August 8, 2017. It is less than 3 weeks until the USATF Masters 1 Mile Road Championship in Flint Michigan. The Championship is one of the events in the Michigan Mile, part of the Crim Festival of Races. It determines the 2017 Masters Mile National Champions. A fraction of those who will eventually enter are already registered, but based on who is in so far [8/8/17 at 2 pm], there will be some dandy races on Friday evening, August 25th. Don’t miss out!
Defending 2016 National
Masters 1 Mile Champions:
Overall
John Gardiner—Rancho
Santa Margarita CA—4:31
Tammy Nowick --
Clarkston MI—5:26
Age-Grading
Jerome Vermeulen—Simi
Valley CA—91.75%
Marisa Sutera Strange
– Pleasant Valley NY – 91.27%
Age Division
40-44: Tammy Nowik
MI 5:26 John Gardiner CA 4:31
45-49: Erin Larusso MI 5:49 Jerome
Vermeulen CA 4:29
50-54: Marisa Sutera Strange NY 5:27 Nat
Larson MA 4:50
55-59: Mary Ellen Stornant MI 6:24 Joseph
Mora NY 5:06
60-64: Jill Miller-Robinett CA 6:40 Ken
Youngers GA 5:32
65-69: Donna Chan CA 7:15 Tom
Bernhard CA 5:18
70-74: Ruth Thelen MI 8:11 Gary
Patton IA 6:07
75-79: Ellen Nitz MI 9:46 Sandy
Scott FL 6:53
80-84: Jon Desenberg MI 10:17
If those winning times look
‘soft’ to you, keep in mind that the traditional Flint course is challenging
for a road mile. It is technical with 1 sweeping turn and five 90 degree turns,
plus switching from road to paved path through a grassy area and onto the road
again. And it has a serious uphill from about a half mile to 3/4ths of a mile.
There is a different course this year due to construction; the new course
appears to be faster, with one sharp turn and then a gentler turn to the
finishing straightaway. The major climb is no longer part of the course but, based on the course map, the race appears to finish uphill.
In the previews below, I pick
out the top contenders and render a prediction based on current entrants. It is
understood that when I do my final set of predictions once registration closes,
some of these may be dramatically different, either because of new entrants or
updated information about current fitness.
Overall.
John Gardiner has entered to defend his Overall championship, but
that will be a tall order. Kevin
Castille is also entered. Castille ran a 4:24 mile in Louisiana earlier
this year and a 14:30 5K. He has bettered the 15K age division record twice
this year, at the Gate River Run in March and at the Utica Boilermaker 3 weeks
ago in 46:10. If Castille runs, he will be a strong favorite. Who else will
challenge Gardiner for the podium? Two years ago, Gardiner’s teammate, Jerome Vermeulen, and Greg Mitchell outkicked Gardiner in a
thrilling finish! Mitchell is not back from a hamstring injury yet but Vermeulen
is entered. Last year the tables were reversed as Gardiner had the best of
Vermeulen. David Angell, who has
been on the podium in every Masters Championship race this year, has thrown his
shoes in the ring. Although known for the longer races, no doubt Angell, as the
8K Champion, has some speed as well. Another Cal Coast teammate of Gardiner, Christian Cushing-Murray, is also
entered. He won the Masters race at the 2016 Carlsbad 5000 in 15:11. But he
spent the latter part of 2016 and the first part of 2017 injured. His first
race back from the injury was the 2017 Carlsbad where he ran 16:14 to finish 7th.
Even with 3 additional months of training, it is uncertain if he will be in
condition to challenge for the podium.
And, like Vermeulen, now a 50 year old, we should not count out Todd Straka, who finished 5th
overall in 2015. He is clearly prepped to run a fast mile; earlier this year he
ran a 4:26.39 on the track at the Music City Distance Carnival and has run
faster this summer, clocking a 4:19.2 at one of those great downhill Colorado
mile races. Castille, Gardiner, Angell.
