Masters Athletes Accelerate at the Grand Blue Mile!

May 8, 2026 Welcome to my blog! I report on Masters Elite LDR. In addition to this current story previewing the 2026 USATF Masters 10K Championships, I cover most USATF Masters LDR Championships., I report on middle distance events at some USATF Masters Indoor and Outdoor Championships. I reported on the one World Cross Country Championship that included Masters competition, Australia 2022. I regularly cover the Non-Stadia Road Race Events at World Masters Athletics Championships. I cover other road races from time to time. See the sidebar for easy navigation through the archives. [If you are using a mobile phone, please scroll to the bottom and choose 'View web version' to access the sidebar.] While there, please note the coffee cup logo. Clicking on that provides a way for you to express your appreciation for the work that goes into these articles. Shout out here to recent supporters, Matt B-C, John H, Lorilynn B, Bryan H,, Brendan, cush, Gary G, Jan F, Aaron T-L, Ken Y, Peter W, Dan K, Suzanne L B, Michael M, Ed B, Dana H, John B and Bill A. May you have good speed in 2026! and beyond!

It was a gorgeous, warm spring evening in Des Moines IA last Tuesday, April 21st. With temperatures soaring into the low 80’s, athletes had no problem warming up for a fast dash around the streets of Des Moines. The Drake Relays and its Grand Blue Mile had orchestrated the perfect setting for terrific competition at the USATF Masters 1 Mile Championships!

Notes: 1. In the writeups below, where I have access to splits, I am assuming the first and third splits are at 0.25 and 0.75, not the 0.2 and 0.7 that was also listed for the splits. The results with splits disappeared after the first day or two so I do not have that information most of the age division races. 2. The official results show times to the tenth of a second, consistent with the requirement instituted last year to bring USATF procedures for the Road Mile in line with WA. But, the gun time listed in the Overall results ends in 0.38 for the Men and 0.58 for the Women. In the Age Division results, the Women receive the extra 0.38 and the Men the 0.58. That is not credible; I am guessing the times are really only rounded to the next full second. The extra two decimal places were apparently assigned by the Timer's software, unrelated to the specific time for a specific runner. In what I report below, I round the 0.38 to 0.4 and the 0.58 to 0.6 to report times to the tenth of a second.

OVERALL RACES Times are gun times.

WOMEN Jessica Ponds Howard County Striders and Dana Hayden Unaffiliated took the field out in 73 seconds. Susie Duke RunablazeIowa, the Masters winner from the Open Mile last year, was a second behind, with Lauren Hendrix Rockr Racing on her heels. Duke’s familiarity with the course was an asset. By the halfway mark, Hayden had assumed the lead at 2:35 with Ponds and Duke close together on Hayden's heels. Hendrix was now twenty meters back but with a sizable gap back to the rest of the field. Duke made her move on the final turn. As they approached the 3/4 Mile mark, Duke enjoyed over twenty meters of daylight between her and the two chasers, who were now neck and neck. Duke pulled away to finish off the win in 5:24.6.

Susie Duke Breaks the Tape as she wins the 2026 USATF Masters 1 Mile Championship, Hosted by the Grand Blue Mile in Des Moines IA Photo: Complimentary from Grand Blue Mile

 Ponds moved ahead of Hayden with a quarter mile to go, but Hayden surged in the last hundred meters to take second in 5:34.5, two seconds ahead of Ponds. Hendrix claimed fourth in 5:44.6, well ahead of the rest of the field. It was a well-executed victory for Duke.

Susie Duke 5:24.6    Dana Hayden 5:34.6     Jessica Ponds 5:36.6

MEN Justin Fiske Unaffiliated MI had the fastest recent road mile time coming in, a 4:22.7 at the Firecracker Mile in Michigan. Brett Anderson Unaffiliated OH finished in the top six in the 2024 Mile Championship in Indy. Nicholas Kipruto Unaffiliated CO, while running for US Army, has been a consistent top performer at National Masters Cross Country championships; has also run well at the Army Ten Miler in recent years. Fiske led the field out but was soon joined by Kipruto. A large pack formed a few meters back; chief among the chase pack were Anderson and Jay Stephenson Unaffiliated GA. Fiske, with Kipruto on his left shoulder, led them to the final turn. Coming out of the turn, Fiske accelerated and created a gap to Kipruto. By the 3/4-mile mark, Fiske had over 20 meters on Kipruto and the chase pack was closing on Kipruto. Fiske finished strong. Anderson and Stephenson kicked. Kipruto was fading but held it to the line. Fiske enjoyed the win at 4:29. 

 

Justin Fiske heading to the Finish Line and the Masters win at the 2026 USATF Masters 1 Mile Championship, Hosted by the Grand Blue Mile in Des Moines IA Photo: Complimentary from Grand Blue Mile 

Anderson could not catch Fiske but passed Kipruto to claim second! Anderson’s 4:31 gave him a 2 second edge over Kipruto. Stephenson finished fourth at 4:36.

Justin Fiske 4:28.4    Brett Anderson 4:30.4    Nicholas Kipruto 4:32.4

AGE GRADING Times are net (chip) times.

The Age Grading score, or Performance Level Percentage PLP, indicates how fast a runner has run relative to the best time a runner of that age should be able to run. It is derived from data on World bests for each individual year of age. If a runner should hit that ‘World Best’ time they have hit the 100% mark. Anything slower receives a lower score. The Championships award medals to the top three PLP’s among Men and the top three among Women. MEN There was a lot of excitement surrounding the M80 matchup between Masters Hall of Famer, Gary Patton So Cal TC and Gary Ostwald Boulder Road Runners. For the last three years, Ostwald has won almost every M75 championship he has entered. Even though Patton was able to best the M80 American Record for the Indoor Mile earlier this year, Ostwald was able to defeat Patton in the M80 Mile at the USATF Masters Indoor Championships in February. As it turned out, Patton was able to get the victory this time by a couple of strides. But they were given the same net (chip) time. Hence, they earned the same PLP.  At age 80, their 6:27.0 earned a 97.28. 

Gary Patton Takes the M80 Crown from Gary Ostwald. He also gains the top Age Grading Medal and Prize. At the 2026 USATF Masters 1 Mile Championship, Hosted by the Grand Blue Mile in Des Moines IA Photo: Complimentary from Grand Blue Mile

Apparently, the tie was broken by the clear gap at the finish line in favor of Patton. [Note: A careful post-race review of the timer's records for start time and finish time by the Masters LDR Committee liaison, confirmed that Patton's net time was faster than Ostwald's by 0.17 seconds, enough to justify a PLP difference of several hundredths of a percentage point.]  Kevin Ostenberg, 65, also enjoyed an excellent outing in M65. His winning time of 5:11 gave him a 96.62 score. Jack Pottle Boulder Road Runners, 71, and David Matherne Atlanta Track Club, 61, were the best of the rest. Pottle’s 5:41 and Matherne’s 5:13, earned PLP’s of 93.61 and 92.61, respectively. 

Gary Patton 80 6:27.0 97.28%    Gary Ostwald 80 6:27.0 97.28     Kevin Ostenberg  65 5:11 96.62

WOMEN This contest lacked the close competition at the top. Surprisingly, the top three PLP’s all came out of the W65 division. Nancy Simmons Impala Racing 66, was the clear winner. Her W65 winning time of 6:08 scored a 92.51 PLP. 

