USATF-NE Headline News

Aiden Cox, winner of the Boys 11-12 division.
Photo: Exclamation Services

Aidan Cox (NH Thunder) won the boys age 11-12 3K race at the USATF Junior Olympic National Cross Country Championships in Hoover, Alabama. Though held in the deep south, temperatures at race time were below freezing.

Cox, winner of the New England and Region I meets, took the lead near halfway and finished in 10:36.49 with an impressive 10 second gap over the runner-up. There were 401 finishers in his race. Other NE individuals with top 10 finishes included Torin Kindopp (9th, 11-12, Elm City), Gavin Schaaf (10th, 11-12, Green Mt.AA), and Celia Jessiman (6th, 15-18, Waltham TC). Noteworthy, too, was Sean Kay (North Shore Striders) taking 12th place in the boys 13-14 race, the day's largest with 429 finishers.

Local clubs scored in every division. with four top-5 finishes. Green Mountain AA placed fourth of 33 teams in the boys 11-12 division, Nashua PAL Striders was fourth in the girls 9-10, and Granite State Flash earned two fifths - girls 11-12 and 13-14.

Full Results

B.A.A. Women at the 2016 USATF Cross Country Club Nationals
Photo: B.A.A.

The Boston Athletic Association women ran to their third consecutive USA Cross Country Championship Team Title at the USATF Cross Country Club Nationals in Tallahassee Florida on Saturday.

The Unicorns had four runners in the top 10 led by runner-up Sarah Pagano and closely followed by Emily Lipari (5), Elaina Balouris (7), and Emma Bates (9). Their 33 points gave them a comfortable margin over High Performance West (81), who took repeated as second place team. Also representing were Battle Road TC (14/372 pts), Greater Boston TC (16/414), and SISU Project (24/677) among 24 teams.

The B.A.A. men were top NE team, finishing fifth in th 36 team field, scoring points. Leading the local charge again was Daniel Winn with an 8th place finish. Other local clubs from the 301 finisher / 36 club races included The Heartbreakers (11th team/305 pts), Battle Road TC(18/510), Greater Boston TC (25/738), SISU Project (34/985), and HFC Striders (35/1028).

Greater Springfield Harriers, with three runners among the top 6 in the division, won the USA Masters 10K XC Age 50+ team title in Tallahassee FL. There were 2 Men's masters men's races, 40-59 running 10K and and 60+ running 8K. Masters women covered 6K.

Nat Larson (2), Mark Hixson (3), and Kent Lemme (6) pulled the Harriers to a 35-64 victory over Cal Coast TC. Larson was also second Age graded in the race. Pete Hammer (BAA) won the M50 division and was 14th overall in the overall 40-59 race, and Pete Bottomley (Dirigo RC) was third M55. The B.A.A. men's 40+ team placed second with a close 47-55 score behind Bowerman TC Oregon. Leading their charge was Mike Galoob in seventh place. Local clubs following B.A.A. were CMS (7th) and HFC Striders (14th). < /p>

In the 60+ contest, John Barbour (M60) was second overall as he was in 2015, just 4 seconds out of a race-long battle with winner Brian Pilcher. Barbour was the top age graded runner 60+. Greater Lowell placed 7th and Greater Springfield 11th.

Only one NE women's team scored; Liberty AC placed 9th in the women's 50+ division, with Amanda King 4th in W55.
Full Results

Following a poll of members and a meeting of 20 member clubs, the USATF-NE Grand Prix Series is set for 2017. The club meeting included clubs which scored in last year's series, and reviewed scheduling conflicts, geographic distribution, and calendar placement fitting with other association and national events.

The seven race series, picked from 21 bids, will cover three states and run from Feburary 26 through October:

February 26 -- Amherst 10 Miler, Amherst MA
March 19 -- New Bedford Half Marathon, New Bedford MA
April 1 -- Boston Tune-Up 15K, Upton MA
June 18 -- RibFest 5 Miler, Merrimack NH
September 17 -- Downtown 5K, Providence RI
September 24 -- Lone Gull 10 km, Gloucester MA
October 22 -- Baystate Marathon, Lowell MA

The Boston Tune-Up is the only first time championships. The USATF-NE Grand Prix page is updated with specifics and website links to all series races. Thanks to the races which bid, and USATF-NE looks forward to another year of quality competition!

USATF New England had sixteen delegates and several individuals attend the USATF Annual Meeting in Orlando FL. Beyond conducting business of the sport in many committees, several New England reps attended a day long associations workshop to open the five days.

During the meeting's opening session, Vin Lananna was elected President of the national organization. Elected by acclamation, Vin served as head coach at Dartmouth for several years, and is currently president of TrackTown USA in Oregon and a U of O administrator; the association looks forward to working with him.

Honors for USATF-NE included the association winning the Outstanding Association award from the USATF Youth Committee (2016 award voted on at the end of 2015) for the growth of programs and hosting three quality Region I Championships in two years. NE Officials chair Laurie Boemker (RI TF Officials) was elected to the important position of Vice Chair for Rules in the Officials Committee.

Four masters road racers were picked as runner of the year for their age division; Jen Rhines (W40, BAA), Nat Larson (M50, Gr.Springfield Harriers), Jan Holmquist (W70, Whirlaway), and Bill Riley (NE65+, M80).

Several officials were selected to work major national meets. Those hard working officials include Joe Bullock, Nicole Bullock, Bob Gidari, Justin Kuo, Faye Lacourse, Pat Lavelle, and Pat Ronan.

New England states runners earned four starting line spots for Nationals with their runs in the 37th FootLocker Northeast Championships on the Van Cortlandt Park course in New York City on Saturday. In the girls race, Granite State Flash runner Jaqueline Gaughan (Exeter NH) and Grace Connolly (Natick MA) placed 2-4 for a trip to the finals in December, and Patrick O'Brien (Durham NH) was third in the boys race with Connecticut runner Drew Thompson (Trumbull) nabbing the final advancing spot.

The top 10 in each race qualified for the finals in San Diego CA on December 10. Results and stories.

At the Nike Cross National Northeast qualifier at Bowdoin Park NY, La Salle RI senior DJ Principe dominated the boys field to win by 33 seconds in a course record and advance as an individual with Tyler Marshall (Champlain Valley VT) third. Caroline Fischer (Bishop Guertin NH) took third in the girls race and likewise will move on to Nationals, as will Souhegan (Amherst NH) HS, which placed second as a team. NXN finals are in Oregon on December 3.

USATF Region I XC Championships at Saratoga Spa State Park, NY
Photo: USATF-NE

New England youth, making up a majority of participants, responded to challenging weather and course conditions to take a majority of scoring places at the USATF Region I cross Country Championship meet at Saratoga Spa State Park in New York on Sunday. Saturday's sunny 60 degree conditions changed drastically on Sunday with an inch of snow and continued rain for the first few hours of races.

New England clubs scored among the top 5 in all 10 divisions, as ten different teams earned at least one spot on the National starting line. Local squads swept the top 5 in three divisions (Girls 13-14, Boys 11-12, and Boys 13-14.)

Four individuals - Aidan Cox (NHThunder/11-12), John Pagliaro (Sentinel Striders/17-18), Una Treanor (SS/15-16), and Sydney Bagus (SS/17-18) - won individual races, with another 11 USATF-NE youth earning individual silver or bronze medals on the State Park course.

The top five teams and individuals in the top 30 qualified for the December 10 Nationals in Hoover AL. Region I Results

USATF-NE Junior Olympic XC Championship
photo: Courtesy of Green Mountain AA

Over 900 youth from age 7 to 18 contested 10 races over the challenging Freestyle Farm courses as Sunday's USATF-NE Junior Olympic Championship in Amherst, New Hampshire. Six different teams won age division titles, with Granite State Flash, Nashua PAL Striders, and Sentinel Striders each earning two wins on a sunny fall day at the working equestrian farm and conservation land.

The top five teams and individuals in the top 30 qualified for next Sunday's Region I Championship in Saratoga NY.

New England Results

Five New England athletes returned from a 10 day trip 'down under' with medals from the World Masters Association track and field championships in Australia. Mary Roman (W80, Mass Velocity) won five medals in the W80 throwing events; Weight (Gold), Shot and Throws Pentathlon (Silver), and Javelin and Discus (Bronze). Mary Harada (W80, Liberty AC) won a gold in the 8K cross country and bronze in the 800m.

Roger Busch (Thor's Stone) won the M75 discus, and two men won silver medals; Eugene Anton (Ashland MA) in the M55 short hurdles and Buzz Gagne (Twilight Throwers) in the M65 Javelin.

Masters Meet website.

Mike Galoob (B.A.A.) won the masters 8K race in 26:44.
( Photo: ScottMasonPhoto.com)

Liv Westphal (Boston) and Shane Quinn (Providence) took the New England titles at the USATF-NE Cross Country Championships on Sunday. The 3 races had 377 total finishers who ran under cool, damp, and breezy conditions.

Westphal, who won the Mayors Cup 2 weeks ago, repeated as NE champ in the women's 6k, bettering her 2015 time by a second. The past member of the French World Cross Country team had a 36 second gap on Rachel Sorna (The Heartbreakers) in second. Battle Road edged The Heartbreakers 32-42. Quinn, a recent Providence College grad who took sixth at the Mayors Cup, was third across the line after Brian Shrader (Arizona) and Thomas Curtin (Virginia). His 30:06 time the fastest NE winner since 2003, and Shrader's winning 29:56 was also the fastest overall time since 2003. B.A.A. bested The Heartbreakers 20-54 for the team win. Master Men's 8K race winner broke up a pack with 200 meters to go, leading the B.A.A. to the M40+ crown.

Full team and individual results at usatfne.org/cross.

Jim Spisak (NEDistance) led the men's race home in 23:37.
(Photo courtesy of the B.A.A.)

Local runners and clubs took top honors at the 26th Boston Mayor's Cup Cross Country Championships on Sunday. Both individiual winners in the championship races led from the first mile on a windy day over a damp course. The women's race saw international level competitors at the front, with Boston College grad and French National XC team member Liv Westphal holding a 4 second margin over Amy Van Alstine at the tape.

Men's race winner Jim Spisak (NEDistance) ran a fine 23:37 solo to give him a 24 second gap over Matt McClintock (ZAP Fitness NC). Repeating as winners of the Squires Cup for top teams were Battle Road TC women and NE Distance men.

Fastest in the Franklin Park 5K, which also served as the masters event in the USATF-NE GP, age age 40+ runners Mike Galoob (B.A.A., 16:41) and Kara Haas (GLRR, 19:02). Over 600 youth were entered in the meet's three races covering 1.1 miles, the largest fields ever. Fastest times were posted by Will Heenan (NHTracksters, 5:38) and Margo Lewis (Waltham TC, 6:30).

Thanks to the Boston Athletic Association and adidas for sponsorship of the event. Full team and individual results of all races at coolrunning.com.

Louis Serafini of The Heartbreakers (Brighton MA) is USA Track & Field New England's Athlete of the Month for September 2016. Serafini clinched the 2106 Road Race Grand Prix with a convincing win at the Lone Gull 10K USATF-NE Championship on September 25, leading The Heartbreakers to their first men's open team championship win. Two weeks earlier, he ran to a second place finish at the Seasons 20K /NE Championship in Acton MA.

A pair of New Hampshire runners headed to the west coast and returned with medals from the USATF Masters Half Marathon Trail Race Championships in Bellingham WA on October 16. Len Hall won the M60-64 division, and clubmate Bob Mulvaney took third in the same division on a course challenged by six inches of rain and high winds. Overall winner Andy Wacker of Boulder CO earned USATF Athlete of the Week for his performance.

CMS runners Leslie O'Dell and Tim Van Orden topped the lists in the 2016 USATF-NE Mountain Running Circuit which closed last weekend at the Bretton Woods Fells Run. Both won the series as masters (age 40+) runners, O'Dell besting Jamie Woolsey (aR) by 23 points, and Van Orden ahead of Matt Veiga (CMS) by 2.5 points; the series scores best 6 of 8 races on a percentage-of-time basis.

CMS won all three men's team divisions, and acidotic Racing swept women's results. Check the 2016 Scoring Summary provided by Dave Dunham.

The Tufts 10K was not the only USA Championship on the weekend, as the USA 10 Mile Championships ran on Sunday in Minneapolis MN. Tim Ritchie placed a close third in 47:33 behind winner Sam Chelanga's 47:25; Ritchie brought home $7000 for his effort. In the women's race, Emma Bates (B.A.A.) was 11th in her debut at the distance in 56:00.

At Saturday's Eversource Hartford Marathon, Brian Harvey (B.A.A.) led the field in a strong 2:17:56 for $3000. Over a minute back, Matt Pelletier (unattached) also broke 2:20 - 2:19:36 - while Scott Leslie (CMS, 2:24:00) and Jason Ayr (WMDP, 2:24:47) completed a USATF-NE runner sweep. Elizabeth Ryan (Gr.Boston TC) won the women's competition in 2:45:59.

Sunday's heavy rains in Boston made the 10th B.A.A. Marathon a challenge for runners and the many volunteers. At the finish in White Stadium, Daniel Salel clocked 1:03:13 to take the $10,000 first prize and led a Kenya sweep as Mary Wacera headed the women's field in 1:10:19. Chris Allen (B.A.A.) was top New Englander (4th US) in 13th, 1:08:58, and Heather Cappello (B.A.A.) placed fourth in 1:15:53.

In far better conditions 3 hours west, Tyler Andrews (CSU) took down a 32-year-old course record at the 34th Mohawk Hudson River Marathon on a point to point course from Schenectady to Albany, NY running 2:15:52 personal best for the win. Grand Prix leader Louis Serafini (Heartbreakers) also recorded a PB in 2:17:25 in a field of 1100 finishers

Start of the 2016 Tufts 10K/USATF Championship
photo: USATF-NE

Emily Sisson handled blustery winds and all challengers to win her first USA National Championship at the 40th annual Tufts 10K for Women on Monday in Boston. Moving up one place from last year, the Providence based New Balance athlete improved by 30 seconds to break the tape in 31:47, the 11th fastest time in race history.

Sarah Pagano (B.A.A.) was a step behind at the mile (5:02) and 3 seconds back at 2 miles, but Sisson ran efficiently and relentlessly from there to increase gap to 44 seconds at the finish. Pagano was likewise alone in second from the 2 mile mark on, finishing in 32:21.

The Boston Athletic Association was a three-peat team winner, the trio of Pagano, Jen Rhines (8th/ first master) and Margo Malone (26th) running a minute better than Hansons-Brooks Distance Project of Michigan. Craft Concept Racing, Dirigo RC, and Battle Road placed 5-6-7. Over 3800 finished the distance.

Results and USATF story.

New England clubs and individual runners returned from the USATF Masters 5K Road Race Championships in Syracuse NY on Sunday. Held in conjunction with the Syracuse Festival of Races, competition is strong across all ages for the age 40+ competitors.

The Greater Springfield Harriers trio of Nat Larson, Francis Burdett, and Ron Lombardi won the Men's 50+ team title, averaging 16:33. In M40+, CMS runners Greg Putnam, Tim Van Orden, Joe Shairs were second behind Atlanta TC, and New England 65+ RC (Milt Schumacher, Robert Knight, and Joe Noonan) completed the medal set with a bronze in M70+.

Individual medalists included one gold - George Tooker (Wrentham MA) M75, two silver - Greg Putnam, CMS, M45 and Tom Ryan, Dirigo, M60 - and two bronze - Nat Larson, GSH, M50, and Tim Van Orden, CMS, M45. Larson was also third in the overall age graded lists, scoring 95.39 with his time of 15:57.

Full Results.

The Millennium Running Club
photo: Jean Cann

The Heartbreakers took three of four open titles, including the club's first team win at any distance at Sunday's Lone Gull 10K in Gloucester, Mass. the sixth championship event in the 2016 USATF-NE Road Race Grand Prix. Louis Serafini led the field to the finish on a cool and breezy day that saw six men dip under 31:00. Coming from behind in the last half mile, Serafini repeated as event victor, overtaking 2014 winner Amos Sang to finish nine seconds ahead in 30:23, With that, he clinched his second straight USATF-NE GP title.

Minutes later, teammate Rachel Sorna broke the tape at her second championship in 34:31, just 4 seconds ahead of course record holder and 2014 champion Heather Cappello (B.A.A.).

Serafini led the strong Heartbreakers club contingent with 4 scorers in the top 15. Keely Maguire, fifth in the women's standings, led Millennium Running to the team win.

936 runners completed the scenic oceanfront 10K, including 91 year old Lou Peters (NE 65+). The Grand Prix concludes on November 6 at the City of Manchester Marathon in New Hampshire.

Overall Results. Final series rankings and age grading will be at the GP Page.

Lance Turley
(Facebook photo)

A pair of dedicated contributors to the sport in New England passed away in the past week.

Lance Turley of Laconia NH suffered a heart attack during medical procedure. Recognized as a Master level throws official with a great interest in the hammer (and an early supporter of the hammer/weight at the high school level), he had worked at this summer's Olympic Trials and officiated at all levels of the sport, youth to elite to masters. Lance also served terms on the USATF-NE Board as both Secretary and Youth Chair.

Al Porter of Dartmouth MA passed at age 82. Al coached Dartmouth (MA) High School through 52 seasons, was inducted into the Mass.State Track Coaches Association Hall of Fame in 1983, and served as vice principal at the school. He was also a long-time Mass.T&F Officials Association member, and among the country's top high school milers in his own high school careers.