 |
| Kevin Castille, winning the 2016 National Masters Club Cross Country Championship over 10K in 31:29 |
Tammy Nowik has not yet
shown her cards as to defending her Championship. Minnesotan, Melissa Gacek, who finished 3rd
last year, is entered. As of now she is the co-favorite; she won the Medtronic
TC Masters Mile in early May in 5:28.8 and ran an 18:17 5K in late May. Renee Tolan who just won the Masters
title at the Liberty Mile in Pittsburgh in 5:21 would, at first glance, appear
to be a solid favorite. But the traditional course at Flint is more challenging
than most with at least six turns and one significant hill climb. Would that
add up to 7 seconds difference in time? Perhaps not, but this will be Gacek’s 2nd
try; last year she felt she was not aggressive enough early in the race and
could not quite make things up in the last quarter mile. Her victory at Twin
Cities gives her additional recent experience at the mile distance. Alice
Kassens of Virginia, seems likely to challenge for the podium. She ran a
5:41 Indoor Mile this past February but it was only 1 year earlier that she ran
a 5:29 Indoor Mile. The strongest runners otherwise appear to be Erin Larusso who took 3rd Masters
in Pittsburgh in 5:41, and Susan Lynn Cooke
who ran a 5:43 mile recently. Tolan, Gacek, Kassens
 |
| Tammy Nowik, foreground, with Melissa Gacek in hot pursuit, approaching the half mile point in the 2016 Masters 1 Mile Championship [Facebook posting] |
Age-Grading.
Kevin Castille and Tom
Bernhard typically perform well above the 90% level. Castille’s Boilermaker
effort scored a 95.2%; the 14:30 5K graded over 98%. John Gardiner has been scoring really well lately. Last year his
age-grade was only 1 percentage point below Bernhard’s and he finished 3rd
in age-grading this year at the Half Marathon Championship. His 5K at Carlsbad
in April scored a 91.46%. If Todd Straka
can crack 4:30 again this year, he should be in the hunt as well. Jerome Vermeulen and
Christian Cushing-Murray cannot be ignored either. Vermeulen is the defending champion at
91.75%, but with no recent races it is hard to gauge his fitness.
Cushing-Murray’s Carlsbad effort in 2015
age-graded above 95% but he is also coming out of rehab. Doug Goodhue is in the same boat; this is his first race coming back from a leg injury, so he is
just looking for a good race and to help the team. Castille, Bernhard, Straka
 |
| Tom Bernhard, making the turn at the 8K Masters National Championships on his way to victory in the Men's 65 division. |
On the women’s side, Sabra Harvey is the odds-on favorite at
this point. When she won the Age-Grade title in Flint in 2015, Harvey was on
the beginning of the comeback trail after injury, so scored ‘only’ 90.77%. At
the 10K Championship this spring, she bettered her own 10K record and
age-graded at 103.56%. Harvey is also the current World Record holder for the
Women’s 65 division at the 1500 Meters on the track. She will be tough to beat
regardless of who else might enter. Of those currently entered, Lynn Cooke would be favored for 2nd.
Cooke’s 8K in Virginia Beach netted her a top-5 age-grade finish at 90.54%. The
other three who would figure into the podium contest as of now are Jill Miller-Robinett , Melissa Gacek, and Renee Tolan. Tolan’s 5:21 in Pittsburgh would net an 84.55%. Gacek’s fast 5K earlier this year merited
an 83.4% age grade and Miller-Robinett scored 82.99% here last year, finishing
two places ahead of Gacek in age-grading. If Jo Anne Rowland is fully recovered from injury she could factor in
as well. She has not competed at Flint before but has age-graded above 90% at longer
distance championships. Harvey, Cooke, Miller-Robinett.
 |
| Sabra Harvey, background, overtaking a competitor at the 2016 Masters National Club Cross Country Championships in Tallahassee Florida |
Age Divisions—Contenders for the win.
40-44. John Gardiner, the current favorite and defending Overall
Champion is also favored here, with David
Angell pushing him all the way. Gardiner, Angell.
 |
| John Gardiner, winning the 2017 Masters National Half Marathon Championship at the OC Marathon/Half Marathon in Newport Beach CA [Photo courtesy of the OC Marathon, Paksit Photos] |
With the defending champion, Tammy Nowik not yet entered, Melissa Gacek, who took 3rd
overall last year, and Renee Tolan are
the co-favorites. I will give the nod to Tolan for her Liberty Mile 5:21, but
know that Gacek will be right there too-it should be a great race! Tolan,
Gacek.
 |
| Renee Tolan, heading for a 2nd place finish overall at the 2015 Masters National 5 km Cross Country Championship at Saratoga Springs NY [photo:http://www.pbase.com/fateague/saraxcclassic] |
45-49. Last year’s winner, Jerome
Vermeulen, has aged up to Men’s 50. Kevin
Castille, who is the Overall Masters favorite, is also favored for this
division; he is very likely to crack 4:30. Because he is coming back from
injury, Christian Cushing-Murray is a bit of a wild card in this,
one of his last few national championship races in the 45-49 division. Castille,
Cushing-Murray.
 |
| Cal Coast 40+ team with legendary marathoner, Bill Rodgers, at 2016 Masters 1 Mile Road Championship in Flint Michigan [L to R-Jerome Vermeulen, Rodgers, John Gardiner, M.J. Stanley] [FB post] |
Erin Larusso, running for Patient Endurance of Michigan and the
defending champion,, is the favorite with her recent 5:41 in Pittsburgh and, of
course, her 1st place overall last year in 5:49. There are several
other strong runners entered, but none appear to have the speed to challenge
her. Larusso.
