New Bedford Team Preview: B.A.A is The Team to Beat
As the first signs of Spring roll into New England, some of the best running clubs in the area will descend upon New Bedford, Massachusetts, for the first event in the 2019 USATF New England Road Grand Prix. What's in store in New Bedford besides clam chowder and fish sandwiches? Why, the famous 43rd New Bedford Half Marathon, of course! This half marathon is known for its strong winds, hilly course, and storied history. This race serves a tune up roughly one month before the king of all road races, the Boston Marathon. The New Bedford Half Marathon played host to the half marathon championships last year, and will do so again this year. However, there has been a slight rule change this year. Womens Open teams will need five scorers instead of three, putting them on par with the men’s rules. With this backdrop in mind, over 25 clubs will take to the streets to try and claim the team title, and USATF New England would like to preview the team competition. Using an entry list as of the past Wednesday, here are our predictions for team placement for Sunday.
Men’s Open
1st: Boston Athletic Association:
Key Runners: Eric Ashe
Alex Fitzgerald
Conor Reck
Brad Mish
Phillip Royer, and many more.
Notes: Everything's coming up blue and yellow in the men’s team race this year at New Bedford. With an incredibly talented and deep team entered, the BAA will run away with an easy team victory on Sunday. But let's see which team is in the best position to go chasing some unicorns.
2nd: Greater Boston Track Club:
Key Runners: Manuel Gonzalez
Jerry Lanning
Dave Metzger
Robert Lamarre, Shaun Dever, Eric Mendoza, Erik Hinrichsen
Notes: GBTC has an incredibly deep field for this year’s race. Manny Gonzalez cruised to a 1:08 in last year’s race. New Bedford newcomer, Jerry Lanning, boasts an impressive-and equally frustrating- 2:30:01 marathon PR. With racing veterans Dave Metzger, Shaun Dever, and Eric Mendoza back for more, GBTC will be a formidable force this year.
3rd: Central Mass Striders:
Key Runners: Dan Vassalo
Scott Mindel
Scott Leslie
Notes: CMS easily boasts the strongest 1-2-3 punch in Vassalo, Mindel, and Leslie of any of our USATF New England Clubs. However, the unknowns for their 4th and 5th positions cause concern in their overall team place. For this reason, GBTC etches out second in the projections, but expect this to be close.
4th: Western Massachusetts:
Key Runners: Jonathan Joyce
Dennis Roche
Tim Gill
Notes: Joyce, Roche, and Gill are some of the strongest runners in New England, and if this was scored by teams of three, I would argue they are a force to be reckoned with. However, the half marathon requires a team of 5 to score, and the uncertainty and the relative unknowns in their 4th and 5th positions put them behind CMS and GBTC.
5th: Tracksmith Hare AC
Key Runners: Michael Carlone
Sam Fazioli
Notes: Michael Carlone will be gunning for a victory, and will stay with the leaders as long as possible. New Tracksmith transfer, Sam Fazioli (formerly of Whirlaway), will also be near the top of the individual leaderboards.
6+: HFC Striders, Whirlaway, Somerville Road Runners, Greater Lowell Road Runners, Millenium, Heartbreakers, Ben Running Club, Cambridge Running Club, Greater New Bedford Track Club.
Women’s Open:
1st: Boston Athletic Association
Key Runners: Allie Hackett
Michaela Hackett
Rachel Coogan
Hannah Rowe, Lauren Philbrook
Notes: This appears to be a racing team dream team of sorts for the B.A.A. With 5 racing team members toeing the line, it's sure to be a great race for the Unicorns. Olympic Trials qualifier Allie Hackett and her twin sister, Michaela, will lead their team to victory. Don't count out veterans Lauren Philbrook or Rachel Coogan. Or Hannah Rowe...jeez, this team is stacked!
2nd: Greater Boston Track Club
Key Runners: Semehar Tesfaye
Shannon Trant
Jenna Castro
Caroline Turner, Erin Lohrenz
Notes: Front runner, Semehar Tesfaye, has certainly made a splash in the New England running scene in recent months. The USATF New England 10 Mile and 5K Champion looks to add the half marathon crown to her resume. Supported by seasoned marathon runners Shannon Trant, Caroline Turner, and Jenna Castro, Greater Boston will be the fastest women’s team not named the Boston Athletic Association.
3rd: Whirlaway Racing Team:
Key Runners: Jaclyn Solimine
Kassandra Marin
Notes: Defending USATFNE Champions 's, Jaclyn Solimine and Kassandra Marin will bring the heat in the half marathon. However, similar to other teams mentioned previously, the 3rd-5th positions would need to step up if Whirlaway wishes to overtake GBTC for the second spot.
4: HFC Striders
Key Runners: Lily Corcoran
Notes: The HFC Striders will be fielding a team of 5 for this year’s race. HFC always brings a group of fighters, and I expect nothing less this year.
5+ Heartbreakers, Liberty AC, GLRR, BEN Running Club, Wampanoag RR.
Masters Teams:
Men:
1st Boston Athletic Association
Key Runners: David Bedoya
Andy Gardiner
2nd: HFC Striders
Key Runners: TJ Unger
Jason Cakourus
3rd: Central Mass Striders
4th: Whirlaway Racing Team.
Honorable Mention: New England 65+ Runner’s Club. The NE 65+ squad will be the only team to finish a 70+ Team. I would happy if my knees allow me to even jog when I am 70, let alone take on one of the most difficult half marathons in New England.
Women:
Key Runners: Karolyn Bowley
Kaela O’Neil
Notes: Karolyn Bowley and Kaela O’Neil are some of the best master’s runners in the country, and will use this race to prove it.
2nd: Whirlaway Racing Team
Key Runners: Christin Doneski
Amy Bernard
Notes: The two returning age group champions will look to bring the competition in the master’s age group category.
Please email any comments, questions to tmazza@usatfne.org