separate race. Leading the 40+ crowd were Mike Galoob (Peace Dale RI) with his second straight GP win, 15:31, and Christin Doneski (Whirlaway) in 18:49.

Whirlaway men and Greater Boston TC women were open team winners. Whirlaway also ran off with the Women 40+ and 50+ divisions, with Gate City Women 60+ , Central Mass Striders Men 40+, Somerville RR Men 50+, Greater Lowell RR Men 60+ also atop the results.

Dave Dunham (CMS) completed his 100th USATF New England GP Championship race - as Sarah Prescott (WRT) did at New Bedford. Lots more An Ras Mor at the SRR Website and great pictures at Scott Mason site.

There's a lengthy break before the championship schedule resumes at the Ribfest 5 Mile in Merrimack NH, a first time NE Championship race.

Three New England state student-athletes were selected as NCAA collegiate indoor national athletes of the year by the US Track and Field and Cross Country Coaches Association.

In Division I, Abbey D'Agostino (Dartmouth/Topsfield MA) is indoor runner of the year after an unprecedented repeat as double winner in the National 3000 and 5000 meter runs, as well as recording the third fastest collegiate mile time ever (4:28.31) earlier in the season. D'Agonstino had the 2014 season leading times in all three events and was also cross country runner of the year last fall. Full D-I story.

In Division III, Ashante Little (Wheaton/Seabrook NH) and Jamie Ruginski (Southern Maine/Buxton ME) were tagged as female runner and male field event athletes of the year. Little won the national title at 400 meters in 55.10, finished fourth in the 60-meter hurdles and 10th in the 200. Entering the championships, Little was the top seed at 400 and second in both the 200 and hurdles. Her season best of 54.82 at 400 is the second-fastest in Division III history.

Ruginski, a junior from Buxton, Maine, won the triple jump at the NCAA D III Championships and placed third in the long jump. His winning mark of 50-1.75 in the triple jump was nearly a foot-and-a-half better than second place. He also won the all-New England and NE Division III triple jump. Full D-III story.

USATF-NE treated Sarah Prescott to a cake to celebrate completing her 100th consecutive NE GP championship.
Photo: Tom Derderian

2012 Olympians Ruben Sanca (Whirlaway Racing Team/Lowell MA) and Kim Smith (New Balance/Providence RI) were strong winners at the 37th annual New Bedford Half Marathon and USATF-NE Championship on Sunday. Both have broken the winner's tape in the past at the Whaling City classic. Sanca, who represented Cape Verde in 2012, led the parade in 1:05:50, 19 seconds ahead of teammate Nick "The Viking" Karwoski, while New Zealander Smith finished 28th overall in 1:11:08, two minutes ahead of New England champion Andrea Walkonen (Lebanon NH), second overall women.

Despite the 1-2 finish, Whirlaway only managed third in the traditionally competitive field as the club win went to Western Mass Distance Project over the Boston Athletic Association. In the women's tallies, the B.A.A edged Greater Boston TC for the team trophy by just 32 seconds. The blue-and-gold were also top among the Men's 40+ crew. Other team wins went to Whirlaway (M50+, W40+, W50+), Greater Lowell Road Runners (M60+) and Gate City Striders (W60+). Top 40+ finishers were Mike Galoob (PeaceDale RI) and Caroline Bjune (B.A.A.), as over 2800 runners covered the traffic free route.

Following the race, a number of Grand Prix regulars celebrated with Whirlaway RT runner Sarah Prescott who completed her 100th consecutive USATF New England GP Championship race - that's a lot of Ironrunner jackets! Story and results at the newbedfordhalfmarathon.com.

The NE GP series continues in two weeks in Cambridge MA at the An Ras Mor on March 30, hosted by Somerville Road Runners.

Ben True (Hanover NH / Saucony) took home gold again at the Jacksonville (FL) River Run, the 2014 USA 15K Championship, on Sunday. True's time of 43:03 was 35 seconds faster than his 2013 performance. Tim Ritchie (BAA/Boston) placed moved up three places this year for the bronze in 44:01, and former Massachusetts HS champs Chris Barnicle and Sean Quigley were sixth and eighth, respectively.

Katie DiCamillo (New Balance Boston/Providence) was again the top NE women, placing sixth in 50:36, 4 ticks better than last year. Marblehead MA native Shalane Flanagan clocked a US record 47:03 for the win. The event was the third stop on the 2014 USA Running Circuit. Full story and results at the USA Running Circuit site.

Ocean Eversley (Falmouth MA/Mass Velocity TC) won two golds in the Masters Nationals.
(Photo: Rich Tarter)

More than 2 dozen USA and a dozen world age group records were bettered over three days of competition in the USA Masters Indoor Track and Field Championships held at Boston over the weekend. The meet, held at the Reggie Lewis Track and Athletic Center for the thirteenth time, was again directed by USATF New England, and included 921 entrants ranging from ages 30 to 100.

So.Cal Track Club won the team competition over TNT Racing, with local clubs Mass Velocity third and Thor's Stone AC eighth. Check out the impressive marks in the COMPLETE RESULTS.

Dartmouth senior Abbey D'Agostino won two titles at the NCAA Division I Track & Field Championships. The runner from Topsfield MA repeated her double of 2013, first winning the 5000 on Friday in 16:20.39 and returning for the 3000 title on Saturday, running 9:14.47.

New England men only scored points in the mile but did so placing 4-5-6 - Rich Peters (Boston U, 4:03.49), Will Geoghegan (Dartmouth, 4:04.17), and Johnny Gregorek (Columbia/Seekonk MA, 4:04.68). Other local placers at the Division I meet:
800 - Andrea Keklak (Lincoln-Sudbury MA/Georgetown) 4th, 2:06.42; Megan Krumpoch, 7th, 2:08.31.
Mile - Monica Adler (Boston U) 8th, 4:48.87
3000 - Katrina Coogan (Georgetown / Exeter NH) 5th, 9:17.38
5000 - Emily Sisson, Providence) 85h, 16:34.18
Distance medley - Dartmouth, 8th, 11:18.60
Pentathlon - Deanna Latham (Wisconsin/Newbury MA) 5th 4253

In the NCAA Division III championship meet held in Lincoln Nebraska, six New England collegians won national championships. Strongest event for locals was the women's 400 where Ashante Little of Wheaton won in a Championship record time of 55.10, and was joined on the podium by Hulerie McGuffie (UMass Boston, 2nd, 55.28) and Meredith Scannell (Wheaton, 3rd, 55.92).

Other winners included Cimran Virdi (MIT, pole vault, 12-11.5"); Naomi Bates (Amherst, long Jump, 19-00.0), Amina Avril (Williams, weight throw, 65-7.75") for women, and Coby Horowitz (Bowdoin, mile, 4:08.40), and Jamie Ruginski (Southern Maine, triple jump, 50-1.75") for men.

Earning silver medals were Terrence Gibson of Worcester State whose 7.82 was better than the previous championship record, Ryan Widzgowski (Keene State, mile, 4:10.18), Sean Enos (Bates, shot put, 57-8.25"), and MIT women's distance medley, 11:42.28. Bronze medals went to Julie Eagle (WPI, high jump, 5-6.5"), Jenna Adams (Williams, pole vault, 12-7.5"), Jana Hieber (Tufts, pentathlon, 3691), Mitchell Black (Tufts 800, 1:52.17, and Ruginski (long jump, 23-7.25").

New England association athletes Ellen Dipietro (Marshfield MA) and Adam Kelly (Barrington RI) were winners at the New Balance National Indoor Scholastic Championships held at the Armory Track & Field Center in New York. Dipietro, national leader in the high jump, won the event with a 5'10.5" leap. Kelly completed his junior year season with a 77'9.25 throw in the 25 lb weight.

Andrew Bolze (Hingham MA) was a double all-American as he took third in the long jump in a New England record 24'3.75" and sixth in the 400 in 48.63 after a 48.09 trials round time. Paul Hogan (Burlington MA) was runner-up in the 2 mile at 8:59.82 - top US runner, 2014 US leader, and #6 MA all time indoors. Earning a third place were Garrett O'Toole (Middlesex/Concord MA) in the mile at 4:13.60, and Maegan Allen (Arlington MA) in the 1 Mile Race Walk at 7:28.16, a Massachusetts state best.

Find the extensive results nationalscholastic.org.

Pole vaulter Mary Saxer is USATF-NE Athlete of the Month
Photo: Victah Sailer, PhotoRun

USA pole vault champion Mary Saxer is winner of the USATF - New England Athlete of the Month for January 2014. Saxer, who lives in Boston and trains at MIT, represents the New York Athletic Club. On February 23, at the USA Indoor Track & Field Championships in Albuquerque, New Mexico, Mary won the national title in the women's pole vault with a jump of 15' 5.5" (4.71 m). Earlier in the month at the New Balance Boston Grand Prix meet, she cleared 14'9" to place 3rd. In January, Saxer won the Pole Vault Summit in Reno, Nevada with a clearance of 15' 1".

Originally from from Lancaster NY where she was a multi-time national high school record setter, she is a 2009 graduate of Notre Dame. Check out the list of all USATF-NE Athletes of the Month.

"The Boston Marathon: A Celebration of the World's Premiere Race", written by USATF-NE president Tom Derderian, is now available. Full color and profusely illustrated, it covers some race history but is more detailed on the sporting, community, and human pieces that make the event what it is.

More info.

The Boston University Last Chance Meet on Sunday served multiple purposes; college qualifier, season's last indoor competition, national masters meet tune-up - and record attempt site. In the 1000 meters, the three finishers all earned a significant record for their resume. David Torrence of California led the final three laps after the pace setter stepped off, and broke the beam at an American Record 2:16.76. Barely a stride behind, Nate Brannen clocked 2:16.87 for a new Canadian standard, and Boston University's Rich Peters set a new Collegiate all-time best of 2:18.55, also his third BU record of the year.

In the meet's closing event, a select M40 team of Ed Winslow, Chris Blondin (Gr.Boston TC), Mark Williams and Nicholas Berra clocked 7:49.90 for a new masters 40-49 record, breaking the 2013 time run by four New England runners. In second place, an all Central Park TC quartet lowered the M35 record to 7:55.13.

And now almost commonplace at the BU TTC, there were also two sub-4:00 miles in the results.

A pair of Vermonters went long for national championship bronze medals over the weekend at the USA 50km road championship at Caumsett Park on Long Island. Josh Ferenc (B.A.A./Saxton's River VT) was third overall in 3:04.16 for the 31.1 miles, and in the age group divisions, Brian Teason (Manchester VT) was also bronze medalist in 50-54 wtih a 3:55:00 time.

RESULTS.

Pole vaulter Lauren Kuntz cleared 13-3.5 this season (Patrick Barragan photo)

Pole vaulter Lauren Kuntz cleared 13″ 3.5′ this season
photo: Patrick Barragan

With the USATAF New England Indoor Championships complete, winners in the 2014 USATF-NE Indoor Track and Field Grand Prix are now finalized. This year's series included both a track and a field winner for men and women.

Winners for track events are both middle-distance runners: Jillian Kingof New Balance Boston (4:37.78 mile) and David Goodman of New England Distance. Each had their best scores in mile races, 4:37.78 (King) and 4:09.91 (Goodman). Topping the field events are a pair of pole vaulters; Lauren Kuntz of MIT Pole Vault Club and Brad Lawrence from Patriot Pole Vault; they cleared 4.05m/13'3.5" and 4.70m/15'5", respectively.

Scoring is performance based, with points earned from the IAAF scoring tables based on results marks. The best four marks from New England meets which have open entry and are sanctioned / eligible for USA National qualifying are totaled up for the rankings. One of those meets must be the USATF NE Championship or the USA Nationals.

The outdoor series rules and sign-up will be posted at usatfe.org/track in April.

USATF-NE Past President and current board member Stephen Viegas (Reading MA/Mass Velocity) was named new Massachusetts State Rep for the Road Runners Club of America (RRCA). The organization works through clubs on grass roots promotion of the sport through club based programs. State reps are enthusiastic inividuals who serve as ambassadors and work between clubs and the national organization. Steve is also a USATF and RRCA certified coach and works with the Mystic Runners. rrca.org.

The open track and field season came to a peak at the USATF New England Indoor Track & Field Championship held at Harvard University's Gordon Track on Sunday. A mix of open, collegiate, scholastic, and masters competitors enjoyed one of the country's top facilities and spirited competition.

The top ranked performance was likely the 4:00.52 winning mile by Steve Mangan of Dartmouth College. In the 3000 meter race walk, Maryanne Daniel (Connecticut Race Walkers) set a pending USA W55-59 record of 16:02.41. Ellsworth ME HS runner Dan Curts clocked an all New England HS best 8:23.85 for 3000 meters at 8: finishing second overall, and a Vermont state scholastic best was set In the Scholastic Development Weight throw when Mustapha Kay of St.Johnsbury VT spun the ball 59'1.5".

Full results are posted at usatfne.org/track.

Mary Saxer won her first National Indoor title at the 2014 USA Indoor Track and Field Championships in Albuquerque.
photo: Victah Sailer/PhotoRun

Mary Saxer (NYAC/Boston MA) won her first National Indoor title at the USA Indoor Track and Field Championships over the weekend. Saxer, who trains at MIT, cleared 15'5.5", defeating defending champ Jenn Suhr and qualified for the World Indoor Championships to be held in Poland in March.