Ten individuals were newly elected to serve on the USATF New England Board of Governors at the USATF-NE Annual Meeting held on Sunday.

Following Athlete of the Month presentations and opening remarks and reports, bylaw change discussion and elections took most of the meeting time.

Following a term as vice president, Chris Pasko (Wellesley Youth TF Club) was elected president of the organization. He will be joined by three new Vice-Presidents - Jason Ayr (Western Mass Distance Project), Sean Dever (Gr.Boston TC), and Amanda Wright (Sisu Project). Stephen Peckiconis returns as treasurer, and Maggie Fox (GBTC) will fill the Secretary position. All officer positions serve for two years.

Five new sports chairs will join the monthly meetings for 1 year terms. Scott Mindel (CMS) and Brielle Chabot (B.A.A.) will now head mens's and women's LDR, respectively, while Jan Holmquist remains as Masters LDR chair. David Watkins (Longmeadow MA) was elected Track & Field Chair, and Nicole Hamilton (HFC Striders) is the new Cross Country chair. Sean Duncan (Western Mass. Distance Project) is the new Youth Committee chair. Justin Kuo (Race Walking), Mike Travers (Masters TF), and Paul Kirsch (Mountain/Ultra/Trail) were unopposed to continue in their positions.

Returning Athletes Representative Jennifer Mortimer (Millennium Running) and Rich Hartnett (MassVelocity) will be joined by Alexandra Varanka Mindel (Battle Road TC).

The meeting moved to support the efforts of the Mass. State Track Coaches Association working on issues related to management and scheduling of the Reggie Lewis Center track facility. A collection of by-law changes were approved, with several tabled for a year. A slate of seventeen individuals was selected to represent New England at the USATF Annual Meeting in November.

Contact information on the new board members, updated bylaws, and meeting minutes will be posted in the coming week on the Board page.

Reminder that the Annual Meeting of USATF New England will take place this Saturday, September 17, at 3:00 p.m. at the Marriott in Newton MA.

All USATF-NE members as of August 1 and who are 18+ on the meeting date are eligible to vote. This year, all board positions are up for election - Officers are President, Vice-President (3), Secretary and Treasurer, along with all sports chairs and athlete reps positions.

A number of by-law changes will be presented for review. The full meeting agenda, positions open for election, and by-law change proposals are posted at USATF-NE board page.

It's September and cross country season is ready to run. The 2016 USATF-NE Cross Country Grand Prix kicks off on Sunday, September 11, at the Greater Boston TC XC Festival at Elm Bank Park in Wellesley MA. Separate 5K races for women, men, and masters men, along with a youth race will fill the morning. Race Info.

The second race follows a week later in Northampton MA where Western Mass Distance Project will host a pair of 5K (women/men) on the Smith College course. WMDP race info.

Check for the 5 race series info and rules, as well as the full XC season schedule.

Women's podium at the New Hampshire 10 Miler
(USATF-NE photo)

Amos Sang and Heather Cappello handled double the distance of the championship two weeks ago to double their season USATF-NE Championship wins and lead the fields at the New Hampshire 10 Miler on Saturday in Auburn NH. Temperatures which crested 80 were tempered a bit by the shaded course around Lake Massabesic, but hills created additional challenges. Clubs fully supported the event, shown by just 1 unattached runner appearing among the top 50 men.

Sang (Western MA Distance Project) set a new course record in 50:31, and led from the five mile split to the finish, holding off Brian Harvey (B.A.A.) by 9 seconds over the second half. Harvey was first scorer for the winning Unicorn men's open team. Greg Putnam (CMS) led all age 40+ competitors to the end and remained perfect over 4 races in the M45-49 division.

Cappello (B.A.A) also had the top spot from halfway in, clocking 58:13 and moving into first in the USATF-NE GP standings. Rachel Sorna (Heartbreakers) ran a negative split to take the runner-up spot in 59:30. seconds back. Cappello, backed by Rachel Hyland (4) and Emma Spencer (5), earned the B.A.A. to a matching women's team title. Masters winner Diana Bowser (Craft Concept Racing) recorded 1:05:04.

Preliminary overall results. Thanks to our friends at Millennium Running for hosting the well attended event, which had 1215 finishers. Announced last week, the same group will now be operating the Manchester City Marathon, the USATF-NE Championship, on November 6.

Full updated team and individual standings will be posted on Tuesday at usatfne.org/gp. The series continues in two weeks at the Seasons 20K in Acton MA.

Start of 2016 Bobby Doyle 5 Miler
(photo: USATF-NE)

Both temperatures and competition were hot in Rhode Island, as Amos Sang and Heather Cappello led the racing at The Bobby Doyle 5 Miler on Sunday. Condition at the start were heading toward a heat advisory warning later in the day, and race tactics ranged from caution to hammer and fade.

Sang, gaining Western MA Distance Project's first individual win of the season, was part of a lead trio at 5K, but moved ahead to clock 24:05 and an 11 second margin at the finish; the top 10 runners at the split were within one place of that ranking at the finish. Greg Putnam (CMS) led all age 40+ competitors to the end. Whirlaway RT open men took the overall club honors, and CMS masters men won the division.

The B.A.A.'s Cappello was 24 seconds back at the 5K split, but early leader Salome Kosgei of New York succumbed to the conditions and was more than a minute slower over the final 3K. The winner's 27:59 was just one of two times under 29:00 on the day. Greater Boston TC, with Elizabeth Ryan and Laura Paulsen in the top 7, won the team title. Masters winner Regina Loiacano placed ninth overall, as her CMS masters team matched the club's men's team victory.

Preliminary overall results. CMS men move to the head of the series standings and GBTC women retain the top spot after three races, with full updated team and individual standings posted as soon as our scorers fit into vacation travel later this week at www.usatfne.org/gp.

Nearly half of the 679 finishers were USATF members. The running community in RI again came together to put on this event honoring one of the state's legends in the sport, Bobby Doyle. The series reaches the halfway point in a little more than a week at the New Hampshire 10 Miler.

The Annual Meeting of USATF New England will take place on Saturday, September 17 at 3:00 p.m. at the Newton Marriott in Newton MA .

Athlete of the Month presentations are at 3:00 p.m. with the business meeting beginning at 3:30 p.m. All USATF-NE members as of August 1 and who are 18+ on the meeting date are eligible to vote. We hope all clubs will have at least one representative at the meeting.

This year all board positions are up for election - Officers are President, Vice-President (3), Secretary and Treasurer. The office of president is open as Tom Derderian has completed his 2 term limit. All sports chairs and athlete reps are also open, with some incumbents running again. Anyone interested in running for these spots can contact the office.

A large number of by-law changes will be presented for review. This is the first comprehensive review of the association bylaws in a decade. The proposals appear at www.usatfne.org/board.

Reports on past and future projects will be presented, and delegates to the national meeting will also be selected.

The full meeting agenda, positions open for election, and by-law change proposals will be posted by August 15 at USATF-NE board page.

Roge Busch (Greenwich CT / Thor's Stone AC) is USA Track & Field - New England's Athlete of the Month for July 2016. A discus throw who is 75 years old, Busch bettered the US M75 record twice in the month in the event. At the USATF Masters Championship July 14-17, he threw 42.30m and 42.85m (140'7"), both improving the previous mark of 42.18m. He again bettered the old mark at the USATF-NE Open and Masters Championship at Holy Cross on July 30 with a throw measuring 42.35m/138'11". M75 throw the 1kg discus.

Find the full list of USATF-NE Athlete of the Month.

Melissa Lambert scored in 3 events, winning points for Project HHGH
(photo: Zach Emerson)

A new US record in the M75 discus was among the highlights of the USATF-NE Open and Masters Track & Field Championship at the College of the Holy Cross last weekend. The two day meet drew its largest entry in several years, and enjoyed a reprieve from the week of 90 degree days.

Friday's 5000 and pole vault finished just before a torrential rain; the vault produced a 16' jump by Mass. HS junior Eric Duffy. Saturday's full schedule utilized the full complex, including multiple field event venues. 75 year old Roger Busch (Thor's Stone) bettered the pending US best in the discus which he'd set 2 weeks ago at the USA Masters Nationals, spinning the platter 42.35 meters / 138'11".

Top open performances based on the IAAF scoring tables were turned in by Kameron Ulmer (BAA) in the 1500, his 3:49.69 worth 1205 points, and Stephen Headley (Boston-North) scoring 1011 points with a 10.59 100 meters. Top women's marks were by scholastic sprinter India Johnson (Waltham TC), 925 for her 25.63 200 meters, and past Olympian Stephanie Reilly (Team RUN), earning 906 for her 17:21.01 5000 meters. Team champions were won by Sprinticity men (80) over Boston-North (22), and Waltham Track Club women (23) over Mass Velocity (15).

Thanks to Coach John Hoogasian and the Central Mass TF Academy for sharing the facility and managing facility logistics. Full Results

Thirteen USATF-NE coaches complete the USATF Level II Coaching School last week. The 8 day school includes four days of common sports science curriculum and four days of specialty area instruction. We'd like to recognize those earning their Level II diplomas (with specialization areas)

Cheryl Aley (Colchester VT/GMAA Youth), Michele Bartlett (Loudon NH, Endurance), Michael Baugh (Stoughton HS/Mass Velocity, Youth), Alfred Blaisdell (Millbury MA, Throws), Chris Blondin (Gr.Boston TC, Endurance), Matthew Dyer (Elms College, Sprints/Hurdles), Ryan Haggerty (Merrimack NH, Endurance), Timothy Irish (Sunrise Striders, Endurance), Brian McNeiece (Narragansett RI, Endurance), Jacky Mendes (Merrimack College, Jumps), Matthew Miller (Somerville MA, Endurance), Thomas Santa Maria (Winchester MA, Sprints/Hurdles), Thomas Smith (Bridgewater State, Endurance), Desiree Strickland (Concord MA, Sprints/Hurdles).

Find more on Coaching Education at usatf.org.

The second annual Friday Night Lights 10K served as the USATF-NE title race at the 10,000m distance through four sections of the 25 lap race. Co-hosted by Western MA Distance Project and Greater Boston TC, the night under the lights changed from a sunny 90 degrees for the first unseeded section to a breezy 80's (just missing a passing thunderstorm) under the lights for the seeded section.

Overall winner Amos Sang clocked a solo 29:37.01 in the final race of the night, with Ruben Sanca (2, 30:37.86), Matt Pelletier (3), and Glarius Rop (5) taking the USATF-NE medals. The women's race had several lead changes before Holly Rees (Battle Road TC) took control and the win in 35:24.70; following her to the finish were Laura Paulsen (GBTC) and Erica Jesseman (Dirigo) for the NE placings, as Sheri Piers (Dirigo) ran an exceptional 36:51.14 for fourth - and W45 division win.

The top 4 open NE members scored the first points in the 2016 Outdoor TF Championships, running July 29-30 at Holy Cross. Full Results.

Eleven New England athletes and a relay team won age division gold at the USATF Masters Outdoor Championships last weekend in Grand Valley, Michigan. The meet included a full schedule of events in 5 year age groups.

Multiple event winners included Flo Meiler (W80 100, 80 hurdles, 200 hurdles, LJ, TJ, PV, discus, steeple, pentathlon), Mary Roman (W80, Shot hammer weight), Tim Morse (M60 hammer, weight), Bob Ariello (M55 hammer, weight), Vic Desmarines (M50 shot, weight) and Dennis Branham (M85 400, 800). Also taking gold were Bill Spencer (M80 800), Francis Burdett (M50 5000), Warren Graff (M70 300 hurdles), and Mass Velocity (M55 4x100) on the track, and Roger Busch (M75 discus) and Buzz Gagne (M65 javelin) in the field.

Full Results.

Local collegians will compete in the North American, Central American, and Caribbean (NACAC) U-23 Championships in San Salvador, El Salvador, this weekend. Included on the USA roster are Harvard runners Autumne Franklin (400 Hurdles) and Paige Kouba (steeplechase), and Merrimack's Carly Muscaro (Ashland MA, 4x400 Relay). Dage Minors (Franklin Pierce University) will represent Bermuda in the 800 and 1500. From neighboring associations, Isaiah Harris (Lewiston ME/Penn State, 800 meters), Henry Wynne (Westport CT/Virginia, 1500 meters), and Patrick Corona (Fairfield CT/USAFA/5000m) will also compete.

Meet site: athleticsnacac.org

Many New England association youth scored well at the USATF Region I Junior Olympic Championships held at the University at Albany, NY, July 7-10. The facility proved to be a good location for a JO Regional, and athletes in 6 age groups were able to handle the varied weather conditions which ranged from 90's, humid, and storms, to 60's and showers.

Among the wins and impressive performances by New England association athletes were Monadnock Athletics girls placing 2-3-4 in the 17-18 heptathlon, wins by Patriot Pole Vault jumpers in all three girls division, and three fast times by Peyton Rollins (Cambridge Jets) in winning the Girls 11-12 100, 200, and 80 meter hurdles.

Results are found at the track page. Finishers in the top 5 qualify for Nationals in Sacramento, California at the end of the month.

Molly Huddle (Saucony/Providence RI) and Abbey D'Agostino (New Balance/Brighton MA) will pack their bags for Rio, making the US Olympic Team in the 10,000 meters and 5,000 meters, respectively, as the Olympic Trials in Eugene Oregon concluded over the weekend. They join a pair of MA HS alum on Team USA, Sean Furey (Methuen) in the javelin, and Shalane Flanagan (Marblehead) in the marathon.

Huddle won both the 5000 (15:05.51) and 10,000 but is opting to run only the 10 - as has Emily Infeld, 4th in the 5000). Those decisions move Masconomet HS and Dartmouth alum D'Agostino, 5th in the 5000m, into the event's final team spot; she clocked 15:14.04. Watch the race finish at nbcsports.com, where you can also find links to other event video.

Other New Englanders making finals in the closing days of the Trials included: 400 hurdles- 6. Autumne Franklin, Harvard, 54.65; Pole Vault- Mary Saxer (Boston), NH; Javelin- 9. Leigh Petranoff (Cranston West RI HS alum) 168'8"; 1500- 6. Johnny Gregorek, (Seekonk MA HS alum) 3:38.76; 8. Daniel Winn, B.A.A., 3:39.22; 12. Andrew Wheating (Kimball Union Academy VT alum) 3:41.22; 5000- 4. Eric Jenkins (Portsmouth NH HS alum), 13:35.98; 5. Ben True (Saucony/Hanover NH), 13:36.40.

Full results can be found at usatf.org

Starter Tommy Meagher
(Mark Heckel photo)

Along with a number of New England athletes, six local certified officials are among the select number working at the US Olympic Trials in Eugene Oregon this week.

Those on the track and in the field from the New England association include Laurie Boemker (RI-Technical Official); Joe Bullock (MA-Throws), Bob Gidari (NH-Throws); Justin Kuo (MA-Electronic Measurement); Pat Lavelle (MA-Throws); and Tom Meagher (MA-Starter).

A high quality national field ascended Loon Mountain in quest of National Awards and USA Team berth at the USA Mountain Running Championships in Lincoln NH on Sunday. Many more runners with fast "flat" track times and marathon times were entered in this year's event.

Leading the crowd to the summit in 49:11 and earning another Team USA roster spot was eight time US Mountain Running Team member Joe Gray (Colorado Springs/Club Northwest); best New Englander was Eric Blake (unattached) in seventh in 51:28. Women's winner Addie Bracy (Longmont CO) had nearly a gap on her competition with a 57:24. Kim Nedeau (acidoticRacing/Leverett MA) in third, earned her first spot on a USA team, clocking 59:03.

Central Mass Striders swept the team titles, with the men's fivesome of Todd Callaghan, Matt Veiga, Kevin Tilton, Tim Van Orden, and Scott Leslie, and the women's trio of Regina Loiacano, Jenn Brooks, and Leslie O'Dell Host club acidoticRacing was second men's and third's team. The race was also the USA Masters championship as well. Check the full results at millenniumrunning.com.

Two New England girls earned high medals in the 2000 meter steeplechase on Day One of the Hershey USATF Youth Outdoor Championships in Millersville (PA) University. Clare Martin (Waltham TC/Newton MA) dominated the age 17-18 division race in 6:55.53. In the 15-16 division, Allison Sibold (Wellesley Youth TF Club/Wellesley MA) earned the silver medal, running 7:49.39, just .16 behind the winner.

A third podium appearance for a New Englander was achieved by Kaitlin Kolb (Wellesley Youth) who placed eighth in the 13-14 pentathlon with 2257 points.

Nearly 3000 entries are contesting the Hershey USATF Youth Championships. Spanning six days, the meet is an open/qualifying standards meet while Junior Olympics is an advance-by-place competition from association to regional to National. Follow the meet daily and learn more at usatf.org

Shanlane sets American Record at B.A.A. 10K
Photo: Chris Lotsbom for Race Results Weekly

Massachusetts native Shalane Flanagan tuned up for this summer's Olympic Games marathon by setting a new US road record at the B.A.A. 10K on Sunday in Boston. Her time of 30:52 broke her own mark of 31:03 set last fall. Flanagan, a Marblehead H.S. grad now living in Portland, Oregon, is the first American winner in the race's six year history.

Training partner and Olympic teammate Amy Cragg had a solid race, placing third in a personal best 31:31. Leading local was internationalist Kim Smith of Providence in seventh, 32:47.

