Great day for racing at Great Bear Run 5km Championship

May 19, 2024
A wet day didn't dampen performances at The Great Bear Run in Needham MA, the USATF-NE 5km Championship race.  Leading the racers through Needham were Eric Linden (B.A.A./Boston MA) and Molly Huddle (Saucony/Providence RI).  Temperatures in the 50s with mist and a light rain made for favorable racing weather.

A dozen men broke from the 853 finisher field before the first mile (a 4:34 split) and that dwindled to three - Linden, 2024 GP series leader Ryan Eiler, and Paul Aste - in the final mile.  Edging ahead before the home stretch, Linden broke the tape at14:26, 2 seconds ahead of teammate Eiler and 7 up on Aste (RITC). 

The women's medalists were more separated as Huddle's 15:57 put her a half minute ahead of Melissa Lodge (RITC, 16:31) and a minute-plus up on Rachel Hyland (BAA, 17:03)  Both winners recorded course records for the event which began in 1991.

Jan Holmquist (Whirlaway RT) took advantage of her home town course and a new age division - turning 80 the day before the race - to break the US W80-84 record with a time of 24:08; she had bettered the 75-79 10km record 3 weeks earlier at the James Joyce Ramble/USA Maseters Championship.    Larry Cole (NE 65+ RC) finished his second championshp as a 90 year old. 
Race Results  

The B.A.A. was out in full force, winning the men's Open division as well as M40, W40, and M50 age groups. while Battle Road TC women continued to dominate the Women's Open scoring. With fast fields and a short distance, team placings were determined by as little as one  second. 

The 2024 Grand Prix series continues at the new 1 Mile Road Championships on Sunday, July 21, in Hopkinton MA.