Several other New Englanders qualified and took the trip to compete in Albuquerque. Greater Boston TC thrower Lisa Wilson was 8th in the weight (61'0.25"), teammate Nate Hunter placed 11th in the shot put (60'1"), and Tim Ritchie (B.A.A) was 14th in the 3000 (8:25.03) as the mile high altitude put distance runners at a disadvantage. Mainer Becky O'Brien was 7th in the shot put at 56'11.5".

Runner-up Marcus Vieira (Peabody) and winner Gabriel Arcaro (Burlington) with their rewards
photo: Ed Arcaro

In a pair of scholastic development events hosted by USATF New England, four repeat winners took the 2014 gold medals. The competitions were held as part of the USATF-NE February Youth meet at the Reggie Lewis Center.

Gabriel Arcaro and Elizabeth Tevnan repeated as champions in the fourth annual Mass. Scholastic Weight Throw, conducted with the sponsorship of Twilight Throwers. Arcaro (Burlington) threw 62'7.25", resetting his own meet record, and Tevnan (NDA Hingham) won the girls throw in a personal best 42'8". Total participation was the largest ever, with competitors from eight different communities. The meet followed several clinics and competitions as part of a USATF grant to develop the event.

In the second annual Mass. Scholastic Race Walk, supported by New England Walkers, siblings Nolan Allen and Maegan Allen were again first across the line in the mile competiton. Maegan recorded a best ever time for the event by a Massachusetts girl, 7:46.34. Both winning times qualified for next month's New Balance National Scholastic meet - the first Mass. boy and girl ever to achieve this honor in the race walk.

Results at usatfne.org/track.

The brakeman in Monday's USA Olympic bronze medal Two Man Bobsled is Steve Langton. A native of Melrose, Langton competed in track at both St.John's Prep in Danvers MA and at Northeastern University, graduating in 2005. At NU, he scored in the America East Championship meet; he had personal bests of 10.58 in the 100 and 23'8" in the long jump.

Last week, mogul skier Hannah Kearney won a bronze medal. While at Hanover High School in New Hampshire, she was high school state meet scorer in the long jump and triple jump, and participated in the USATF-NE Junior Olympics.

B.A.A. harrier Sam Alexander (Waterford CT) and West Townsend MA native Corey Conner (North Middlesex HS / U.Maine alum) were selected to compete for Team USA at the North American/Central American/Caribbean (NACAC) Championship meet on February 22. Also on the squad is Ryan Bak, former NCAA champion out of Trinity College (Hartford CT). All three earned there place from performances at the USA Fall Cross Country Championship meet, and were part of the USA team at January's Bupa Great Edinburgh Cross Country meet. The NACAC meet takes place on February 22 in Trinidad & Tobago.

Full press release on the team and staff selections.

Two world records highlighted the nineteenth edition of the New Balance Indoor Grand Prix meet held at the Reggie Lewis Center on Saturday.

A USA team of Richard Jones, David Torrence, Duane Solomon, and Erik Sowinski passed the baton in the 4x800 relay in 7:13.11, breaking the 14 year old mark also set by a US select team on the same track back in 2000 by .83 seconds. Second place in the race, also breaking the old world mark and getting credit for the US record as a club team (in 7:13.22) was the New Jersey/New York TC, which included Lowell (MA) HS and UConn product Brian Gagnon.

A new World Junior (19 and under) record in the 1000 meters was established by Mary Cain of New York, running 2:35.80 in winning the race. This bettered her own pending mark set last month at Boston University, and puts her #3 all-time US.

A variety of Junior, scholastic, and open events included dozens of international competitors, and junior and scholastic relays all provided exciting competition and new meet records. The top 6 finishers in the men's mile ran 4:00.00 or better Mike Galoob (Wakefield RI) won the masters mile in 4:23.48 over 1992 Olympian John Trautmann (4:24.20), and Cambridge Jets ran from the front to win the youth 4x200 relay.

Stories and results can be found at the new balance Indoor Grand Prix website.

Dartmouth College senior Will Geoghegan is winner of the USATF - New England Athlete of the Month for January 2014.

Geoghegan joined an elite club as he ran 3:58.04 to win the mile run out of section 2 at the Boston University John Thomas Terrier Invitational on January 25. With that time, the Brunswick ME High School grad set a Dartmouth College record as well as an Ivy League all-time indoor best.

In the women's mile at the same meet, teammate Abbey D'Agostino - the USATF-NE Athlete of the Month for November 2013 - also set Dartmouth and Ivy records in the mile with her time of 4:28.31.

Check out the list of all USATF-NE Athletes of the Month.

The USATF East Region and New England Masters Indoor Track & Field Championships had its largest entry list in the four years running at the Providence Career and Technical Academy track complex, and many competitors attending achieved good season marks in the warm and friendly facility on a frigid day outdoors.

Two throws records were broken on opposite ends of the age ranges. Gloria Krug of Philiadelphia Masters TF Association threw the 16 lb weight an age 80-84 best distance of 6.16 meters/ 20'2.5". Competing as a guest in the men's weight throw, high school senior Gabriel Arcaro (Burlington MA) spun the 25 lb ball 20.17m / 66'2.25" for a new Massachusetts state scholastic best; it bettered the 14 year old previous mark by a foot and ranks in the top 10 nationwide for the year.

Results by age division and by section/heat

The Massachusetts State Track Coaches Association Hall of Fame inducted their Class of 2014 on Sunday, adding a stellar group to the hall. Athletes selected had stellar Mass. high school careers as well having earned honors beyond graduation. Names going on the recognition wall at the Reggie Lewis Center this year are NCAA all-American distance runner Ari Lambie (The Bromfield School, Harvard) ; Melody Johnson (North Attleboro) still standing 28 year old state shot put record; Joe LeMar (Brockton) middle distance, who went on to a Paralympic gold medal; the national record setting 1979 Brockton 4x440 relay team - Paul Neves, Jim MacKinnon, Mike Suillivan, Dennis Doucette; middle distance runners Andy Powell (Oliver Ames) and Maurica Carlucci Powell (Franklin) now coaches at U.Oregon who were recognized during cross country season, and sprinter Brooks Johnson (Plymouth, 1952) who earned a gold medal in the Pan American Games and has coached an Olympic athlete in every Olympic Games from 1972 through 2012.

A good read on the Brockton athletes can be found at the Brockton Enterprise.

The John Thomas Terrier Classic at Boston University's Track and Tennis Center was again the site of some big performances in front of big crowds as two more US records were set over the weekend in the region's largest January collegiate invitational.

Mary Cain returned for another attempt at a US standard, having set the Junior World and US 1000 meter marks on the oval 8 days earlier. Friday's mile found a spirited race that included clubmate Jordan Hassay, U.Oregon's most decorated female runner, and Dartmouth's Abbey D'Agostino, 2013 NCAA cross country champion. A determined Cain took over the lead in the final 300 meters and raced to a time of 4:24.11, a dramatic .01 away from the World Junior record - though still good for a US Junior Mile record as was her 1500 meter split of 4:06.63 (she already owned both recordboard lines from a year ago). D'Agostino set an Ivy League record, just nipping Hassay in the final meters as both recorded personal bests of 4:28.31 and 4:28.37, respectively.

It's hard to find competition beyond the timing system for Galen Rupp, but on Saturday evening, he treated fans to a new American record in 2 mile run, running 8:07.41 to break Bernard Legat's 8:09.49; he split 3000m at 7:34.68.

Not to be lost among those lofty marks was a first time sub-4:00 mile for Dartmouth's Will Geoghegan, clocking 3:58.04 in section 2 as 10 runners bettered 4:02 in the first two heats. He also matching D'Agostino's honor as a Ivy record holder. Results are at lancertiming.com.

Galen Rupp set the new 5000 meter record at Boston University.
photo: Alison Wade

The usually low-key multi-team season opener at Boston University's Track and Tennis Center was kicked up to record level as Mary Cain and Galen Rupp treated fans to a World and an American record in a pair of invitational races at the end of the schedule.

Runners from The Nike Oregon Project have found B.U.'s oval to be friendly for fast times and it was no different on Thursday evening. The women's 1000 meter took off at a stiff clip with the help of a pacer, and turned to a two runner duel between Cain and clubmate Treniere Clement over the final two laps. Though missing the US open record (held by Mass. runner Jen Toomey), the 17 year old Cain's winning time of 2:39.25 was a World (and US) Junior (age 19 and under) mark, the former standard dating all the way back to 1982. Cain and Clement are now numbers 8 and 10 on the all-time US list.

While the crowd lining the outer rim of the track was vocal for Cain's race, the cheering volume rose with each lap of the 5000 to non-stop support. Early pacesetting was right on, and when the Olympic silver medalist took the lead for good, he was pushed by Sam Chelanga, former NCAA champ now living in Hanover NH. Rupp stopped the clock at 13:01.26, almost 6 seconds better than the year old mark set by Lopez Lomong and the seventh best 5000 ever run indoors. Chelanga finished in a personal best 13:04.35, and in third, Cam Levins stamped a new Canadian Record in 13:19.16.

For those who stuck around after the collegiate relay races, almost as interesting to watch was the nearly hour long workout that the two record holders went through before their cool-down. Both of the Oregon talents were most cordial to the flocks of fans, young and old, who expressed their congratulations.

The Nike Oregon Project is coached by Alberto Salazar former Massachusetts state high school champ in the 1970's mentored by legendary coach Bill Squires, who was in attendance for the meet.

Meet results can be found at lancertiming.com.

Athletes and contributors from the New England association were recognized at the third annual USATF-New England Awards Banquet on Saturday night in Stoneham MA. Series and Grand Prix champions in many disciplines received embroidered vests for their accomplishments. By online vote, Tim Ritchie (B.A.A.) and Stephanie Reilly (Team RUN) are 2013 Runners of the Year, and Greater Lowell Road Runners is Club of the Year.

Scott Mason (Warwick RI) received the Marja Bakker Volunteer Award for his photography work at New England-wide races including our championship events. Youth Program Contributor Award went to Jim Clayton (Northampton MA), founder of the Sugarloaf Mountain AC Youth Track and Field Program which celebrated its 20 year anniversary in 2013.

Special thanks to VP Jim Garcia for his organization of the event and compilation of the program.

In anticipation of the January 11 Awards Banquet, USATF New England members are encouraged to vote online for 2013 athlete and club of the year. A selection of nominees are posted to pick from.

Click here to take survey. Voting closes at 11:59pm on Friday.

2013 Junior Olympic National Cross Country Champions James Donahue from Reading MA and the Sentinel Striders club team from Smithfield RI are co-winners of the USATF - New England Athlete of the Month for December 2013.

Donahue, representing Friends of Reading Recreation, won the Age 9-10 division 3000 meter race in a time of 10:44 over a field of 329 runners in San Antonio, Texas, on December 14. The Sentinels Striders A team won the Age 11-12 boys title in a 33 team field; their top finisher was Samuel Toolin in second place.

Full Junior Olympic National results

Check out the list of the 2013 USATF-NE Athletes of the Month.

USATF membership is annual and runs through December 31. Unless you obtained your membership after November 1, or have a multi-year membership, it's time to renew. If your most current card begins with a '7', then it's expired.)

You can download a form to mail in with a check or you can renew online at this site.

The 3rd Annual Awards Banquet and Social takes place on Saturday, January 11, at the Montvale Plaza function hall in Stoneham, Mass. The event kicks off at 6:00 pm with a cocktail hour and appetizers, followed by dinner with guest speaker, and a night packed full of music and dancing.

The evening will continue with the much-anticipated awards presentation, featuring awards for Road, Cross Country, Mountain/Ultra/Trail and Race Walking series and circuits, along with special awards. Series divisional winners will receive an embroidered Lands End down vest.

Individual tickets are $35 which includes hors d'oeuvres, dinner and entertainment. Ten person tables may be reserved by clubs for $300.

Full banquet information and ticket order forms can be found on the awards page. Individual tickets and table tickets are available by mail using the banquet ticket request form. Tickets may also be purchased on-line via the usatf online order site.

We hope to see you all there. Questions can be directed to Jim Garcia at awards@usatfne.org or 978-846-4050.

After two rounds of online voting, the 2014 USATF-NE Grand Prix Series will run with the following schedule (the "Demar" slate):

D. H. Jones 10 miler, Amherst, MA, Feb. 23, 11 a.m.
New Bedford Half Marathon, New Bedford, MA Mar. 16, 11 a.m.
An Ras Mor 5 km, Cambridge, MA, Mar. 30, 10 a.m.
Ribfest 5 Miler, Merrimack, NH, Jun 15, 9:15 a.m.
GMAA Labor Day 15 km, South Burlington, VT, Aug. 31, 9 a.m.
Lone Gull 10 km, Gloucester, MA, Sept. 14, 9 a.m.
Manchester City Marathon, Manchester, NH, Nov 2, 8:50 a.m.

There will be two Introduction to the Weight Throw for scholastic throwers held at the Boston University Track and Tennis Center in Boston on the next two Saturdays, December 21 and 28 at 11:00 a.m.

While not a high school event in any state except Rhode Island, the weight throw - 20 pounds for girls, 25 pounds for boys - is a traditional indoor event. These clinics will start with the very basics of the event, and are the first of several clinics leading to the 4th annual Massachusetts Scholastic Invitational Weight Throw in February at the Reggie Lewis Center. The clinics are free, and hosted by USATF New England with the support of the Twilight Throwers.