Nancy Simmons wins her W65 Division with Room to Spare. She earns the Top Age Grade as well! At the 2026 USATF Masters 1 Mile Championship, Hosted by the Grand Blue Mile in Des Moines IA Photo: Complimentary from Grand Blue Mile
 

Lesley Hinz Atlanta TC, 68, finished third to Simmons in 6:29, but finished second overall in Age Grading at 89.86. Julie Hayden Greater Philadelphia TC, 66, finished second in the Group, at 6:28, scoring the Age Grading bronze medal at 87.74. They were followed by Deb Torneden Unaffiliated 65, fourth in W65 at 6:35 and fourth in Age Grading at 85.07. Linda Ostenberg, 62, won her age division at 6:25.89 for an 83.86.

Nancy Simmons 66 6:08.0 92.51%.    Lesley Hinz 68 6:29.0 89.86.    Julie Hayden 66 6:28.0 87.74

AGE DIVISION CHAMPIONSHIPS All times are gun times.

WOMEN 40-44 Ponds and Hendrix were 3-4 overall and 1-2 in this division. 

Jessica Ponds wins the Women 40-44 Division at the 2026 USATF Masters 1 Mile Championship, Hosted by the Grand Blue Mile in Des Moines IA Photo: Complimentary from Grand Blue Mile

Hendrix enjoys her second consecutive Road Mike Championships silver medal in W40. There were no other entrants in W40.

Jessica Ponds 5:36.6     Lauren Hendrix 5:44.6

45-49 Duke and D Hayden finished 1-2 overall and went 1-2 in this division with plenty of time to spare. Brooke Novak Atlanta TC claimed the 45-49 bronze medal in 6:43.6.

Susie Duke 5:24.6 Dana Hayden 5:34.6.    Brooke Novak 6:43.6

50-54 This is sometimes one of the most competitive divisions. At other times, not many athletes can break away from responsibilities to get to the Championship. This was one of those times. Laura Scholz Atlanta TC, who finished second in W45 at the 4 Mile Championships in Peoria last year, claimed the W50 gold medal unopposed.

Laura Scholz wins the Women 50-54 Division at the 2026 USATF Masters 1 Mile Championship, Hosted by the Grand Blue Mile in Des Moines IA Photo: Complimentary from Grand Blue Mile
 

Laura Scholz 7:32.6

55-59 Amy McMahon Checkers AC was originally expected to lead her team in the Mile. But she did not make it to the Starting Line. In her absence, Julie King led the team. She finished first with a half minute to spare, in 6:36.6.

Julie King closes out her Women 55-59 Division Win at the 2026 USATF Masters 1 Mile Championship, Hosted by the Grand Blue Mile in Des Moines IA Photo: Complimentary from Grand Blue Mile

Brenda White made it a 1-2 finish for Checkers with her 7:07.6. White had to get past Katherine Serrano Atlanta TC, who finished third in 7:20.6. Cindy Crane Genesee Valley Harriers was not far off, just six seconds back from Serrano in fourth.

Julie King 6:36.6     Brenda White 7:07.6     Katherine Serrano 7:20.6

60-64 Linda Ostenberg Aggie Running Club, in what I believe was her first Masters LDR Championship, dominated this division. She left Michelle Allen Atlanta TC and Victoria Bok Liberty AC over fifty meters behind as she took the win in 6:26.6. 

Linda Ostenberg wins the Women 60-64 Division at the 2026 USATF Masters 1 Mile Championship, Hosted by the Grand Blue Mile in Des Moines IA Photo: Complimentary from Grand Blue Mile
 

Allen and Bok battled, but Allen was able to power away to claim the silver medal in 6:46.6, with four seconds to spare. 

Linda Ostenberg 6:26.6     Michelle Allen 6:46.6     Virginia Bok 6:50.6

65-69 As noted above, the athletes finishing 1-2-3-4 in this one division, finished top four in Age Grading across all age divisions! Simons enjoyed a huge victory; she won by over seventy meters! Hayden, Hinz, and Torneden were locked in a tight battled for much of the race. 

Julie Hayden finishes Second in the Women 65-69 Division  at the 2026 USATF Masters 1 Mile Championship, Hosted by the Grand Blue Mile in Des Moines IA Photo: Complimentary from Grand Blue Mile

With a quarter mile to go, no more than two seconds separated the three. 

Lesley Hinz lands on the Women 65-69 Podium and Earns the Silve Age Grade Medal Overall at the 2026 USATF Masters 1 Mile Championship, Hosted by the Grand Blue Mile in Des Moines IA Photo: Complimentary from Grand Blue Mile

Hayden pulled away to gain Silver by a single second in 6:28.6. Torneden was 25 meters behind Hinz, finishing fourth in 6:36.6.

Nancy Simmons 6:08.6     Julie Hayden 6:28.6     Lesley Hinz 6:29.6

70-74 Tracey Bernett Unaffiliated, who won the W70 Mile at the USATF Masters Indoor Championships this February at 7:41, entered as the favorite. Bernett did not disappoint, romping to victory with well over 200 meters to spare, in 7:24.6! 

Tracey Bernett wins the Women 70-74 Division Championship at the 2026 USATF Masters 1 Mile Championship, Hosted by the Grand Blue Mile in Des Moines IA Photo: Complimentary from Grand Blue Mile

Terry Ozell Atlanta TC, who finished third W70 in the 1500M at the 2025 Indoor Championships, claimed second here in 9:03.6. Cindy Lucking Atlanta TC, who has had some recent challenges was, nonetheless, able to stay close, helping her team by finishing third in 9:57.6. Helene Myers finished fourth in 12:26.7.

Tracey Bernett  7:24.6     Terry Ozell 9:03.6     Cindy Lucking 9:57.6

75-79 Sabra Harvey Team Red Lizard did not compete after all. Red Lizard is typically the top tem in the 70+ division. But they struggle to find three runners willing to travel for the championships. My guess is that Red Lizard entered Harvey when it looked like they would have three for a complete team. When their third runner could not make it after all, Red Lizard pulled the plug and Harvey had no reason to make the trip to Des Moines. In her absence, Barbara Sauer Checkers AC became the favorite. She has competed in several national road race championships. Always a podium threat, Sauer won the W75 5K Championship at the 2024 event in Atlanta, running 32:05. This year, in February, she turned in a 34:29 5k at the Firestone 5K. She apparently has fitness close to her 2024 level. Neither Andrea McCarter Atlanta TC nor Betty Anderson Unaffiliated has run recent races suggesting they could break 40 minutes by much in a 5K. Sauer's ability and training came through; she won by a hundred meters in 9:58.6.

Barbara Sauer wins the Women 75-79 Division Championship at the 2026 USATF Masters 1 Mile Championship, Hosted by the Grand Blue Mile in Des Moines IA Photo: Complimentary from Grand Blue Mile

Anderson claimed the silver medal in 10:35.6; Carter was over 50 seconds behind Anderson, earning the bronze medal.

Barbara Sauer 9:58.6     Betty Anderson 10:35.6     Andrea McCarter 11:28.6

80-84 Catherine Radle Atlanta TC was the favorite for the Individual W80 win. But Radle, and her teammate, Susan Hartman, were there to extend the trail-blazing streak of competing as a W80+ team! 

Catherine Radle wins the Women 80-84 Division at the2026 USATF Masters 1 Mile Championship, Hosted by the Grand Blue Mile in Des Moines IA Photo: Complimentary from Grand Blue Mile

Radle and Hartman went 1-2 in this division, running 11:26.6 and 18:53.6.

Catherine Radle 11:26.6     Susan Hartman 18:53.6

85-89 Joyce Hodges-Hite Atlanta TC continued her winning ways. Unopposed, Hodges-Hite claimed W85 Gold with her 18:13.6. 

Joyce Hodges-Hite wraps up another Women85-89 Victory, this time at the 2026 USATF Masters 1 Mile Championship, Hosted by the Grand Blue Mile in Des Moines IA Photo: Complimentary from Grand Blue Mile

As well as winning W85, Hodges-Hite joined Radle and Hartman on Atlanta's W80+ team.

