The prevailing theme of Baystate has always featured Boston, as in all six previous editions, runners have come from all over New England and beyond to meet the Boston qualifying standards. The flat, scenic, two loop course is very conducive to optimal performances.
The weather as well has almost always cooperated with the runner's efforts at Baystate. That pattern continued this year, but not without a close call. A tropical rainstorm with heavy winds moved out of the area only hours before the start, leaving nearly ideal cool, overcast skies in its wake. The starting gun at 8:15 sent nearly 2000 marathoners and 1000 half marathoners on their journey.
Warwick, Rhode Island's Glen Guilmette trimmed nearly five minutes off the old marathon course record, posting a nifty time of 2:23:23. It was a bittersweet result however, as Glen was looking to best 2:22 and earn a spot in the men's Olympic marathon trials race next February. Although he missed that mark, his margin of victory was decisive. Second place finisher Dave Beauley ran 2:28 and Byrne Decker was third in 2:29.
Mary Ellen Kelley has already qualified for the women's Olympic trials race, but the Columbia, SC resident has taken a special liking to New England 26 milers. Winner of the Cape Cod Marathon last year, Kelley ran spectacularly again in Lowell, shattering the old course record by nearly 17 minutes. Her time of 2:45:47 was only three minutes in front of Derby, CT 's Alison Lapinksi, who earned an OT berth of her own, running 2:48. Dana Goldfarb from New Haven rounded out the top three in 2:52. In all, seven women broke the old Baystate CR, including Michelle Bociek, the former course record holder, who ran 3:01, a time yielding only seventh this time around.
At that point the drama was only beginning to unfold however. Starting at 3:10, the hundreds of Boston hopefuls would learn whether they would be included among the invitees to the big party. Exactly six months to the day before the 100th Boston Marathon, a good percentage of the field received that good news from the clock at the finish line.