And So It Begins, and It was…. Great! USATF NE Kicks Off the 2023 XC Grand Prix
The records fell as the USATF NE harriers flew across the fields at the Old Goat Track Club XC Classic, the first race of the 2023 Cross Country Grand Prix. With near perfect weather, a record 181 registrants, pumped and prepped, took to the course at Waters Farm in Sutton MA on Sunday, August 27. Of course, everyone PR’ed at the inaugural Classic, but that’s besides the point. It was great to be out there again, Individual or Team, as a part of the community and competition that is cross country.
Both overall winners led wire to wire, each gapping the field on the 4 loop route. For the Women, teen sensation and rising 9th grader Abby Flagg busted it open early. Prior to the race Abby noted she was not sure what time to expect, but was “going to go for it”, and indeed she did. Punching out a 20:12 for the 5k, she earned the respect and admiration of the sizable crowd. A tight group followed, led by 2nd placer Nora Blodgett from GBTC and Catherine Barnwell in 3rd for Tracksmith. First 40+ across the line was HFC’s Christina Campbell, in 5th. Greater Lowell’s Kara Haas crushed a 21:27 to take 50+ honors, and Mary Cass of Liberty, fresh off the 10M race on Saturday, grabbed the 60+ crown with a well earned 22:44. There were quite a few USATF Weekend Doublers in the field on Sunday; that’s a commitment to the craft!
On the Men’s side, Colin Cernik of Tracksmith claimed gold with a powerful 16:05, bopping teammate Jackson Kelley by 26 seconds. Youssef Zerbouaa of Battle Road rounded out the podium for the Open Men. Grabbing the ring for the 40+ crowd was HFC Strider T.J. Unger, who went full Uncle Nutzy by racing the 5k NER Pub Series event in Weymouth at 9 am, then breaking a slew of road laws to get to Sutton by 11 am. Commitment, perhaps insanity. CMS’s Steve Brightman claimed the 50+ crown with a sprightly 18:42, while teammate Warren Angell ran a heavenly 20:50 for 60+ honors. HFC’s Bob Ruell ripped up the course, finishing in 22:58 as the top 70+ finisher.
In the Age Graded results for athletes aged 40 and over, the Women’s field was led by the shockingly-not-exhausted doubler Mary Cass, grading out at 82.36. As Rob Reiner’s real-life mother said in When Harry Met Sally, “I’ll have what she’s having”. Fellow Liberty ace Amanda King garnered second with an 80.52, and Kara Haas scored a 78.56. For the dudes, Greater Lowell’s John Barbour was the top OG AG at 81.13, followed closely by Steve Brightman at 80.69. Rounding out the Top 3, capping a busy day, was T.J. Unger at 79.68. Gotta mention Jason Coukouros of HFC, who finished 4th AG with a 79.67. With results like that across the crowd, we may need to go to a third decimal point for scoring. It’s going to be a tight race all season for Age Grade glory in the USATF NE XC Grand Prix.
All races count in the ultra competitive Team standings of the XC GP, so urge your teammates to join in the fun and take home some pride and GP Series cash. The Team results are preliminary as published on the timer’s web site, https://live.harrierrace.com/meets/26984. Full USATF NE XC Grand Prix results will be published this week after intense scrutinization. Whatever the results, it was a fine day of running at Waters Farm, with many thanks due to our race directors at the Old Goat Track Club. Only 5 years in existence, this group of largely WPI grads has grown in leaps and bounds, flexing with their first hosted race. Kudos to the OG OG for also holding a splendid post-race gathering, replete with delicious and gratis pizza, at the appropriately named Milbury Old Time Inn. Time to bear down, clean the spikes, and register for our second race in the 2023 XC Grand Prix,, the Greater Boston Track Club XC Invitational, https://www.gbtc.org/event/GBTC%20XC%20Invitational%202023 on Sunday September 10 at Great Brook Farm in Carlisle MA. Stride On!