The men's race was led home by the sixth Kenyan in as many years, as David Chebii broke the tape in 27:55 with Dathan Ritzenhein top American fourth - 28:12 - and Brian Harvey (B.A.A.) top New Englander 11th in 30:34.

The IAAF Bronze Label rated event, presented by Brigham and Women's Hospital in Boston, drew its largest field ever number of finishers (7,805). More details and results at www.baa.org.

Greater Boston TC placed 4th women's team and 5th men's teams at the USATF Club Nationals on Sunday in Philadelphia PA. Lisa Wilson gave GBTC their only individual winner, taking the hammer in a Olympic Trials qualifying 63.92/209'8". She was also second in the shot. The men's team was led by Andre Reid, who scored in all 4 throws.

Results at www.usatf.org.

Three USATF-New England athletes competing at the USA Junior Championships earned berths on Team USA to compete at the IAAF World Junior Championships in Poland in July.

Bobby Colantonio (Barrington RI) and Adam Kelly (Barrington RI/Princeton) placed 1-2 in the hammer throw, Colantonio's 74.12m/243-2 spin is the fourth best ever by a US Junior. And a sidelight - third placer Mike Alvernaz completed a unique and likely unprecedented sweep of any event at this championship as all three medalists are graduates of Barrington RI High School (under the tutelage of coach Bob Gourley). .

Emma Fitzgerald (Braintree MA) scored entry positions in two events. On Friday, she placed second in the javelin to assure her ticket to Bydgoszcz, and over the next two days, scored 5451 points to win the heptathlon; over a nine day period, she twice achieved the World qualifying score in the grueling multi-event competition.

The two highest placing finishers having achieved the World Championship qualifying standard earned team roster spots. Juniors are at least 14 years old and cannot turn 20 during the year. Eight meet records were set as temperatures in the Fresno CA area reached 108F and a track temperature of 138F on Sunday. Other USATF-NE athletes competing in the high level meet: 5000M: 6.Erin Dietz (Bedford MA/Emerging Elites) 16:51.91; 3000M: 6.Dietz, 9:41.77. Hammer: 7.Alva Hicks (Providence/Wake Forest), 188'3"; 8.Courtney Jacobsen (E.Greenwich RI), 185'4"; 9.Carly Timpson (Narragansett RI/Quinnipiac) 168'9". High Jump: 10.Annika Hibbard (Merrimack NH/SUNY Albany) 5'5.75". 5000M: 6.Eli Moskowitz (Amherst NH/Brown) 16:32.22. 800: Peter Garmon (Burlington MA/UConn) 6-heat 1:54.91

Full results, at usatf.org and follow the IAAF World Junior/U-20 Championships at iaaf.org.

USATF-New England is looking to fill a Sports Marketing position for the association. This is a half-time position in the Boston area. See the posted Job Description.

Over 700 competitors recorded performances at the USATF-New England Junior Olympic meet at Fitchburg State on Saturday. The full day of competition in good weather conditions was run with the support of Fitchburg State University track and field, and two dozen certified officials.

RESULTS are found at www.usatfne.org/track. The top 8 placers in each event qualify for the Region I JO Championship July 7-10 in Albany NY. Entry for New England athletes will be available by Wednesday. Clubs and unattached athletes all enter through their accounts at athletic.net; the link will be posted on the track page.

Emma Fitzgerald in the heptathlon.

Three USATF New England athletes topped events at the 2016 New Balance National Scholastic Track & Field Championships in Greensboro, North Carolina, last weekend. Emma Fitzgerald (Braintree MA) scored 5464 to win the heptathlon, the best high school mark in the country for 2016. She also placed fourth in the javelin. In the boys results, Bobby Colantonio (Barrington RI) moved up a place from 2015 to win the hammer, spinning 240'1", and junior DJ Principe earned gold in the 5000 meters with a frontrunning 14:37.09.

Other USATF-NE girls in the top three included: Mile - 2.Maegan Doody (Lee NH) 4:42.45; Hammer - 3.Courtney Jacobsen (E.Greenwich RI) 175-1; and 4 x Mile Relay - 2.La Salle Academy RI, 20:23.95. Boys medalists included: 2 Mile - 2.Viraj Deokar (Middlesex/Concord MA) 9:04.71, and 3.Thomas D'Anieri (Wellesley MA) 9:05.16; 2000m Steeplechase - 2.Nicholas Steele (Bromfield/Harvard MA) 5:55.80; and 1000 Sprint Medley Swedish Relay - 3.Central/Providence RI, 1:54.93 (and 7th 4x100, 4th 4x200).

Full results, with many local athletes, are found at NationalScholastic.org and videos of events can be found at their Facebook page.

Online entry for the June 18 USATF New England Junior Olympic meet at Fitchburg State closes Tuesday night, June 14, at 11:59 p.m. Entry is online-only through athletic.net.

Clubs and unattached athletes can enter by setting up the proper accounts at athletic.net; please take the time to watch the tutorials for this new system. All entrants must begin by having current (2016) USATF membership and verified date of birth.
The basic Junior Olympic entry info and meet schedule as well as the direct links to the athletic.net site can be found at usatfne.org/track. Clubs must enter all their athletes and should not direct individuals to enter themselves. The top 8 finishers in each event in each age group at the New England meet qualify for the Region I meet in Albany NY July 7-10.

Women's 5000 at the Martinez Classic
Photo: Chris Lotsbom for Race Results Weekly

Concord-Carlisle (MA) HS senior Thomas Ratcliffe established a new state and New England High School mile record at the Hoka One One Adrian Martinez Classic in Concord MA on Thursday. Running against an elite field on his home track, the Stanford bound Ratcliffe clocked a 4:01.50 for eighth overall, breaking the previous state and New England prep standard of 4:01.89 set by Garrett O'Toole of the Middlesex School of Concord at the same meet in 2014. It's the fourth best by a US high schooler this season.

The usually frontrunning scholastic runner (he won the MA Division II 2 Mile by 25 seconds on Sunday) was able to take advantage of an experienced field that could pull him along to a fast time. Speaking with Chris Lotsbom of Race Results Weekly, Ratcliffe noted the unique nature of the Martinez Classic and the crowd support. "Honestly, unbelievable. I've never really seen anything like that before for track and field, let alone just a high schooler like me."

The meet also featured a USA leading women's mile of 4:32.72 by Brie Felnagle with the B.A.A.'s Emily Lipari second in 4:33.83. Dozens of other national caliber times and personal bests were turned in during the multiple sections of 800, mile, and 5000 meter races on the cozy 6 lane oval in Concord center.

Stories and results at martinezclassic.com.

Brandon Newbould (Whirlaway RT) and Leslie O'Dell (CMS) took the NE wins at the Sleepy Hollow in Huntington VT, the kick-off event of the 2016 USATF-NE Mountain Circuit.

Newbould had won the USATF-NE Trail Championship three weeks earlier, and the fully off-road course at Sleepy Hollow was to his liking as well, winning by over a minute in 43:03 for the about 6.4 mile circuit, modified in 2016. Tim Van Orden was top master in 4th. O'Dell, finishing in 54:28, was top NE open and master runner, second women overall, 1:43 behind Emily Hanna of Steamboat Springs CO. There were 242 finishers this year.

Results and great photos at scottmasonphoto.com .

Two long time USATF-NE members passed away in the past week.

H.Oldham "Harry" Brooks died in Amherst MA at age 82. A past USATF-NE Vice President, national meeting delegate, and long time member of Sugarloaf Mountain AC as a runner and a board member, Brooks was also a loyal official who was a regular at open, masters, and youth track meets.

Barbara Robinson (Franconia NH) also passed at age 82. A mountain runner and Mt. Washington Road Race competitor well into her 70's, Robinson was a member of the B.A.A. and lived in Nahant MA until retiring to New Hampshire and joining White Mountain Milers.

Two USATF-NE runners placed top 10 at the USATF National Half Marathon Championships in Columbus OH. NE GP leader Louis Serafini (Heartbreakers) placed 10th in the men's race at 1:04:17 (winner - Christo Landry, 1:02:52), and Katie DiCamillo (Battle Road TC) matched that position in the women's race with a 1:14:27 (winner - Tara Welling, 1:10:25).

Results and video at usatf.tv

The USATF-NE Office will be closed and unstaffed from Monday May 2 through Monday May 9. Phone calls will bump to an answering machine with any replies to follow after May 9. However, most email messages will be replied to within a day or two.

Meagan Allen (Photo: Metropolis-Brookline)

Olympic Silver Medalist from Jamaica, Johan Blake
Courtesy PhotoRun.net

Elites in the sport will take to the track - and the streets - at the new adidas Boost Boston Games festival June 17-18. Presented by Global Athletics and Marketing, the two days will start with a 400 meters-and-up focused track meet at Dilboy Stadium in Somverville on Friday evening, June 17. Then on Saturday, June 18, a street festival with sprints and jumps will take place on a Mondo track surface rolled out on Boston's Charles Street. The event will incorporate the adidas Dream Mile and Dream 100 formerly held at the adidas Grand Prix in New York City.

Read the full press release at at runblogrun.com

Meagan Allen
Photo: Metropolis-Brookline

Maegan Allen (Arlington MA / New England Walkers) is USA Track & Field - New England's Athlete of the Month for March 2016. A race walker who is home schooled, Maegan placed fourth in the mile walk at the New Balance National Scholastic Indoor Championships in 7:22.43, the best ever by a New England high schooler. Two days later at the USATF Hershey Youth Indoor Championship, she won the age 17-18 division 3000 meter walk in a new youth record of 15:20.26. She'd placed 7th at the Millrose Games Open 1 Mile Walk in February.

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

Start of 2016 USA Masters 10K Championship at the James Joyce Ramble in Dedham MA. (Photo: USATF-NE)

Start of USA Masters 10K Championship
Photo: USATF-NE

Masters road runners enjoyed good racing weather and at the USATF Master 10K Road Race Championship held in conjunction with the James Joyce Ramble in Dedham MA on Sunday. A field of 200 USATF masters - the largest in the four years with the Ramble - earned a five minute head start on the open field and time in the race spotlight in a fast and competitive run.

Mark Andrews (Rochester NY), 45, in 32:45 and 52 year old Melissa Sutera Strange (Pleasant Vally NY), 36:47 were overall winners; the latter was also the top age-graded performance of the day. Top finishers from New England were a family affair; the race silver medal went to Peter Hammer (B.A.A./Needham MA) in 32:47, just two seconds back of the winner, and wife Diana Bowser (Craft Concept Racing) was sixth female and third W40-44 in 38:16. While no US Masters records were set this year, thirteen runners scored over 90.00 in age grading, considered world class in an age division.

Three USATF-NE clubs were team champions in results that saw clubs from ten associations The three-runner time totals for B.A.A. M40+, Greater Springfield Harriers M50+, and New England 65+ RC M70+ took home gold. Best womens' club rankings were a pair of seconds by Western MA Distance Project W40+ and CMS W50+.

Winners of the open division were B.A.A. runners Brian Harvey (B.A.A.) in 30:12 (leading 3 others under 31:00), and Rachel Hyland in (34:50.)

Overall Results and links to teams and age grading.

Deceptively warm temperatures and headwinds for the competitors contrasted with a superior sunny day for spectators at the 120th B.A.A. Boston Marathon. Ethiopia swept the victors' trophies, the first time they'd done so in the same year.

With second-half winds removing any thoughts of records, there was excitement as the men's field which started slow and jockeyed for position through 25K. Following the fast downhill into Newton Lower Falls at 16 miles, the pack suddenly shed down to two. With two runners nearly shoulder to shoulder through the 40 kilometer mark, it was 21 year old Lemi Berhanu Hayle who made a breakaway move to run away from two-time champion Lelisa Desisa just before 25 miles to record 2:12:45 at the tape.

Top American Zach Hine (Dallas), tenth overall, has a local connection as Massachusetts state cross country champion from South Hadley MA.
Atsede Baysa made up a gap of 37 seconds between 35 km to 40 km and raced on to gap the competition by 42 seconds to win her first B.A.A. Marathon in 2:29:19 in the 50th year of women's participation in Boston.

Wheelchair competitions primed the finish line crowd, as three men led by defending champion Marcel Hug finished within a chair-length. Shortly after, the world's dominant female wheeler and popular athlete with Boston fans, Tatyana McFadden won her fourth straight title, pushing in solo from the halfway point.

Four New Englanders were on stage as a top 3 age group placer, led by Men 55-59 division winner Robert Cipriano (Somerville Road Runners) in 2:46:09. The other award winners were Sheri Piers (Dirigo RC), Women 40-44, 2nd, 2:52:25, Nancy Corsaro (Whirlaway RT), W55-59, 2nd, 3:23:19, and Karen Durante (Whirlaway), W65-69, 3rd, 3:51:25.

Over 96 percent of the 27,491 starters completed the traditional Patriots Day trek, which began the 2016-2017 Abbott World Marathon Majors series; the elite series will conclude at next year's Boston.

Al the results and details at bostonmarathon.com and some in-depth stories at www.runblogrun.com.

Among competitors from 50 states, and citizens from 99 countries, the first USATF New England association finishers placed high in the 26,000+ finisher field. Hilary Dionne (Craft Concept Racing/Charlestown MA), 23rd overall, three-peated as top New England female in 2:50:56, and Joseph Carpenter (Cambridge) was top local male, 23rd, in 2:27:48. Here are the top New England state finishers with town/club and time/place
MA: Joseph Carpenter (Cambridge) 2:27:48, 23; Hilary Dionne (Charlestown/Craft), 2:50:56, 23
NH: Aliaksandr Leuchanka (Newmarket/Millennium RC), 2:32:37, 41; Laura Hagley (Hanover/Millennium), 2:52:45, 30F, 10 US
RI: Bronson Venable (Wyoming/Team RUN) 2:39:19, 111; Megan Jaswell (Wakefield) 3:03:40, 128
VT: Turner Zamore (South Hero) 2:47:07, 320; Leah Frost (Glover) 2:56:28, 43
ME: Chris Harmon (Portland/Dirigo RC), 2:38:22, 97; Sheri Piers (Falmouth/Dirigo), 2:52:25 29, 4 master
CT: Michael Stadolnik (Plainfield) 2:42:02, 155; Amy Steffen (Madison) 3:00:53, 99

New England clubs won three of the four team titles: Men's Open - Greater Boston TC, Women's Open - B.A.A., and Masters Women - Dirigo RC. Scoring 2-3 in the Masters Men's race were Somerville Road Runners and B.A.A., and GBTC was third in Women's Open.

Check and track runners at baa.org.

Four members of the Wellesley Youth Track & Field Club were part of the B.A.A. Middle School 1K, including winner Allison Sibold of Wellesley.
Photo: Wellesley Youth TF Club

Boston Marathon weekend got rolling on Saturday with the B.A.A. 5K and B.A.A. mile races. A stiff wind from the east kept times modest in all event and prevented matching the records turned in last year. in the 5K. The 5K field of nearly 9000 finishers was led home by Dejen Gebremeskel (Ethiopia), the 2012 Olympic silver medalist at 5000 meters. His time of 13:39 put him 2 seconds up on defending champ Ben True (Hanover NH). Molly Huddle (Providence / Saucony) was successful in repeating her top step podium position; her 15:14 gave a 14 second margin of victory.

Next on the agenda was the B.A.A. Mile and Kilometer on a multi-loop course utilizing the marathon finish line. A number of USATF-NE club members and program participants are found in the middle school kilometer and high school mile results, where each city and town along the marathon was represented by two youth residents. Professional miles for men and women closed the competition, and Chris O'Hare (B.A.A.) gave the hosts a winner in the wind-buffeted and tactical races at 4:10.6. Brooke Handler (Ann Arbor MI) won the women's run in 4:49.6 over three time US Road Mile champion Heather Kampf.

Saturdays's activities ended with the "Club 120" relays serving hundreds of youth age 8-15.

All the results and details at baa.org.

Brandon Newbould (Whirlaway RT) and Kim Nedeau (acidoticRacing) won USATF-NE Trail Championship titles at the 25th edition of the Merrimack River trail race in Andover MA on Saturday. Newbould became on the fifth repeat winner in race history, and Nedeau set a new women's course record for the 10 mile out-and-back circuit. The field of 220 saw the most men's runners ever in race history under 1:05 and most women under 1:20

Men's age division champions were Mike Galoob M40-49 (BAA, and 8th overall), Dan Verrington M50-59 (CMS), and Len Hall M60-69 (Upper Valley RC) and George Gilder M70+, and women's champs were Regina Loiacano W40-49 (CMS, new masters record), and Marcy Schwam W60+ (acidoticRacing).

Full results

USATF-NE Champs at New Bedford
Jean Cann photo

Louis Serafini (The Hearbreakers) and Erica Jesseman (Dirigo RC) were equal to brisk temperatures and traditional course breezes in winning New England championship titles at the 39th New Bedford Half Marathon on Sunday.

Serafini made it 2 for 2 in the 2016 USATF-NE GP, finishing third overall in one of the event's closest races. A lead pack whittled down from 9 to 3 from miles 4 on, with William Sanders (Weathersfield CT) coming from behind to edge Jonny Wilson (Flagstaff AZ, formerly of Maine) by one second in 1:06:12, with Serafini at 1:06:27. Jesseman had a different competition, leading from the start and gaining a personal best with her 1:14:43 winning time, almost three minutes up on second place.