New Englanders will return home from the USATF Junior Olympic National Cross Country Championship with gold medals. James Donahue (FORR / Reading MA) won the 9-10 division 3000 meters in 10:44 over a field of 329 runners. Led by Samuel Toolin's silver medal, Sentinel Striders A won the 11-12 boys team title in a 33 team field.

Other top 3 finishers from the association include the Granite State Flash 11-12 boys and 7-8 girls who placed second and third, respectively, in their divisions (the Flash had 2 other 4th place finishers), and Lauren Robinson (Nashua PAL Striders) placed third of 405 in the 11-12 girls race.

Most New England clubs placed in the top half of the standings. This year's meet was the largest ever, with an increased number of teams and individuals qualifying; 444 boys ran in the age 13-14 race. Complete meet results are found at the JO Nationals Page.

A clear vote was not established in the first round of voting for the Grand Prix 2014 Road Race Series slates. The LDR Committee is putting forth a run-off ballot of the two slates with the highest votes.

The online run-off vote will be available Friday December 13 through Sunday December 15 at 8:00 p.m.. Voting requires current USATF membership.

VOTE HERE

The two remaining slates and process are found at http://usatfne.org/road/gp.html.

Four past or present USATF-New England board members were recognized with President’s Awards at the USATF National Annual Meeting last week. The awards are given annually to the people who have worked diligently and admirably in USATF volunteer ranks within their associations or committees. Only 8 were presented in 2013. The USATF-NE winners:

Laurie Boemker (Cranston RI) has been a TAC/USATF official since 1983, an NCAA official since 1983 and a high school official since 1980. She is NE Officials Certification chair, and chair of the IAAF National Technical Officials Subcommittee. She was a member of the 1971 U.S. Pan American team.

Dave Dunham is a founding member of the USATF Mountain, Ultra & Trail (MUT) Running Council and founded the New England Mountain Running Circuit. He served as a staff member of the US Mountain Running Team from 1992 to 2009, and was the Chairperson for USATF New England Mountain, Ultra & Trail Running from 1995 to 2002.

Justin Kuo does it all as a volunteer for USATF for many years in several different areas. Kuo has been a national certifier for road race courses while serving as the vice chair of the Road Running Technical Committee, chair for the USA Records Committee, and is involved as an official. He has managed the USATF-NE website since it was started, and is involved with the Boston Marathon.

Kathy Nary has been on the USA Women's Long Distance Running Executive Committee since 1996 and currently serves as Vice Chair. She has been instrumental in taking care of the selection of international teams and staffs for over a decade and works tirelessly to support USATF and its athletes. Nary has held many USATF-NE positions as well as actively involved with USADA enforcing drug testing policies at several national championships.

We thank them for their service to the sport locally and nationally!

Four USATF New England masters runners were named 2013 Runner of the Year in their competitive age groups by the USATF Masters Long Distance Running Committee at the recent USATF Annual Meeting.

On the women's list, Nina Caron (Merrimack Valley Striders/No.Andover MA) tops the 50-54 age group,and Jan Holmquist (Liberty AC/Burlington MA) heads the 65-69 division. In the men's awards, Bill Dixon (Gr.Lowell RR/Brattleboro VT) was named best at age 65-69, and Bill Riley (NE 65+ RC / Marstons Mills MA) adds another plaque to his collection in the age 75-79 group. Overall Masters Runners of the year were Kathryn Martin (W60) of New York and Brian Pilcher (M55) of California.

More Annual Meeting news at usatf.org.

At the USATF Annual Meeting, seven New England association certified officials were selected to work at the IAAF World Junior Championship meet to be held in Eugene, Oregon, in July 2014.

Officials and their assignments for this international event for competitors age 19 and under include: Laurie Boemker (Cranston RI / protest review committee), Joe Bullock (Swansea MA / Shot Put-Chief), Nicole Bullock (Swansea MA / Hammer), Bob Gidari (Deering NH / Discus - Chief), Justin Kuo (Brookline MA / Electronic Measurement - Chief), Tom Meagher (Marshfield MA / Starter), and Lance Turley (Laconia NH / hammer). Don Berry (Maine / Umpire) and Ron Daniel (Connecticut / Referee) will also work in Track Town USA.

Interested in becoming a certified official? Check the USATF-NE Officials Page and the USATF Officials page.

Dartmouth College senior Abbey D'Agostino from Topsfield MA is the USATF - New England Athlete of the Month for November 2013.

On November 23 at the NCAA Division I Cross Country National Championship in Terre Haute IN, Abbey became the first Ivy League runner, male or female, to win a national cross country title. In cold, windy, and muddy conditions, D'Agostino took control of the race over the last two kilometers and won by three seconds. She also won the East Region qualifying race on November 15. USA Track & Field named her Athlete of the Week on November 25, and the U.S. Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association (USTFCCCA) named her Women's National Athlete of the Year. Abbey is now a five-time national champion and 10-time All-American.

Abbey was also USATF-NE athlete of the month in June 2012. Check out the full list of USATF-NE Athletes of the Month.

Good performances were turned in by local scholastic runners at the Nike Cross Nationals (NXN) Northeast Qualifier at Bowdoin Park in Wappingers Falls NY. The meet was one of the eight qualifiers, and included the six New England states, New Jersey, and Pennsylvania. The top 2 teams and several at-large teams from around the country, plus the top 5 individuals from non-qualifying teams advance to the final on December 14 in Oregon.

There were four top ten finishers in the girls race, led by race runner-up Abbie McNulty from Bishop Feehan of Attleboro MA. She was followed by Autumn Eastman of Champlain Valley Union HS, VT (4th), Emma McMillan of Barrington RI (5th), and Hannah Parker of Coe-Browbn Northwood NH (10th). Three teams places in the top 5; 3-Black Bear XC / Coe Brown Northwood NH; 4-Rocks XC / Bishop Feehan, Attleboro MA, and 5-.Eagles / Barrington RI. At-large teams have not been announced, but the above 4 individuals will be heading to Oregon regardless.

The boys race saw Christian Stafford of Pembroke MA in 4th and Nick Carleo of Newburyport MA in 10th, with Titans of Pembroke the top New England team in 7th. Stafford will advance to the final. Read more at NXN Northeast Regional - News.

At the Footlocker East Regional qualifier at Van Cortlandt Park in New York City, Anoush Shehadeh, a junior at Phillips Academy Andover, placed second, the sole New England association runner to advance as a top 10 finisher. Three runners each from Connecticut and Maine will also go to the 35th annual National meet in San Diego CA on December 14. Results and stories at the Foot Locker XC site.

2013 USATF-New England Junior Olympic Cross Country Championship. (USATF-NE photo)

2013 USATF Region I Junior Olympic Cross Country Meet.
USATF-NE photo

USATF New England youth runners turned in a strong showing at the USATF Junior Olympic Region I Cross Country Championships in New York on Sunday. Besides strong competition from 5 other associations in the six age divisions, the sub-30 degree temperatures and strong wind gusts provided additional challenges on the Bowdoin Park course, site of many NY state championship events.

Nearly half the field was from the NE association, and local clubs earned in the meet's largest fields in recent years earned 34 of the 47 spots eligible to advance to Nationals. Sentinel Striders had 5 age divsion team wins, Granite State Flash 3, and Nashua PAL Striders 2, with BAA Masconomet, Team RUN, and Waltham TC also having at least one top 5 team finish.

Five association runners were individual race winners - Carmel Fitzgibbon (Waltham TC, G9-10), Samuel Toolin (Sentinel Striders, B11-12), Madison Clark (Granite State Flash, G13-14) Riley Gillen (Team RUN, G15-16), and Tucker McNinch (Lenox MA, B17-18) - with 10 other New England top 3 finishes

The top 5 teams and other runners in the top 30 qualified for the JO Nationals in San Antonio, Texas, on December 14. Results are linked at usatfne.org/cross.

Providence College women won the NCAA Division I Cross Country Championship on Saturday in Indiana, scoring 141 points, ahead of Arizona at 197. The Friars were led by Senir Emily Sisson in seventh. Dartmouth senior Abbey D'Agostino (Topsfield MA), runner-up in the meet in 2012, eased her way into the lead after 4K and ran to a 3 second win on the muddy grass course; her Dartmouth squad placed 16th overall.

Harvard senior Maksim Korolev took third place in the men's race behind victor Edward Cheserek, a freshman from Oregon who was first at September's Coast to Coach Battle held at Franklin Park. Providence placed 16th, Dartmouth 24th, and Harvard 30th behind winner Colorado.

At the Divsion II meet, Mike Biwott (AIC) and Tara Dooley placed fourth in their respective races; New England teams placings were Franklin Pierce 25 and Stonehill 28 (men) and Bentley 23, Stonehill 25, and Merrimack 31 (women).

At Division III, New England states were well represented. The women's teams found Williams, Middlebury, and MIT in places 2-3-5 with Tufts 13 and Brandeis 22; Kaleigh Kenny of Williams was third overall. Men's results had Williams 5, Middlebury 8, Tufts 17, Colby 22, MIT 24, and Bates 25. Michael LeDuc of Connecticut College was the individual winner.

All cross country info can be found at ustfccca's website.

After a presentation meeting last week for races interested in being part of the 2014 Road Race Grand Prix, the Long Distance Running Committees are looking for input from runners on the races that submitted bids.

Runners interested in offering their feedback for the 2014 USATFNE Grand Prix Road Race Series should take a brief survey at SurveyMonkey to assist the Long Distance Running Committee in selections for the upcoming slate voting scheduled to begin next week.

Please take the survey now; the survey closes at 10:00 a.m. on Saturday, November 23, 2013. Slates will be comprised of a variety of races and distances which are summarized on the bid comparison sheet found at usatfne.org/road/gp". The slates will be posted next week for online voting by members. Thank you for your participation.

2013 USATF-New England Junior Olympic Cross Country Championship.
photo: Justin Platt

Sunday's USATF-New England Junior Olympic Cross Country Championship drew over 900 entries, almost 50% higher than any previous JO meet. Ten races covered courses on the newly dedicated Bruce Ewart Cross Country Course in Smithfield RI. The number of scoring clubs was also an all-time high. Top 5 teams and individuals in the top 30 advance to the Region I meet in New York on November 24.

Preliminary Results.

Regional entry for New Englanders starts late Monday evening at CoachO.com .

Molly Huddle (Providence RI) put in a decisive move at 10K and ran to an American record and world best for the 12K distance at the .US National Road Racinig Championship in Alexandria VA. A tight battle with New England native Shalane Flanagan forced the pace and pushed her to the record time of 37:50. Katie Matthews (Boston) finished 10th in 40:33.

On the men's side, Tim Ritchie (B.A.A./Brighton MA) placed sixth in 34:46 behind winner Aaron Braun (CO)iin 34:28. The race brought the 2013 USA Running Circuit to a close.

Full results

First place finisher, Ashe #10, and third, Dan Harper #10 in Men's 10K Championship. (photo: Tom Derderian)

First place finish, Ashe #10, and third, Dan Harper #10 in Men's 10K Championship.
photo: Tom Derderian

Eric Ashe (B.A.A.) and Jillian King (New Balance Boston) were first to the finish at the USATF - New England Cross Country Championships on Sunday at Franklin Park.

Ashe led a field of 110 over the 5 loop 10K course in 30:50, 7 seconds up on teammate Sam Alexander. The BAA took the top 4 places and 10th to score 18 points for the win, their eighth straight club title. King, third at the Mayor's Cup two weeks ago, pushed the 6K in 20:49, and club packed in 6 of the top 9 for a New Balance Boston three-peat team victory among 10 clubs.

The women's masters ran the same race, and Diana Bowser (BAA) led the 40+ runners in 31st overall. Masters men ran a separate 8K, and 2000 open race champ Sandu Rebenciuc (Gr.Springfield Harriers) was 2 seconds better than the BAA duo of Pete Hammer and Chris Magill among the 40+ age groupers. The yellow and blue totaled 29 points ahead of 8 other clubs.

The New England races preceded the NCAA Division II Northeast Regional National Qualifying Race, making for a full day of high quality harrier action which brought the racing season at Franklin Park to a close. Check out the full results including all masters 10 year team scoring Cross Country page.

Tim Ritchie of the Boston Athletic Association and Brighton MA is the USATF - New England Athlete of the Month for October 2013. On October 6 at the USA Marathon Championships held at the Twin Cities Marathon in Minneapolis, Tim finished 6th in 2:14:50. This is the fastest marathon by a New Englander in more than 20 years. Ritchie, a 2009 graduate of Boston College and currently an assistant track and cross country at his alma mater, improved his previous personal best at the distance by almost 7 minutes. He was also USATF-NE athlete of the month in November 2011.

Check out the full list of USATF-NE Athletes of the Month.

Brandon Newbould (Whirlaway/Nottingham NH) and Laura Brustolon (BAA/Lawrence MA) led the New England contingent at the seventh annual Manchester City Marathon, serving as the USATF-New England Marathon Championship on Sunday. Temperatures were seasonal, in the mid-40s, for the 469 finishers.

Both New England champions finish third overall in their divisions; Newbould clocked 2:28:26 behind men's winner Getachew Asfor, while Brustolon's 2:59:28 trailed the 2:50:14 turned in by Tezata Dengersa.

Age divisions were led by Jason Porter (40+, CMS), Martin Tighe (50+,CMS) Rich Larsen (60+, ), and Denny Leblanc (70+, GLRR) for men, and Jill Trotter (40+, GLRR), Nancy Corsaro (50+,WRT), and Vicki Miller (60+, Winners Circle) for women. Porter, Tighe, Leblanc, Corsaro, and Miller also having won at the NE 30K in September.

