2006 USATF NE Mountain running circuit

The six race, USATF New England mountain running circuit wrapped up in North Conway with the August 7 running of the Eighteenth annual Mount Cranmore race.  More than ninety runners from eleven states and Canada raced each other over the up/down course which featured stretches of 20% grade.

Twenty-one runners completed all six races, thus earning the distinction of being dubbed “Mountain Goats”.  An additional 16 runners completed five races.  The USATF champions were determined by totaling points earned with the best five counting.  The points were determined bas4ed on the finisher’s percent behind the winner (for example: the winner runs 1:00:00 and Runner-X runs 2:00:00.  Runner-X gets 50 points).  For the first time in the ten year history of the circuit, women were scored based on the winning woman’s time.  This gave women equivalent scores to the men.

Many of the age group victgories were close, going down to the last race.  Paul Low (CMS) took the overall victory with 488.48 points, narrowly topping teammate Kevin Tilton who finished 9 points back.  Kathy Hurst was the women’s winner with 427.54 points.  The 50+ men’s age group was one of the deepest fields with the top seven runners all within 80 points.  Robert Chasen took the victory with 387.91 points.

A total of 109 USATF members scored points in the circuit.  Point totals and race finishes are scored since the first race in 1996.  Eldon Burkinshaw (Gate City Striders) leads with 35 finishes.  Donna Smyth (CSU) is the top woman with 28 finishes.  Dave Dunham (CMS) leads the scoring with 3,166.92 points and Donna Smyth leads the women with 1,958.15.

USATF New England Mountain running champions (500 possible points)

Women

Open    Kathy Hurst                                       427.54

40+      Suzy West                CSU                 473.49

50+            Jacqueline Keith            NMC               309.93

60+            Uncontested

70+            Barbara Robinson            MM&M         71.01

Men

Open    Paul Low                 CMS                488.48

40+      Dave Dunham                       CMS                439.81

50+      Robert Chasen             Tri-Valley  387.91

60+      Peter Orni                 CMS                325.87

70+      Paul McDermott            NMC               186.25

A complete list of Mountain Goats and all USATF Circuit finishers is attached along with the finish and point leaders from 1996 to present.