Joyce Hodges-Hite 18:13.6

MEN 40-44 Fiske, Anderson and Kipruto went 1-2-3 in the overall Masters race. All are from this division. 

Justin Fiske breaks the Tape for the overall Win and Men 40-44 at the 2026 USATF Masters 1 Mile Championship, Hosted by the Grand Blue Mile in Des Moines IA Photo: Complimentary from Grand Blue Mile

They take the top three spots here as well.

Justin Fiske 4:28.4    Brett Anderson 4:30.4    Nicholas Kipruto 4:32.4

45-49 Jay Stephenson Unaffiliated, who was in contention for the Overall win, took the M45 Gold Medal, with 40 meters to spare, in 4:36.4. Adrian Massie HFC Striders had finished 2nd in the 2025 New England Road Mile Championships with a 4:42 effort. He nearly matched that in Des Moines. His 4:43.4 prevented David Thompson Unaffiliated from closing on him in the final meters. 

Adrian Massie finished Top Five Overall and Gained the Silver Medal in the Men 45-49 Division at the 2026 USATF Masters 1 Mile Championship, Hosted by the Grand Blue Mile in Des Moines IA Photo: Complimentary from Grand Blue Mile

Thompson had a couple of seconds on teammates, Jonathan Lee Garden State TC and Chuck Schneekloth Garden State with a quarter mile to go. Thompson's kick was strong enough to hold that lead to the finish.

Jay Stephenson 4:36.4     Adrian Massie 4:43.4     David Thompson 4:49.38

50-54 Lee Klarich Unaffiliated won the 2024 M45 Road Mile championship in Danville and took the M50 title last fall at the Fifth Avenue Mile in 4:53. This March he clocked 4:46 at the Santa Cruz Mile. Klarich was the class of the field and delivered a nifty 4:49.4 to win the division and finish seventh overall. He left the rest of the field over fifty meters behind him by the time he crossed the finish line! 

Lee Klarich Claims Gold in theMen50-54 Division at the 2026 USATF Masters 1 Mile Championship, Hosted by the Grand Blue Mile in Des Moines IA Photo: Complimentary from Grand Blue Mile

It was much tighter for the rest of the podium. Steve Bell Atlanta TC, Ryan Meyer Tree City TC, Vic Morales Fitness Sport Distance Project, and Rob Semelroth Unaffiliated vying for the last two podium spots. Morales and Semelroth took it out hard, hitting the quarter mile in 70 seconds; Meyer was two seconds behind at the quarter-mile mark and Bell a further second back. The next half mile saw Semelroth pull away from Morales and open up a 25-meter lead. Meyer pulled almost even with Morales. Bell, two seconds further back, was still within striking distance. In the last quarter mile, Meyer and Bell were able to kick past Morales but could not catch Semelroth. It was Semelroth enjoying the M50 silver medal at 5:00.4, with Meyer third just three seconds back and Bell just off the podium in 5:06.4. Morales finished fifth another three seconds back.  But none were close to Klarich!

Lee Klarich 4:49.4     Rob Semelroth 5:00.4     Ryan Meyer 5:03.4

55-59 It was tighter in this division. James Ciliberto Checkers AC, and his teammate, John McMahon Checkers were going up against Jason Newport Unaffiliated and Brad Slavens Atlanta. Ciliberto finished 7th M50 in 5:26.1 last year in Indianapolis. Aging up to M55 should help his competitiveness. Last year, McMahon ran 5:05.5 to finish 4th M55 in Indy. Newport's 5:05.7 gave him the 5th place M50 finish. Slavens has no recent Mile result; he finished sixth M55 in Peoria at the 4 Mile Championships last year. McMahon and Newport posted a 76 second first quarter mile, on pace for a low 5-minute mile effort. Ciliberto was on their heels with Slavens hitting a more moderate 79. Over the next half mile, McMahon grew a ten-meter gap on Newport; Newport had a similar gap on Slavens, now in third, with Ciliberto one second back. This year, Newport had the stronger finish; he nabbed the win in 5:17.4, with McMahon three seconds behind in second place. 

Jason Newport wins the Men55-59 Championship at the 2026 USATF Masters 1 Mile Championship, Hosted by the Grand Blue Mile in Des Moines IA Photo: Complimentary from Grand Blue Mile

Ciliberto kicked past Slavens to take third, thirty meters behind Mcmahon. Slavens was fourth in 5:30.4. It must have been a satisfying win for Newport, his first Masters national age division championship, as far as I can recall.

Jason Newport 5:17.4     John McMahon 5:20.4     James Ciliberto 5:26.4

60-64 This division is always a donnybrook! Henry Hofman Ann Arbor TC; David Matherne Atlanta TC; teammates Joseph Mora Genesee Valleyt Harriers and Michael Nier GVH; and teammates John Van Danacker Twin Cities TC and Zamek Twin Cities were the main contenders. Hofman's 5:19.9 left him fifth M60 last year in his first appearance at a Masters LDR national championship. Matherne was a bit more of a dark horse; he had no recent Mile times nor did he have any recent national championship history. He does have a strong 10K time; running 38:25 at Peachtree is no joke! But it was in 2024. Mora's 5:13.4 netted him third place at Indy in 2023. More recently, Mora clocked 24:26 to take 5th M60 at the 2025 4-Mile Championships in Peoria. Last year in Indy, Nier finished 6th M60 with his 5:22. Zamek finished 2nd last year at Indy with his 5:14. In July of last year, Zamek and Van Danacker went 1-2 in the Hopkins Raspberry Mile, the USATF-MN Championships, in 5:16 and 5:22. Zamek was still rehabbing and was just 'not letting his teammates down by running.' But competing hard is a part of Zamek's DNA. When the gun sounds, Zamek's instinct is to go to the front! Guess who was leading the M60 field at the quarter mile? It was Zamek in 75! Matherne was on his heels. Mora, Nier, and Van Danacker were together at 77. Hofman was floating another second back, ready to spring. Matherne asserted himself after the halfway point, building a 40-meter lead on the field. Hofman had passed the others and was leading the chase at 4:01. Nier, Van Danacker and Zamek were together just a second behind. Mora was twenty meters behind that trio. Matherne finished the job in style, winning n 5:14.4.

David Matherne Sprints to the Finish and First Place in the Men 60-64 Division at the 2026 USATF Masters 1 Mile Championship, Hosted by the Grand Blue Mile in Des Moines IA Photo: Complimentary from Grand Blue Mile

Hofman finished strong; he did not close on Matherne but held everyone else back, finishing second in 5:20.4. Nier was third at 5:21.4. Van Danacker was fourth in 5:23.4, with Mora 5th at 5:26.4, and Zamek sixth, another second back. Lester Dragstedt started out more moderately but finished wel to claim seventh in 5:29.4. It was a picture-perfect outing for Matherne!

David Matherne 5:14.4     Henry Hofman 5:20.4     Mike Nier 5:21.4

65-69 Kevin Ostenberg Aggie Running Club entered as the strong favorite. If Rick Lee Greater Philadelphia TC had not beat himself up on Monday the 20th at the Boston Marathon, he would, no doubt, have given Ostenberg more of a fight. Ostenberg's 5:11 gave him first M65 at the Fifth Avenue Mile last September. He won M65 at the Carlsbad 5000 this spring in 17:25. Lee won the M60 division of the Fifth Avenue Mile last September in 5:01. Lee, primarily a marathoner and ultra marathoner, put more focus on the marathon. No one else would have considered running the Mile championships the day after running the Boston Marathon. Ostenberg shot off at the gun, clocking 73 seconds for the first quarter mile. Lee was just two seconds back at the point. Lee did not have the pop in his legs to stay even after that. Oste9nberg hit the 3/4ths of a mile mark in 3:49 with an 80-meter lead on Lee. Lee's attention, by then, had turned to maintaining second place. He knew there were capable rivals who were likely not far behind him. In the meantime, Ostenberg closed off his tour in style, clocking 5:12.4, good enough to finish top twenty overall and win M65 by a wide margin! 