Team scoring was close again, the B.A.A. was only 44 seconds better than CMS to take the men's title and Greater Boston TC won over the B.A.A. by just 39 seconds with Craft Concept Racing another 44 seconds back in third. Another large city crowd cheered the 30+ scoring clubs over the traffic-free course, as the city of New Bedford was again a great host.

The series goes into hibernation until the Bobby Doyle 5 Mile in Narragansett RI on August 13. Overall results, with USATF-NE results and age grading to be posted on the GP page after review this week.

Three New England youth took home gold medals at the Hershey USATF Youth Indoor Championship meet at the Ocean Breeze facility in Staten Island NY.

Metropolis-Brookline athlete James Wreh won the 9-10 400 in 1:03.03, teammate Anjoli Mathew was winner of the 13-14 55M hurdles in a record 8.33, and Maegan Allen of New England Walkers led the entire field in winning the 17-18 3000m race walk in 15:20.26, another Youth indoor record.

Full results

The B.A.A.'s Katie Matthews (51:34) and Sarah Pagano (52:04, PB) placed 4-5 at the USA 15K at the Gate River 15K in Jacksonville FL on Sunday. Katrina Spratford (NE Distance) was seventh in 53:47 PB. In the men's competition, Tim Ritchie was 9th (45:21). Results and an interview with Tim Ritchie at USATF Running Circuit site.

New Balance Boston runners Abbey D'Agostino and Cory McGee ran to second place finishes at the USA Indoor Championships this weekend, and spots on Team USA for next weekend's World Indoor Championships. D'Agostino, USATF-NE Athlete of the Month for November 2013, placed second to Shannon Rowbury in the 3000 meters in 8:57.31 and earned her spot on the starting line for Worlds. McGee made her first USA Team by placing second in the 1500 meters in 4:09.97 behind Brenda Martinez.

Race videos and interviews can be found at usatf.tv.

Carly Muscaro and American International College won NCAA Division II championships at Pittsburgh State University in Kansas this weekend. Muscaro, a junior at Merrimack College and May 2015 USATF-NE Athlete of the Month, moved up a place from last year to win the 400 meters in 52.34 and become the first-ever national championship from the school. She also ran a leg on the 6th place 4x400 team (3:44.37). Springfield's A.I.C. ran to victory in the men's distance medley relay in 9:48.02, as the top 6 teams finished within 2.21 seconds.

In Division III action at Grinnell College in Iowa, Cimran Virdi of M.I.T. won her third consecutive national crown in the pole vault, clearing 4.13m/13'6.5". Hulerie McGuffie won UMass Boston's first national title since 1988, leading the 400m field in 55.80 (also placing fourth in the 200, 25.06), and Mitchell Black (Tufts) ran down the men's 800 crown in 1:52.48. Check the full results.

Three New England athletes earned bronze medals at the Division I meet in Alabama, annually the country's premiere indoor championship meet. Placing third were Elinor Purrier (U.New Hampshire) in the mile, 4:38.42, Nikki Okwelogu (Harvard) in the shot put, 17.66m/57-11.25, and Katrina Coogan (Georgetown/Phlips Exeter Academy) in the 3000, 9:07.74. Coogan, along with Andrea Keklak (Lincoln-Sudbury MA HS) ran legs on Georgetown's victorious Distance Medley Relay, 10:57.21.

Enjoy all the results at the www.ncaa.com website.

There's a busy schedule of national indoor track and field championship meets around the country this weekend. The USATF Open Championships in Portland Oregon will select Team USA for next weekend's World Indoor Championships. Age group competitors will get their chance for national medals at the USATF Hersey Youth Indoor meet at Ocean Breeze Track in Staten Island NY, and a few miles away, the New Balance Scholastic Indoor meet will have good representation by athletes from association schools.

All meets are being steamed, with event on demand option, at no charge at usatf.tv.

On the collegiate level, all three divisions of NCAA Championships run this weekend at various sites. Follow those competitions at www.ncaa.com. (click the box in the upper left to go to Divisions I/II/III)

Louis Serafini wins the An Ras Mor 5K
Jean Cann photo

2015 GP champion Louis Serafini and women's runner-up Laura Hagley won tight races in the lead-off races of the 2016 USATF-NE Grand Prix series at the An Ras Mor 5K in Cambridge MA on Sunday.

The Heartbreaker's top runner clocked 14:44 over Aliaksandr Leuchanka and Andrea Sorgato, as 9 runners ran the course in 15:00 or better, and 51 were under 16:00. Top master was Mike Galoob (B.A.A.) in 22nd.

Hagley (Millennium Running), finished in 17:00, 16 seconds ahead of Rebecca Hammond (Battle Road). At fifth overall, Amory Salem (CSU) was top 40+ finisher.

With the close Team scoring was close In the team scoring, the top four men's teams out of 21 scoring clubs finished within 39 seconds of each other by 5 runner total time. CMS led the way over the B.A.A. and Battle Road TC in the open standings. The top 2 swapped spots in the 40+ standings - B.A.A/CMS - and Whilraway, Greater Lowell, and NE 65+ won the remaining divisions.

Craft Concept Racing was 20 seconds better than Greater Boston TC among Women's teams, with Whirlaway RT (40+, 50+) and CMS (60+) picking up the other titles.

The race had 954 finishers, and over 500 USATF members. Thanks to host club Somerville Road Runners (with director Joe O'Leary placing 99th). Preliminary overall results. Team and individual standings will be posted on Monday.

2016 New England Intercollegiate Championship at BU.
Photo: Mike Scott

The University of Rhode Island men and Northeastern University women won the team championships at the 48th annual New England Intercollegiate Championship at Boston University held Friday and Saturday. It was the third straight win for the NU women, while URI earned their first shield since 2005. NEICAAA Meet Results.

The B.U. Last Chance Meet on Sunday found athletes from colleges, clubs, and countries looking for a variety of qualifying standards. Among those competing were five individual past Olympic medalists, including Ethiopia's Dejen Gebremeskel who ran a world leading 3000 meter time of 7:38.03, and Jamaica's Asafa Powell who blitzed a World qualifying 6.54 in the 60 meter. Many others achieved USA or NCAA qualifying marks.

Hurdles competition at the USATF-NE Indoor Championship.
ScottMasonPhoto.com

The USATF-NE Indoor Championship at Harvard University found club, college, and prep athletes taking advantage of the facility and bringing the local open indoor season to a close. Greater Boston Track Club won both the men's and women's team titles, 57 to 25 for Sprinticity in the men's scoring, and 32 to Battle Road TC's 15 in the women's totals. Three athletes achieved US national qualifying performances: Toyin Augustus (Exeter NH) in the 60m hurdles, 8.40, Emmaline Berg (Shore AC of NJ) throwing 16.25m / 53'3 3/4" in the shot put, and Ronald Woodley (Garden State AC) bouncing 16.17 / 53' 3/4" in the triple jump.

Full Meet Results.

Patrick Pang (Peabody HS) won the 6th Annual Mass. Scholastic Weight Throw invitational at the Reggie Lewis Facility.
Photo: Justin

In conjunction with the Reggie Lewis Track and Athletic Center and Boston Parks and Recreation, USATF-NE again offered youth a vacation week competition for youth at the RLTAC. The event drew over 200 competitors for the first time.

For the sixth year, the association continued the weight throw development program by hosting the sixth annual Mass. Scholastic Weight Throw invitational. Winners were Patrick Pang (Peabody) in a state leading 53'5.5" and Natalia Phillip (New Mission/Boston) with her third meet of the year over 37'.

The Weight Invitational is sponsored by the Twilight Throwers who provide trophies and plaques to the top 6 placers. USATF-NE and Twilight Throwers also offer clinics in Massachusetts and Vermont, instruction in the latter state leading to the event being a full scoring event in the high school season this year.

Link to Full Meet Results.

The New Balance Grand Prix moved dates this year, but retained the full arena and world level competition in the 21st annual meet at the Reggie Lewis Center. A US record went to Natasha Hastings in the 300 meter with a 36.25, fifth fastest in history, with Boris Berian missing a US men's 600m record by .2 seconds in a world leading 1:15.51 (also #5 AT).

Popular two time Olympic gold medalist Meseret Defar returned from birth of a daughter and an injury to run a world leading time in the 3000, 8:30.83, one of five additional World Leader marks in the contest. Other new 2016 list leaders are Nick Willis in the men's mile (his fifth NBGP win) in 3:53.27, Dawit Seyaum in the women's 1500 (4:01.86), Kurt Roberts (21.57m) in the shot, and Vernon Norwood at 300m, 32.70.

Rhode Island's Jack Salisbury won the exciting boys' mile in 4:08.33 over Thomas Ratcliffe (concord MA, 4:08.74).

Find full results at the NB GP website online.

The first selection event in track and field for the US Olympic Team, the marathon, ran Saturday, February 13, in Los Angeles with a strong local presence.</ br> In the men's race, 2012 Olympic 10,000m medalist Galen Rupp (Oregon Project) led most of the way over the 4-and-some lap course to win with minimal challenge in 2:11:12. Top local-connection runners in the results were Archbishop Williams (MA) HS alum Sean Quigley, now in Colorado, 9th (2:15:52), Boston College assistant coach Tim Ritchie (Saucony), 25th (2:22:15), and Brian Harvey, B.A.A., 32nd (2:23:17), as the temperatures rising to 75 degrees during the race took a toll on the 166 starters and 105 finishers.

The women's race, won by former New England resident Amy Hastings Cragg in 2:28:20, had more drama, with Cragg pulling teammate and training partner Shalane Flanagan (Marblehead MA HS, now in Oregon) through some rough final miles to allow Flanagan to secure third place and a team berth. A tight group of New Englanders were in the top 25 - Katie DiCamillo (Providence/Battle Road TC), 21st/2:42:01, Keely Maguire (Newmarket NH/Battle Road TC) 24th/2:43:06 (PB), and Laura Hagley (Hanover NH/Millennium Running), 25th/2:43:11 among the 195 starters and 149 finishers.

The remainder of the men's USA team behind the winner is 2014 Boston Marathon winner Meb Keflezighi, and Jared Ward for men; the women's team is rounded out by past Boston runner-up Desiree Linden who was second. Full results can be found at USATF.org.

Coby Horowitz (Stow MA / Track & Field Academy of PTI) is USA Track & Field - New England's Athlete of the Month for January 2016. Running the mile at the John Thomas Terrier Classic at Boston University on January 30, Coby ran his first career sub-4:00 mile, clocking 3:59.55; that followed a solo 4:01.97 effort a week earlier at the Greater Boston TC Invitational. The Nashoba Regional HS alum holds the record for fastest mile ever run by an NCAA Division III athlete, 4:00.41, set in 2014 while a student at Bowdoin College.

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

Three new USA Masters Age Group records were the highlight of the USATF New England and East Region Indoor Masters TF Championship held at the Providence Career and Technical Academy track facility on Sunday. On the track, Jan Holmquist (Whirlaway RT) took down the W70 3000 meter record by with her time of 13:06.42 which age-grades over 100% (the meet's highest mark). On the field, Mary Roman (MassVelocity) established a new standard in the shot put for W80, 8.04m/26'4 1/2", and David Montieth (Unattached/Ridgefield CT) cleared 1.53m/5'1/4" for a new US best in the high jump for men age 70+; Here's a video of that jump.

The total of 198 entrants was the meet's largest field ever. Results

The Mass. State Track Coaches Association Hall of Fame inducted their Class of 2016 on Sunday, adding another stellar group to the hall. Athletes selected had outstanding Mass. high school careers and earned honors beyond graduation. New additions to the recognition wall at the Reggie Lewis Center are

Said Ahmed (Boston English 2001), state middle distance record holder and 4 time NCAA all-American;
Neal Cononor (Ayer 1991), state triple jump and 4x100 record setter (both still records)
Kathy Guiney (Needham 1971), sprinter and National JO champion
Karen Phillips (Norwell 1988) New England long jump and 300 hurdles champ and US Junior team competitor
Samantha Shepard (Weston 2002), National pole vault champion and record setter
John Silveira (New Bedford 1959), cross country titleist and 1000 yard national champ
and Al Porter (New Bedford Vocational 1953), state and three time National mile medalist and record holder - and a coach and official for 50 years

Congratulations to all.

The Aramco Houston (TX) Half Marathon on Sunday had a decidedly New England presence up front, as Jim Spisak (NE Distance) ran a stellar debut at the distance, clocking 1:02:26 to place sixth overall (2nd US). He hopes to be selected for this spring's World Half Marathon Championships based on the performance.

Four of the top 20 women's finishers were from the B.A.A. - Katie Matthews was 9th in 1:12:25, Sarah Pagano 10th in 1:12:27 (PR), Juliet Bottorff 14th in 1:14:07, and Jen Rhines (age 41/master winner) was 19th overall in 1:14:57, all times that bettered the USA Olympic Marathon Trial qualifier of 1:15:00 on the final day of qualifying (all had previously met the standard).

The overall winners were also familiar faces. Ethiopia's Lelisa Desisa - the 2013 and 2015 Boston Marathon and Half Marathon champ - won the men's race in 1:00:37, while 2015 B.A.A. Half Marathon champ Mary Wacera (KEN) posted the fastest time ever run for the distance in the U.S. (1:06:29) to lead the women.

Whirlaway Racing Team is USATF-NE Club of the Year.
Photo: Laura Izzi

The fifth annual USATF-NE Long Distance Running Awards Banquet recognized top series finishers and others at a dinner in Waltham MA on Saturday. Top age group winners in the Road, Cross Country, Mountain Running, and Race Walking Grand Prix circuits were presented with glassware awards, and 2015 national award winners were recognized following the dinner.

Selections of "best of" 2015 year winners were also announced:
Runners of the Year - Louis Serafini (Heartbreakers/Brighton MA) and Katie Misuraca (B.A.A./Gloucester MA)
Club of the Year - Whirlaway Racing Team
Race of the Year - Lone Gull 10K, Gloucester MA

Guest speaker Tim Ritchie, Boston College assistant coach and Saucony runner who ran the tenth fastest ever US half marathon in December (1:01:24), presented his road of return from a year of injury and no racing to 2016 Olympic Marathon Trials qualifier.

Check out the photos at our Facebook gallery.

Who were USATF-NE's top distance runners for 2015? Submit your nominations for male and female runners of the year, including your reasons, in our Online Survey. Deadline is January 9 at midnight.

Winners will be recognized at the USATF-NE LDR Awards Banquet on January 16. Consider attending and celebrating a great year. Guest speaker is Tim Ritchie, Olympic Trials qualifier and Boston College assistant coach. Information and tickets available at the banquet page.

Sam Toolin of North Kingstown RI, who competes for the Sentinel Striders, is USA Track & Field - New England Athlete of the Month for December 2015. On December 12 at the USATF Junior Olympic Cross Country Championships held in Albuquerque, NM, Sam won the 13-14 year old boys race by 13 seconds in a field of 345 runners. Running in second place through 2 miles, Toolin finished stronger than his competition in 13:17.1 over the 4000 meter course. He was fifth in the division in 2014, and finished second in the 11-12 year old race in 2013.

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

The 5th Annual LDR Awards Banquet and Social is fast approaching - Saturday, January 16, at the Hilton Garden Inn in Waltham Mass. The event kicks off at 6:00 pm with a cocktail hour and appetizers, followed by dinner with guest speaker Tim Ritchie and awards presentations to follow.

The evening will feature awards for Road, Cross Country, Mountain/Ultra/Trail and Race Walking series and circuits. 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. Reservations close on Monday, January 11, at 5:00 p.m.

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

Twenty four runners, including two USATF-NE runners were new qualifiers for the US Olympic Marathon Trials with their finish times at the Jacksonville (FL) Bank Marathon and Half Marathon on Sunday. Times of 65:00 (men) and 1:15:00 (women) for the half marathon are needed to make the Trials, and the race was one of the last qualifying opportunities for the February 13 US Olympic Team selection race in Los Angeles.

Placing fourth and eleventh were KeelyMaguire (Battle Road TC-formerly New Balance Boston)/Newmarket NH) and Karen Roa (Boston) in personal bests of 1:13:49 and 1:14:35, respectively. Overall women's winner Stephanie Dinius (Brookline MA) who represents Strava in the USATF Pacific Associaton, clocked 1:13:41, In the men's results, Jake Sienko (NEDistance/Warwick RI) - who had previously qualified for the Trials - placed 7th in a pesonal best 1:04:26

With the turn of the year to 2016, USATF-NE will continue to offer competitive and developmental programs that serve our members and the sport as a whole; check the various sport specific web pages on this site for schedules and events.

If you haven't done so, it's also time to renew individual USATF membership for those not having multi-year memberships. A link for online application is found at usatf.org.

A trio of B.A.A. athletes will represent the United States at the Great Edinburgh Cross Country meet on Saturday, January 9, in Scotland. The meet, one of the most prestigious cross country competitions in the world, showcases athletes from around the globe.

Placing fifth and sixth at the USATF Club Cross Country National Championships last weekend, Emma Bates and Sarah Pagano qualified to wear the Team USA uniform in Scotland. The women will race a 6 kilometer course featuring three challenging, hilly loops. Earning a spot on the men's 8 kilometer race starting line is Brian Harvey, who finished 12th at Club Nationals. Fellow B.A.A. team member Daniel Winn was eligible to race, but bypassed his selection to concentrate on the indoor track season.