50-54. The three strongest runners in this division at this point are
Todd Straka, Jerome Vermeulen and
his teammate, Rob Arsenault. Typically
a low 16’s 5K performer, Rob Arsenault
is coming off an injury this winter. He ran 19+ at Carlsbad in April. Four
months further along, he should be close to his usual speed. I am not aware of
Vermeulen’s injury status but he has apparently not run a race since last
November. Either he has been very busy or he too may have had some fitness
issues. That suggests that Straka, who is racing sharp, may be able to reverse
the outcome of two years ago when Vermeulen topped him by 5 seconds. Despite
some uncertainty surrounding their current fitness, I will give the nod to Straka,
ahead of Vermeulen and Arsenault. Straka, Vermeulen, Arsenault.
 |
| Todd Straka headed for a 5th place finish overall at the 2015 Masters National 1 Mile Road Championship at the Crim Festival of Races in Flint Michigan [FB post] |
Michelle Allen and Alisa
Harvey are the two contestants entered
so far. Allen’s recent showings, a 33:07 at the 8K Championships in Virginia
Beach and a 42:06 at the 10K Championships in Dedham suggest a strong base. Unfortunately
some injury issues slowed her down this summer so she has just recently gotten
back to the track for a 1500 M. Still her extensive track work suggests she has
the potential for a special road mile. Given Allen’s fitness questions, Harvey
becomes the definite favorite based on her 5:29 in the Loudoun Street Mile at
the end of May and her 3 recent 5K’s, all just under or just over 20 minutes
flat. Christine Vincent, of
Playmakers Elite, is not quite that fast but is familiar with the race; home
course advantage could work in her favor. Vincent finished 4th last
year, just 4 seconds out of 3rd place. When fit, Allen can match those
times, but is she fully fit? Harvey, Vincent, Allen.
 |
| Michelle Allen, heading for a Bronze age division medal at the 2017 Masters National 8K Championship at the Towne Bank 8K in Virginia Beach, Virginia [photo by Dave Allen] |
55-59. Dave Bussard, who skipped last year’s competition, won here
in 2015 in 4:57. He looks to be in great condition with his last three 5K’s in
16:59, 17:17, and 17:08. Jeff Haertl,
and Fred Zalokar, the Age Division
winner at the Marathon Majors, would appear to be his main competition at this
point. Haertl ran 5:05 here last year and runs his 5K’s typically in the mid-
to upper 17’s. Zalokar would definitely be favored at a longer distance but he
has shown good speed at shorter events too; in fact, he finished 3 seconds
ahead of Haertl at the 5K Championships in Syracuse last year in 17:13. As
recently as November 2015, Jeffery
Dundas was carrying a 5:47 per mile pace in the 12K Championship in
Alexandria, Virginia, and running a 5:08 road mile, but he has had numerous
health issues. He just ran a 5:36 Road Mile so he is probably regaining fitness
and coming mostly for the team competition. Bussard, Zalokar, Haertl.
 |
| Dave Bussard, leading the charge at the 2016 Masters National 5K Championships at the syracuse Festival of races in Syracuse NY [Photo by Gavin Liddell] |
Susan ‘Lynn’ Cooke is the
favorite based on her track experience at shorter distances including a recent
5:42.7 Track Mile. Mary Swan has
taken her measure at longer distances, including the 5K Championship, by a half
minute, at Syracuse last October and the 8K Championship this spring, by a
minute, in Virginia Beach. Endurance vs. speed, this is a classic encounter. In
this case I will go with speed but it will be close and could go either way. Cooke,
Swan.
 |
| Lynn Cooke, heading for the finish line in a World Class performance at the 2017 Masters National 8K Championships at the Towne Bank 8K in Virginia Beach, Virginia [Photo by Dave Allen] |
60-64. Ken Youngers is the defending age division champion with a
winning time of 5:32. But, in the interim, he has had surgery and is not likely
to be as fit as last year. He is probably coming more for the team than the
individual championship. Michael Young,
a new member of Ann Arbor TC’s 60+ team, ran 5:34 last year in the 55-59 division.
