Special Report Saturday July,11, 1998

Former All-American Maribel Sanchez wins

By Bruce H. Alexander

HARTFORD (July 11, 1998)--Runners from as far away as Japan, California, Florida and nearly 1300 Connecticut women ran and walked together on this breezy sunny morning toward a Finish Line engulfed by thousands of pink, red, yellow and white roses at the first annual Avon Running Global Women's Circuit here.

First, New Hampshire's Maribel Sanchez streaked to a 35 minute, 13.1 second victory, lowest time on the Global Circuit so far. Then...new runners and veterans, seasoned walkers and first-steppers, grandmothers and six and seven year-olds, rail-thin athletes and former Couch Citizens (aka Sofa Spuds), mother-daughter teams and competitors in all age groups crossed the line to find plump strawberries atop moist shortcake, massage tables, gallons of bottled water and the very loud cheers and tight hugs of family and friends.

A gold medal, courtesy of Avon Running, was draped prominently around the neck of each finisher and worn with pride and celebration. Meanwhile the band took over on the Big Stage in the middle of the Park, alongside a duck-filled pond. Overhead, red and yellows streamers lazed in the morning breeze.

Mary Haines of Newington (CT)

"Fantastic!" enthused 84 year-old Mary Haines of Newington (CT) who The Hartford Courant's Lori Riley reports is becoming "the darling of the state road racing circuit".

"This is wonderful for women," Ms. Haines told WFSB TV-3 viewers, adding that exercise keeps her happy and alive. The camera (and the fans) love her, and cheered when she took a bouquet of flowers from the stage.

Before that happened: along the shady race course, thoughtful firemen set up overhead sprinklers to cool down the runners and walkers as they moved by.

At one corner, a lone guitarist serenaded the passing crunch of women, as he sat in his wheelchair, a smile of happiness on his face.

At another, it's the Governor's Residence they passed, elegance of design with a big view of the blue sky above and capitol city below.

And what's that we hear? The skirl of the bagpipes--a tall solitary piper in full tartan splendor, his bonnet, kilt and sporran yet another spectacle--as they moved toward the Rose Garden finish.

Three little girls, perhaps 8 years old, sitting on the curbside, holding up their handmade sign: "Go Mommy, Go. Run".

All this followed a Pasta Supper "for women only--and the families and men who support them" at Saint Joseph College in West Hartford. The school's McGovern Dining Hall was packed that Friday night. Why? Marathon greats Grete Waitz and Kathrine Switzer were mingling with the guests, and some AVON gift packs were to be presented.

And funds ($600) were raised for the college's cross country team. Saint Joseph College President Winifred Coleman told 200 diners Friday, "It certainly is a beautiful evening outside, and for that I believe we can thank our resident Sisters of Mercy." (laughter) "Of course if tomorrow has poor weather, we'll know who to talk to as well!"

Women from all over the region, Avon Running volunteers, members of the media, firemen, police, mayors, the Hartford Track Club, Hartford Hospital, Elizabeth Park, the 12 week fitness clinic leaders, Congresswoman Barbara Kennelly, Avon Representatives, Grete Waitz, Kathrine Switzer, the roadside fans and yes, the Sisters of Mercy...all accomplished something new and unique on this sunny Saturday in Hartford's The Rose Garden.