For years, the Great Edinburgh Cross Country meet has drawn top athletes from both the track and roads, creating a thrilling competition. Double Olympic, World, and European champion Mo Farah (Great Britain) has already been announced as competing. The meet will be live-streamed on www.USATF.tv

Liberty AC W50 Relay Team breaks the American Record
Photo: Liberty AC

The Liberty AC 50+ relay team set a new US age group best for the 4 x 1600 meter relay at the 15th annual Lou's Relay on Saturday at Boston University. The quartet of Viki Bok, Jamie Henzy, Dru Pratt-Otto, and Pam Linov combined for a time of 26:04.08 to better the 26:17.8 run by a Liberty foursome in 2010; Pratt-Otto was part of the previous relay as well. Fifteen teams participated, the largest field since 2008.

Full Results.

As of January 1, 2016, all USATF youth club coaches and youth club administrators, as well as all coaches on the USATF Coaches Registry, are required to complete the US Olympic Committee SafeSport course to maintain active status in their roles. Check the USATF Website for specifics. The program can be completed online and there is no charge; it will need to be completed every 4 years. USATF-NE will be sending out a summary to all youth coaches, and will arrange for in-person group viewing of the instructional program (about 80 minutes).

USATF-NE cross country champion Liv Westphal placed 20th at the European cross country championships in Hyeres, France on Saturday. The Boston College senior, who still has collegiate track eligibility, ran 26:47 for the 8080 meters, and was third finisher for France which placed as second team behind Great Britain, 33-78.

Williams College NCAA Cross Country Champions
(Photo: Jim Harleen)

The Williams College women's cross country team is USA Track & Field - New England's Athlete of the Month for November 2015. The team won the NCAA Divison III Cross COuntry Championships in Oshkosh Wisconsin on November 21, scoring 81 points, 98 points ahead of SUNY Geneseo. The team was led by Hannah Cole who finished fourth over the 6000 meter course. The Williams men's team finished in second place., led by Bijan Mazaheri's bronze medal run.

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

The Boston Athletic Association women scored their second straight USA Cross Country Championship Team Title at today's USATF Cross Country Championships in San Francisco. Race fields were among the largest ever. Led by Emma Bates (5), Sarah Pagano (6), and Jennifer Rhines (8), all Unicorn scorers finished within 12 places and 30 seconds to record just 28 points, ahead of High Performance West (107). Keely Maguire (8) and Katie DiCamillo (24) were top finishers on the fifth place New Balance Boston squad. Also representing were New Balance Boston-B (27/740 pts), Greater Boston TC (29/805) and SISU Project (40/1165) among 41 teams.

Not to be outdone, the B.A.A. men finished as runner-up club in the 59 team field, scoring 106 points. Leading the charge was Daniel Winn with his 7th place finish, and backed by Brian Harvey (15) with all scorers in the top 45. Mayor's Cup winner Trevor Dunbar of Alaska was fourth in the A race which had 411 finishers. Other USATF-NE clubs in the standings were New Balance Boston (13/386), Greater Boston TC (28/831), Dirigo RC (40/1165), HFC Striders (51/1479), and SISU Project (54/1588).

There were 2 Men's masters races, 40-59 and 60+. B.A.A. men's 40+ team gave the club a complete set of medals in repeating their third place finish from 2014. Peter Hammer was at the front of the club, 11th overall and winning the M45 division. Greater Springfield and Greater Lowell took 10th and 21st in the 40+, and Greater Springfield was also 5th in the 50's.

In the 60+ contest, John Barbour (M60) was second overall, and Greater Lowell RR teammate Bill Dixon (M65) also won age division silver as GLRR finished a close second 38-43 to Club Northwest. Greater Springfield Harriers were 16th among 36 in the race.

Complete Results

National Champion Sam Toolin with Sentinel Strider coach Joe Bennett
(Photo: Sentinel Striders)

Sam Toolin (Sentinel Striders) was equal to some unfavorable conditions and won the boys age 13-14 4K race at the USATF Junior Olympic National Cross Country Championships held in Albuquerque, New Mexico. Toolin had an impressive 13 second gap by the finish over the 4000 meter course.

The altitude along with long travel times took their toll on all runners from Region I, and combining with heavy rain and winds through the first few races, most runners were a minute or more off of their Regional times.

Seven top 10 team placings were turned in by local clubs; 4th by NH Tracksters Boys 11-12, 6 and 7 by Team RUN and Nashua PAL Striders in the Girls 13-14, 4 and 7 by Nashua PAL Striders and Sentinel Striders Boys 13-14 and 10th by Granite State Flash 11-12 girls.

Full Results

The 2016 USATF-NE Grand Prix Series has been selected by over 500 votes from USATF members. Here is the new schedule:

2016 USATF-NE Grand Prix Road Races:
Mar 6, An Ras Mor, 5 km, Cambridge, MA
Mar 20, New Bedford Half Marathon, New Bedford, MA
Aug 14, Bobby Doyle 5 miler, Narragansett, RI
Aug 27, New Hampshire 10 miler, Auburn, NH
Sep 11, Seasons 20 km, Acton, MA
Sep 25, Lone Gull 10 km, Gloucester, MA
Nov 6, Manchester City Marathon, Manchester, NH

Check the Grand Prix web page with specifics and links for the entire race series.

New England athletes were honored at the USATF Annual Meeting for their successful 2015 competitive seasons. It was no surprise that five time National Champion Molly Huddle was selected as Women's Long Distance Running Runner of Year. Recognized as Masters Long Distance Running age group Runner of the Year were Jan Holmquist (W70-74, NE 65+ RC) and William Dixon (M65-69, Gr.Lowell RR).

Three Mass Velocity TC members were among the Masters Track & Field age group athletes of the year: Sue McCarthy (W50), Mary Roman (W75), and Flo Meiler (W80).

Two New England runners with long successful local and national resumes were added to the Masters Hall of Fame - Jan Holmquist and Joe Fernandez (Gr.New Bedford TC). Additionally, two of the three other individuals added have New England roots - Dennis Simonaitis, alum of Xaverian Brothers HS/UMass Lowell/HFC Striders, and Jane Welzel, Hopkinton MA native and UMass Amherst grad.

Ron and Laurie Boemker (Cranston RI) were honored during the Jesse Owens Award Banquet held at the USA Track & Field Annual Meeting. The couple received the Pat and Helio Rico Lifetime Achievement Award. They've for has served the sport over four decades across all levels of the sport from youth to elite to masters, at high school, college, and club activites locally to internationally, and from development programs to the Olympic Games as administrators and officials.

During the meeting's opening session, Bill Clark (Waltham MA), a founding officer of the New England association of USATF (The Athletics Congress at the time), coach and meet director since the 1970's, and current president of the US Meet Directors Association, was one of three President's Award recipients for career service to the sport. Laurie Boemker also received the Officials Committee's Charle Ruter Award as outstanding track official. Association managing director Steve Vaitones accepted the Doris Heritage Award for contributions to Cross Country, and the Associations Committee Chair Award for work with local association programs.

A number of USATF-New England certified officials were selected at the USATF Annual Meeting to work at major events in 2016, including the World Indoor Championships to be held in Portland OR in March. Those hard working officials and their assignments include Laurie Boemker (World Indoor Championships - Technical Official; USA Women's Olympic Marathon Trials - Referee); Joe Bullock (USA Juniors and Olympic Trials - Shot Put); Nicole Bullock (USA Juniors - Hammer; Olympic Trials, Throws-Alternate); Bob Gidari (USA Indoor and World Indoor, Shot Put; OT - Discus); Justin Kuo (USA Indoor and World Indoor, Electronic Measurement; OT - Electronic Measurement); Rick Lajoie (OT - Long/Triple Jump); Pat Lavelle (OT - Hammer); Tom Meagher (World Indoor - Starter; OT - Starter).

Online voting for the USATF New England 2016 Grand Prix Road Race series by USATF members (age 18 and older) is open December 1 through December 8, 2015 at 11:59 p.m. Please review the Bid Comparison Sheet to read more about the outstanding races which are bidding for next year’s Grand Prix. Each bidder’s full application is also available for viewing. While on the website, please utilize the 2016 Selection Worksheet, as voting is by choosing individual races from groupings by distances this year.

The Worksheet will enable voters to see all races and the 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.

New England states runners earned starting line spots for Nationals at the 36th FootLocker Northeast Championships on the Van Cortlandt Park course in New York City on Saturday.

In the girls race, Hannah DeBalsi (Westport CT) placed fourth to guarantee her third trip west, with state champions Ariel Keklak (Lincoln-Sudbury MA, 7th) and Eleanor Lawler (Wakefield RI/S.Kingstown RI, 8th) joining her. Three boys will make the trip to the elite big show in December, as Viraj Deokar (Acton MA/Middlesex School), Gabe Altopp (Ridgefield CT), and Marcelo Rocha (Peabody MA) placed 6-9-10; Rocha's sister Catarina was a 3 time national qualifier.

The top 10 in each race qualified for the finals in San Diego CA on December 13. Results and stories.

The 5th Annual Awards Banquet and Social takes place on Saturday, January 16, 2016, moving to the Hilton Garden Inn in Waltham MA this year. 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 online, or by mail using the banquet ticket request form.

Questions may be directed to awards@usatfne.org.

Sam Toolin wins in the 13-14 division. (ScottMasonPhoto.com

Sam Toolin wins in the 13-14 division.
Photo: ScottMasonPhoto.com

USATF-New Engalnd youth used their home-course familiarity and large numbers to score well in the Region I Junior Olympic Cross Country Championships held on the Bruce Ewart Cross Country Course at Deerfield Park in Smithfield Rhode Island. Six associations had their qualifiers represented among the 1119 runners who crossed the finish line in age group races from age 8-under to 17-18. Most of the meet's 12 races avoided the steady rain earlier in the day, and the course held up well in teh damp conditions.

New England association clubs fully filed their qualifying places from the previous week's USATF-NE Championship, and were the dominant teams in winning 10 of the 11 races, including a top 5 sweep of the girls 13-14 division. Teams on the top of the awards platform included host club Sentinel Striders with 3 wins, Nashua PAL Striders (3), Granite State Flash (2), NC Surge (1) and Team RUN (1).

The association had five individual winners. Girls won the older three age group races: 13-14 Caroline Fischer, Team Run; 15-16 Michaela Jones, Unattached; Carmen Bango, Unattached. Boys winners were 9-10 Aidan Cox, NH Thunder, and 13-14 Sam Toolin, Sentinel Striders.

The top 5 teams and runners in the top 30 qualify for the December 12 National meet in Albuquerque New Mexico. FULL RESULTS.

Congratulations to all participants and thanks to the Sentinel Striders for setting up and managing the course over the long day.

Nineteen races are bidding for the seven championship distances which will make up the 2016 USATF New England Road Race Grand Prix.

A committee of club representatives will review the race bids at a meeting on Monday, November 22, at Brandeis University, and compile several slates based on dates and event amenities. Voting will then take place online starting late next week for ten days, and the results will be announced in early December.

See the spreadsheet summarizing and comparing the bid races at the GP page.

Closing the USA Running Circuit (USARC) season, Molly Huddle (Saucony/Providence) took her fifth USA title of the year at the .us 12K Championship. The win, her third straight at the 12K and 21st career USA crown, also secured the 2015 USARC title. As was the case in other recent wins, Huddle took the lead before the first mile, split 10-K in 32:19, and was never challenged in her 38:36 on the out-and-back course.

Behind her, a strong New England contingent followed, led by Sarah Pagano (B.A.A.) in seventh, followed by Liz Costello (New Balance/Newton, 9th) and Emma Bates (B.A.A./10th)

The men's race had the opposite settting with the top 4 within 2 seconds. USATF-NE October Athlete of the Month Jim Spisak ran 34:37 for fourth place, two ticks back of the winner, former NE resident Sam Chelanga. The placing gave Spisak ninth overall in the USARC men's column final standings.

See the story and standings at the race website.

Jim Spisak is USATF-NE Athlete of the Month
Photo: NE Distance

Jim Spisak (NE Distance / Woonsocket RI) is USA Track & Field - New England's Athlete of the Month for October 2015. He had quality races on two surfaces. On October 4, he placed fourth at the US 10 Mile Championship in Minneapolis MN, clocking a fast 46:59. At the Boston Mayor's Cup on October 25, he was runner-up in the championship race in 23:20, second fastest time of the year by any runner on the Franklin Park course. In September, the former Duquesne runner was seventh in the USA 20K Championship in New Haven CT. Spisak also works with NE Distance in coaching their middle school cross country development program in Providence and Woonsocket.

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

USATF-NE Masters 8K XC
Photo: Dave Dunham

New Balance Boston women and the B.A.A. men scored strong team wins at the USATF New England cross country championships at Franklin Park in Boston on Sunday. NBB completed a tough Mayor's Cup / NE sweep. Overall and New England Open winner in the women's Open/Masters 6K was Liv Westphal. The Boston College star is out of NCAA cross country eligibility, so ran unattached to a 39 second win over Katrina Spratford (NE Distance). Top master in 23rd place was Regina Loiacano (CMS). Men's winner Henry Sterling gave NE Distance their first individual NE XC title in the Open 10K. Leading the Masters 8K was Chris Magill, with his B.A.A. teammates sharing in the team victory 35-46 over CMS.

RESULTS.

The meeting for bid presentations for the 2016 USATF-NE Grand Prix will be held Monday evening, November 2, at 7:00 p.m. at Gosman Athletic Center, Brandeis University, South Street, Waltham MA. This is the same site as the past few years.

The meting is solely for bidding races to make presentation and for members to ask questions. Later that week, a committee will review all bids and present several slates of events to voted on online sometime after November 15; voting will be open for about a week.

New England Distance, Men's 8K Team Champions
Photo: NEDistance

New Balance Boston, Women's 5K Team Champions
Photo: NBB

Local runners and clubs took three of four top honors at the 25th Boston Mayor's Cup Cross Country Championships on Sunday. The women's race saw international level competitors head onto the final field loop with a 40 second gap over fourth place, with Liz Costello (New Balance/Newton MA) taking home the Mayor's Cup bowl ahead of recent Boston College alum Liv Westphal (France) and 2014 World Junior 1500 meter Champion Mary Cain (Nike Oregon Project/NY). Men's race winner Trevor Dunbar (Nike/ had just 3 seconds on Jim Spisak (NEDistance/Woonsocket RI), who has scored well in three USA road championships this fall.

Winning the Squires Cup for top teams were New Balance Boston women with a perfect 15 point score, and New England Distance men winning their first major team title over Speed River of Canada.

Fastest in the Franklin Park 5K were Coby Horowitz (TF Academy oF PTI) and Sara Wild (Team NB). Full team and individual results of all races at at Coolrunning.com.

Finishers, in the age 6-10 Division
Photo: B.A.A.

Youth fields grew again at Sunday's Mayor's Cup Cross Country Races, with more age 14 and under runners finishing than adult runners in the largest meet of its sort in New England. Most crowded field was in the age 10 and under race with over 250 entrants.

Individual winners over the 1.1 mile course were Brendan Wilder (Waltham TC) and Bridgett Cassidy in the age 10 and under race, Matthew Griffin (Londonderry MS) and Shea Brams (Waltham TC) in 11-12, and Evan Lemlein (Waltham TC) and Caroline Fischer in 13-14. Team winners were Londonderry MS (Boys 11-12), Team RUN (Girls 13-14), Town Track Club (Boys 10/U), Walpole MS (Boys 13-14), Waltham Track Club (Girls 10/U and Girls 11-12).

Full results at Coolrunning.com.

Reminder that entry for the November 15 Junior Olympics Meet is now available; find the information at usatfne.org/jo.

The Winning CMS Team (photo by Dave Dunham)

The Winning CMS Team
Dave Dunham

The Central Mass Striders 40+ team of Gregory Putnam, Tim Van Orden, Joshua Perks, Alan Bernier, Ben Nephew, Jim Pawlicki, & Joe Shairs won the USATF National Masters 5K Cross Country Championship in Saratoga Springs, NY, on Sunday. CMS placed 2, 3, 5, 6, 8, 9 and 10 in the M40+ race.
Greater Springfield Harriers tood third in the M60 team ranks.

Individually, Mary Harada W80 (Liberty AC/W.Newbury MA) and Bill Dixon M65 (GLRR/Brattleboro VT) won individual age divisions, and Nat Larson (SMAC/Amherst MA) and Dixon placed 2-3 in the age graded standings.

2015 Tufts Health Care 10K for Women Champions
USATF-NE photo

Molly Huddle took first at the 39th annual Tufts 10K for Women on Monday in Boston, but four was the operative number with her day's results. It was the fourth USA road title for the Providence runner for the year - and all coming since Labor Day, following wins over 20K, 5K, and 10 Miles. The win was also her fourth Tufts 10K title, with only Lynn Jennings having more Columbus Day wins in Boston.

Leading a small pack through the first mile in 5:00, and cutting the closest chasers to 3 with a 9:58 split, the Saucony runner methodically expanded her lead with every mile covered. Huddle's finishing time of 31:21 (15:37 5K split) had four distinctions including event record, US Championship record, fastest time in a women's only 10K in the US (and second only to Shalane Flanagan's US women's only record set last month), and a Personal Best.

Training partner Emily Sisson (New Balance) was with the early pack, and raced in second place from 2 miles on, recording 32:18. This year's team scores found clubs from six states in the top 7, and the Boston Athletic Association repeating as winner by 6 seconds over adidas Rocky Mountain Elite. Katie Matthews, Sarah Pagano, and Emma Bates in 10-15-16 averaged 33:35. Over 4500 runners took part.