Kevin Ostenberg Enjoys a Dominant Win in Men 65-69 and Earns the Bronze Medal Overall in Age Grading at the 2026 USATF Masters 1 Mile Championship, Hosted by the Grand Blue Mile in Des Moines IA Photo: Complimentary from Grand Blue Mile

Lee's rivals included Adam Feerst Boulder Road Runners who had run 5:08 in the Superior Mile at high altitude in July of last year. Doug Keller Twin Cities RC clocked 5:33 at Indy last year. Feerst was just 15 meters behind Lee at the 3/4ths of a mile mark. Keller was further back but within striking distance6 if Lee faded at all. Of course, Lee did not relax. He found he had enough left to lift his turnover and extend his lead over Feerst by two seconds! Lee was second in 5:26.4, with Feerst five seconds back in third. Keller finished fourth in 5:40.4. A few seconds back in 4th and 5th were Tim Conheady Greater Philadelphia TC and Paul Brown Twin Cities RC, separated by a single second! Ostenberg enjoyed a very dominant win but there was real compet1ition right down the line!

Kevin Ostenberg 5:12.4     Rick Lee 5:26.4     Adam Feerst 5:31.4

70-74 The main contenders were George Henehan Unaffiliated, Jack Pottle Boulder Road Runners, and John Stolz Unaffiliated. Henehan finished 2nd M70 at the 2026 Masters Indoor Championships this winter in 6:06. Last November he won M70 at the Fifth Avenue Mile in 5:59. Pottle ran 5:49 at the Pearl Street Mile in Boulder CO at altitude. Stolz ran 5:46.2 last year to finish 2nd M70 at Indy. Henehan led the M70 crew out, hitting 0the quarter mile mark in 79 seconds. Stolz was ten meters back with Pottle ten meters further back, biding his time. Ove3r the next half mile, Pottle passed Stolz but was still ten meters back from Henahan. Pottle had the stronger f0inish, cruising past Henehan and holding the lead to the finish, winning in 5:43.4. 

Jack Pottle Strides to the Fnish Line and the Gold medal in Men 70-74 at the 2026 USATF Masters 1 Mile Championship, Hosted by the Grand Blue Mile in Des Moines IA Photo: Complimentary from Grand Blue Mile

Henehan was second at 5:46.4, with Stolz a good twenty meters back in third. Fifteen seconds later, teammates Jim Linn Shore AC and Kevin Dollard Shore AC crossed the finish line within four seconds of one another in fourth and fifth. Pottle had a neat win; it goes nicely with his M70 win at the 4 Mile Championships last June.

75-79 The two main rivals were Doug Bell Boulder RR, and Don Morrison Greater Philadelphia TC. Bell finished 4th in M70 last year in Indianapolis with his 6:24.4. Morrison ran 6:53.1 at the Harrisburg PA Mile last July. But that year Morrison lost the first part of the year to a skiing0 accident t1hat punctured a rib. Then in May, just when he was g0etting back into training, he was hospitalized with a bout of Lyme Disease. By October he was able to win M75 in Atlanta with his 23:22. Jerry Learned Atlanta TC is a terrific comept1itor who is always a threat. He finished 2nd M75 last year in Indy with a 6:38.7. He ren6ews his rivalry with Tim Wigger So Cal TC. At the Masters Indoor Championships this past February, Wigger came off the last turn in the 1 Mile Run to pass Learned, only to have Learned surge back and nip him at the line. Learned clocked 6:54.43, with Wigger 0.04 seconds off in 2nd! Morrison led the M75 field out, covering the first quarter mile in 90 seconds. Bell was right on his heels! It was nearly thirty meters back to Learned, with Wigger one second back. In the next1 half mile, Bell passed Morrison, hitting the 3/4th of a mile mark in 4:53, with Morrison a good five meters back. Learned hoped to leave nothing to chance and last-second heroics this time. He enjoyed a twenty-meter lead on Wigger with a quarter mile to go! Morrison was able to recover, passing Bell and holding on for a three-second margin of victory in 6:36.4. 

Don Morrison Sprints to Victory in the Men 75-79 Division at the 2026 USATF Masters 1 Mile Championship, Hosted by the Grand Blue Mile in Des Moines IA Photo: Complimentary from Grand Blue Mile

Bell was not pressed for second place. Learned was able to hold off Wigger to secure the bronze medal, with three seconds to spare, in 6:48.4.

Don Morrison 6:36.4     Doug Bell 6:39.4     Jerry Learned 6:48.4  

80-84 As noted in the Age Grading section, this division had the tightest race and also the fastest, by age grading standards. See that description for details of their recent competitive history. Ostwald led Patton to the quarter mile by two seconds in 1:34. Patton continued to bide his time, allowing the two second margin through the 3/4ths of a mile point, with Ostwald at 04:53 and Patton at 4:55. 

Gary Patton Gets to the Finish Line Ahead of Gary Ostwald. They go 1-2 in the Men 80-84 Division and 1-2 in Overall Age Grading at the 2026 USATF Masters 1 Mile Championship, Hosted by the Grand Blue Mile in Des Moines IA Photo: Complimentary from Grand Blue Mile

But as they approached the finish line, Patton made a decisive move that carried him to a two-second victory in 6:28.4. 

Gary Patton 6:28.4     Gary Ostwald 6:30.4

85-89 Roland Cormier Shore AC defended the title he won last year in Indianapolis. He sped to victory unopposed in 9:57.4. 

Roland Cormier 9:57.4

Sid Davis, 91, was the Oldest Competitor and the Oldest Age Division Winner at the at the 2026 USATF Masters 1 Mile Championship, Hosted by the Grand Blue Mile in Des Moines IA Photo: Complimentary from Grand Blue Mile

90-94 Sid Davis Atlanta TC was the oldest competitor and the oldest age division winner. The other entrant1 did not make it to the starting line. Davis won in 19:41.4.

Sid Davis 19:41.4

TEAM CHAMPIONSHIPS All times are gun times. Scoring is by adding up the times of the first three runners across the finish line for each time; low score wins.

MEN 40+ The Garden State Track Club brought the only Men's 40+ team to Des Moines. The threesome of Jonathan Lee, Chuck Schneekloth, and James Sullivan ran a tight pack, finishing within a second of each other.

Garden State J Lee, C Schneekloth, J Sullivan 14:34 4:51.3 average

Pack Running Exemplified! Garden State Track Club's M40+ -J Lee-C Schneekloth-J Sullivan at the at the 2026 USATF Masters 1 Mile Championship, Hosted by the Grand Blue Mile in Des Moines IA Photo: Complimentary from Grand Blue Mile

50+ Checkers AC had good speed and a fairly tight pack. Atlanta Track Club enjoyed a temporary lead when Steve Bell finished in 5:07. But Checkers brought all three of their runners, Joe Silliman, John McMahon, and James Ciliberto, across the line before another Atlanta runner finished. Atlanta's Brad Slavens finished just four seconds after Ciliberto in 5:31. That seemed to leave Atlanta in good shape; they had two scoring runners in before their two other rivals had any finishers. But the Boulder Road Runners had three runners in Slavens's slipstream, with Adam Feerst at 5:32 and both Paxton Bennett and DeWayne Gill at 5:33! To hold onto second place, Atlanta's third runner must score before 5:59 showed on the clock. Michael Strickland got it done, speeding across the line in 5:52. That gave Atlanta a total time of 16:24, and a seven second margin on Boulder. Twin Cities RC and Shore AC finished 4th and 5th with teams primarily of 60+ runners who were dropping down in age.

