January - December 2014
A pair of Vermonters went long for national championship bronze medals over the weekend at the USA 50km road championship at Caumsett Park on Long Island.
The Boston University Last Chance Meet on Sunday served multiple purposes; college qualifier, season's last indoor competition, national masters meet tune-up - and record attempt site. In the 1000 meters, the three finishers all earned a significant record for their resume.
USATF-NE Past President and current board member Stephen Viegas (Reading MA/Mass Velocity) was named new Massachusetts State Rep for the Road Runners Club of America (RRCA).
With the USATAF New England Indoor Championships complete, winners in the 2014 USATF-NE Indoor Track and Field Grand Prix are now finalized. This year's series included both a track and a field winner for men and women.
The open track and field season came to a peak at the USATF New England Indoor Track & Field Championship held at Harvard University's Gordon Track on Sunday. A mix of open, collegiate, scholastic, and masters competitors enjoyed one of the country's top facilities and spirited competition.
Mary Saxer (NYAC/Boston MA) won her first National Indoor title at the USA Indoor Track and Field Championships over the weekend. Saxer, who trains at MIT, cleared 15'5.5", defeating defending champ Jenn Suhr and qualified for the World Indoor Championships to be held in Poland in March.
In a pair of scholastic development events hosted by USATF New England, four repeat winners took the 2014 gold medals. The competitions were held as part of the USATF-NE February Youth meet at the Reggie Lewis Center.
Gabriel Arcaro and Elizabeth Tevnan repeated as champions in the fourth annual Mass. Scholastic Weight Throw, conducted with the sponsorship of Twilight Throwers. Arcaro (Burlington) threw 62'7.25", resetting his own meet record, and Tevnan (NDA Hingham) won the girls throw in a personal best 42'8". Total participation was the largest ever, with competitors from eight different communities. The meet followed several clinics and competitions as part of a USATF grant to develop the event.
The brakeman in Monday's USA Olympic bronze medal Two Man Bobsled is Steve Langton. A native of Melrose, Langton competed in track at both St.John's Prep in Danvers MA and at Northeastern University, graduating in 2005.
B.A.A. harrier Sam Alexander (Waterford CT) and West Townsend MA native Corey Conner (North Middlesex HS / U.Maine alum) were selected to compete for Team USA at the North American/Central American/Caribbean (NACAC) Championship meet on February 22.