Columbus Day weekend is becoming the biggest three days of diverse running excellence in Boston, and this year's B.A.A. Half Marathon again brought world level runners to town as Kenyans Daniel Salel and Mary Wacera were winners over the out-and-back course from Franklin Park to the Fenway. Both were winners at this summer's B.A.A. 10K as well, and clocked 1:00:56 and 1:10:21, respectively.

The B.A.A.'s own Eric Ashe was the top American male, fourth in 1:05:48, and top local female (2nd US) was Madeline Duhon (Somerville MA) in 1:17:22. 6400 started the race. Story and results at baa.org

On Saturday at the Eversource Hartford Marathon, two New Englanders earned spots on the 2016 Olympic Trials starting line. Erica Jesseman (Dirigo RC) was the women's race winner for the fourth time in five years in 2:41:41, a minute-plus better than the OT standard, and Matt Pelletier achieved the needed sub-2:18 by just two seconds with his runner-up place time of 2:17:58

Boston College women and Boston University women took home team tiles in the New England Intercollegiate cross country championships held at Franklin Park on Saturday. Individual gold medals went to Laura Hottenrott (BC) and Robert Allen (UMass Lowell); Allen is UML's first ever NE Collegiate champion. Both were selected US Track & Field and Cross Country Association Division I athletes of the week. Spectator attendance was high on an ideal day at the park.

Full results at neicaaa.org.

Sarah Bard (Craft Concept Racing/Somerville MA) is USA Track & Field - New England's Athlete of the Month for September 2015. On September 12 at Winschoten, the Netherlands, Sarah finished fourth in the International Association of Ultrarunners 100K World Championships, completing the race in 7:29:01 and helping Team USA to the team gold medal. Her time is 5th best ever by a US women at the distance.

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

The USA Masters 5K at the Syracuse Festival of Races always produces top times with tough competition across all ages for the 40+ competitors, and New Englanders regulalry bring home age group medals.

Three New Englanders were division winners in the 2015 race: Nat Larson (Amherst MA, M50, 16:10), Bill Dixon (GLRR/Brattleboro VT, M65, 18:33), and Jan Holmquist (Whirlaway, W70, 1, 22:15). Larson, Dixon, and Holmquist were also 2, 5, and 2, respectively in their age-graded scoring lists. Also medaling were Tim Van Orden (CMS/Bennington VT, M45, 3, 16:27) and Rick Stetson (NE65+/Duxbury MA, M70, 3, 22:30)

Full results at www.leonetiming.com

Following wins at the USA 20K and 5K in September, Molly Huddle (Providence RI/Saucony) pulled away from the field early and cruised to a new course record Sunday at the USATF 10 Mile Championships in Minneapolis, Minnesota, at the Medtronic TC 10 Mile. From the first mile, Huddle set a pace none of her competition could match. Reaching halfway in 25:55, she maintained an even pace over the final 5 miles to finish in 51:44, a course best by over 90 seconds.

The men's race had a large pack together through seven miles when the field strung out and the narrowed thorugh the remainder until Sam Chelanga won in a sprint finish (46:47). Jim Spisak (Woonsocket RI/NEDistance) completed one of his best races in fourth with a time of 46:59. and Tim Ritchie (Brighton MA/Saucony) closed well to place sixth in 47:19.

The next stop on the USATF Running Circuit is the Tufts 10K for Women, the USATF Women’s 10 km Championship, in Boston on Columbus Day.

Carly Muscaro receives the Athlete of the Month plaque from Dr. John Oleski.
USATF-NE photo

At the USATF-NE Annual Meeting held at Brandeis University on Sunday, September 27, George Braun (HFC Striders) takes over as cross country chair, and Kevin Chu (Sprinticity) and Rich Hartnett join Jen Mortimer as athlete reps. Other board positions remain the same for 2016.

Athlete of the Month presentations started the meeting, followed by reports from officers and committee chairs selection of seventeen delegates to represent the association at the USATF Annual Meeting in Houston in December, and introduction of new initiatives following a year-long association planning and review process. Minutes will be posted shortly at usatfne.org/board/.

Kasie Enman (Huntington VT) contributed to Team USA's silver medal performance at last weekend's World Mountain Running Championship in Betws-y-Coed, Wales. Second at the US Championship race in the spring and a past champion at the World event, the Green Mountain AA runner was tenth overall in 40:11 for the 8.9 kilometer course. The USA squad had a tight pack finish with Kimber Mattox (Eugene, OR) sixth and Morgan Arritola (Ketchum ID) eleventh For the first time, all four US women finished in the top 20. Thirty-two nations were represented in the meet that include junior and senior men's and women's races.

More event news at wmra.info.

2015 USATF-NE GP Prix Winners
USATF-NE photo

With the 2015 USATF-NE Grand Prix final standings coming down to the order of finish in the 10K, Louis Serafini and Katie Misuraca underlined their series wins with victories at the ninth annual Lone Gull 10K in Gloucester MA on Sunday. It was the first series win for both runners, who topped all divisions in the 901 runner field.

Serafini pulled away from defending champion Ruben Sanca (Whirlaway) in the closing stretch to secure the win in 30:25 as closest GP rival Matt Pelletier was a creditable fifth. Misuraca, running on familiar roads as Gloucester resident, was 8 seconds better than Laura Hagley - second in the standings - to take the 2015 race and GP crowns in 35:52. Hagley led her Millennium team to the win, and with it, the women's series team title. Greater Boston TC took team title but the B.A.A. men held on for the series top spot.

Chris Magill (B.A.A.) and Gloucesterite, Regina Loiacano (CMS) were top masters. A number of series division champions were determined by the final 10K placings.

Overall Results. Final series rankings and age grading will be at the GP Page.

Competing at her second USA Championship in September, Molly Huddle (Providence/Saucony) won her fifth USA title over 5K at the CVSHealth Downtown 5K on Sunday. The win came after a hard-fought competition against fellow World Championship teammate Shalane Flanagan which didn't end until crossing the finish, the winning time being 15:12. Emily Sisson (Providence) placed third and B.A.A. runners Elaina Balouris and Sarah Pagano in seventh and ninth to pace the blue-and-yellow to the National team win.

Miler David Torrence (Malibu CA) used his mile speed to lead the overall field home in a sprint finish over North Kingstown RI HS product Dan Huling (Portland OR) and Olympian Dathan Ritzenhein (Belmont MI), recording 13:56 on the newly redesigned course. HFC Striders placed third team.

The USATF 5K was the ninth stop on the USATF Running Circuit. Full results and race video can be found at RunRhody.com.

Vermonter Flo Meiler (MassVelocity TC) is USA Track & Field - New England's Athlete of the Month for August 2015. Meiler, age 81, traveled to the World Masters Championships in Lyon France, during the month, winning ten medals in her age group - the highest total of any of the 8000 competitors. She won gold in the heptathlon, triple jump, pole vault, steeplechase, and on the 4 x 100 relay, silver in the high jump, long jump, 80 meter hurdles and 200 meter hurdles, and a bronze in the discus. Those marks were accomplished with three world W80 age group records and an additional US record.

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

Molly Huddle (Providence/Saucony) was a repeat winner at the USA 20K in New Haven CT on Labor Day. She took the lead before mile 2 and wasn't challenged beyond that, as her 1:06:26 held a 1:02 margin of victory and was the fastest winning time in 12 years.

Also among the top finishers were Katie DiCamillo (Providence/New Balance Boston) 9th in 1:10:12, and Katie Matthews (B.A.A.), eleventh in 1:10:37.

USATF-NE men's performances were headed by New England Distance newcomer Jim Spisak (Woonsocket RI) in seventh at 1:00:12, followed in the top 25 by Tim Ritchie (Brighton MA/Saucony), 15th in 1:02:06 and NE 5 Mile champion Dan Lowry (B.A.A./Allston MA), 21st in 1:03:45. Men's winner Jared Ward Provo, UT, in 59:24, was one second ahead of Sam Chelanga.

The USATF 20K was the eighth stop on the USATF Running Circuit. The next two events are in the New England association - the USA 5K at the CVS/Downtown 5K in Providence on September 20, and the USA Women's 20K at the Tufts 10K for Women in Boston on Columbus Day.

Top 3 male finishers at the 2015 Acton 20K
(USATF-NE photo by Jean Cann)

Ethan Shaw and Erica Jesseman covered a rolling 20K faster than their New England challengers to win USATF 20K Championship titles at Sunday's Seasons 20K in Acton MA. A combination of continually rolling terrain between miles 2 and 10, and increasingly warmer temperatures added challenge to the distance of the first time championship event.

After jockeying for position in the opening miles, Shaw (B.A.A.) went on to the race win in 1:02:55, a half minute up on Louis Serafini (Heartbreakers), who assumes the overall GP lead after 6 races. With Brian Harvey in third, the B.A.A. had the frontrunning positions to collect the team win.

Women's medal positions were static after 3 miles, as race winner Sonia Samuels, visiting from Great Britain, was first in in 1:10:19. New England champion Jesseman was second overall in 1:13:54, 13 seconds up on Katie Misuraca (B.A.A.), as those two led their clubs to first and second place finishes, respectively. Top Master Sheri Piers (Dirigo) took the final podium position.

Underscoring the quality in New England road championships, the top 5 men's times and top 4 women's times would have been worthy of a top 25 placing at the USA National 20K a day later in New Haven CT, with the New England course covering much tougher topography. 373 finished the out-loop-back course utilizing mostly rural roads.

USATF NE Results link.

New England native Shalane Flanagan brought down the US women's best for 10K on the road to 31:03 in the Netherlands on Sunday. She improved Lynn Jennings' 25 year old US best by 3 seconds.

Four Twilight Throwers club members earned medals at the USA Masters Throws Championships in Seattle over the weekend.

Bob Arello (M55) and Bob Cedrone (M60) were divisional Weight Pentathlon winners and the same two also won their age groups' SuperWeight throw. Cedrone completed a hat trick with a win in the Ultra Weight pentathlon (those are Really heavy weight!).

Also medaling was Jim Burgoyne, taking second in the M55 Weight Pentathlon and George Castelli, third in the M60 Ultra Weight Pentathlon

All results.

The Annual Meeting of USATF-New England will take place on Sunday, September 27 at 4:00 PM at Brandeis University, 415 South Street, Waltham MA.

The business meeting will include Athlete of the Month presentations. All USATF-NE members as of August 1 who are age 18+ on the meeting date are eligible to vote. We hope all clubs will have at least one representative at the meeting.

Elections in 2015 are for sports chairs and athlete reps. Anyone interested in running for these spots can contact the office. Reports on past and future projects will be presented, as will early ideas on changes to the Road Race Championship Grand Prix for 2016. Delegates to the national meeting will also be selected.

The full meeting agenda and positions open for election are posted at USATF-NE board page.

The 2015 USATF-NE Cross Country Grand Prix kicks off on Saturday, August 22, at the NH XC Festival in Manchester NH. The race covers one of the classic courses in the region - the 5K New Hampshire HS state meet course at Derryfield Park. The afternoon race is conducted by Millennium Running (race info).

This year's XC GP has five events. Check the schedule and rules.

A fun time had by all at Friday night's one hour.
Photo: Bill Mullen

Four pending US records were set at the Lynn 1 Hour Runs on Friday night in separate men's and women's races under the lights at Manning Field. Ninety year young Lou Peters (Methuen MA) started the list by covering 6247 meters (3.88 miles). Katie Misuraca (Gloucester MA/BAA) improved the women's best with 16632 meters, Regina Loiacano, (Gloucester MA/CMS), USATF-NE Masters 5 mile champ last Sunday, improved the W40 15,000 mark with her 59:46.5 split, and Jan Holmquist (Burlington MA/Whirlaway) got her W70 second record of the week with a distance of 12110 meters.

Pictures at the Lynn Woods Running website.

The first week of the World Masters Athletics Championships concluded with 24 USA gold medals, including several by Flo Meiler (Shelburne VT). The MassVelocity competitor won the W80+ Heptathlon, setting a in a new world record, and also won the age division's triple jump and placed second in the high jump. Mary Harada (Liberty AC/West Newbury MA) was third in the W80 800 meters.

More than 8,000 athletes from 99 countries are entered. Follow the results at Meet website.

Start of the Bobby Doyle 5 Mile.
(USATF-NE photo)

Dan Lowry and Laura Nagel earned New England 5 Mile Championship titles in course record times at the Bobby Doyle 5 Miler in Narragansett RI on Sunday. Cool summer temperatures and overcast skies helped lead to fast times on the coastal circuit, as far south as any association championship has been held. Depth of the results was evident by several numbers; 16 finishers under 25:00, 58 under 28:00, and the first master not until 39th place. 663 finished the 5 Mile double loop coruse.

Lowry, representing the B.A.A., missed the overall win by once second as the final sprint to his 23:52 time left him a step behind Mousaab Hadout, a 28:21 10K runner out of Morocco. Providence College grad Nagel (unattached) recorded 26:40 at the tape to outdistance her closest rival, Heather Cappello (B.A.A.), by 1:14. The B.A.A. won both open team crowns. Jan Holmquist (Whirlaway RT) set another W70-74 US record with her time of 36:41.

The event, which raises funds for state distance runner scholarships and a youth running fund, recognizes the late Bobby Doyle who was the state's premier distance runner for many years. His accomplishments included a 5th place Boston Marathon finish, all American honors in cross country, and representing the USA in the 1979 Pan American Games. Many legends of Rhode Island road running were on hand as part of the race committee.

Results.

The US Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association announced their High School coaches of the year today, recognizing coaches for successes during the 2015 season. From the four USATF-NE states, the honorees are, for boys teams, Peter Comeau (Andover, MA), Mike Lyford (Portsmouth, NH), Vincent McGinn (La Salle, RI), and Geoff Bennettt (South Burlington, VT).

State coaches recognized for girls teams include Jamahl Prince (Cambridge R&L, MA), Noah Pion (Bedford, NH), John Marchand (Smithfield, RI), and Chip Langmaid (St.Johnsbury, VT).

Read more at the ustfccca website.

Maria Michta-Coffey and Michael Mannozzi won the National One Hour Race Walk in Gloucester
(Photo: J.S.McElvery)

As small but determined field contested the USA 1 Hour Race Walking Championship at Newell Stadium in Gloucester MA on Sunday, the race hosted by USATF-NE and New England Walkers. Leading the full entry list was 2012 Olympian Maria Michta-Coffey (Walk USA/Long Island NY), in her final tune-up before the World Track & Field Championships later in the month. She covered 12,726 meters, barely a straightaway ahead of past internationalist Michael Mannozzi (Shore AC/Youngstown OH.

Results.

Another good day at the Junior Olympic Nationals, as USATF-NE athletes made it onto the awards podium in four events. Making the highest step among the group was Carmel Fitzgibbon (Weston MA) who placed third in the Girls 11-12 800, 2:18.37. Britney Johnson (NH Tracksters/Derry NH) earned her second medal of the week, placing fifth in the 15-16 3000 meters at 10:47.94, and Maxwell DiMuccio (Sentinel Striders, RI) matched that place in the highly competitive Boys 13-14 3000m, 9:31.52. Robyn Krafft (Milford NH) was seventh in the Girls 13-14 discus at 103-11.

All Results are listed event by event at adkinstrak.com.

Erin Dietz won the 3000 at the Pan American Juniors in Edmondton.
(Photo: courtesy Emerging Elite)

USATF-NE June Athlete of the Month Erin Dietz (Bedford MA) took the lead right out the gate and went on to win the 3000 meters at the Pan American Junior Championships in Edmonton on Friday. Leading wire to wire and setting a commanding pace. Dietz extended her lead in the final two laps to finish in 9:37.51 for the gold medal. She was one of seven U1 winners on the first day of competition. Rhode Island hammer throwers Bobby Colantonio and Adam Kelly compete on Sunday

Results and story.

New Englanders earned another 1-2 finish at the USATF National Junior Olympic Championships in Jacksonville Florida.

Clare Martin (Waltham TC) and Britney Smith (New Hampshire Tracksters) took gold and silver in the Girls 15-16 Steeplechase today with times of 7:18.55 and 7:35.73, respectively.

Thursday began with an 8th place medal showing in the Girls 15-16 Hammer by Megan Sieben (Portsmouth RI) at 112-04.

Event by event results are found at adkinstrak.com and watch event videos at usatf.tv.

Alessia Caira was 5th in the 3000m race walk.
(Photo: Luca Caira)

New England youth have earned a number of medals in the opening days of the USATF National Junior Olympic Championships in Jacksonville Florida.

On Wednesday, Rhode Islanders dominated the hammer results. Boys age 15-16 took went 1-2-3-4; leading the parade to the podium was Jared Briere at 202-8, followed by Adrian Matos (182-6), Dilyn Cote (177-10) and Jacob Greenless (177-0). Later in the day, Bobby Colantonio (Barrington RI) won the 17-18 hammer at 222-06, and then Meagan Malloy (Sentinel Strider) and Tara Rochefort (Woonsocket) followed with 3-7 placings in the Girls 17-18 hammer. Also medaling was Nathan Sleiman (Quincy Stars), eighth in the Boys 13-14 Triple Jump, 37-3.