Checkers AC J Silliman, J McMahon, J Ciliberto 15:57 5:19 average

Atlanta TC S Bell, B Slavens, M Strickland [C Hawkins] 16:24 5:28 average

Boulder Road Runners A Feerst, P Bennett, D Gill 16:31 5:30.3 average

60+ Once again, Atlanta scored first with David Matherne at 5:15. But they fell again to a team with a tighter pack. Twin Cities put their top two, John Van Danacker and Mark Zamek across the line in 5:24 and 5:28. Of course, when Atlanta's Lester Dragstedt sped across the finish line just two seconds behind Zamek, Atlanta still enjoyed a seven second edge. Eleven seconds later, TCRC's Doug Keller stopped the clock at 5:41 and started the seven second clock on Atlanta's #3. If no one from Atlanta's M60+ team finished before 5:49, TCRC would enjoy the win. That time came and went. TCRC had the win, with plenty to spare, in 16:29. But would Atlanta get the team siler medals? The Genesee Valley Harriers also landed two runners before the clock struck 5:30: Mike Nier at 5:22 and Joe Mora at 5:27. That meant Atlanta enjoyed a four second edge. Basically, whoever scored a runner next would claim the silver medals. 

M60 Team Competition at its Best-Henry Hofman gets first score for Ann Arbor while Mike Nier pushes to get GVH's First Score at the at the 2026 USATF Masters 1 Mile Championship, Hosted by the Grand Blue Mile in Des Moines IA Photo: Complimentary from Grand Blue Mile

In this case it was Atlanta. Casey Hannan slammed the door at 6:23. Eleven seconds later, Bill Beyerbach, running down with the 60-year-olds could not quite get there. But Beyerbach's solid run, at age 70, assured GVH of the bronze medals. The Ann Arbor Track Club H Hofman, L Sak, W Freeman finished fourth at 18:26.

Twin Cities RC J Van Danacker, M Zamek, D Keller, [J Larranaga] 16:29 5:29.7 average

Atlanta TC D Matherne, L Dragstedt, M Strickland [C Hawkins] 17:02 5:40.7 average

Genesee Valley Harriers M Nier, J Mora, B Beyerbach 17:17 5:45.3 average

70+ Jack Pottle got Boulder their first score at 5:44. But then it was all Shore AC as Jim Linn, Kevin Dollard and Harold Leddy finished between 6:07 and 6:21. Leddy's time was not quite as close to Dollard's as one might have expected, given their recent history, but it was close enough. Boulder battled fiercely. Doug Chesnut and Gary Ostwald finished in 6:29 and 6:31. Shore had the win with just two seconds to spare, 18:32 to 18:34. Atlanta's Scott Lucking was in the thick of things with his 6:25 but Atlanta did not have the horses to contend for the win. Jerry Learned and Allen Joyce made certain that Atlanta secured the bronze medals with a total of 21:04.

Shore AC J Linn, K Dollard, H Leddy {R Cormier] 18:32 6:10.7 average

Boulder RR J Pottle, D Chesnut, G Ostald [D Bell] 18:34 6:11.3 average

Atlanta TC S Lucking, J Learned, A Joyce [P Taylor, S Davis] 21:04 7:01.3 average

WOMEN

There was one complete team entered in each team ten-year age division. In each case, the main object of the team was to obtain the 100 Team Grand Prix points that come with a Championship win.

40+ Lesley Hinz, Brooke Novak, and Michelle Allen provided the firepower for Atlanta Their times totaled 19:56.

Atlanta TC L Hinz, B Novak, M Allen [K Serrano, L Scholz] 19:56 6:38.7 average

50+ Julie King, Brenda White, and Barbara Sauer got the job done for Checkers AC. Their 23:37 netted first place W50+.

Checkers AC J King, B White, B Sauer 23:37 7:52.3 average

60+ Liberty AC brought a strong team, not knowing for sure who their opposition might be. Victoria Bok, Lauren Leslie, and Mary McNulty posted a 20:58 total for the win.

Liberty AC V Bok, L Leslie, M McNulty 20:58 6:59.3 average

70+ Terry Ozell, Cindy Lucking, and Andrea McCarter obtained the win with their 30:25 total. Atlanta enjoyed the win and the GP points that come with it. 

 Atlanta TC T Ozell, C Lucking, A McCarter 30:25 10:08.3 average

80+ Atlanta's W80+ team, Catherine Radle, Joyce Hodges-Hite, and Susan Hartman keeps rolling! So far, Atlanta is the only club that is fielding a Women's 80+ team. Their 48:26 earned the gold medal.

Atlanta TC  C Radle, J Hodges-Hite, S Hartman 48:26 16:08.7 average

That concludes my reporting on the 2026 USATF Masters Road Mile Championships! Next championship for the blog is the Masters 10 Km Championships Held April 29 in Dedham MA at the James Joyce Ramble.

The next Championship Race on the Masters National Grand Prix circuit is the Masters 4 Mile Championships in Peoria, IL, hosted by the Steamboat Classic on June 6th.

Sources: USATF Events website and the Masters National Grand Prix webpage, my archives, Athlinks, Strava, Facebook, World Masters Athletics, and relevant race websites. Kudos to the Grand Blue Mile for providing complimentary photos of the athletes.

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Masters Athletes Flock to Dedham for the 2026 USATF Masters 10 Km Championships

 April 25, 2026 Welcome to my blog! I report on Masters Elite LDR. In addition to this current story previewing the 2026 USATF Masters 10K Championships, I cover most USATF Masters LDR Championships., I report on middle distance events at some USATF Masters Indoor and Outdoor Championships. I reported on the one World Cross Country Championship that included Masters competition, Australia 2022. I regularly cover the Non-Stadia Road Race Events at World Masters Athletics Championships. I cover other road races from time to time. See the sidebar for easy navigation through the archives. [If you are using a mobile phone, please scroll to the bottom and choose 'View web version' to access the sidebar.] While there, please note the coffee cup logo. Clicking on that provides a way for you to express your appreciation for the work that goes into these articles. Shout out here to recent supporters, Matt B-C, John H, Lorilynn B, Bryan H,, Brendan, cush, Gary G, Jan F, Aaron T-L, Ken Y, Peter W, Dan K, Suzanne L B, Michael M, Ed B, Dana H, John B and Bill A. May you have good speed in 2026! 

This Sunday, April 26, 2026, the James Joyce Ramble will, once again, host the USATF Masters 10 Km Championships. A spring fixture in the small New England town of Dedham, outside of Boston, athletes know the competition will be outstanding on this rolling hills course. Strong runners from around the country make the trip and runners from New England are just as intent on showing their heels to the interlopers! It makes for great excitement and incredible camaraderie after the race!

The weather forecast for Sunday at 11 AM, when the race starts, is outstanding for running. Low 50's with partly sunny skies and moderate winds is nearly ideal. The course is not fast but is a fair challenge. The initial mile rolls downhill and runners return up it at the end. There are two other significant hills. But American Records have been set on this course. Although the saying is that 'Records are made to be Broken', one Men's record and three Women's records are still on the record books.

