USATF-NE cross country hammers at Highland Park

Cross Country Championships run at Highland Park
November 17, 2024
Highland Park, Attleboro MA

Battle Road Track Club swept the team wins at the USATF New England Cross Country championships at Highland Park in Attleboro MA on Sunday.  Pre-race temperatures in the 50's, light wind, and a parched course hinted at fast times coming in the three races contested over all-grass multiple-loop courses.

The Masters Men opened the action on the 4 loop 8km route.  An early pack whittled down each lap and with a lap to go, Joseph Reynolds (Valor TC Portland) had put a gap on Justin Freeman (Dirigo RC), extending the margin to 23 seconds at the finish. Tracksmith Boston Hares bested the B.A.A  in the M40+ division 45-52, while Central Mass Striders won both the M50+ and M60+ divisions and Greater Lowell was greatest in the 70+ scoring.

Women's Open and Masters race winner Maddy Berkson clocked 21:02 for the 6km course and led five Battle Road runners in the top 9 places to score a 26-44 win over Tracksmith.  Ninth place overall, Jennifer Lutz earned first 40+ honors and ensured the Battle Road W40+ team win ahead of the B.A.A. 7 to 19. Greater Lowell (W50+) and Liberty AC (W60+) completed the team winners.

The route for the Open Men covered four of the basic loops (measuring out at approximately 9820 meters) but individual gold came down to the final steps of the race. Colin Cernik (Tracksmith) had a lead going into the last of 4 loops, but coming into the 200 meter long home straight, Attleboro's own Tim Gill (Battle Road) held a slight lead. Cernik came back only in the final stride of the all-out sprint  to claim victory as both competitors recording a course record time of 30:43.  Gill's Battle Road TC squad won the team tussle, totaling 29 points ahead of Tracksmith's 60 points. 

Top Masters Age Graded performacnes were recorded by Jan Holmquist (Whirlaway, W80) - 91.39, and Peter Hammer (B.A.A.) - 89.48.

It was only the second time in the past 30 years the championship was not held at Boston's Franklin Park, but reactions to conducting the championship on the Mark Coogan Course at Highland Park were all positive, the multi-loop course being fair and spectator friendly. A combined total of 312 finishers crossed the finish line during the day 

RESULTS - https://live.harrierrace.com/meets/42040
(Photos- Mark Mathis)