West Cornwall Night Race (8.53K)

West Cornwall, VT, November 5, 2011

Guertin, Longchamp Earn Victories at Second Annual Race

Seventeen year-olds Stuart Guertin and Max Longchamp captured the titles in their respective divisions in this year’s Second Annual West Cornwall Night Race. Guertin cruised to the finish line in the fastest time of the day, just 30:09, to win the long-haired division title. The favorite going into the race, Guertin said he felt good throughout. “I was a little worried about my overall victory when Max [Longchamp] started surging early and often, but around the 1.5 mile mark I think he got attacked by a bear and so I took off and never looked back.”

After mortally wounding said bear, Longchamp, also 17, finished 1st in the more highly contested short haired division with an impressive 30:29. The high-school senior felt good about himself after the race, “I fought hard,” he said. “I was in second after 3.5 miles, and then Maddog Conlon came up hard behind me. He kept charging right on past, and I decided to stick with him. We both just kept surging and we reeled in the Bee, and then I knew it would be a pure guts race at the end, so I was the only one who could win it.” And win it he did, putting more than 5 seconds on the Maddog in the last 500 meters of the race.

Conlon, 5 seconds behind Longchamp with a time of 30:34 had turned seventeen just four days earlier, was pleased with his 2nd place effort. “He’s a fantastic runner and a smart racer,” he said of Longchamp, “I’m just glad I was with him near the end of the race, running with him helped my time a lot, I was surprised I was able to stick with him as long as I did.” It was a good thing, too. “I’m not so sure I would have finished ahead of Sawyer if I hadn’t of had Max pushing me.”

Sawyer Hescock, 3rd in 31:03, felt as though he also had a quality race. “It wasn’t as good as last year’s,” he reminisced, “but considering I hadn’t run for the whole week preceding it, I’ll take it. And hey,” he added, “how about that Max Longchamp? So fast!”

Behind Hescock in the short hair division was Max Moulton in 5th place and Neil Guertin in 6th. Moulton, the only 15 year old in the race, was blown away by the competition. “Wow,” he said, “I raced on the high school team all year and I’ve never seen anybody run like this. These guys out here in Cornwall really know how to put on a show. That Max Longchamp is probably the fastest kid I’ve ever seen. And I’ve raced with Edward Cheserek.”

Neil Guertin, who has been battling injury this season, was equally stunned. “I’m speechless.” He hypocritically said, “These guys go balls through the wall 110% of the time.” What’s next for these six top-flight racers? They are all looking to place well in the local Turkey Trot, they say, which will take place November 20. Longchamp will be looking to retain his crown in the 5K race, while other runners look to hunt him and reigning 10K champ the Balmer down to claim titles of their own.

LONG HAIR RESULTS: 1. S. Guertin 30:09 SHORT HAIR RESULTS: 1. M. Longchamp 30:29; 2. W. Conlon 30:34; 3. S. Hescock 31:03; 4. M. Moulton 31: 47; 5. N. Guertin 36:40