GSH Everett Barney Day 5K

Springfield, MA, April 19, 2001

Results courtesy of the Greater Springfield Harriers.

173 Year Old Everett Barney Places 4th as the 22nd Summer Sizzlers Begin

After an inspiration speech from Everett Barney himself, the Harriers opened the 22nd season of Summer Sizzlers with the Everett Barney Day Race, traditionally held on April 19th. This year's race traversed the historic 5K cross country course in Forest Park, the city park created by the foresight and generosity of the 19th century industrialist.

The race developed into a battle between the generations as 16 year old Mike DeFilippi sprinted to an early lead with 47 year old Celio Hernandez giving chase, both distancing themselves from the pack. Youth was served however as the Agawam high schooler captured his first Summer Sizzler victory with a solid 18:48 effort. Celio held form for second in 19:08 while ultra distance ace Seth Roberts scampered across the finish line in 20:16 for third, as GSHers claimed the top seven spots.

Harrier Bobbi Smith swept all division titles for women with her first place 27:35 effort followed by master GSHer Betty Matthews in 28:36.

At the awards ceremony all talk centered on the answer to the Fast Feet Quiz, ie., who holds the oldest age record on the 5K cross country course. The answer: Sue Counos who set the record for 13 year old girls on June 23, 1981, almost twenty years ago, and two months before Ed Sandifer and Carol O'Connor set their long standing records. Although he didn't have the correct answer, Gary Crowley won the raffle draw among contest entrants and thus a new pair of running shoes from Fast Feet.

Speaking of Ed Sandifer, many thanks for his taking the part of Everett Hosmer Barney at the race. His 4th place finish in 21:09 is impressive enough for any 173 year old, even more so for one who three days before completed his 29th consecutive Boston Marathon. Equally astounding, Ed has not missed a day of running since 1972.

Finally, kudos to Steve O'Neil and the Springfield Journal, who together with the Springfield Parks and Recreation Department, have made noticeable improvements on the course through their ongoing "Restore the Forest Park Trails Project". Proceeds from the Barney Day Race are donated by the Harriers to this project.

1 18:48 Mike DeFilippi 16M GSH 2 19:08 Celio Hernandez 47M GSH 3 20:16 Seth Roberts 49M GSH 4 21:09 Everett Barney* 173M GSH 5 21:37 Gary Crowley 39M GSH 6 21:41 Bob Darby 42M GSH 7 22:03 Wayne Stocker 46M GSH 8 22:36 Ray Charow 39M EORC 9 22:40 Doug Falconer 44M --- 10 22:43 Dan Clark 48M EORC 11 22:53 John Pashko 49M GSH 12 23:28 Kevin Morin 40M GSH 13 23:35 Pete Stasz 53M GSH 14 23:37 Chris St. George 38M GSH 15 23:49 Todd Henry 33M --- 16 23:52 Kevin Young 48M GSH 17 23:56 Richard Clark 47M SMAC 18 24:44 Mario Maloni 16M --- 19 25:02 Tom Dwyer 43M GSH 20 25:14 Steve Terrien 47M GSH 21 25:22 Dennis Hogan 46M GSH 22 25:35 Paul Shanahan 63M AF 23 26:15 Don Grant 58M SMAC 24 26:56 Doug Bielefeld 41M GSH 25 27:24 Brian Fitzgerald 30M --- 26 27:35 Bobbi Smith 51F GSH 27 28:36 Betty Matthews 48F GSH

*aka Ed Sandifer 49M GSH