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22nd Colonie Recreation Department's Dynamic Duo 3M
Colonie, NY, August 5, 2000
YOUNGSTERS (AND SOME OLDSTERS) SPARKLE AT DUO 2000
By DeSert Rose
The long and storied history of the Dynamic Duo makes it virtually impossible
to set a meet record any more. When the running boom was in it's heyday,
stalwarts such as Lori Hewig, J. R. Gaige, and Todd Orvis dotted the individual
leaderboard. Tandems like Mark Delfs/Michelle Simone, Lance Denning/Lori Hewig,
J. R. Gaige/Lori Hewig and Peter Hettrich/Nancy Egerton set records that will
never be broken.
But not smashing many records did little to curtail the excitement generated
by this year's edition of the Duo held on a beautiful summer morning at the
Colonie Town Park.
Future Olympian Tonya Dodge towed an unwilling field of 49 other females
through a fast first mile (5:30) and held on to win the girl's portion of the
race in 16:58 on the tough Duo course. Tonya's effort was the fastest non- Lori
Hewig time ever. Lori has four faster times. Tonya's and her partner, long-time
coach Kevin Williams, won their second Duo together; this time in the 64-72 age
group. Their combined time of 33:18 is the 9th best all-time. Kevin has won five
other Duos (wife Gwen and Nancy Nicholson) were other teammates.
Ex-Colonie standout, Jen Kramer, set this fall to attend Boston College on a
full running scholarship, pursued Tonya and turned in a 17:53, 31st best
all-time and teamed with Shaker's Mike Ferguson to win the "loaded" under 36
year age group. Summer sensation Caitlin McTague from Niskayuna High School and
cousin Dan Odabashian finished a close second. Empire Games standout and current
Averill Park star Tyson Evensen, who never met a road race he didn't like, and
Columbia's Jen Guay claimed the third place prize. Albany Academy's Mike
Keefrider teamed with 8-time state champion Kate Twarog from Colonie to finish
fourth. Talk about a loaded division.
Another tough age group was the 37-45 one. Current Albany State standouts
Adam Rice and Laura Kearns prevailed over former SUNY standouts Rob Naughter and
Erica Viger by 34 seconds. Shaker track coach Dave Stadtlander and current
Colonie star Nicole Susser finished a close 3rd.
Lori Schmidt continued her fine post-high school running and teamed with
Kevin Forrester to win the 46-54 age group. Lori's time of 19:31 was the 7th
best women's time of the day.
Derrick Staley arrived at the Town Park without a partner. Colonie senior
Julie LaFrano had one but he went to Colonie High School for the race. Derrick
teamed up with Julie 15 minutes before race time to win the 55-63 division over
prospective newlyweds Bob Irwin and Kim Adler. Getting married virtually assures
that Bob will have a different Duo partner next year. Jay Bryce and Holy Names'
Alison Rodriguez finished a short time behind the Irwin squad. Jim Dulin arrived
at the Town Park without a partner. Colonie junior Tracey LaFrano had one (Scott
Moro) but he went to Colonie High School for the race. Jim teamed up with Tracey
15 minutes before race time to finish 4th. I think the LaFrano sisters should do
a better job of picking partners next year.
Mark Mindel emerged from running oblivion and teamed with Galway track coach
Lynn Prehn to win the 73-81 age group. Mark was a questionable starter (bowed
tendon) as race-time approached but used his guile and experience to win his 5th
Duo. That means he ran as slow as he had to to win. Lynn was the 15th fastest
woman.
Jay Shelgren (author of a 4:58 mile at age 47 this summer) teamed with Mt.
Anthony track coach Kathleen Newton to win their 3rd Duo. The Shelgren- Newton
squad beat out the 2nd-place finishing team of Tom Bulger and Danielle Cherniak.
Tom only ran five races since July 30th and Danielle probably ran 150 miles
during the same time period. Finishing 3rd was the recently-former squad of
Lansingburgh coach Dale Broomhead and Shaker indoor coach Mary Beth Steffen.
Dale continued his fine summer running and Mary Beth turned in a very courageous
effort.
MB was injured in May in a work-related accident and has only been able to
train very sporadically since. She did, however, complete her 14th Duo in a row
and continues to be as big a Duo supporter as Stu and Kathy Hoffman, Paul and
Rosemary Hillengas, Bob McFarland and many others.
Northern invaders Dan Olden and Karen Provencher (4th-best woman in 19:04)
won the 91-99 age group and denied Frank Myers and Denise Herman their
record-breaking 10th win. Frank and Denise got 2nd for the 2nd time.
Anny Stockman and her husband Wade have also won nine Duos. Wade is re(tired)
these days so Anny teamed up with Tom McGuire to win her 10th Duo&emdash;a new record
for anyone (old/young, male/female). That's quite an accomplishment and says a
lot for healthy living.
As always, we want to thank Don Myers and the Colonie Recreation Department
for their support. Also, thanks to perennial helpers Karl Steffen, Bob Oates,
Sandy Morley and everyone else who helped make "Duo 2000" successful.
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