The marathon brought the 2013 USATF-NE Road Race Grand Prix to a close, and final individual, team, and Ironrunner standings will be posted this week. Selection for the 2014 series begins with the bid presentation meeting on Wednesday, November 13.

RESULTS.

Michaela Jones (Pike MS, Andover) wins the eighth grade race.
USATF-NE photo

The fifth annual USATF-New England hosted Massachusetts Middle School Invitational Championship moved to a brand new course at Ponkapoag Golf Course in Canton MA, and saw spirited competition through eight races on an ideal November day.

Three grade races - 5-6, 7, and 8 - were followed by a team championship race for both boys and girls. Familiar teams topped the scoring, as R.J.Gray boys (Acton-Boxborough) and Diamond girls (Lexington) each added to their trophy case following prior year triumphs. Taking 2-3 on the boys' side in the 29 team field were Clarke (Lexington) and Quabbin Regional (Barre), with Hale MS (Stow) and Bigelow (Newton) placing 2-3 for girls among 30 teams.

Top times across the day were turned in by Keara Westover (Newton Country Day School) and Brandon Hall (Hopedale MS). The meet saw 1745 finishers.

Results

Jennifer Bergman wins the 2013 Mayor's Cup Cross Country race.
Photo by Scott Mason

Cameron Bean (ZAP Fitness/Blowing Rock NC) and Jennifer Bergman (Mizuno-DC) took home the silver bowls as winners at the 22nd Mayor's Cup Cross Country races on Sunday at Franklin Park in Boston. Sun, temperatures in the 50's, and light breezes made for a real New England cross country day.

Bergman outlegged Sarah Groff (New York AC) by 3 seconds, winning in 17:10, as top New England runner Jillian King (New Balance Boston) took bronze in 17:18. The championship races were USATF-NE GP events, the fourth event on the 2013 circuit.

Bean held off three challengers down the finish stretch, but a wrong turn on lap three by the front of the field marred the competitiveness of the top end and contributed to slower times; the race order of finish results will stand.

Winners of the "Squires Cup" team bowls were Central Park TC-New Balance women and Bryn Mawr Running Company men.

The NE Masters Grand Prix scoring came from the all-runners Franklin Park 5K. After overall winner Jacob Shoemaker (15:38), Chris MagillGreg Putnam (CMS) for the top 40+ position, both timed in 16:45. Jennifer Rapaport (Somerville RR) led the Women's Masters home (19:40). Results will be dissected for masters GP individual and team points.

390 youths completed the 1.1 mile course in the 3 age group races, the largest ever number of youth in the event, indicating a healthy growing interest in cross country.

Results.

Jason Baer (Green Mountain AA / South Burlington VT) took the bronze medal at the USA 50 Mile Championship held at the Tussey Mountainback 50 in Boalsburg PA on October 20. Baer covered the distance in 6:31:01; winner Matt Flaherty of Bloomington IN ran 5:28:11.

Results.

A busy weekend of running in the association closed up with the 37th Tufts 10K for Women in Boston, the USATF Club Team National Championship. Ideal conditions helped the results show the deepest field in many years. Team USA Arizona won the National Club title a head of Boulder Running Company/adidas, with New Balance Boston top NE club in fifth among 15 scoring teams. Race winner Sentayehu Ejigu, an Olympian from Ethiopia, clocked an event record 31:33, bettering Anne Hannam's 31:38 set in 1988; top new Englander was Katie DiCamilo of Providence, 22nd in 34:05.

On Sunday, Sean Duncan of Western Mass Distance Project and Sydney Fitzpatrick (New Balance Boston) were winners at the Wayland (MA) XC Festival, race 2 in the 2013 NE XC GP. Duncan has two wins and a second in three GP events. Open team winners were Greater Boston TC men and Millennium Running women. Results.

Also on Sunday, the B.A.A.Half Marathon saw 2013 Boston Marathon victor Lelisa Desisa return to win at half the distance in 1:00:34, and Kim Smith of Providence won both the women's race and the overall "Distance Medley" scored from the BAA 5K, 10K, and Half. New resident in the association, multi-time NCAA champion Samuel Chelanga, now living in West Lebanon NH and training under Mark Coogan, was top local runner taking a strong fourth in 1:01:04. baa.org.

Friday's 100th running of the New England Intercollegiate Cross Country Championships at Franklin Park found Central Connecticut men and U.New Hampshire women at the top of the rankings. Sophomore Mike Biwott (American International) repeated as men's winner, and junior Rosa Moriello (Boston University) led the women's field. neicaaa.org.

Sean Duncan of Western Mass Distance Project and Gardner MA is the USATF - New England's Athlete of the Month for September 2013. The distance runner had a full month of quality performances, highlighted by a win in the New England 10K Road Championship at the Lone Gull 10K on September 15 with one of the association's fastest times for the distance this year, 30:50. The previous week, he'd won the WMDP Cross Country Festival 8K, the second race on the 2013 USATF NE Cros Country GP, by 29 seconds. He closed out the month with a eighth place finish at the Nahant 30K, the NE title race, which clinched his victory in the 2013 Road Race Grand Prix.
Check out the full list of USATF-NE Athletes of the Month.

Sheri Piers (Dirigo RC) won the USA Masters Marathon Championship held with the Medtronic Twin Cities Marathon in Minnesota on Sunday. Piers ran 2:38:35 to win the 40+ title, and finished eighth overall in the women's field; leading the finishers was Annie Bersagel in 2:30:52.
The Twin Cities race also hosted the USA Open Championship for the distance, and Tim Ritchie (B.A.A.) placed sixth in a huge personal best of 2:14:49, just 1:39 behind winner Nicholas Arciniaga (2:13:11).

Cheryl Cleary at the USATF-NE 30K Championship in Nahant MA.
Photo: Tom Dederian

Central Mass Striders runners Dan Vassallo (CMS) and Cheryl Cleary led the pack at Sunday's USATF-NE 30K Championship in Nahant MA. The field started in thick morning fog which burned off for a scenic finish along Nahant Beach. There were more than double the 2012 entry list, with about 70% representing New England member clubs.

Always part of the lead group, Vassallo gradually dropped challengers through the first 20K of the race and won in 1:40:39, 13 seconds up on defending race champ Brandon Newbould (Whirlaway). The women's competition was more about individual challenges vs a lead pack, with Clearly winning her first New England title in 2:01:04, 1:40 ahead of Nicole Casey (RUN). Whereas only three runners were under two hours in the 2012 race, this year's results found 55 finishers under that time.

Age division 10 year winners were Jason Porter (40+, CMS), Martin Tighe (50+, CMS), Marshall Randolph (60+, CSU), and Denny Leblanc (70+, GLRR) among men, and Christin Doneski (40+, WRT), Nancy Corsaro (50+,WRT), and Vicki Miller (60+, Winners Circle) for women, as a number of division leaders clinched their season victory here.

It's been well over a decade since a NE championship longer than 10 miles has been held after September 1, and there were satisfying numbers in the team standings with 3 runners scoring in every age division. Titles were won by B.A.A. (Women open, Men 40+), Central Mass Striders (Men Open), Whirlaway (Women 40+ and 50+, Men 50+), Gate City Striders (Women 60+), and Cambridge Sports Union (Men 60+)

RESULTS.

Six new members were elected to serve on the USATF New England Board of Governors at the USATF-NE Annual Meeting held on Sunday. After general remarks and reports elections and By-Law changes took most of the meeting time following the Athlete of the Month presentations.

Sports chairs and athlete rep positions only were up for voting, as officers are in the middle of two year terms. Several vacancies and individuals choosing to not serve again brought six new individuals onto the board. Alison Wade (Unattached) will serve as Track & Field chair, and Alex Ivanov (Nitehawks Sports Club/Acton MA) is the new Youth Athletics Chair. Brennan Bonner (Greater Boston TC) and Larissa Park (Somerville Road Runners) were elected as Men's and Women's Long Distance Running Chairs, respectively, with Lisa Doucett moving from Women's chair to Masters LDR chair. Continuing in their positions are Jason Cakouros (Cross Country), Paul Kirsch (Mountain/Ultra/Trail), Justin Kuo (Race Walking), and Mike Travers (Masters Track and Field).

. Returning Athletes Representative Jason Ayr will be joined by Eric Ashe (Boston Athletic Association) and Amanda Wright (Sisu Project).
The lone By-Law change proposal passed unanimously, and a slate of individuals was selected to represent New England at the USATF Annual Meeting in December.

Information on the new board members, the various reports presented and distributed at the meeting, and full meeting minutes will be posted in the coming week on the Board page.

Lone Gull 10K
Photo: USATF-NE

Sean Duncan (Western Mass. Distance Project) and Stephanie Reilly (Team RUN) were winners at the Lone Gull 10K, the 2013 USATF New England Championship event, in Gloucester MA on Sunday. As was the case the last time Lone Gull was the championship, results were among the highest quality in the New England states at 10K.

Duncan, who won the WMDP Cross Country event the previous week, led from mile 2 on and finished in 30:50 but was never fully alone, as Nick Karwoski (Whirlaway - 30:57) and Nate Jenkins (CMS - 31:11) remained within striking distance most of the course. Reilly took her fourth win in five 2013 championship outings in 34:59, a minute and a half up on Jess Minty of New Balance Boston at 36:28. Masters winners were Binney Mitchell (GMAA, 25th, 32:56) and Christin Doneski, with another overall top 10 finish (WRT, 8th, 37:05).

In the strong team competition, Central Mass Striders won both the open and masters men's scoring, with Whirlaway, Cambridge Sports Union, and North Shore Striders winning 50+, 60+, and 70+. Women's open team New Balance Boston, had the day's largest margin of over 8 minutes; Whirlaway won 40+ and 50+, and North Shore Striders topped the 60+ clubs.

Duncan and Reilly now both have commanding leads in the series' individual standings. The sixth race in the circuit, the Nahant (MA) 30K, runs on September 29, and the series closes with the City of Manchester Marathon on November 3. Entry and series scoring at usatfne.org/gp.

Western Mass Distance Program XC Meet
Photo: Tom Derderian

Alyse Rocco (Greater Boston TC) and Sean Duncan (Western Mass. Distance Project) were winners at the Western Mass. Distance Project Cross Country meet in Westfield on Sunday. The race was the second event in the 2013 USATF-NE XC Grand Prix. Rocco won by 31 seconds over Julie McGilpin, while Duncan had a 29 second margin over teammate Kevin Quadrozzi on the standard 5K and 8K courses, respectively, at Stanley Park.

Host WMDP beat GBTC 25-34 in the women's race and also won the masters team scoring. The men's race found WMDP (30), GBTC (34), and HFC Striders (66) going 1-2-3, with HFC having the top 40+ squad. Results

Race 3 in the series is October 13 at the Wayland (MA) XC Festival.

Joe Benoit of Twilight Throwers is USATF - New England's Athlete of the Month for August 2013. On August 4 at the U.S. Masters Throws Championships in Lisle, Illinois, the 55 year old won the 25 lb. weight throw with an American age group record toss of 19.01 meters (62' 4 1/2"). Joe also took first in the 56 lb. superweight at 9.71 meters (31' 10 1/4"). On August 25, at the Ontario Masters Athletic Festival, Joe extended his American record in the 25 lb weight throw with a mark of 19.10 (62' 8"), and he also topped his previous best in the 56 lb. superweight throw with a toss of 10.04 (32' 11 1/4"). This throw leads the national rankings in his age group for 2013 by nearly 5 feet.

Check out the full list of USATF-NE Athletes of the Month.

This past summer, Documentary Filmmaker Ian MacLellan followed several USATF-New England members through the six series race USATF-NE Mountain Circuit. The full 13 minute video, "Trail Clubs Sharply", was just posted online and can be found at vimeo.com.

At the USA 20K Championship held with the Stratton-Faxon New Haven Road Race in New Haven CT on Labor day, Katie DiCamillo (New Balance Boston) placed fourth in a tight women's field. Her 1:10:51 was just 54 seconds behind winner Meghan Peyton of Minnesota. On the men's side, Tim Ritchie (BAA) was eighth in 1:02:05 behind Oregon's Matt Tegenkamp, who clocked 1:00:10.

At the 13th World Masters Mountain Running Championship in the Czech Republic on Sunday, Dave Dunham Francis Burdett (GSH), Tim Van Orden (CMS), and Dave Dunham (CMS) combined for third team M45, just 2 points out of the gold. Individually in the age group, the trio placed 4, 8, and 11 over the approximately 8.6km course with 650 meters of elevation gain. 23 nations were represented with 13 nations taking at least one medal; 117 women and 358 men finished the point-to-point races, nine in all running one after the other.

Registration for the 2014 Boston Marathon will open on Monday, September 9, at 10:00 a.m. The 118th Boston Marathon will be held on Monday, April 21, 2014 and will mark the 29th consecutive year that the event will have John Hancock Financial Services as its principal sponsor.

The B.A.A. will use the same process to register qualified runners as it used in the 2012 and 2013 Marathons, allowing the fastest qualifiers to register first on a rolling schedule. The 2014 race has the same qualifying standards used for the 2013 Boston Marathon, though achieving one’s qualifying standard does not guarantee entry. The qualification window for the 2014 Boston Marathon began on September 22, 2012. Registration will be held entirely online at www.baa.org.

