Fast times, fun time, and two US Age group bests
The first USATF-NE Road Mile Championships presented By Platinum Physical Therapy on July 21 in Hopkinton MA may have been outside some runners comfort zone as a race distance, but over 400 members enjoyed a morning of fast and fun times. Managed by USATF-NE LDR chairs Amanda Watters and Michael McGrane, the event featured Men's and Women's Open and Masters races for USATF-NE members only - numbers requred two men's masters races - as well as community and youth races. The out-and-back course was about 50% shaded on a sunny race morning and allowed teammates and friends to watch and cheer. The slightly downhill first quarter mile produced fast openng splits, but also made for a challenging final split. Women's race winner Maddy Berkson (Battle Road TC) fresh of racing in the US Olympic Trials 1500 meters, hit 67 at the first clock split and maintained the lead to the finish.in 4:55. The men's race had a wall of runners at 60 seconds, but that pack broke to 4 at the return 3/4 mile. Strongest to the tape was Matthew Lecky (Old Goat TC) who held of collegian Caleb Gartner (Falmouth RC) by a second (4:12-4:13). Battle Road teammates Jess Minty and Jenn Lutz went a close 1-2 in the women's masters race and Mario Vazquez (Hartbeat New England) again the topped the men's 40+ lists Team scoring combined open and masters race finishers times for a team total, and multiple places were decided by under 5 seconds.. The women's masters race produced a pair of pending US records. Jan Holmquist (Whirlaway) and Barbara Belanger (NE 65+ RC) easily bettered the current W80 and W85 US bests. (Photo below)
Initial plans are to have the mile alternate with the marathon as a Road Race Championship Grand Prix race, but the freshman success may add the road mile to the summer schedule permanently. Results Enjoy the photos from Joe Viger Photography and Ted Tyler