OVERALL RACES WOMEN Jennifer Lutz and Jessica Minty, from W40; Brett Ely and Diana Hayden from W45; Perry Shoemaker, from W50, and Fiona Bayly, from W55, should contend for the win. Lutz ran 36:57 here last year to finish third overall in a loaded field. Her 57:59 at the Boston Tune Up 15K earlier this month shows that Lutz is in good form for the effort. Minty ran 37:17 at the North Shore 10K last September. Minty did not run in the Tune Up 15K this year. In 2025, she ran 58:04. those two are closely matched. Ely ran 37:27 to finish fifth at this race in 2022. In 2025, she clocked 59:24 in the Tune Up 15K. Hayden has excelled in Cross Country and at the shorter road distances. Her most recent achievement was this past Tuesday evening at the Grand Blue Mile where they held the 2026 USATF Masters Road Mile Championships. Running even with the winner until the final hundred meters, Hayden finished 2nd, ahead of all others, in 5:35. If she can manage to hang with the leaders, Hayden can be dangerous. Shoemaker last competed here in 2024, finishing fifth overall in 37:33. She came up from the DC area this year for two USATF-NE races. She clocked 58:30 in the Tune Up 15K and ran 1:24:30 at the New Bedford Half Marathon. Bayly remains a force to be reckoned with. She has not competed here since 2023. That year Bayly finished third overall in 38:10. In spring, 2025, Bayly won her division at the Mastercard NY Mini 10K in 39:26. This spring, Bayly has already run a 19:00 5K in NY City, her home base. I will put Lutz, Minty and Peacock in as likely favorites and let Bayly, Ely, and Hayden battle their way onto the podium on Sunday if they can.

Podium Favorites in Alphabetical Order:

Jennifer Lutz     Jessica Minty     Perry Shoemaker

Sources: USATF Events website and the Masters National Grand Prix webpage, my archives, Athlinks, Strava, Facebook, World Masters Athletics, and relevant race websites.

Thanks for the visit! Cheers to all!         

To express your appreciation for this resource, please click on the coffee cup logo in the sidebar. If you are on a mobile device, please scroll down and click on 'View web version'.  Shout out here to recent supporters: Matt B-C, John H, Lorilynn B, Bryan H, Brendan, cush, Gary G, Jan F, Aaron T-L, Ken Y, Peter W, Dan K, Suzanne L B, Michael M, Ed B, Dana H, John B, and Bill A. May you have good speed in 2026! 

Start of Women's Race in 2025 Photo Credit: Boston Running Scene

MEN The top two returning athletes finished 2-3 last year behind former World Mountain Running Champion, Joseph Gray. Mario Vazquez finished second in 31:07, followed by Justin Freeman in 32:32. They will go for the win this year. Vazquez ran a 15:26 5K this March and a 1:08:19 at the Ion Bank Cheshire Half Marathon earlier this month. Freeman turned in a 54:03 at the Tune Up 15K.They will definitely have competition. Shaun Donegan, Ryan Irwin and Nicholas Kipruto, from M40, will be among the favorites. David Angell and Eric Blake, from M45, have run well here in the recent past and can never be overlooked. Donegan ran a swift 50:05 at the Stockade-a-thon 15K last fall. Should it come down to a closing kick, Donegan ran 4:29 at a Memorial  Day Mile last year. Irwin matches Donegan with a 50:04 at the Tune Up this April. Last June, Irwin clocked 33:47 at the BAA 10K. Kipruto has a different story. He has excelled at national championships in Cross Country and regularly turns in strong performances at the Army Ten Mile, including a 52:49 this past October. That is age grade equivalent to a 32:14 10K. We found out Tuesday evening in Des Moines that he is a serious miler as well. He ran even with the eventual winner for most of the race, finishing second in the Masters Championship Road Mile with a 4:34, He has no recent 10K road results that I can find. But the combination of strong ten-mile races and mile speed makes Kipruto dangerous. Angell, a winner here in 2018, finished sixth here last year in 33:02. After an up and down year of rehab, Angell appears to be back on track. He ran 26:27 at the Shamrock 8K in Virginia Beach, age grade equivalent to a 33:15 10K. That was the same course where, in 2018, he won one of his several overall Masters Championships. Blake finished fourth overall here in 2024 with a 33:02. Last fall he ran 24:57 at the Manch/ester Road  Race, oddly placed at 4.7 Miles. That translates to a 33:12 10K. I will go with Vazquez, Freeman and =Donegan as favorites and leave it to the others to chase them down on he roads and %replace them on the podium.

Podium Favorites in Alphabetical Order:

Shaun Donegan     Justin Freeman     Mario Vazquez

Start of 2025 Men's Race Photo Credit: Boston Running Scene

AGE DIVISIONS MEN 40-44  Donegan, Irwin and Kipruto, discussed above for the Overall competition, are favored for M40 as well.

Podium Favorites in Alphabetical Order:

Shaun Donegan     Ryan Irwin     Nicholas Kipruto

45-49 Vazquez, Freeman, Blake, and Angell, all included in the Overall competition discussed above, are favorites for M45. Because Angell has fewer races under his belt than usual at this time, I will put Blake among the top three favorites and see if Angell can run his way onto the podium. Vazquez, who also has a 12K national title from 2024, is the favorite. After that it is closer. In the past, Freeman has been able to stay close to Vazquez, and ahead of all others. But his comparatively slow time in the Tune Up 15K raises some questions about his current fitness. He will answer those questions on Sunday.

Podium Favorites in Alphabetical Order:

Eric Blake     Justin Freeman   Mario Vazquez

50-54 Steve Bell, Gareth Buckley, Joshua Harter, Brian Sydow, and Jordan Wolff should enjoy quite a battle for the podium; they seem to be closely matched. Bell has some low 17-minute 5K’s on fast courses and runs closer to 18 minutes at some others. A 17:30 5k is roughly equivalent to a 36:03 10K. Buckley ran 38:20 at the Holyoke St Pat’s 10k and 36:58 at the fast Lone Gull 10K last September. Harter finished seventh in the division here last year in 36:43. A month later he ran a 37:04 10K. Sydow finished tenth last year in 38:24. Last summer, Wolff ran 36:41 at the NYRR Queens 10K in NYC. Last March, Wolff cruised the Scarsdale 15K in 59:20, roughly equivalent to a 38:52. Harter had two recent 10k’s close to 37, with the faster being at the Ramble. That is enough for me to say he is probably the favorite. I would add Wolff, for his 36:41. Equivalencies down from 15 K seem to be less glowing for a 10k than the equivalencies up from a 5K. Although I will add Bell to the list of podium favorites, Buckley and Sydow are likely to be close on his heels.

Podium Favorites in Alphabetical Order:

Steve Bell Joshua Harter Jordan Wolff

55-59 Mark Andrews and Gregory Putnam appear to be the two strongest candidates for the win. Andrews who took the Overall title here some years ago, finished third in M50 last year at 34:36. Moving up to M55 this year, he appears to be the favorite. In November, Andrews ran a 35:53 10K at the Wegman’s Grocery Run. Putnam finished second M55 here last year in 35:27. After a year with some challenges, his 55:32 at the Tune Up in early April suggests he has close to that fitness again. It is age grade equivalent to a 35:30 10K. Shane Anthony finished third in M55 last year with a 35:57. Later in the fall, Anthony ran a swift 16:55 at the Oktoberfest 5k. Joseph Shairs won this division here in 2024 with a 36:07. His 55:32 at the early April Tune Up 15K is roughly equivalent to a 36:20. He appears ready to roll. Todd Callaghan finished fifth here last year in 36:52. Last September Callaghan ran a 37:11 10K at the North Shore Runfest. Brett Stroeffler could also factor in. He ran 37:24 at the Simsbury 10K. Andy Wooding ran 37:05 at the Race with Grace 10K last November. He turned in a 30:39 at the Running of the Green 5 Miler this March. Equivalent to a 38:18 10K, it shows his fitness was coming around. Andrews looks to be the favorite, with Putnam likely second, with Anthony and Shairs battling for the final podium slot. As a courtesy to a recent champion, I will add Shairs to the favorites and let Anthony battle to replace him in the bronze medal position.