“The B.A.A. is aware of the significantly increased interest in registering for the 2014 Boston Marathon,” said B.A.A. Executive Director Tom Grilk. “The rolling admission schedule will provide runners with the fastest qualifying times in their age and gender group the ability to have their entry accepted in an orderly and systematic manner. We understand many marathoners and qualifiers want to run Boston in 2014, and we appreciate the support and patience that the running community has demonstrated because of the bombings that occurred this past Spring.”

In addition, in cooperation with the Commonwealth of Massachusetts and the eight cities and towns along the Boston Marathon route, the B.A.A. has set the field size for the 2014 Boston Marathon at 36,000 official entrants. Grilk noted, “The B.A.A. offers special thanks and gratitude to the town, city and state officials for the cooperation and allowances needed to conduct a special race of this size and scope."

The B.A.A. will make an announcement if the field size limit is reached prior to the conclusion of the registration period. Looking ahead, registration dates for the 2015 Boston Marathon have not yet been announced. The qualifying standards for 2015 are the same as the qualifying standards for 2013 and 2014. The 2015 Boston Marathon will be held on Monday, April 20, 2015.

For more information on the registration process and qualifying times, please visit www.baa.org.

Molly Huddle (Providence RI / Saucony) placed sixth in the women’s 5,000 meter finals at the IAAF World Championships in Moscow Saturday. Recording a time of 15:05.23, she achieved the best finish place ever in the event at the Worlds by an American woman. Two time Olympic champion Meseret Defar of Ethiopia, a frequent competitor at Boston's New Balance Indoor Grand Prix meet, won her second World 5000 title in 14:50.19, and USA teammate Shannon Rowbury finished seventh in 15:06.10.

Detailed reports and results of all events can be found at iaaf.org

The Annual Meeting of USATF New England will take place on Sunday, September 22 at the Westin Waltham Hotel, 70 Third Avenue, Waltham MA 02451 at I-95 Exit 27-A.

Athlete of the Month presentations start at 4:00 p.m. and the business meeting begins at 5 p.m. All USATF-NE members as of August 1 age 18+ on the meeting date are eligible to vote. We hope all clubs will have at least one representative at the meeting.

There will be elections for sports chairs and athlete reps (board officers are in the middle of a two year term). Anyone interested in running for these spots can contact the office. Reports on 2013 and future projects will be presented and the selection process for the 2014 Road Race Championship Grand Prix will be discussed. One change to the association bylaws will be presented for vote, and delegates to the national meeting will be selected.

The full meeting agenda and positions open for election will be posted by August 23 at USATF-NE board page.

Bob Cedrone spins the 98 pound weight.
Photo: Gary Dixon

USATF New England throwers threw their weights around and returned from the USA Masters Throws Championships with a variety of medals. In the throws pentathlon (shot, weight, hammer, discus, javelin), Mary Roman (Mass Velocity) won in the W75 age division, Ron McConnell (Vergennes VT) won M50 and Tim Morse (Twilight Throwers/Hingham MA) was 3rd M55.

The Superweight results found Roman and McConnell winning second golds, and Twilight Throwers sweeping the M55 division, Joseph Benoit, Bob Cedrone (Stoughton MA), and Morse going 1-2-3. The final event of the the weekend, the Ultra Weight Pentathlon - those are _really_ heavy implements - gave Roman a third win, Kevin Gleason (Twilight Throwers/Lowell MA) and McConnell medaling at 2-3 in M50, and Benoit, Cedrone, and George Castelli producing another Twilight sweep.

Find all the implement weights and distances thrown at the Results page.

Photo: Carlene Vaitones

USATF New England and the New England Walkers hosted the 25th annual USA vs Canada Junior Race Walk Match at East Boston Park on August 4. The longest continuously contested national team match for both countries, the US won both the men's and women's team titles. Though no association athletes qualified for the 5 walker USA teams, several local club walkers were able to experience the international event by racing as guest competitors.

Complete RESULTS and photos on the USATF-NE walk page.

Christin Doneski is USATF-NE Athlete of the Month
Photo: www.scottmasonphoto.com

Christin Doneski of Hopkinton, New Hampshire, is USA Track & Field - New England's Athlete of the Month for July 2013.

During the month, the member of Whirlaway Racing Team secured wins in both the masters (age 40+) and overall divisions of the USATF-NE Mountain Running Circuit with locally leading placings in the final two circuit races. At the Loon Mountain race in Lincoln NH on July 7, Doneski was the overall and masters women's winner in a record time for the 40+ division. Two weeks later at the Cranmore Hill Run in North Conway, NH on July 21, which served as both the U.S. Mountain Running Championships and the NACAC (North American, Central American and Caribbean) Championships, she had another strong outing. Against a national field, she was first New England finisher, second in the 40+ division, and 12th overall in the women's race. She closed the month on July 27 by placing first master and 7th overall at the USATF-New England 5 Mile Championship run held at the Carver Cranberry 5 Mile, leading her team to the 40+ win.

See the full list of USATF-NE Athletes of the Month.

Clare Martin medalled in the 1500m at the 2013 USATF National Junior Olympic Track & Field Championships.
Photo: Emily Martin

New England youth won fourteen medals at the USA Junior Olympic National Championship last week. Emma Fitzgerald (Braintree MA) won three medals in the 15-16 division - heptathlon 1st, 4698 points; javelin, 2nd 149-5; high jump 4th 5'5". Alva Hicks (Providence RI) had two medal placings in the15-16 division - hammer, 2nd 160'2"; discus, 8th 117'4".

In field events, Owen Russell (Attleboro MA) was third in the 15-16 hammer, 175'9", TJ Noonan (Waltham TC) was third in the 17-18 javelin at 182-1, and Brooke Kane (Granite State Flash) was fourth in the 11-12 high jump at 4-11.

On the track, Maxwell DiMuccio (Sentinel Strider) was fifth in the 11-12 3000 10:19.11; Caroline Fischer (Granite State Flash) was fifth in the 11-12 1500 4:59.64; Gabrielle Vandendries (Waltham TC) was seventh in the 13-14 3000, 10:45.08; Nolan Allen (Waltham TC) was 7th in the 13-14 3000m race walk, 17:53.80; and Clare Martin (Waltham TC) was eighth in the 13-14 1500 meters, 4:53.06.
Scoring in the combined events was Kyle Faddis (BAA Masconomet), 7th in the 13-14 pentathlon, 2586 points. (With over 200 individual events, we apologize if we've missed anyone).

The 2014 Junior Olympic Nationals will take place in Houston, Texas, July 22-28.

Kate Hails (259) was third in the women's race.
Photo: USATF-NE

Tim Ritchie (BAA) and Stephanie Reilly (Team RUN) led the field at the Carver Cranberry 5 Mile USATF-NE Championship in Carver MA. The three time championship race had 538 finishers in warm but not oppressive conditions.

The men's race came down to a finish kick, and Ritchie was stronger down the homestretch as his 23:59 was 4 seconds faster than Ruben Sanca (Whirlaway). Depth of finishers gave the B.A.A. the team win by a 1:59 margin over Team RUN. Women's winner Reilly won her third NE Championship of 2013 by almost a minute over the B.A.A.'s Carly Shea (27:48-28:43). New Balance Boston, the only club with two finishers in the top 10, were women's team winners. 115 of the top 135 finishers overall sported club affiliations.

After a masterful performance at the US Mountain Championship a week ago, Christin Doneski (Whirlaway) was first 40+ and 7th overall. Whirlaway swept the 10 year division honors as Maria Servin was top 50+ (3rd over 40), and Karen Durante took the 60+ group. The club won both the 40+ and 50+ team honors as well.

Men's age groupers were led by Binney Mitchell of Green Mountain AA and Burlington VT ran to his first New England Championship masters win. Also top place in their divisions were Mark Reeder (Gr.Lowell RR, 50+), Richard Larsen (Sugarloaf Mt.AC, 60+), and Denny Leblanc (Gr.Lowell RR, 70+). Whirlaway men matched the club's women's 40+ and 50+ team titles, and Cambridge Sports Union won their third straight 60+ trophy.

Full Results are posted online.

Race 5 in the Grand Prix heads to the Massachusetts North Shore in six weeks with the Long Gull 10K in Gloucester on September 15.

The USATF Junior Olympic Nationals opened on Monday in steamy conditions in North Carolina, and five New England association athletes earned medals on the first two days of competition. Emma Fitzgerald (Braintree MA) won the gold medal in the 15-16 heptathlon with 4698 points. Other taking medals were Alva Hicks (Providence RI) 2nd, 15-16 hammer, 160'2"; Owen Russell (Attleboro MA), 3rd, 15-16 hammer, 175'9"; Nolan Allen (Arlington MA/Waltham TC) 7th, 13-14 3000m race walk, 17:53.80, and Kyle Faddis (Boxford MA/BAA Masconomet), 7th, 13-14 pentathlon, 2586.

The competition, with over 5000 entrants in age groups from 7-8 through 17-18, continues through Sunday. Follow the results at usatf.org or watch action at www.USATF.tv.

Morgan Arritola (Ketchum ID) wins the USA Mountain Running Championship atop Cramore Mountain.
Photo: www.joeviger.com

Sunday's Cranmore Hill welcomed international and local runners to an event that served multiple functions in the national and New England Mountain Running calendar. The event hosted the USA Mountain Running Championship, the annual North American / Central American / Carribean (NACAC) title race (with finish order USA - Canada - Mexico in both men's and women's scoring), the and the races closed the 2013 USATF New England Mountain Circuit. The scoreboard posted 279 finishers in the separate women's and men's races who rolled multiple loops over the roughly 4K loop in a down-and-up format to mimic the 2013 World Mountain Running Championship course.

As the 2013 USA Championship, the race doubled as the USA team selection race, and the top 4 women and 6 men "selected themselves" by finish place for the Worlds in Poland this the fall. Women's race winner Morgan Arritola (Ketchum Idaho) a 2010 Olympian in cross country skiing, ran 42:31 for her two laps, 19 seconds up on Stevie Kremer (Crested Butte CO). USA Olympic marathoner Magdalena Boulet - who noted that this was the toughest race she'd ever run - placed third. An hour after the women's start, the men took to the course. Joe Gray (Renton WA/Club Northwest) won his fifth NACAC title and the US crown, surging up the last uphill to clock 56:23 and besting Zachary Ornelas (Ann Arbor MI) by just 5 seconds, and 2011 World Champion Max King by 22 seconds.

The top New England finishers both sported Whirlaway Racing Team colors, Christin Doneski placing 12th overall, just ahead of NE scorers Kristina Folcik (Northwood NH) and past World Champion Kasie Enman (Huntington VT/BAA) who is returning from maternity leave. Doneski was also 2nd overall in the 40-44 division; other division winners were Jackie Shakar (50+, CSU/Sutton MA) and Elaine Dill (60+, Monson MA). Western Mass Distance Project, with Dawn Roberts, Ashley Krause, and Abby Mahoney in 18-29-20, were team champions. Pacing NE men was Eric MacKnight,11th overall and 10th US in 1:01:14; men's age groupers were topped by Todd Callahan (40+, Beverly MA/Gate City Striders), Paul Bazanchuk (50+, Center Conway NH/CMS), Len Hall (60+, Enfield NH/GCS), and Peter Orni (70+, Ashburnham MA/NMC). Gate City beat CMS for the team win by just 3 seconds.

Over 80 runners earned Mountain Goat status - running the full 5 race mountain circuit and earning a guaranteed entry into the 2014 Mount Washington Road Race. Full Results here with circuit final scoring to be posted this week at the Mountain/Trail page.

Meredith Nelson, a fixture in Rhode Island's road running scene for 40 years, died suddenly on Friday at age 69. Her career was as an elementary school teacher in the Warwick RI Public School system, though she was known in the sport for her work in road race management. She founded Organization Plus Road Race Managment Services, both managing and timing events, but also spent much time advising new events of all sizes in the Ocean State and supporting local runners, helping make the state's road running scene one of the most active in the country many years before the current running "boom". She helped set the standard in New England for quality road race results in days before computers and chips. Merri had also served as a member of the USATF New England registration committee s in the organization's formulative years in the early 1980's.

2013 National Masters Outdoor Championship, Olathe, KS
Photo: Chris McConnell

The USA National Masters Track & Field Championships ran in Olathe, Kansas for the first time, and many local masters headed west for the four days of competition. The meet was a few weeks earlier than usual, but that didn't keep competitors from being in peak form.

Leading the gold rush for New Englanders, as usual in recent years, was Flo Meiler (79, Shelburne VT/Mass Velocity) who brought home a basket of medals in the W75 division - pole vault 6-0; long jump 8-9.5; 80m hurdles, 21.70; 200m hurdles 52.03; discus 64-5; and pentathlon 3434.

Katrina Geurkink (Hanover NH/Thor's Stone AC) had four wins in the W50 division throws; hammer 113-0, shot put 36-4.75, weight 35-6, and discus 104-4. A pair of women had two wins; Mary Roman (Norwalk CT/Mass Velocity), W75 hammer 76-3 and weight 33-6 and Barbara Jordan (So.Burlington VT/Mass Velocity) W75 100 17.75 and triple jump 19-9.

