April 26 2017. DEDHAM
MA. The weather looks perfect for this coming Sunday’s USATF Masters 10K
Championship, held under the auspices of the James Joyce Ramble. Low 60’s and
overcast skies provide a perfect environment for fast running. Over 200 speedy Masters
runners will be seeking to run their fastest over the rolling course that winds
its way around the quaint streets of Dedham, Massachusetts. With online registration open the
rest of the day, and on-site registration on Saturday afternoon at the Endicott
Estate, a few more top Masters Runners may join the field.
Two current 10K American Age Division record holders, Houston’s Sabra Harvey, 67, and native Bay Stater, Jan Holmquist, 72, are entered. Both set their records, 42:37 and
45:19 respectively, on this very course two years ago. Earlier this spring, Edie Stevenson ran a half minute faster
than the current American 10 Mile record for Women 65-69 with a 1:13:23 at the
Cherry Blossom Ten Miler. Tom Bernhard,
the favorite in the Men’s 65-69 division, broke the American 5K record at
Syracuse last year with a time of 17:31.
The red singlets of Atlanta getting off to a fast start in the 2016 USATF Masters 10K Championship at the James Joyce Ramble in Dedham Massachusetts |
As far as who should be first across the finish line, watch
the battle between the top talent from around the country and local luminaries.
Of those currently entered, the favorites to win the Men’s race overall include
David Angell, from the Blue Ridge
Mountains of Virginia, fresh off a victory at the USATF 8K Championship in
Virginia Beach in 25:24. Atlanta’s Kristian
Blaich and New York’s Jake Stookey
who took 3rd and 4th in that race are entered as well.
Kristian Blaich (left) and Kent Lemme (right) battling for Masters 10K supremacy in 2015. |
Blaich won this race in 2015 in 33:22, but was injured last year. New York’s Mark Andrews and the BAA’s Peter Hammer battled all the way last
year with Andrews eking out a 2 second victory. Neither is entered yet but Greg Putnam, of the Central Mass Striders.
who was just off their pace in 3rd with a 33:08, should be a factor.
Marisa Sutera Srange enjoyed a 1 second victory in the Women's Masters 10K Championship last year and is back to defend her title. |
New York’s Marisa Sutera Strange
returns to defend her 2016 title, which she took with a 36:47. Cassandra Henkiel, the 2015 8K Masters Champion
in 29:17, from Texas, will try to make things interesting.
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