REEBOK/USATF New England Cross Country Championships
Franklin Park, Boston, Nov 12
40's, very windy, wet and muddy
Masters Men 8K (7945m), Women's 6K (6017m), Men's 10K (9855m)
A pair of Villanova alums, Kate Fonshell and Terrence Mahon took the individual wins in the USATF-New England cross country championships on Sunday, November 12.
Held a day following the IC4A collegiate races where the ground underfoot was soft but not slick, conditions had changed significantly. Over an inch of rain fell overnight and accompanied by high winds, the course was a far greater challenge. Ankle deep puddles and over-the-shoe depth stretches of mud, coupled with the continued winds gave the pre race edge to strength runners. A judgement call on altering the course around a barely upright tree paid off, as the tree came crashing down just before the end of the men's race.
Leading the national caliber field to the first mile of the women's race were Kate Fonshell, Sinead Delahunty, and Amy Rudolph. The leaders and the rest of the tightly bunched field were continually on the lookout for the best footing, alternately striding around or through the good sized puddle. Fonshell and Delahunty had moved slightly ahead of Rudolph by mile 2. Emerging from the Wilderness in the third lap, Fonshell had gained a few strides and held that margin up and down Bear Cage Hill. Down the homestretch, both with Fonshell, number 10 in the US at both 1500 and 5000, holding on for the win in 20:22. Providence grads Delahunty (New Balance) and Rudolph (Reebok) were the only others under 21:00. New Balance, with seven of the top 12, were the easy winners and New England champions over Reebok Enclave.
The men's race was one of attrition as a slew of Reebok Enclavers made up the bulk of the frontrunners. By midway, the field began to string out some, with Mahon, Gary Giffen of New Balance Coastal a few steps up on Seamus McElligott, Rob Donker and Brian Clas. At 8K, none of the top 5 were out of contention. In the final 400 around the field, Mahon put three seconds on Giffen for the win. McElligott, winner at the Mayor's Cup 8K here last month, scored a well earned third in this longer race, just a second over Donker. The Enclave took half of the top 14 spots for the overall team win, with newcomers (founded in August) New Balance Coastal TC, based in Rhode Island and coached by Andy Ronan, the runnerup and New England champion.
Top finishers
Open Men's 10K:
1.Terrence Mahon, Reebok Enclave 29:55
2.Gary Giffen, New Balance Coastal/Brighton MA 29:58 $75
3.Seamus McElligott, Fleet Feet/Rose Valley PA 30:04
4.Rob Donker, Unattached/Ontario Canada, 30:05
5.Brian Clas, Reebok Enclave 30:12
6.Tim Gannon, Boston RC/Brighton MA 30:22 $50
7.Ray Pugsley, Reebok Enclave 30:33
8.Andre Williams, Reebok Enclave 30:37
9.Peter Weilenman, Reebok Enclave 30:39
10.Jeff Campbell, New Balance/ NC 30:45
11.Tom Nohilly, Reebok Enclave 30:48
12.Paul Vandergrift, adidas/Williamsburg VA 30:52
13.Scott Jenkins, Unatt/Madison WI 30:55
14.Ron Harris, Reebok Enclave 30:56
15.Chris Magill, New Balance Coastal/RI 30:58
...
18.Bryan Spoonire, 31:14
19.Keith Brantley, 31:20
TEAMS
1.Reebok Enclave, 2:31:56; 2.New Balance Coastal, 2:37:04 ($175);
3.Boston Running Club,2:37:31 ($100); 4.Central Mass Striders,
2:37:59 ($75); 5.New Balance, 2:38:55
Men Age 40+ (8K) : 1.Bob O'Hara, Jamaica Plain, 26:49;
2.Geary Daniels, Dudley MA, 26:58; 3.Bob Hodge, Clinton, 27:02
Men Age 50: 1.Doug MacGregor, Lebanon NH, 29:32
Open Women's 6K
1.Kate Fonshell, Asics TC/Ardmore PA 20:22
2.Sinead Delahunty', New Balance/BrightonMA 20:29 $75
3.Amy Rudolph, Reebok/Providence RI 20:49 $50
4.Deanna Arnill', Etobicoke Str/VillanovaPA 21:02
5.Molly McClimon, New Balance/Bangor ME 21:06
6.Kristen Seabury, New Balance/Charlestown 21:07
7.Fran ten Bensel, New Balance/Brighton 21:19
8.Mary ANne Harring, New Balance/Billerica 21:22
9.Stacy Barkstrom, New Balance/Rochester NY 21:27
10.Sarah Schwald, Nike Boston/Brighton 21:28
11.Joline Staheli, Reebok Enclave 21:32
12.Christine Stief', New Balance/BrightonMA 21:35
13.Michelle McBride, Reebok Enclave 21:36
14.Carole Zajac, Nike Boston/Lexington MA 21:38
15.Cynthia Girard, Reebok/Red Bank NJ 21:39
TEAMS
1.New Balance, 1:45:23 ($175); 2.Reebok Enclave,
1:48:09; 3.Central Mass Striders, 1:51:13 ($100);
4.Boston Running Club, 1:51:23 ($75); 5.Liberty AC, 1:57:03
Women Age 40+: 1.Rita Cecil, Bedford NH, 23:06;
2.Sheila Purves, Boston, 23:35; 3.Deb Bullerjahn, Wellesley, 24:05
Women Age 50+: 1.Carrie Parsi, Lexington, 26:44.