Other Individuals also making the top step of the podium were Rebecca Connolly (Wilmington MA/Mass Velocity) W45 pentathlon 2643; Buzz Gagne (Concord, NH/Twilight Throwers) M65 javelin 154-8; Warren Graff (Merrimack MA/Mass Velocity) M65 300 hurdles, 54.93; Jerry LeVasseur (Brunswick ME/NE 65+ RC), M75 10,000 m 1:03:53.86; Tim Morse (Hingham MA/Twilight Throwers) M55 weight throw, 55-11; and Carl Wallin (Lebanon, NH/Thor's Stone), M70 shot put 44-3.25.

Mass Velocity Track Club finished fourth in the team scoring, as 120 clubs were represented. Check the Full Results from the meet.

Competing on the same stage that world class competition has set world records on, youth from New England and five other associations had three days of spirited competition at Icahn Stadium in New York City at the USATF Region I Junior Olympics. A new schedule went off well, and despite the sun and heat, the stadium and neighboring structures provided adequate shaded for participants and spectators. The host New York association presented a well run event for well over 1500 youth.

The New England association had large participation and produced a representative share of champions and medal winners. Those finishing in the top 5 (top 2 in combined events) are eligible to advance to the National meet July 22-28 in Greensboro North Carolina.

Check the Complete Results from the weekend. The Region I meet is scheduled for New England in July 2014.

Alex Niemiec, a senior at Chicopee Comprehensive High School, is USA Track & Field - New England's Athlete of the Month for June 2013. On June 8 at the New England High School Track & Field Championships in New Britain Connecticut, Niemiec won the long jump with a distance of 24'11", breaking a 21 year old meet record and bettering second place by 1'7". Just 5'7" tall, Alex also placed third in the high jump at the New Englands at 6'6" and has a season best of 6'8".

Niemiec also won those two events (high jump/long jump) at the Massachusetts State Meet on June 1. The freshman-to-be at Springfield College was also named Massachusetts Gatorade Boys Track & Field Athlete of the Year during the month.

See the full list of USATF-NE Athletes of the Month.

Lisa Wilson (GBTC) took the shot put, discus and hammer throw titles at the USATF Club Nationals. (Photo: Tom Dederian)

Lisa Wilson (GBTC) took the shot put, discus and hammer throw titles at the USATF Club Nationals.
Photo: Tom Derderian

Lisa Wilson (Greater Boston TC) won three throwing events at the USATF Club Nationals, helping her club to a fourth place finish in the USA National Club Championship held at Icahn Stadium in New York. The UMass alumna took the shot put (13.88m), discus (46.59m) and hammer (55.81m) for 30 of the club's 85 points. The meet was won by Central Park Track Club (216.5) followed by Norfolk Real Deal (VA) in 153. The only other women's winner from New England was Hope Rathnam (GBTC) in the steeplechase, 11:46.00.

In the men's results, Andre Reid (GBTC) was the only winner from the association putting the shot a strong 18.73m/61'5 1/2". Teammate Brian Powlen had the only other NE medal performance, third in the discus at 60.98m. Greater Boston was top New England team in 7th (29 points) behind Garden State TC (277) and Central Park TC (150).

Icahn Stadium is a Class I IAAF Certified facility, one of only 4 in the USA. Complete results are at the USATF website.

Six New England youth - age 16-17 in 2013 - had top 6 placings at the US Trials meet for next month's World Youth Track & Field Championships in Donetsk, Ukraine. Emma Fitzgerald (Braintree MA) won the 500g javelin in a new meet record 167'10" and placed third in the heptathlon with 4682 points. Adam Kelly (Barrington RI) was third in the 5K hammer 225'3", and fellow Ocean Stater Bianca Donadio (Providence) was sixth in the girls 3K hammer, 162'9". On the track, Maddie Berkson (Providence) was fourth in the 800, 2:09.03, and Garrett O'Toole (Weston MA) finished fifth in the 1500, 4:05.05, while in the long jump, Andre Bolze (Hingham MA) was fifth in the long jump, 22'3 1/2" (and also ran the 200 meter trials). Athletes faced hot weather with several competition times delayed by storms. None of the New Englanders were selected for the USA team, which was through a committee selection based on a combination of place, performance and other criteria.

Sunday at the USA Track & Field Outdoor Championship in Des Moines, Iowa, USATF NE board member Justin Kuo, an official at this year's USA Championship, was presented the "GOOD SAMARITAN AWARD" on behalf of the City of Boston by the president of the USA Track & Field Alumni Association, Sharrieffa Barksdale. The award reads

"The USATF Alumni Association presents the 'GOOD SAMARITAN AWARD' to the City of Boston For Your Heroic Acts of Bravery, Personal Courage and Self Sacrifice, while providing protection, aid and comfort to the victims and their families following the tragic events at the 2013 Boston Marathon. Your acts symbolize the spirit and tradition of competition, which is the embodiment of the USATF Alumni Association. We are inspired by your selfless service and commitment to the City by the Citizens of the City.
USA Track & Field Alumni Association.
Champions in sport, Champions for Life.

Justin noted afterward, "I was honored and humbled to accept the award on behalf of all those involved with the 2013 Boston Marathon." For all of us back in New England, thanks, Justin.

Bryant Wang won both the 110 and 400 hurdles
Photo: Tom Derderian

The USATF-New England Open and Masters Track & Field Championship took place at Regis College on Sunday. Running on the lead-in to this week's heat wave, it drew over 200 open and masters competitors. Greater Boston TC repeated as team champions, edging Dare 2 Dream and New Balance Boston on the men's side, with FAST TRACK and Mass Velocity finishing 2-3 in the women's standings. The Preliminary Results will be finalized on Tuesday.

Next meet on the NE schedule is the MIT Summer Meet 1 on Sunday, June 30 with many events for youth ,open, and masters (no long throws).

Young Women's 400 meter hurdles
Photo: Vera Vaitones

A record crowd took part in Saturday's USATF-New England Junior Olympic Track & Field Championship at Fitchburg State University. The 776 entrants was over 150 more than ever before, and both track and field event areas had little quiet time from 9:45 a.m. to 6:30 PM, as more flights and sections were required to service all 6 age divisions. The Fitchburg State facility again proved to be the ideal site for the JO meet; thanks to their staff and the many officials who put in a long day.

All results need to be reviewed before being posted as final, but the Preliminary Results can be found at our website. They will be finalized on Wednesday morning, at which time the top 8 in each event may register at CoachO.com for the Region I JO Championships to be held at Icann Stadium in New York City July 5-7.

Region I Information - Note the format has changed since 2012.

Tim Ritchie continued his successful road racing season by placing fourth at the USA half marathon championship in Duluth MN on Saturday. The BAA runner ran 1:02:29 and earning $4000 for his effort. Winner Mo Trafeh (Duarte CA) clocked 1:01:17, ahead of 2008 Olympic medalist Meb Keflezighi (1:02:22). Read a summary at RunningUSA.org

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

USATF-New England is saddened by the bombings at the finish of the Boston Marathon, and convey our sympathy and prayers to all affected by the violent acts on Monday. We appreciate the work of and thank the many first responders, volunteers, and event staff and officials whose immediate and selfless efforts assisted injured individuals and maintained an orderly completion of the event. Our organization stands ready to support the work of city of Boston and the BAA marathon as both move forward.

Any official announcements from the Boston Athletic Association on any aspects of Monday's events will appear on their Facebook page, TheBostonMarathon.

The support organization for donations organized and supported by the city of Boston, Mayor Menino, the Governor, and John Hancock is onefundboston.org.

Middle School race winner Gabrielle Vandendries (Brookline) and second placer Jasmine Tiamfook (Wellesley) are also members of Waltham TC.
(Photo: Steve Vaitones)

Sunday's "warmup events" for the 117th B.A.A. Boston Marathon included both participation numbers and fast times. In the B.A.A. 5K the men's race came down to a sprint finish for the third straight year. Ethiopian Olympic silver medalist Dejen Gebremeskel became the first non-US winner in the 5 year history in an event record time of 13:37. The reigning BAA Distance Medley women's champ, New Zealand's Kim Smith out of Providence RI, took her first step toward a repeat with a 16:14 win in the women's division; training partner Molly Huddle took third in 15:28. Over 5300 runners took part in the run.

In the B.A.A. Miles, the pro races over the three lap route were won by 2008 Olympic silver medalist at 1500m Nick Willis (New Zealand, 4:03.3) and Brenda Martinez (California, 4:51.4). The scholastic races featured 2 runners from each town along the marathon route. High school mile victors were Melissa Lodge (Hopkinton) and Gabe Montague (Newton), and middle school kilometer champs were Gabrielle Vandendries (Brookline) and John Lara (Boston). Lots of stories and pictures at baa.org.

A javelin clinic with former world record holder Tom Petranoff will be held on Tuesday, April 16 from 12 noon to 2:00 p.m. (Mass. school vacation week) at Faxon Field in Quincy MA (146 Coddington St, Quincy MA 02169). Hosted by USATF-NE with the support of the Quincy Track Club, the clinic is for high school age throwers and up of all abilities. The focus will be on basic training skills and technique development.

The fee is $10 per individual, with coaches free if they bring at least one athlete. The info / participant form is available here.

The BAA at 125 - Historical volume now available.

The Boston Athletic Association enjoyed 125 years of sport with a celebration in December of 2012, and now an official history of the organization is available, just in time for the 117th running of the Boston Marathon on Monday.
"The BAA at 125" by John Hanc covers the background behind the club's founding in 1887, its growth, and the development of one of America's oldest athletic organizations through facts, stories, and photographs in an attractive format. There are several book signings scheduled over Marathon Weekend.

A review of the book can be found at RunBlogRun.com

Several quality performances were turned in by New England athletes at USA National Road Race Championships last weekend. At the USA Women's 10 Mile Championship with the Cherry Blossom Festival 10 Mile in Washington DC, Katie DiCamillo (New Balance Boston) and Heather Cappello (BAA) placed 6-7 in the championship (13-14 overall) in times of 55:19 and 55:31. Overall winner Caroline Rotich of Kenya ran 52:46 and US Champion, former Tufts 10K winner Janet Bawcom, recorded a US Record for 10 miles for a women's only race in the in the all-women's elite competition with her time of 53:28.

At the US Men's Club Team National 8K run at the Bank of America Shamrock Shuffle in Chicago, the Greater Boston TC men placed 16th of 25 clubs. Led by Brennan Bonner's 24:52 time, GBTC averaged 25:15 per runner; also scoring in the 4 runner total were Ryan Irwin (25:20), Brian McNamara (25:23) and Chris Kibler (25:25). Hansons-Brooks was overall winner, averaging 23:27 per finisher.

USA Track & Field selected USATF-New England Officials certification chair Laurie Boemker (Cranston RI, RI TF Officials Guild) to represent the USA at the Women in World Athletics Seminar hosted by British Athletics in Birmingham, Great Britain, April 12-15. The program, staged in collaboration with UK Sport, European Athletics, and the International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF), is part of the British Athletics Officials Conference, and is a unique, interesting, and demanding program designed to develop more women for officials and leadership positions in the sport.

Boemker is a National Technical Official and Master Referee, having served in those capacities at last summer's US Olympic Trials, and at this winter's USA Open and USA Masters indoor Championship meets. She also serves on the USATF Officials Championship Selection Committee.

On a grant from USATF-NE, the Greater Boston Track Club men's team will be traveling to Chicago, IL this weekend for the first ever USATF national club team 8 km championship to represent the association. The team members are Brennan Bonner, Brian McMamara, Matt Haringa, Ryan Irwin, and Chris Kibler. The championship has a 28 minute 8km qualifying time. Twenty-six teams are entered. GBTC is the only team from New England and is traveling on a USATF-NE grant awarding them $150 each and will receive lodging from the meet and additional support from their club. Team prize money ranges from $3,000 for first to $1,000 for fifth. The championship is part of the Bank of America Shamrock Shuffle 8k taking place on Sunday April 7th in Grant Park, IL. The Hanson's Brooks project won last year's team race and have two teams entered this year.

From the list of teams entered, the Greater Boston team is coming from the greatest distance. No teams appear to be from the south or the west coast. USATF-NE president Tom Derderian says, "We are pleased to support this first-ever national team championships by sending our association team. GBTC is in second place in the NE road race Grand Prix. It is our hope that by doing so we are helping the establishment of a championship that will grow and endure as has the cross-country club championships." The NE team leading the Grand Prix, Western Mass Distance Project, won a travel grant for last year's cross-country." The grant recipients are limited to once every two years. The grant program is described here: NE Grant program.

Race link

Ben True of Hanover, New Hampshire, is USA Track & Field - New England's Athlete of the Month for March 2013. On March 10, Ben won the USA 15K Road Championships in the Jacksonville (FL) River Run, running 43:38 for his 4th career USA Road Championship win. On March 24 at the IAAF World Cross Country Championships in Bydgoszcz, Poland, True's 6th place finish led the American team to the silver medal behind Ethiopia. This was the highest U.S. men's team placing at this event since 1984, and highest U.S. individual placing since 1995.

True, who represents Saucony, also earned recognition as USA Track & Field's National Athlete of the Week. He was also New England Athlete of the Month for September 2012. See the full list of USATF-NE Athletes of the Month.

The 2013 USATF-NE Mountain Circuit has a change in the schedule. The June 2 Pack Monadnock Race is being replaced due to an inability to get use of Miller State Park for the race. Paul Kirsch, USATF-NE Mountain/Ultra/Trail Chair, has worked with the Bretton Woods Fells Race, which will move to the same date, June 2 - an important decision in selecting Bretton Woods. Fells running is a different twist on mountain racing - runners are given several option to cover the distance between start and finish; the race will be about 5 miles. Details on the course are still being finalized and will be posted on the association website when available.