Podium Favorites in Alphabetical Order:

Mark Andrews Gregory Putnam. Joseph Shairs

Early Stage of M2025 Masters Championship-Higher Age Division Competitors Photo Credit: Boston Running Scene

60-64 The Greater Springfield Harriers showed up on the entry list late in the process. Their three ‘Big Guns, Scott Grandfield, Mark Hixson, and Nat Larson are all entered. In 2023 and 2024, Larson broke American M60 Records from the 1 Mile to the Half Marathon. His 34:25 on this course in 2023 is still the record. 2025 was an up and down year for Larson. A winter skiing accident kept him out of races, including this one, in the first half of the year. He also missed races over this most recent winter. His 37:25 at the Holyoke St Pat’s race in March meant his fitness was developing. If his training has continued to go well since then, Larson will contend for the win. Hixson finished second M60 here last year in 37:00. Grandfield was third in 37:14. He ran 37:30 at the Cohasset Rotary 10K a couple of weeks ago. Those three appear to be a step faster than the competition. Lester Dragstedt finished fifth last year in 38:12. His 23:36 M60 bronze medal performance at the Masters 4 Mile championships in Peoria last year equates roughly to a 37:34. He is not far off and could race his way onto the podium.

Podium Favorites in Alphabetical Order

Scott Grandfield. Mark Hixson. Nat Larson

65-69 There are several runners who might make the podium. Tony Bates, Kevin Glenn, Peter LaGoy, Nick Persampieri, and Larry Sak are at the top of the list. Bates finished fifth in this division here last year with his 41:14. His 26:42 this February at the Super Sunday 4 Miler equates roughly to a 42:11. Glenn finished sixth in M65 here last year in 41:15. Glenn ran 1:29:46 at the Ion Bank Cheshire Half Marathon. La Goy is, I understand, a member of the club that has six decades of sub-three-hour marathons. He ran 43:52 at the North Shore 10K last September. Persampieri was two minutes faster in the same race at 41:22. Sak ran 40:17 at this race in 2023 when he finished 10th M60. Bates finished a minute ahead of him that year. This year he ran 42:10 at the Martian Invasion of Races 10K.n paper it looks like Bates, Glenn, and Persampieri duking it over the top three spots, with La Goy and Sak pressing them.

Podium Favorites in Alphabetical Order

Tony Bates Kevin Glenn. Nick Persampieri

70-74 John Barbour returns to defend his M70 title. His 40:13 took top honors last year. He ran 28:07 at the Super Sunday 4 Miler this February, equivalent to a 44:22 10K. His 1:05:29 at the Tune Up 15K in early April equates to a 42:54 10K. If his time on Sunday should be closer to 42, will that be fast enough for the win? Shore AC has three runners who will hope to outrun Barbour. But they could not do it last year. James Linn, Kevin Dollard, and Harold Leddy all finished under 44:00! Linn finished second behind Barbour in 41:56, with Dollard tenth M65 in 43:18; Leddy was 7th M70 at 43:52. That is a tight pack! But they were even tighter in Atlanta in the 5k championships last October at 21:13, 21:14, and 21:18. Can anyone else break up those three? Jack Pottle could do it! Boulder’s M70 team decided to compete at Des Moines in the Mile and skip Dedham. So Pottle is here on his own. Pottle finished third M70 in Dedham last year; his time was 42:27. Linn had beaten Pottle a couple of times prior to the Masters 4 Mile championships. But Pottle reversed the tables that day, winning in 26:38, a good half minute ahead of Linn. It could go either way. It may not have any implications for a 10k road race three months later, but Linn was off his best at Club Cross in Tallahassee, finishing behind Barbour, Dollard, Pottle and Leddy, in that order. I would keep Barbour the favorite for the win. After that it is trickier. I will add Linn and Pottle for podium favorites but Dollard and Leddy will have plenty to do with the actual outcome. Either or both could wind up on the podium.

Podium Favorites in Alphabetical Order:

John Barbour James Linn. Jack Pottle

75-79 Don Morrison just won the M75 Masters Mile with his 6:36.48 in Des Moines. He finished 2nd M75 here last year in 46:38. Doug Winn, who won last year, is not defending his title. Jerry Learned was fourth in 47:44, followed by Gordon MacFarland, fifth in 48:48, and Keith Yeates sixth in 49:11. Learned took care of business with his 23:38 Polar Bear 5k in Georgia in February. He was also in the Mile in Des Moines, finishing in 6:48.4, 13 seconds behind Morrison. They look like solid favorites for 1-2. After that it becomes a little tougher. MacFarland finished ahead of Yeates last year, but only by 23 seconds. MacFarland ran a 1:18:35 Tune Up this April, equivalent to 52:07. Yeates ran the Running of the Green 5 Miler in March, stopping the clock at 39:36, equivalent to a 49:24. Does that mean that Yeates can probably outrun MacFarland at 10K or is it just an anomaly? We will get some indication in Sunday. Glenn Stewart ran the Tune Up 15K and finished just thirteen seconds behind MacFarland. He could also factor in. For now, I will keep MacFarland ahead of Yeates on the list of potential favorites and let Yeates run his way onto the actual podium if he can.

Podium Favorites in Alphabetical Order:

Jerry Learned. Gordon MacFarland. Don Morrison

Gary Patton prefers the track to the roads and the Mile to any longer distance. But he will run a 10K road race in pursuit of a goal. He finished second M70 in 2016 when I won the division race. He beat me in every other race that year and won the Masters M70 Grand Prix. In 2022, he ran the Masters 10K championship. and finished second in 47:16. Fresh from a thrilling victory over Gary Ostwald at the Masters Mile earlier this week, Patton could win this time. In Tallahassee this January, Patton finished four minutes ahead of his main rivals for the win, Jack Frame and Przemyslaw ‘Przemek’ Nowicki. Cross country success over 8K does not necessarily translate to success over 10 km on roads. But it could. Nowicki apparently lost some training time after Club Cross to an international trip and subsequently illness. But he may have recovered completely. We shall see. Frame 28:07 5k in March and 1:40:17 at the garden Stare ten miler raise some questions. The 5k equates to a 56:55 10 K. The ten miler equates to a 1:00:36. But rather than pointing to any lack of fitness, it may just be that Frame agreed to run in the race for his team, strictly with the goal of running easy, finishing and providing a team score. The only other potential rival is me. I was underprepared for Tallahassee due to international travel and other minor complications so, not surprisingly, finished well back from Frame and Nowicki

Last year, at these championships. I finished a little over a minute behind Frame and a little under a minute behind Nowicki. My training has been okay but none of my races this spring suggests I can run much under 58 minutes. My overly optimistic Garmin watch, on the other hand, thinks I can break 54 minutes. We shall see.

Podium Favorites in Alphabetical Order:

Jack Frame. Przemyslaw Nowicki Gary Patton

85-89 George Gilder, the 2022 M80 winner of the 10K championship in 58:03, is favored for the win over Roland Cormier. Gilder ran two 10K's in well under 1:15. Cormier's best were over 1:20.

Podium Favorites in Alphabetical Order:

Roland Cormier George Gilder

WOMEN 40-44 Lutz and Minty were discussed in the Overall section. They are favorites for this division. Karen dos Santos seems likely to join them on the podium. She ran 38:42 at the Ridgewood Run 10K in May and 39:23 at the Montclair Run in New Jersey in June.