The meet began on Monday with the first local medalist; Alessia Caira (Waltham TC) placed fifth in the Girls 13-14 3000m race walk in 17:15.52. Temperatures are high and conditions are tough. Follow the daily results at USATF.org and watch event videos at usatf.tv. The meet runs through Sunday, August 2.

Kasie Enman, 2nd-place at 2015 USA Mountain Running Championships in Bend OR.
(photo: Mike Scott)

Kasie Enman (Green Mountain AA/Huntington VT) placed second at the USA Mountain Running Championships held in Bend OR on Saturday. Enman covered the two lap 8K course in 37:37, just over a minute behind winner Morgan Arritola (Ketchum ID). Each up-down lap had 900 feet of climbing over loose and off-road footing. The 2011 World Champion, she also qualified for a spot on the 4 women US team to run at the 2015 World Mountain Championship in Wales in September.

In the men's 12K, Todd Callaghan (CMS/Beverly MA) was M45-49 masters division winner. Story and results

Liz Costello (New Balance/Newtonville MA) ran to a fourth place finish in the 10,000 meters at the Pan American Games in Toronto, Ontario, Canada last night. Winner Brenda Flores of Mexico established a new Pan Am Games record, and Costello's time of 32:53.25 - 12 seconds behind - also broke the old Games record. Desiree Davila of the US, a top finisher in the Boston Marathon, earned silver. Costello is the only New Englander on Team USA at the event.

Results

Bobby Colantonio placed 5th at the 2015 IAAF World Youth Championships in Cali Colombia. (photo: ImageOfSport.com)

Bobby Colantonio at the 2015 IAAF World Youth Championships, Cali Colombia.
(photo: ImageOfSport.com)

Bobby Colantonio (Barrington RI) continued his summer to remember with a fifth place finish in the hammer at the IAAF World Youth Championships in Cali Colombia. His throw of 242'1" on his final attempt moved him up two places in the final standings; it's the second best finish ever by an American in the meet. After a week off, he'll be competing in the Pan American Junior Championships in Canada.

Story

The rescheduled USATF-NE Open/Masters Championship is set for July 24-25 at Holy Cross in Worcester MA. Pole Vault and 5000 on Friday evening, July 24, and all other events on Saturday, July 25 starting 11:00 a.m.
Entry is re-opened until July 23. UPDATED ENTRY, INFORMATION, AND SCHEDULE.

All pre-entries from June need to declare for this meet by email to office@usatfne.org - See the entry info link.

Online Entry is re-opened through Thursday July 23 at noon.

Boston University Director of Track & Field Robyne Johnson was named Assistant Coach for Jumps/Combined Events for the 2016 USA Olympic Team. Johnson is a former American record holder in the triple jump and participated in four U.S. Olympic Trials. She has also served as USATF development coordinator for the women's triple jump.

Head Coach for the USA women's team is Southern Illinois University head coach Connie Price-Smith, a 25 time US champion in the shot put and discus, and Team USA head coach at the 2011 World Championships. The full staff is announced at usatf.org

Results for last weekend's USATF Region I Junior Olympic Championships are now posted at the JO page. Over 1000 entrants from ages 7-8 to 17-18 from six associations contested a full schedule of events over 4 days. Top 5 finishers qualify for Nationals. Thanks to the officials and Fitchburg State U staff for running a meet that was well received by all in attendance.

RESULTS

Jim Chamberas, Founder and President of Twilight Throwers, passed away peacefully on July 12. He was the person who decided that athletes needed a place to throw in New England and created his "Field of Dreams" at Chelmsford MA High School. He was a competitor, coach, official, meet director, father, husband and friend of track and field.

Greater Boston Track Club’s Lisa Wilson and Andre Reid were the Female and Male Performers of the Meet at Saturday's USATF Club Nationals held in New York City. Wilson scored 24 points - nearly half of her team's 53 points - with a win in the hammer throw, a runner-up finish in the shot put and a third place discus performance. GBTC finished fourth in the women’s team competition.

Reid scored in the hammer (third), javelin (third), shot put (fifth), and discus (sixth) for a combined 20 points toward GBTC’s score of 70 - good for fifth in the men's standings.

New England women's club placings were: 4.GBTC 53; 27.Prov Cobras 2; 31.MassVelocity 1. Men's places were: 5.GBTC, 70; 20.Sprinticity 9; 24.SISU Project 6; 29.MassVelocity 4. Full meet results can be found at here.

The USATF-NE Open and Masters Championship meet cancelled from June has been rescheduled to Saturday, July 25 at the College of the Holy Cross in Worcester MA, tentatively starting at noon. The order of events will be the same as the original date with two exceptions: the Pole Vault and the 5000 will be held on Friday evening, July 24, at the same location.

Entry will re-open for new entrants and for re-declaration of those entered for the original date, and will be available after Tuesday, July 14 and be open through July 22. The final schedule with other information will also be posted at the Track & Field Page after July 14.

Kim Nedeau, 2015 Loon Mountain Championship
courtesy ScottMasonPhoto.com

Vermonters Josh Ferenc (Wild Endurance/Athens) and Kasie Enman (GMAA/Huntington) won USATF-NE Mountain Championship titles at the Loon Mountain race in Lincoln NH on Sunday. Ference had a winning margin of 19 seconds up the new, even more difficult 6.6 mile run to the top, while Enman's gap was 2:30 over her closest rival. Todd Callaghan (GCS/Beverly MA) and Regina Loiacano (CMS/Gloucester MA), seventh and fifth overall, respectively, led the masters divisions, as 349 completed the vertical trek.

After five mountain series events, Callaghan leads the overall men's standings and Sarah Bard (craft Concept Racing) tops the women. Results and divisions

The 2015 Gatorade State High School Track & Field Athletes of the Year are announced. Selection is based on athletic impact in the 2014-15 season. as well as high academic achievement and exemplary personal character, including volunteerism, sportsmanship and community leadership. Winners from the USATF-NE states:
MA: Sean Caveney, Andover; Brianna Duncan, Cambridge Rindge & Latin
NH: Eli Moskowitz, Souhegan; Hannah Parker, Coe-Brown Northwood
RI: Jack Salisbury, La Salle Academy; Quashira McIntosh, Hope
VT: Alec Eschholz, Mount Mansfield; Kayla Gilding, South Burlington

Learn more about them at the Profiles page.

Bobby Colantonio of Barrington RI was named to the USA team for the IAAF World Youth Championships to take place July 15-19 in Cali, Colombia. He won the hammer on Monday at the USA team trial meet for athletes age 16 and 17 in 2015. Selection to the 41 athlete squad required a top place finish as well as meeting the rigorous World Youth Championships Standard.
It's been a busy and productive week for the high school senior-to-be, as he won the USA Junior championship and a berth on Team USA for the Pan American Junior (age 19 and under) meet on June 27, and earned a third gold medal on July 1 in the USA Youth Championships 17-18 division.

USA World Youth Trials Information

New England athletes earned two golds and a number of silver and bronze at the USA Junior Track & Field Championships last weekend in TrackTown USA - Eugene OR. Brown University freshman Josephine Natrasevschi won the discus in 175-7, while Barrington RI high school teammates Bobby Colantonio and Adam Kelly finished 1-2 in the hammer. Erin Dietz (Bedford MA/Emerging Elite) earned two medals running in unusually hot Oregon conditions - silver in the 3000 and bronze in the 5000 - and Emma Fitzgerald (Braintree MA) took third in the javelin. A number of other top local athletes age 19 and under performed well at the championships.

RESULTS

With over 860 entrants, the USATF-NE Junior Olympic Track & Field Championships again grew in numbers and in quality. Thanks to the work of our hard working officials crew, the increased numbers were adequately handled within the time schedule.

The top 8 in each division in each advance qualify to compete in the Region I meet, also at Fitchburg State University, July 9-12. Entry will be open from June 25 through July 3.

RESULTS

Louis Serafini breaks the tape at the Hollis Fast 5K (Jean Cann/USATF-NE)

Louis Serafini breaks the tape at the Hollis Fast 5K-
photo by Jean Cann/USATF-NE

Louis Serafini (Heartbreakers) and Laura Paulsen (GBTC) took home the USATF-NE 5K Championship titles at Thursday evening's Hollis Fast 5K in New Hampshire. An even 1500 completed the steadily downhill point-to-point course.

Serafini clocked 14:14 to outleg a pair better known for longer distance successes; 2014 NE marathon champ Dan Vassallo and 2015 champ Matt Pelletier placed 2-3 on the evening. Paulsen, who's focused on track 10,000m this spring, had 6 seconds on Lorna Young (Millennium), with the women having a separate starting stretch of about 300m before merging with the men.

GBTC ran to the men's and women's open team wins, the men by just 13 seconds. CMS (M40+), Greater Lowell (W40+, M60+), Whirlaway (M50+, W50+), and NE 65+ RC (M70+) were other team winners.

Overall results. Age graded scores are available on the USATF-NE LDR blog.

The series resumes on August 9 at the Bobby Doyle 5 Mile in Narragansett RI.

Carly Muscaro of Merrimack College and Ashland MA is USA Track & Field - New England's Athlete of the Month for May 2015. At the NCAA Division 2 National Track & Field Championship on May 23, the sophomore placed second in the 400 in 52.48 to win her third career national silver medal. On May 9, she won the 400 at the New England Intercollegiate Championships held at M.I.T. in a time of 51.83, the second fastest 400 ever run by a New England collegian and a time qualifying her for the USATF Championships in June.

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

Jan Holmquist (Whirlaway/Burlington MA) broke the World and USA W70-74 mile record at the Adrian Martinez Classic held at the town track in Concord. The April 2015 USATF-NE Athlete of the Month (AOM) set her fourth W70 record since last September, running 6:37.21 to better the previous mile standard by 10 seconds. She split 1:38, 3:19, and 5:00 with an enthusiastic crowd lining up most of the lap along the fence beyond lane 6.

A handful of other past AOM made their mark on in the results of the 800, 1 mile, and 5000 for men and women. James Randon (AOM 5/13), Middlesex School of Concord grad now running for Yale, won the first section of the feature mile in an impressive 4:00.43 personal best for sixth overall; the performance also won him the "most improved" award given. Sean Duncan (AOM 9/13) easily won the open mile (4:17.37), and in the 5000 that saw 8 of 9 finishers run 13:50 or better, Andrew Springer (AOM 3/09) was second (13:35.99) and Tim Ritchie (AOM 10/13) took fourth (13:38.02). Abbey D'Agostino (AOM 11/13) won the women's 5000 that closed out the feature races in what is arguably her best race in her short pro career, timed in 15:23.66.

Results, photos, and video of every race in the meet, sponsored by for the second consecutive year by Hoka One One, can be found at martinezclassic.com. Congrats to director Steve Lane for bringing elite track to the community.

Amy Rusiecki (Western MA Distance Project/So.Deerfield MA) represented the USA at the IAU Trail Ultra World Championship in Haute Savoie, France, on May 30, placing 48th of 80 finishers in the women's race over the rugged 85 kilometers with 5300m of climb. The USA women's team was 7th of 16 nations. More than 280 athletes from 39 countries took on the course in various categories.

Event website for more race details.

The Milford NH Youth Spring Track Meet scheduled for the Sunday, May 31st at Milford high school has been canceled due to the forecast for heavy rain and thunderstorms. The meet will not be rescheduled.

Men's winner Matt Pelletier
(Lisa Doucett photo)

Matt Pelletier (West Greenwich RI) and Kasie Enman (Green Mountain AA/Huntington VT) won New England championship titles at the People's United Bank Vermont City Marathon on Sunday in Burlington VT. This was the first time in over 25 years that the USATF New England marathon championship was not a fall event.

Pelletier is a multi-time winner of the race and finished in 2:19:12, 22 seconds up on Blair Teal of North Carolina. Led by David Sinclair in third, Green Mountain AA was team champion over Greater Boston TC - and the club swept all masters (40+, 50+, and 60+) divisions.
It was a rare local championship for Enman, better know as a mountain runner (but a past Olympic Marathon Trials qualifier). She clocked 2:49:03 on the traffic-free course along Lake Champlain, and led the GMAA to a daily double and their first women's team win in many years. Three minutes back was Joanna Johnson of Western Mass Distance Project.

The green and white of GMAA also won the men's 40+ and 50+ masters divisions. Whirlaway RT took the remaining team wins in W40+ and W50+.

Overall results. The USATF-NE LDR blog will have age graded scores this week.

In the NCAA Division III championship meet held at St.Lawrence University in Canton NY, five New England states collegians won national championships.
Lone women's winner repeating her 2014 win - and doubling up the year's indoro crown, M.I.T.'s Cimran Virdi won the pole vault at 13'7.25". Strongest event for locals were the men's horizontal jumps with 1-2 finishes; Jamie Ruginski (Southern Maine, 24'6.25") and former USATF-NE athlete of the month Alex Niemiec (Springfield, 24'5") in the long jump and Chris Perry (Bridgewater State, 50'11") and Ruginski (50'7.5") in the triple jump. Other men's winners were Mitchell Black (Tufts 800, 1:52.57) and Travon Godette (Westfield State, javelin, 221'5"). And while sprints are usually the event with the tightest finishes, the 10,000 found Bijan Mazaheri of Williams (30:45.16) missing the gold by 7/1000 second.

Earning silver medals were Hulerie McGuffie (U.Mass Boston, 400, 54.54), Peyton Dostie (Southern Maine, 400 Hurdles, 1:00.13), Hannah Cole (Williams, Steeplechase, 10:39.82), Aldis Inde (Williams, 5000, 14:15.17), Terrence Gibson (Worcester State, 110 Hurdles, 13.89), Steven Vazquez (RI College, high jump, 6'9.75"), and Sean Enos (Bates, hammer, 206'5"). Bronze medals went to Maryanne Gong (MIT, 5000, 17:11.90), Kevin Cutler (UMass Dartmouth, high jump, 6'9.75"), and Eric Wainman (Bates, decathlon, 6822).

Full Results

Boston Athletic Association coach Terrence Mahon (Boston MA) was named to the coaching staff for this summer's World Outdoor Track & Field Championships taking place August 22-30 in Beijing, China. He's one of five coaches for the USA women's team, and will be responsible for distance events.

Colin Carroll (CMS/Andover MA) anjd Kasie Enman (GMAA/Huntington VT) took the wins at the weather-delayed USATF-NE Trail Running Championship held with the Merrimack River Trail Race held on Saturday. The 10 Miler on the out-and-back riverside course was postponed from its early April date due course conditions from the winter snows. Carroll had 16 seconds on teammate Kevin Tilton. Enman's time was a course record and over three minutes up on second. Ethan Nedeau (acidotic Racing) and Regina Loiacano (CMS) won the masters titles, seventh and fifth overall, respectively. 170 finished the race.

Full results

Competing at the prestigious Loucks Games in White Plains NY over the weekend, Eli Moskowitz (Souhegan HS, Amherst NH) ran the 3rd fastest High School time in the USA this year and lowered the New Hampshire state record by over 15 seconds with his 8:44.79 clocking. Eli finished 3rd in the race to Mikey Brannigan of Northport, NY (new New York state record at 8:42.92), and Alex Ostberg of Darien, CT (CT state record at 8:43.93).

Only one other New Hampshire high school runner has ever broken 9 minutes for the 3200 or 2 mile. Eli's time is also the 8th fastest ever by a US high school runner at the distance according to milesplit.com.

Heather Cappello (B.A.A./Somerville MA) took the bronze medal at the USA 25K Road Race Championship held on Saturday in Grand Rapids, Michigan, at the Fifth Third River Bank Run. Cappello ran a strongg second half of the race to place third in 1:29:09. In the chase pack and placing eighth was Katie DiCamillo (New Balance Boston/Providence), Former Harvard runner Lindsey Scherf led the women's field across the line, winning her first USA road championship in 1:26:36.

Jan Holmquist of the Whirlaway Racing Team and Burlington MA is USA Track & Field - New England's Athlete of the Month for April 2015. At the USA Masters 10K Road Championship held with the James Joyce Ramble, set her second pending USA 70-74 record of the year, clocking 45:22; that was also the the top age graded mark in the race. In March at the New Bedford Half Marathon, her time of 1:44:43 is also a pending age group record. Jan is our USATF-NE Masters Long Distance Running chair.

Not previously announced, Providence College senior Emily Sisson is our March AOM. The senior won the NCAA Indoor 5000 meter championship in 15:32.15 and placed third in the 3000 meters. She also ran the fastest collegiate indoor 5000 ever at the Big East championship on February 28.

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

Kristian Blaich is the USATF Masters 10K Championshion at the 2015 James Joyce Ramble.
(USATF NE photo)

Masters road runners took home titles in the USA Masters 10K Road Race Championship held in conjunction with the James Joyce Ramble 10K in Dedham MA on Sunday. Top finishers from New England were a pair of overall silver medals (also good for 40-44 golds): Dave Dechellis (Whirlaway/Tewksbury MA) in 33:45, and Kara Haas (Gr.Lowell RR) 37:46.

Two pending US Masters records were set - Christine Kennedy (CA) W60-64, 39:26, and our own Jan Holmquist (Whirlaway RT/Burlington MA), W70-74, 45:22, which was also the top age-graded performance of the day (99.02). Mark Reeder (GLRR) was second male age graded at 90.60.
Dirigo RC Women 40+ and New England 65+ RC Men 70+ teams were the local clubs to earn team championships (3 score), as the various age divisions saw the best team participation in the three years the Ramble has hosted the championship. Gr.Lowell RR W40+, CMS M40+, and Gr.Lowell RR M60+ all took second placings.