The Boston Athletic Association enjoyed 125 years of sport with a celebration in December of 2012, and now an official history of the organization is available starting this month. "The BAA at 125" by John Hanc covers the background behind the club's founding in 1887, its growth, and the development of one of America's oldest athletic organizations through facts, stories, and photographs in an attractive format.

A book launch event will take place on April 10 at Hopkinton High School; it's open to the public but reservations are required - baa125.eventbrite.com - and there are several book signings scheduled over Marathon Weekend.

A review of the book can be found at RunBlogRun.com

Local masters athletes earned records, wins, and medals at the USA Masters National Indoor Track and Field Championships held in Landover, Maryland, over the weekend.

Leading the local medalists were two triple winners; Sarah Lawson (GBTC/Waltham MA) won the W50 60, 200, and 400, with Bill Spencer (NE 65+ RC/Litchfield NH) mining gold in he M75 800, mile, and 3000. Double golds were earned by Bob Cedrone (Twilight Throwers/Stoughton MA) in the M55 weight and super weight, and Dennis Melanson (Mass Velocity/Westwood MA) in the M80 60 and 200. Carl Wallin (Thor's Stone/Hanover NH) won the M70 shot put and spun 2 silvers (weight (behind a world record)/super weight). Other individual winners included Katrina Geurkink (W50, Thor's Stone, Weight), Susan Loyd (Mass Velocity, W55, 400), and Mary Roman (W75, Mass Velocity, weight), along with Joseph Benoit (Twilight Throwers, M50, super weight), James Tylock (M50, Patriot PV, pole vault), and Edgar Holmes (Thor's Stone, 75, weight).

Improving his own performance set at the NE Masters meet in January, Antonio Palazzo set the American record M85 in winning the superweight throw (6.14m/20'1").

A record 1,044 entrants ages 30-95+ from 14 countries and 47 states were entered in the championships. More information on the USA Masters Indoor Championships along with complete results can be found at usatf.org. The USA Masters Indoor meet returns to Boston in March of 2014.

Team USA men ran to their highest place at the World Cross Country Championship since 1984, earning silver medals at the IAAF World event on a wintery course in Bydgoszcz, Poland on Sunday. Leading the charge was Ben True (Hanover NH / Saucony), who placed sixth over the tight six lap circuit that totaled 12 kilometers.

True's placing was the best US finish since 1995 when Todd Williams placed ninth; True is coached by Dartmouth distance mentor Mark Coogan, himself a World XC veteran. Ethiopia won the team gold, and Kenya's Japhet Kipyegon was individual winner.

Capping a successful trip for the USA, the senior women and junior men both placed fourth and the junior women sixth. The Junior men's race had local connections with winner Hagos Gebrihwet (Ethiopia) having won the 3000 at February's New Balance Indoor Grand Prix in Boston, and the top US finisher being Maine HS alum Matt McClintock. Check out an interview with Ben True at RunBlogRun.

Kevin Johnson (Western Mass Distance Project) won the 2013 New Bedford Half-Marathon.

Kevin Johnson (Western Mass Distance Project) and Stephanie Reilly (Team RUN) both made it two wins in two tries in 2013 USATF-NE Grand Prix race with strong wins at the New Bedford 1/2 Marathon on Sunday. Neither had problems in the cool and slightly breezy conditions in the Whaling City, where a record 3135 completed the course.

Reilly's winning time ensured a women's team win by RUN by 55 seconds over the BAA, and Johnson's margin up front, defeating defending champ Matt Pelletier, gave WMDP enough time to hold off the BAA by 2 minutes. The Unicorn squad did score a victory in the men's M40+ division over Whirlaway, who in turn was top team in M50+, W40+, and W50+. Cambridge Sports Union (M60+) took the final team title.
Top 40+ finishers were Sheri Piers (Dirigo) and Chris Magill (BAA, 2nd overall), 50+ were led by Pete Bottomley (Dirigo) and Maria Servin (Whirlaway), 60+ by Linda Jennings (GTD) and Rich Larsen (Sugarloaf), and M70+ by Harry Carter (BAA).

This was the 36th edition of the race, hosted by the Friendly Sons of St.Patrick on their namesake's day. Full story and results at the newbedfordhalfmarathon.com. The GP series breaks until Thursday, June 13, when the Hollis (NH) Fast 5K hosts the series' third event. GP scoring / standings will be updated on Tuesday.

Adam Petti (Sentinel Striders/Raynham MA) and Ben Bosworth (Gr.Boston TC/Boston) won their respective age divisions in the 1500 meters at the USA National Youth Indoor Championships held in Landover Maryland. Petti ran 4:33.35 to win the 15-16 division, and Bosworth won the 17-18 division with a time of 4:16.40. Petti was a double winner, also bringing home a gold in the 3000 meter in 9:38.52. The only other top 3 finish by a New England athlete was a silver by Olivia Thorsgaard (Cambridge Jets/Waban MA) in the 13-14 triple jump - 29'1 1/4".

Ben True (Hanover NH / Saucony) won his fouth career USA Road Championship on Sunday at the Jacksonville (FL) River Run 15K on Sunday. True's time was 43:38, and the top 5 were witin 8 seconds of each other. Tim Ritchie (BAA/Boston) placed sixth in a personal best 44:01, and New England product Sean Quigley, now in Boulder CO, was fourth, also in a PB.

Top New Englander among women was Katie DiCamillo (New Balance Boston/Providence) in 50:40 (PB). BAA's Heather Cappello was 13th and Sheri Piers (Dirigo/Falmouth ME) was 22nd and first master.

Full story and results at the USA Running Circuit site.

Dartmouth junior Abbey D'Agostino (Topsfield MA) won two titles, and Terrence Gibson (Rockland MA/Worcester State) and Chris Stadler (Belmont MA/Haverford) each won a won gold at NCAA Division Indoor Championship meets over the weekend.

At the Division I meet in Arkansas, D'Agostino took the lead with a mile to go and ran to the win in the 5000 meter run in 15:28.11, and returned on Saturday for a win in the 3000. Other local placers in the Division I meet were Katie Matthews (BU, 5000, 5th 15:42.27); Martina Salander (Harvard, Pentathlon, 5th, 4209); Katrina Coogan (Georgetown/Exeter NH) 7th, 3000, 9:11.79 and Distance Medley (anchor), 6th; and Nathan Pierre-Louis (Indiana/Waltham MA), Distance Medley (400m leg), 4th).

In the Division III held in Illinois, Gibson, a Worcester State sophomore, ran his season best at the right time in winning the 60 meter hurdles in 8.04 for the school's first male national champion. A junior at Haverford in Pennsylvania, Stadler led the pack in the 5000 meters with a 14:27.74 clocking, just 4 seconds off his personal best. Silver medalists included Lauren Kuntz (MIT, Pole Vault), Targie Gervais (Westfield St, 60), Ashanta Little (Wheaton, 400), Ryan Wedzgowski (Keene St, mile), and Tufts University (men's distance medley) Earning bronze medals were Addie Tousley (Middlebury, 5000), Tanasia Hoffler (Williams LJ), and Middlebury (women's distance medley). From neighboring Lewiston ME, Bates College senior David Pless won the shot put (60'3") and was 2nd in the weight throw to become a 7 time indoor all-American.

At the Division II nationals in Alabama, there were 11 All-American finishes by New Englanders, the highest being a pair of thirds by Corey Thomas (Stonehill) in the high jump at 6'11 3/4" (also 8th in hurdles) and Starr Nathan (AIC) in the long jump, 19'8 3/4". Other medalists: Michael Biwott, AIC, 5th, 5000; Nick Staley, Stonehill, 5th, high jump; Glarius Rop, AIC, 6th, 5000; Antoinette Toussaint, UMass Lowell, 7th, Pentathlon; Elisabeth Monty, UML, 8th, Hurdles. Also, relay placers were AIC 4th-men's distance medley, and UMass Lowell, 4th-women's 4x400, 5th-men's 4x400, and 5th-men's distance medley.

D'Agostino and Stadler are both alumni of USATF-NE member club Emerging Elite. All championship results can be found at tfrrs.com.

USA Track & Field has awarded the hosting of the USA Masters 10K Road Race Championship event to the James Joyce Ramble. The event will be part of the 30th annual running of the Ramble on Sunday, April 28, in Dedham MA.

Several issues led to USATF Masters being without a 10K on the schedule, and a bid was submitted. The Ramble's reputation for holding a quality event, having quality fields, and having hosted New England championships led to a unanimous approval of the USATF Masters Long Distance Running committee. It took several weeks of fine tuning the agreement and contract.

There will be a separate online entry process for the championship division of the race. Entry will require USATF membership. $10,000 in masters only prize money will be awarded. A detailed summary of the championship, along with the entry link, will be up at both jjramble.org and usatfne.org by March 12.

We hope all New England clubs with Masters road running components will field teams, as success this year could lead to a multi-year agreement between USATF Masters and the race.

Community College of Rhode Island distance runner Robert Allen defended two national titles at the National Junior College Indoor Track & Field Championships last weekend. The Cranston Rhode Island native won both the mile (4:15.40) and the 3000 meter (8:32.75) in the meet held at Texas Tech, giving him six national JC titles in his career.

Two other CCRI athletes also competed in the championship; Steven Vazquez (Central Falls RI), 12th, high jump, and Dan Duquette (N.Attleboro MA), 21st, 800.

Read the full story at CCRI Athletics.

USA Track & Field - New England Athlete of the Month for February 2013 is Boston University senior Allison Barwise. At the New England Intercollegiate Indoor Track & Field Championships held at Boston University on February 22-23, Allison won the pentathlon with 3976 points, breaking a 23 year old championship meet record. Within the pentathlon, she high jumped over 1.84m / 6'0.5" which ranked 9th in the US for the season as of the end of the month. On February 17th, she jumped 1.78m to win the high jump at the USATF-New England Championships held at Harvard, and on February 2, she was fourth in the New Balance Grand Prix.

See the full list of USATF-NE Athletes of the Month at USATF-NE awards page.

Joe Hagan was approved as the new men's LDR chair for USATF-NE to fill a vacancy through September's elections. Joe lives in Reading MA, and is a member of the BAA.

USA Nationals in New Mexico had several New England representatives in the results. Mary Saxer (NYAC/Boston MA), who trains at MIT, placed third in the pole vault, clearing 15'1". Running at mile high altitude put distance runners at a disadvantage, but Joanna Murphy (New Balance Boston) placed a solid 7th in 9:46.74. NBB teammate Jennifer Hegarty was fourth in the masters invitational 3000 in 11:48.11. Bp.Hendricken RI HS alum Jake Freeman won the men's weight at 77' 1-3/4".

Full results at www.usatf.org.

The Needham TC Northeast Youth Indoor Classic, originally postponed from February 10, is now cancelled. A scheduling issue at Boston University is forcing the cancellation, as there are no other facility options. Full information, including refund policy, is at the club website, www.needhamtrack.org The meet will return to the schedule in 2014.

Stephanie Reilly (TEAM RUN) won the 39th Annual Jones Group Realtors 10 Mile Road Race in Amherst, MA.

Kevin Johnson (Western Mass Distance Project) and Stephanie Reilly (Team RUN) were first across the finish in the Jones 10 Miler as the 2013 USATF-NE Grand Prix series. The significant changes from predictions even 4 days out made for a decent race day, as a period of wet snow flakes during the race didn't make the course unrunnable. Most travels out to Amherst were without incident, though some areas of the association did have rough weather that prevented travels.

Johnson, a repeat victor, led a string of 5 WMDP pale blue in the top 11 to secure the team victory over GBTC, while Reilly's win, by close to 4 minutes, gave RUN the needed margin for the team title over Whirlaway. Other team winners went to Whirlaway men's 40+, 50+, and women's 40+, Gate City Striders men 60+, and Cambridge Sports Union women's 50+.

The first lists of GP scoring will be posted on Wednesday.

Next up is the New Bedford Half Marathon on Sunday, March 17. Entry is closinig on March 1; see the race website, www.newbedfordhalfmarathon.com.

University of Connecticut swept the men's and women's team titles at the 45th annual New England Intercollegiate Indoor Track & Field Championships at Boston University. The Husky men scored 164.5 points to easily top Rhode Island (97.5) and Northeastern (74), while their women totaled 149.33 points,ahead of Providence (54) and Holy Cross (51.33).

Five women's and two men's individual records were broken; Ada Udaya (New Haven) in the 60 meters at 7.48, Madalayne Smith (UConn) in the 60 hurdles at 8.47, and Ana Groff (UConn) at 1:12.96 in the 500 on the track, with Victoria Flowers (UConn) spinning 69'6.25" to add 9" to her own record in the weight. Allison Barwise (Boston U) won the pentathlon with 3976 points to erase a 23 year old best. On the men's ledger, Cory Duggan (UConn) pushed the pole vault mark up to 17'3", and Trent Baltzell improved the heptathlon mark to 5227 points.

Three relay records turned over this year. The Providence women's distance medley ran 11:30.75 to better Middlebury's year old mark, Connecticut women broke their own 6 year old record in the 4 x 400 at 3:42.41, hile Boston University men broke a venerable 33 year old standard in the 4 x 400 meter relay, clocking 3:09.45 which bettered the 3:10.70 set by a BU squad in 1980. The 2013 time is the second fastest ever run by a New England college team indoors.