Podium Favorites in Alphabetical Order:

Jennifer Lutz Jessica Minty Karen dos Santos

45-49 Ely and Hayden were considered in the Overall section. They are among the favorites for this division. Abby Mahoney, who ran 41:33 at the Holyoke St Pat's day race in March should join them on the podium. Erin McVeigh, who finished fourth W45 here last year in 44:13 could push them. She ran 42:53 at the BAA 10K.

Podium Favorites in Alphabetical Order:

Brett Ely Dana Hayden Abby Mahoney

50-54 Shoemaker, picked as one of the favorites for the overall win is the strong favorite for the win here. Rebekah Kennedy ran 19:59 to win the W50 division at the 2024 Masters 5 km Championships in Atlanta. Last March, Kennedy ran 1:29:15 at the Project 13.1 Half Marathon, equivalent to a 40:51. Christie Nie ran 33:18 at the NYRR Team Challenge 5 Miler last July. That is equivalent roughly to a 41:28 10K. She followed that up in November with a 1:44:37 Half Marathon. Diana Bowseer finished sixth W50 last year with her 42:48. She ran 1:08:08 in the Tune Up 15K last month. Lee Peterson and Alysia Puma could also contend I will add Kennedy and Nie to the favorites list and let Bowser move up out on the course if she can.

Podium Favorites in Alphabetical Order:

Rebekah Kennedy Christie Nie Perry Shoemaker

Early stage of 2024 USATF Masters 10 Km Championships at the James Joyce Ramble Photo Credit: Michael Scott

55-59 Fiona Bayly, listed among the Overall favorites, is favored to win this division with minutess too spare. She has won age division national titles at distances from the Mile to the Half Marathon and has contended for the Overall Masters win at most. See the overall discussion above. Other potential favorites include: Alison Conway, Tina Dowling, and Pauline Entin. Conway ran 38:20 at the Bobby Doyle 5 Miler, equivalent roughly to a 47:44 10K. She ran 1:16:45 at the 2025 Tune Up 15K. Dowling ran 1:37:23 at the New Beford Half Marathon and 1:09:23 at the Tune Up 15K earlier this month. Entin ran in the Tune Up as well and was just a little slower at 1:10:58. Entin clocked 44:34 at the North Shore Fun Fest 10K last year. I will add Dowling and Entin to the list of podium favorites.

Podium Favorites in Alphabetical Order:

Fiona Bayly Tina Dowling Pauline Entin

60-64 Suzanne La Burt is the favorite for the division win. She won here last year in 40:12. This spring she has top results with her 1:07:42 at the Cherry Tree Ten Miler in Brooklyn in February and her 20:27 at the Washington Heights Salsa 5k in March. Mary Cass will also contend. she finished second here in W60 last year with her 43:34. This February she ran the Super Sunday 4 Miler in February, clocking 27:49, equivalent to a 43:55 10K. Jennifer Hegarty ran 44:34 in these championships in 2024, finishing sixth in W55. Victoria Bok finished fourth in W60 here last year in 47:20. At the Super Sunday 4 Miler in February of this year, Bok turned in a 30:25, roughly equivalent to a 48:00 10K.Pamela Ricker will also contend. She finished eighth W60 here last year in 48:21. It looks like Cass and Hegarty join La Burt on the podium favorites list.

Podium Favorites in Alphabetical Order:

Mary Cass Jennifer Hegarty Suzanne La Burt

65-69 Lesley Hinz, Julie Menoskey, Sally Reiley and Mireille Silva are the main contenders for the podium. Hinz's 23:15 at the 5K Championships in Alanta gained her fourth place in W65. Hinz finished second in W65 with a 6:29.7 Mile at Des Moines this past Tuesday evening. Menoskey finished second here last year in this division with a 47:49. She ran 30:50 at the Super Sunday 4 Miler this February. Reiley is a top marathoner, finishing second in W65 at Berlin and New York In 2022 she ran 46:15 to finish5 sixth in W60. Her 1:11:48 at the Tune Up 15K this month equates to a 46:40. Silva ran 48:05 to finish fourth in W65 here last year. Hinz does not train for the 10K. So I will leave her off the favorites list despite her many accomplishments at shorter distances.

Podium Favorites in Alphabetical Order:

Julie Menoskey Sally Reiley Mireille Silva

W70 Margery Bellisle, Susan Stirrat, and Margaret Taylor appear to be the top podium contenders. Bellisle ran 24:19 at the Barrelhouse 5K and a number of similar efforts in 2023 and 2024. Those equate roughly to 10K times around 51 minutes or so. Stirrat finished tenth in W65 last year with a 55:50 effort. She matched that in October at the Terry Roemer Paramus 10K with her 55:35. Taylor's 54:39 here last year earned her 8th place in W65. Both Stirrat and Taylor are moving up in their new division. Cynthia Lucking will also contend. She finished third in W70 last year with a 56:50. I will put Bellisle, Stirrat and Taylor on the Favorites list but I could easily see Lucking working her way onto the podium.

Podium Favorites in Alphabetical Order:

Margery Bellisle Susan Stirrat Margaret Taylor

75-79 Jessica Wheeler is the favorite to take the win. She finished second in W70 last year with her 55:31. She should be well ahead of everyone else in her new age division. She clocked 1:29:44 at the TuneUp 15K. She is ready to roll. Kathleen Allen won this division last year with a 1:03:06 effort. Irene Herman raced to 1:02:19 at the Alameda Hospital 10K in April of last year.

Podium Favorites in Alphabetical Order:

Kathleen Allen Irene Herman Jessica Wheeler

80-84 No Entries

85-89 Barbara Belanger is the sole entrant. She won W85 her in 2024 with a 1:21:41 effort.

Podium Favorite

Barbara Belanger

AGE GRADING Age Grading is a calculation that approximates a measure, the Performance Level Percentage PLP of how fast each athlete has run relative to the fastest possible time an athlete of their age and sex could have run. The higher the PLP the better, with 100% being the highest rating. Occasionally an outstanding time will register a PLP above 100. The data for the calculation is international so an American Record effort does not necessarily earn a 100%.

WOMEN Suzanne La Burt and Mary Cass finished 3rd and 5th here last year. Perry Shoemaker was fourth the year before; Fiona Bayly finished second in 2023. The podium this year should come from that group.

Podium Favorites in Alphabetical Order:

Fiona Bayly Suzanne La Burt Perry Shoemaker

Suzanne La Burt closing off her Winning Run in 2024 Photo Credit: Michael Scott

MEN Last year Mario Vazquez finished first, with Justin Freeman 5th, and John Barbour 6th. Nat Larson took top honors in 2023 and 2024, with Vazquez 6th and 2nd respectively in those two years. Freeman was 5th in both years. Mark Andrews was 6th in 2024, with Gregory Putnam 7th in 2023. I would add Eric Blake as an additional contender. Based on past results and current fitness, I would put Freeman, Larson and Vazquez on the list, recognizing that others could make the podium instead.

Podium Favorites in Alphabetical Order:

Justin Freeman Nat Larson Mario Vazquez

Mario Vazquez, Second Overall and in Age Grading at the 2024 USATF Masters 10 Km Championships Photo Credit: Michael Scott 

TEAM CHAMPIONSHIPS This year there was not enough time between national championships, just 5 and a half days, for me to research team outcomes. These are always somewhat unknown anyway until after the final team declarations are turned in at packet pickup this afternoon.

The next posting will be the recap of the Masters Road Mile in Des Moines on April 21st. The recap of this race may not be posted until after I return from a trip to Britain in mid-May. Next up for the athletes is the Masters 4 Mile Championships at the Steamboat Classic in Peoria on Saturday, June 6th.

Sources: USATF Events website and the Masters National Grand Prix webpage, my archives, Athlinks, Strava, Facebook, World Masters Athletics, and relevant race websites.

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