Overall Results and links to teams and age grading.

Women's distance running pioneer Sara Mae Berman (Cambridge MA/Cambridge Cambridge Sports Union) was one of three individuals inducted into the Road Runners Club of America Hall of Fame last weekend at the organization's annual convention. Three times the winner in the pre-official women's division in the Boston Marathon (1969-1971), Berman was also one of the first women to compete in cross country locally and nationally.

RRCA press release.

Cool temperatures, steady winds, and increasing rain presented challenges to athletes and volunteers alike, but all performed to their best abilities in the 119th B.A.A. Boston Marathon on Monday. With headwinds turning races from speed to tactical competitions, there was excitement through each mile. 2013 champion Desisa Lelisa (Ethiopia) won the men's race in 2:09:17 with top Americans Dathan Ritzenhein (MI) and defending champ Meb Keflezighi (CA) in eight and ninth at 2:11:20 and 2:12:42, respectively. Three past champions finished in the top 10.

Caroline Rotich (Kenya) won her first Boston, outkicking Mare Dibaba down Boylston Street by 4 seconds in 2:24:55 as the top 4 women, including top USA runner Desiree Linden (MI) in fourth, were within 44 seconds.

First local runner to finish was Ruben Sanca (Whirlaway/Lowell MA) in 2:21:58 for 24th overall. Hilary Dionne (B.A.A./Charlestown MA), 15th overall, repeated as top New England female in 2:40:42 and led the B.A.A. women to the team title.

Top USATF-NE state finishers:
MA: Ruben Sanca (Lowell/Whirlaway); Hilary Dionne (Charlestown/B.A.A.) 2:40:42
NH: Aliaksandr Leuchanka (Durham/Millennium) 2:26:36; Denise Sandahl (Bow/Millennium) 2:48:32
RI: Geoff Nelson (Providence) 2:34:03; Kara Leonard (Providence) 2;55:30
VT: Todd Smith (Bristol) 2:39:21; Kimberly Canarecci (Waterbury Ctr) 3:16:49

Team competition - Winners and NE clubs in the top 10:
Men's Open: 1.NYAC, 7:22:14; 5.Whirlaway 7:34:41; 6.B.A.A. 7:39:02; 7.Gr.Boston TC 7:40:14
Women's Open: 1.B.A.A. 8:15:14; 2.Gr.Boston TC 8:20:21
Men's Masters: 1.B.A.A. 8:04:00; 3.Somerville RR 8:29:33; 5.Whirlaway 8:33:52.
Women's Masters: 1.Montgomery County RRC (MD) 9;24:55; 5.B.A.A. 10:12:30

All the results and details at bostonmarathon.com.

On Sunday, Tyler Andrews (Concord MA) covered a lot of distance without leaving the confines of Boston's Hynes Convention Center as he set a new World Treadmill Record for the half marathon distance, running 1:03:38. The performance was set during the John Hancock Running and Sports Expo at the ProForm treadmill booth. Andrews, a Concord Academy and Tufts University grad, was supported at the event by his high school coach Jon Waldron of CSU. He has a personal best of 2:16:59 in the marathon (qualifying him for the 2016 US Olympic Trials), and was the USATF-NE Athlete of the Month in May 2014 after winning the Vermont City Marathon.

Story

Marathon weekend began with a pair of American Records set by New England-based runners in the B.A.A. 5K on Saturday morning. Testing a new course with fewer turns that started and finished at Boston Common, race winner Ben True (Saucony / Hanover NH) finished in 13:22, and Molly Huddle (Saucony / Providence RI) recorded 14:50 in leading the women down Charles Street. With a one second margin of victory, True recorded his third title in the event which drew 10,000 entrants. The previous American record was 13:24 held by Marc Davis who is currently the B.A.A. Communications Manager, and who was on site for the race.

Huddle won her second straight B.A.A. 5K to add to her US record at 5,000 meters on the track and four USA 5K Championships. The time, which like True's mark gave her a winning margin of just one second, bettered Deena Kastor's 13 year old record by 4 seconds.

Read the full race story at the B.A.A. website.

With 30,000 entries ready to make their way from Hopkinton to Boston on Monday, Patriots Day, there's plenty of action in the city this weekend. There are probably also plenty of questions about the race mechanics - start times for the many divisions, transportation, road closures, and baggage policy, for example.

You can find most of your answers at www.baa.org

USATF-NE president Tom Derderian announced his challenge to the Boston 2024 Organizing Committee to build a permanent track and field facility in Boston as part of their plans. Read the details here.

2014 IAAF World Junior Championshiop in Eugene
(Photo: Chris Lotsbom for RaceResultsWeekly)

The IAAF (International Association of Athletics Federations) Council awarded the 2021 IAAF World Track & Field Championships to the USA at their meetings on Wednesday. USATF, The City of Eugene Oregon, and TrackTown USA will host the meet at the University of Oregon, the first time the meet will take place in this country. The US bid for the 2019 event narrowly lost to Doha, Qatar in a vote last year, but the IAAF Council opted to move ahead and selected Oregon for the 2021 meet.

The Worlds takes place every 2 years in even numbered years; the 2015 Championships will be held in Beijing in August.

USATF Press Release

The Boston Athletic Association, in conjunction with adidas and partnership with Marathon Sports, has opened "Boston RunBase" - a mix of welcome center, clubhouse, museum. and general runners' hub - at 855 Boylston Street in Boston on the Marathon's finish straightaway. B.A.A. Executive Director Tom Grilk calls it the B.A.A.'s "front door to the world", bringing the organization beyond their offices directly to the public.

Read the BAA Press Release and view the WBZ TV4 video interview

B.A.A. at World Cross Country Championship in China
(Photo: BAA)

A pair of B.A.A. runners represented the USA at the IAAF World Cross Country Championships on Saturday. Jen Rhines placed 51st/5th US, and Elaina Balouris was 64th/6th US, as Team USA placed fifth; Ethiopia beat Kenya for the the team title. Harvard alum Maksim Korolev ran to 57th/5th US in the men's race, with the team in seventh.

Results and stories.

Top Men: L-R, 3rd place, Matt Pelletier,1:07:09, 2nd Place, Brian Doyle 1:07:09, and winner Sam Morse, 1:06:09 from Camden, NY
(Photo: Lisa Doucett)

Brian Doyle (Providence RI) and Hillary Dionne (Boston Athletic Assn/Charlestown MA) won New England championship titles at the 38th New Bedford Half Marathon on Sunday. Sporting a vintage Johnson & Wales AC singlet to honor his late father, Bob, who won the first NB half, Doyle outsprinted Matt Pelletier for association honors, both timed in 1:07:10. Overall winner Sam Morse of Syracuse TC recorded 1:06:09.

Dionne, clocked 1:14:01 in the traffic-free course through the Whaling City to win her second NBHM (first in 2012), and led the B.A.A. to the women's team win. The yellow and blue also won the men's open and men's masters divisions. Whirlaway RT took W40, W50, W60, and M50, with Green Mountain AA (M60) and Cambridge Sports Union (M70) the remaining two titleists.

Jan Holmquist bettered the existing US Half Marathon record for Women 70+, running 1:44:43. NE age graded results and team scores will be posted at usatfne.org/gp this week. Overall results.

The season-highlight for scholastic athletes is the National Scholastic Indoor Championships, and locals rose to the occasion at New York City's Armory Track. La Salle Academy of Rhode Island scored an unprecedented double win, as both the Boys and Girls 4 x Mile Relay teams won their event. In the process, each broke state records, boys running 17:11.07 and girls clocking 20:26.13. A third New England relay team also took honors with a state record, as Andover MA boys ran 29.51 to win the 4 x 55 shuttle hurdles.

Three relay teams earned bronze medals; the boys Distance Medley Relay squad from Concord-Carlisle MA (10:07.26) and the Amherst MA boys (7:45.29) and Lincoln-Sudbury MA girls (9:07.09) in the 4x800 relay.

Individually, Ocean State throwers Adam Kelly (Barrington RI 81-5.25), Bobby Colantonio (Barrington RI 78-0.25) and Owen Russell (Attleboro/Moses Brown) 76-3.5) went 1-2-3 in the weight, and Starlin Ortiz (Londonderry NH) scored 3586 points for third in the pentathlon; all have participated in our Junior Olympic program. Also of note: Maine's Kate Hall won the long jump in a New England High School and meet record of 20'11.25"(!).

Full Results

Local runners performed well on the national road running stage over the weekend. On Saturday, Ben True (Saucony/West Lebanon NH) pulled away to win his third consecutive title at the USATF 15 km Championships, hosted by the Gate River Run in Jacksonville, Florida. True clocked 44:03 for a 11 second margin of victory. The B.A.A. men finished as third team.

Olympian Amy Cragg dominated the women's field, unchallenged after 10K. B.A.A. runner Juliet Bottorff finished in fourth in 51:11, while teammate Jen Rhines pushed to a sixth place finish in 51:36. Adding Heather Cappello (11th), the B.A.A. won the national team title. A special congratulations to Rhines, a three time winner of the event, who was inducted into the Gate River Run Hall of Fame before the race.

At the USA Marathon Championship in Los Angeles on Sunday, Katie DiCamillo (New Balance Boston/Providence RI) placed sixth with a personal best 2:37:59; women's winner, one time New England resident Blake Russell, clocked 2:34:37.

Also on Sunday, in the New York City Half Marathon, Molly Huddle (Saucony/Providence) took first place in 1:08:31, tying the event record.

The NCAA Collegiate Indoor Championships for all three divisions took place over the weekend with a number of local student athletes bringing home gold medals in their events. In the Division I meet, Providence senior Emily Sisson, who tore up the USA road circuit in the fall, won the 5000 in 15:32.15 and edged Katrina Coogan (Exeter NH/Georgetown U) for third in the 3000, both in 9:01.16. Other local womens place winners were Nikki Okwelogu of Harvard, sixth in the shot put in 56'6", and Nadia Eke of Columbia by way of Holy Name HS in Worcester MA, was third in the triple jump, 43'8.5".

On the men's side, Portsmouth NH product and U.Oregon senior Eric Jenkins, the average guy with exceptional hair, helped the Ducks to the Division I Team championship by winning both the 3000m (7:58.81) and 5000 (13:48.36). Teammate Will Geoghan, Dartmouth alum in a grad school year out west, was third in the 3000 and seventh in the 5000, and Johnny Gregorek (Seekonk MA), also at UO, fourth in the mile (3:58.75).

At the Division II championships, Southern Connecticut State women won the 4 x 400 relay in 3:44.91. Other placers include Carly Muscaro (Merrimack, 400, 2nd, 53.51), Ada Udaya (New Haven, 200, 2nd, 23.99), and Stonehill College men's Distance Medley, 9:50.82.

In Divsion III, winners from the New England states included Alison Maxwell, Middlebury, Mile, 4:56.17; Maryann Gong, MIT, 3000, 9:47.62 (and 3rd in mile); Cimran Virdi, MIT, Pole Vault, 13'1.5"; Mitchell Black, Tufts, 800, 1:51.94; and Jamie Ruginski, So.Maine, Triple Jump, 49'.25" .

Nate Hunter of the Greater Boston Track Club and North Reading MA is USA Track & Field - New England's Athlete of the Month for February, 2015. At the USATF National Indoor Championship held at the Reggie Lewis Center in Boston on February 28, Hunter placed third in the shot put, winning his first USA Championship medal. He threw as season's best distance of 62'6.75".

A week earlier, the Northeastern University graduate won the USATF-New England shot put title, and on February 7, was invited to compete in the New Balance Grand Prix held in Boston where he placed fourth.

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

Sarah Bard (Somerville MA) won the USATF 50km road Championship held at the Caumsett Park 50K on Long Island on Sunday. The Craft Concept Racing team member covered the 10 lap course in 3:23:29 to earn the new club's first National medal. Top men's performance was turned in by Scott Traer (Woburn MA), placing sixth in 3:12:17.

Two medals were won in age group divisions; Len Hall (Gate City Striders/Enfield NH) won the M60-64 division in 4:58:06, and Brian Teason (Manchester VT) earned the silver medal in M50-54 with a 4:04:46 time, one place better than he had last year.

Full Results

Francis Burdett (Gr.Springfield Harriers/Worcester) headed to California last weekend and won the M50 division in the USA Masters 8K Road Race Championship held in conjunction with the Brea 8K. His time of 26:50 also placed him 10th overall 40+.

That was his second USA masters win of the month, having also won the M50 Winter National Cross Country Championship in Boulder, Colorado against some stiff competition on February 7 (15th overall master).

The New England athletes scored automatic qualifiers for the USA Indoor Nationals in competing at the USATF-NE Indoor Championships on Sunday. New Balance Boston teammates Jillian King and Joanna Murphy (9:23.82, 9:24.78) finished 1-2 in the 3000 to earn national entry, and Greater Boston TC's Lisa Wilson won the weight with a standard breaking 65'3.5" throw.

Nearly 500 participants enjoyed competing at Harvard University's Gordon Indoor Track facility. Greater Boston TC repeated as double team champions with runners up being Sprinticity (men) and New Balance Boston (women).

Results are found on the track page.

Due to potentially bad weather Saturday night, the USATF-NE Indoor Championships on Sunday, February 22, will start times later than originally posted. Track begins at 11:00 a.m. (and the 5000 will be a combined M/W race), throws start with the Scholastic weight at 10:30 and open weight at 12:00 noon. Jumps have Long Jump and Pole Vault move to a 11:30 start. Events following those listed will move along in order to ensure a timely finish.

Final performance lists are now posted on the track page.

The kick-off event for the 2015 Road Race Grand Prix is Sunday's Five College Realtors 10 Mile in Amherst MA. The race is still scheduled for it's original 11:00 a.m. start. Refer to the regularly updated race website for any changes.

Adam Kelly is Jan 2015 USATF-NE Athlete of the Month (photo by Steve Mazzone)

Adam Kelly
photo by Steve Mazzone

Adam Kelly, a senior at Barrington (RI) High School, is USA Track & Field - New England's Athlete of the Month for January, 2015. Adam has surpassed 80 feet in the 25 pound weight throw three times this indoor season with a best of 83' 0" on January 29, the US Scholastic leader for the season. His best three distances have all broke the 14 year old Rhode Island and New England records by close to a foot (past record: 81'8.75", Josh McCaughey, Hendricken, 2000).

In January, Kelly won the New Balance Games in New York City with a distance of 82' 5", winning the event by almost 13 feet, and also won his event at the Dartmouth Relays, the Yale High School Classic, and the East Coast Invitational in Providence.

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

B.A.A. teammates Jen Rhines and Elaina Balouris secured spots on Team USA for the 2015 World Cross Country Championships with top 6 placings at the USA Winter National Cross Country Championships on Saturday. Rhines, who had an outstanding local harrier season last fall, ran to third place (28:21) in the 70+ degree temperatures behind winner Lauren Thweatt (Boulder CO) who clocked 27:42 for the 8K. It is Rhines' seventh qualifier for a USA XC Team, her last berth in 2002. Balouris rounded out the top six in 28:29, with B.A.A's Juliet Bottorff 15th and Joanna Murphy (Cambridge MA/New Balance) 16th

Making the men's squad was 2014 Harvard grad Maksim Korolev, placing sixth in the 12K race behind three time winner Chris Derrick (Bowerman TC, Oregon). Ben True (Saucony/West Lebanon NH), among the early leaders, finished 11th, and Justin Lutz (B.A.A.) scored third for the US Navy in the Military team division.
The World event takes place March 28 in Guiyang, China.

Results

The USATF New England Masters Indoor Championship returned to the Providence Career and Technical Academy facility for a small but good quality event. Top age graded marks were turned in by Liz Palmer (W50 60m, 8.49, 98.12%) and Michael Kish (M60 60m, 8.18, 96.33% They each earned $150 for their performances.

Results file with age graded scores

New England association Officials Chair Laurie Boemker was named an International Area Technical Official for the North America, Central America, and Caribbean (NACAC) region. Following USATF nomination, a week class at the IAAF Development Center in Puerto Rico, and passing a comprehensive oral and written exam, she was eligible for consideration and named ATO for 2015-2018, one of five from the USA and 23 overall from NACAC countries.

Area Technical Officials Candidates must demonstrate outstanding commitment and skill as a Technical Official at the federation and regional level. They are highly skilled in all aspects of the organization and conduct of major domestic and international competitions within the region and will be appointed to positions as Technical Delegates or ATO's at those competitions.

The highest level is International Technical Official; there are 46 current ITO with just 3 from the US. NACAC Website

2015 USATF Half Marathon Championship

Moving on from a successful cross country season, Juliet Bottorff (B.A.A.) made an impact in her debut at the half Marathon in placing sixth at the USA Half Marathon Championship in Houston on Sunday. She clocked 1:11:30, as teammate Katie Matthews placed eigth in 1:11:57. Winner was 2008 5000m Olympian Kim Conley (New Balance/) in 1:09:44.

Also running in the Championship were Heather Cappello, B.A.A., 1:13:05, 15th; Sarah Pagano, B.A.A., 1:13:06, 16th, and Kate DiCamillo , New Balance Boston, 1:13:09, 18th, all meeting the 1:15:00 qualifying time for the USA Olympic Marathon Trials. Top local male was Eric Ashe, B.A.A., 23rd in 1:03;32

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.

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