The "New Englands" always has a high level of spirit and competition as the season closer for many teams. Full results and history at www.neicaaa.org.

From director Dave Martula as of 9pm on Friday evening:
The 10-miler will be held this Sunday, February 24th. However, the starting time has been changed to 1 PM.
Check the race website, sugarloafmac.org. for any other news.

The USATF New England road race Grand Prix is scheduled to open at the Jones Group Realtors 10 Miler on Sunday, but snowstorm predictions may alter the event.

As of Thursday afternoon, the race is on. However, the club will now decide after Saturday at noon as to the race status - delayed, postponed, canceled.

Check the race website, sugarloafmac.org regularly for changes in status. We'll post on this site, on Facebook, and alert club contacts.

Gabriel Arcaro and Elizabeth Tevnan were winners at the third annual Mass. Scholastic Weight Throw hosted by USATF-NE with the sponsorship of Twilight Throwers. Arcaro (Burlington) threw 58'1.25", the longest throw in meet history. Tevnan (NDA Hingham) won the girls throw in 39'3.75" after placing third in 2012. Nine schools were represented this year, the largest number ever. The meet follows several clinics and competitions this season as part of a grant to develop the event. A similar program with the hammer will take place this spring.

Results at usatfne.org/track.

USATF-NE Youth 200 meter event.
(FinishLynx photo)

The annual youth meet at the Reggie grew by a large number with over 220 entrants competing on Wednesday. Full results can be found at usatfne.org/track/.

Four New England cross country runners had successful races in Ireland as part of the annual exchange with the Ras na hEireann. Mary Kate Champagne (New Balance Boston), Eric Ashe (BAA), and Sam Alexander (BAA) earned trips through their finish in the 2012 USATF New England Cross Country championships, while Joan Bohlke won the 2012 Tour de Patrick series last spring.

The crew shook off jet lag in the Armagh Road Race on February 14, a day after landing on the Emerald Isle. The multi-lap event through the city (3K women, 5K men) had Ashe and Alexander at 10th (14:21) and 17th (14:32) in a race that found the top18 within 25 seconds, with Champagne and Bohlke 5th and 17th (in a race won by Providence College alum Mary Cullen).

On Sunday at the Ras na hEireann International Cross race at the historic Battle of the Boyne site, Champagne and Bohlke took gold and bronze in the women's race, with Ashe and Alexander third and fourth in the men's field

The exchange has been coordinated with Rhode Island's Charlie Breagy, director of the CVS/Downtown 5K and other major Rhode Island races; Charlie grew up representing Dunleer AC and is still a member of that club which hosts the Ras. More details on both races at rasnaheireann.com.

Greater Boston TC men and New Balance Boston women were team champions at Sunday's USATF NE Track & Field Indoor Championship held at Harvard on Sunday. The overwhelming majority of the 650+ entrants made it through the snowstorm to take advantage of the quality facility.

There were two performances that bettered the USA National Meet qualifying standards; sprinter Shelby Walton (unattached, Boston) won the 60 meters in 7.62, and Joanna Murphy (New Balance Boston) raced most of the 3000 by herself to close in 9:18.57. Murphy was the sole competitor to earn the available travel bonus to USA Nationals in 2 weeks.

The meet also closed the indoor season Grand Prix competition, with middle distance runners Caitlin Malloy (New Balance Boston) and David Chorney (BAA) taking those prizes. At the meet, Chorney anchored the winning Distance Medley Relay.

The full results, pending updates and corrections, are found at usatfne.org/track/.

The USATF-NE Indoor Championship meet runs at Harvard University's Gordon Track on Sunday with a full schedule of events. Most events are open, but there are some entry standards. Several masters only events are on the schedule.

Entry at this point is online only, and closes at 5 p.m. on Thursday, February 14; there is no day of event entry. There is up to $6200 in performance based prize money, and a social follows the meet at John Harvard's in Cambridge. The meet entry, online link, and prize money and social information/links are all at the track page.

With the major storm bearing down on New England this weekend, two large local track and field meets have been cancelled. The two day Boston University Valentine Invitational, a major national event set for Friday and Saturday February 8-9 is cancelled with no make-up date.

The Needham Track Club Youth Meet set for Sunday, February 10, is also cancelled. The club is looking at alternative dates later in the season. The USATF NE website will announce any changes. Also see needhamtrack.org.

The MIT Coed Invitational Meet II, originally scheduled for Saturday, February 9 has been cancelled.

The Tufts meet has been postponed to Sunday.

The Reggie Lewis Center is closed Friday and Saturday.

USA Track & Field - New England Athlete of the Month for January 2013 is Erik Nedeau (New Balance Boston / Belchertown MA). The Amherst College head coach teamed up with Chris Simpson, Scott Weeks, and Mark Gomes (all age 40+) to set a new world masters indoor record in the 4 x 800 meter relay; his anchor leg of 1:58.4 brought the team home in 7:58.12. "Ned" also won the Masters Mile at the Greater Boston TC Invitational on January 20 in 4:21.16, and on Feburary 2, was second in the New Balance Grand Prix masters mile.

See the full list of USATF-NE Athletes of the Month at USATF-NE awards page.

Saturday's New Balance Grand Prix event sold out earlier than any of its 18 years, and fans were treated to a show worthy of a sell out. Part of the 2013 USA Indoor Championship Series and an IAAF international permit meet, a mix of local, national and world stars posted quality marks in the 2 1/2 hours. Olympic 10,000 silver medalist Galen Rupp of Oregon ran the second fastest US time ever at 3000 meters, 7:33.67, chasing a World Junior Record performance by Hagos Gebrhiwet (ETH) in 7:32.87, Olympic gold medalist Jenn Suhr of New York cleared the season's best height in the world in the pole vault at 15' 7 1/4" with two attempts following at the world record, and scholastic phenom Mary Cain of New York ran turned in a new HS record for 2 miles, 9:38.68, good for third overall running with the "big girls". Many other international competitors fill the overall results.

The two scholastic regional challenge relays pitting teams from the New York and Boston areas, were full of lead changes, and even the "warm-up" events that opened the meet got the crowd excited; the Cambridge Jets won their fifth straight youth 4x200 in a come from behind charge on the anchor leg, and the masters mile, won by 45 year old Brad Barton of Utah, had Amherst College coach Erik Nedeau (New Balance Boston) just a second behind in 4:25.82.

Check the results and photos at short interview at newbalanceindoorgrandprix.com.

As the indoor season hits its stride, the Running Network asked USATF CEO Max Siegel seven questions about the current season, the year just finished, and activities that USATF is taking on at the national level. Check the short interview with him at RunBlogRun.com.

Antonio Palazzo set a US record in the weight; nephew Bob, meet facility director, also competed in the meet.
(SV photo)

Three pending US masters age group records were set at Sunday's East Region / New England Masters Masters Indoor Championship held at the Providence Career and Technical Academy facility.
The individual record setter was Antonio Palazzo (Twilight Throwers / North Providence RI) in the superweight throw. The 85 year old bettered the existing mark in the 25 lb weight four times in the competition, with his best of 6.68 meters / 21'11" to be submitted for record consideration.

Two relays clocked record times. The men's 4x800 relay 35+, with two runners returning from a record run in New York City on Friday, broke a 9 year old standard set at the 2004 Nationals in Boston. Chris Simpson (Eliot TC), David Cahill (GBTC), Mark Gomes (Miami FL), and Greg Hammett (CMS) teamed to move the baton around in 8:09.65. Simpson and Gomes doubled back from legs on Friday's M40 relay foursome.

To conclude the meet, the women's 2x200 foursome of Sarah Lawson, Diane Pomeroy, Beth Clark, and Latrica Dendy bettered the existing W40+ time for the event by 3 seconds in 1:53.74.

Team scoring had Mass Velocity and Twilight Throwers finishing 1-2 with 24 clubs scoring points. Complete results are found at usatfne.org/track.

Mary Kate Champagne took second place at the NCAC XC Championships in Jamica.
(Photo: Mike Scott)

Mary Kate Champagne (New Balance Boston / Providence RI) led Team USA to a second place finish at the North American/Central American/Caribbean (NACAC) Cross Country Championships in Jamaica on Saturday. Selected based on her finish in the USA Fall Cross Country Championship, she responded by turning in the top US performance, and fourth overall - under a second out of the bronze medal. She'll be competing at the Ras na hEireann international cross race in Ireland with several other New England runners on February 17.

NACAC results at RunningEventsJa.com.

Olympic silver medalist in the 10,000 meters, Galen Rupp of Oregon, ran the fifth fastest indoor mile ever recorded at the Boston University Terrier Classic on Saturday. With a bit of early help from pacesetters, Rupp broke the beam in 3:50.92, over six seconds ahead of Providence College alum David McCarthy (3:57.22), putting him #2 on the US list behind Bernard Lagat's 3:49.89. Five runners in the feature race, plus the winner of the second section, broke the 4:00 barrier, including Northeastern University's Erik Jenkins in fourth (3:58.11). Full meet results at lancertiming.com.

Two New England masters middle distance runners teamed with a native New Englander and a New Yorker to better the world masters 40+ 4 x 800 meter relay at the Armory Track Facility in New York City on Saturday. Eliot TC's Chris Simpson (Somerville MA) and Amherst College coach Erik Nedeau (New Balance Boston / Belchertown MA) passed the stick with Stoughton MA HS and Northeastern U alum Mark Gomes (Miami FL) and regular visitor to the area Scott Weeks (Syracuse Chargers/Cortland NY) in passing the baton around the 3200 meters in 7:58.11, bettering the listed M40 world mark by 9 seconds. A short video and interview can be found at masterstrack.com.

Two time Olympic medalist in the high jump, John Thomas, passed away on January 15 in Brockton at age 71. The first man to clear 7 feet in the high jump indoors - accomplishing this at the 1959 Millrose Games while a Boston University freshman - Thomas went on to clear that barrier over 190 times during his career, including a career best of 7'3 1/2" and three outdoor World Records (including once at the New England collegiate championships held at M.I.T.)

His career coincided with the height of the "Cold War" in the early 1960's, and his two Olympic appearances were hyped as battles against another world record holder, Valery Brumel of the USSR. Thomas won a bronze medal as a teenager in 1960 in Rome, and a silver medal in 1964 in Tokyo where he tied the winning height but Brumel had fewer misses. Overall, he was a nine time USA champion.

The Cambridge MA native and long time Brockton resident, who also competed for the B.A.A. and was part of their recent 125th anniversary celebration, was inducted into the USA Track & Field Hall of Fame in 1985. Among his positions during his professional career, "JT" coached at Governors Academey and Boston University, and served as athletic director at Roxbury Community College.

Long time runner and race walker John Gray passed away on January 10 at the age of 88. A member of the North Medford Club, John competed in the Boston Marathon 34 times with 6 top-35 place finishes. He finished 11th in the 1964 Olympic Trials marathon held in Yonkers NY. He was also an avid race walker, earning many New England championship and national age group medals and writing a book, "Racewalking for Fun and Fitness". A schoolteacher and coach in Massachusetts through much of his life, John closed his career on Cape Cod working as the sports editor of the Cape Codder in Orleans for twelve years.

Ruben Sanca and Lindsay Willard accept their Athlete of the Year awards.
Photos by Joe Navas

USATF New England award winners for 2012 were recognized at the second annual Awards Banquet held in Stoneham MA on Saturday evening. Attended by 145 members, the evening included a buffet dinner, program, and awards.

Athletes of the Year, selected by an online vote, were Ruben Sanca (Whirlaway) for the men, and Lindsay Willard (BAA) and Abbey D'Agostino (Dartmouth) sharing the women's award. Club of the Year was also a tie vote, shared by Western Mass. Distance Project and the Whirlaway Racing Team.

Division winners in the various event Series received an embroidered blue vest with a "2012 Series Winner" designation. Every Association championship event and every event winner were listed in a program that included photos of Athlete of the Year nominees and a color montage of association events from 2012.

Ruben Sanca, New England champion in cross country and at 10K on the roads who competed in the 2012 Summer Olympic Games at 5000 metes for his native Cape Verde, was also the featured speaker for the evening with a presentation and slide/photo display on his experiences getting to and competing in the London Olympics.

Suggestions for next year are welcome as planning and promotion for next year's event will start shortly.

USA Track & Field - New England Athletes of the Month for December 2012 is Mary Kate Champagne (New Balance Boston/Providence RI). At the USA Cross Country Championship on December 8, she was the first New England runner, placing 14th and leading her New Balance Boston team to third place overall. Champagne won the New England championship on November 18, and was first New England athlete this fall at both the USA 5K and 10K Road Championships.

See the full list of 2012 Athletes of the Month at USATF-NE awards page.

Voting is open for the USATF-NE 2012 Male and Female Athlete of the Year, as well as Club of the Year. All 2012 or 2013 members can vote via the link: http://go.usatfne.org/aoy

The winners will be announced at our Annual Awards Banquet on Saturday, January 12; all members are welcome to attend.

Voting is open through January 8th.

An Introduction to Race Walking clinic will be held on Sunday, January 6, at Pinkerton Academy in Derry, New Hampshire. The hour long introduction to the event will begin at 11:00 a.m. There is no charge for the clinic.

The session will be oriented toward youth through high school, but is open to all ages and abililities. The basics of good technique and training for short distance competitions will be presented. The event is presented by USATF New England with the support of Golden Spikes Track & Field Club.

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