Find this page online at www.coolrunning.com/results/98/ma/lawstory.htm

USATF NE Champions Pick up Where They Left Off at Melrose Half Marathon

Race Results

Mike Nahom in full flight at mile 11 photo Don Allison

Melrose, MA - One of these years, some team other than the Central Mass Striders will win the USATF New England Men's Open Division in the Grand Prix series, but it probably won't be 1998. Led by Mike Nahom, one of a seemingly endless stream of thoroughbreds, CMS once again rolled to the team victory. On a brisk morning, more than 1,000 runners took on the challenging 13.1-mile Melrose course. A sizable pack assembled up front for the first few miles. Andy Spaulding from Greater Lowell made a move at mile four, but when the group reappeared after a loop around the Fells, Nahom had seized control of the race with no appearances of letting go.

Passing 10 miles in 51:21, Nahom cranked out the final 5-km in 15:39 to win the race in 1:07:00. Nahom's teammate Rusty Snow was well ensconced in second place 10 seconds back, while 39--year-old Craig Fram won a battle with Spaulding, Mike O'Brien, and GBTC's Jesse Darley for third.

On the women's side, several-time Grand Prix winner Mary-Lyn Currier easily won the women's race in 1:17, leading all the way. BRC's Kelly Liljebad was more than two minutes back of Currier in second. Currier was happy with the effort, although she had hoped to run 1:15. " This course is much hillier than New Bedford or other half-marathons, so that's why time was slower," Currier said. She also let it be known that the students of the school in which she teaches log into CR to see how their teacher ran over the weekend. It was a good day Sunday, kids.

Mary-Lyn Currier won the women's race photo Don Allison

Like in 1997 Grand Prix events , Larry Olsen won the men's senior division, while Iron Bill Riley won the men's 60+, and Susan Gustafson won the women's senior race. Elsa Murphy, who turned 60 on January 1, was a new name in the winner's circle.

Those with a sharp eye and a keen sense of running history noted three former top-ten Boston Marathon finishers in the crowd. While Bob Hodge and Jack Fultz regularly run GP events, the reappearance of Bobby Doyle on the scene was an interesting development. Amazingly, Doyle, at age 49, won the masters division, clocking a swift 1:11:15. In 1978 and 1979, Doyle was in the front pack of Boston. He is also a three-time winner of the Ocean State Marathon. It's about time someone shook things up in the Grand Prix!

As always, this GP field was deep and fast. More than 80 runners managed better than six-minute pace on the rugged route. If you were looking for a finish in the top 150, better then 6:30's were required. In all, nearly 1500 completed the half-marathon course. The law enforcement race is well-established on the pre-Boston and now the Grand Prix circuit. It's a race you can count on-just like a CMS men's open team victory.