He has run a recent 5:36 Road Mile and a 38:56 10K this summer. It looks like
he should be under 5:40 and that may be enough for the win among the current
entries. His toughest challenge may come from Reno Stirrat rather than Youngers. Stirrat has also had some issues,
but his recent races include a 39:02 at the 10K Masters Championship and two
10K races this summer at 38:39. Thomas Dever
will also be in the hunt; he tends to prefer longer races, but ran an 18:28 5K
this past April and then a 1:26:56 Half Marathon in May. Last year before
taking some time off from racing to deal with some nagging issues, he ran his
half marathons in the low 1:20’s and his 5K’s in the mid to upper 17’s. If his
training has been consistent since then, he could be in the hunt for gold. This
race should be a dandy! Stirrat, Young, Dever.
 |
| Reno Stirrat, foreground, leading the way toward a stirring finish at the 2017 Masters National 8K Championship at the Towne Bank 8K in Virginia Beach |
Jill Miller-Robinett is the defending champion with a time of 6:38.
At present she appears to have the inside track to the victory. Susan Stirrat is a strong runner who
will push her all the way but does not have as strong a record as Miller-Robinett.
Stirrat has a 6:57.6 Indoor Mile to her
credit and ordinarily runs her 5K’s in the low to mid-24’s. Miller-Robinett, on
the other hand, ran 21:42 in the Masters 5K Championships at Syracuse last
year. She ran a 22:17 5K on the 4th of July this summer so her
current fitness seems to be comparable to last year. Miller-Robinett, Stirrat.
 |
| The victorious Impala Racing Team at the 2016 Masters National 10K Championships at the James Joyce Ramble in Dedham Massachusetts [L to R. Dianne Anderson, Jo Anne Rowland, Mo Bartley, Jill Miller-Robinett, and Donna Chan] |
65-69. Tom Bernhard is the defending
champion with a 5:18 winning time. Knee surgery over the holidays slowed
Bernhard down and then a trip to japan without much training did not help his
spring fitness. He hoped for more consistent training over the summer but the
5K he ran on the 4th of July was 18:26, about a minute slower than
he ran in the same race a year earlier. That suggests a time under 5:30 this
year would be unlikely for Bernhard and it may be that 5:40 is a better
prediction. His strongest competition so far would be from Kirk Larson who ran 5:47 last year. Larson’s two 5K races this
summer have both been 19 minutes plus. Bernhard is still the favorite but the
race could be a little closer than expected. Bernhard, Larson.
As noted in the Age-Grading
section, Sabra Harvey is entered,
and is a very strong favorite. She wins almost every age division race she
enters and has even beaten the legendary Kathy
Martin over shorter distances. The mile is right up her alley and it seems
unlikely anyone can get close to her. She ran 5:38 to take the 2016 1500 meter
race at the Outdoor TF Championships. That time is roughly equivalent to a 6:09
Mile. Her winning time in 2015 was only 6:25 but she was coming back from an ankle injury. Last fall she won gold
medals at the World Masters Athletics Championships in Australia in the 800 and
1500 Meters. Barbara Broad and Jo Anne Rowland are the favorites after
Harvey. Broad would probably be favored right now because this is Rowland’s
first race back from an injury. Both prefer longer races; Rowland’s fastest
half marathon last year is about a minute faster than Broad’s half marathon
this year. Harvey, Broad, Rowland.
70-74. Gary Patton came over
from the Track and Field side of the sport last year and took the gold on his
way to the Men’s 70-74 Grand Prix title. He is not entered as of today. The 2nd
place finisher, Przemek Nowicki, has
been struggling with a recalcitrant hamstring and is not yet entered. Ed Smith, who finished third last year,
has aged up to Men’s 75. Doug Goodhue,
winner in 2015, who would otherwise be one of the favorites, has also moved up
to Men’s 75. Of those entered so far, Jan
Frisby and Paul Carlin, yours
truly, appear to be the favorites. In 2015 Frisby ran 6:06 in finishing 2nd
to Goodhue. But he has not been
quite at that level of fitness since an Achilles injury sustained at the 5K
Championships later that year. I
have had to jog the course the last two years, running a little over 7:00 in
2015 and a little over 8:00 in 2016, due to injuries. This year I have been
able to consistently average under 7:15 per mile for races of 8K to 10K length.
That suggests something in the 6:15 to 6:30 range should be possible. I have
been able to finish ahead of Frisby in the 8K and 10K Masters Championships earlier
this year but all it would take is a few good weeks of training and Frisby
would be right there. Carlin, Frisby.
 |
| The victorious Boulder Road Runners at the 2016 Masters National 10K Championships at the James Joyce Ramble in Dedham Massachusetts [L to R. Mark Donelson, Doug Bell, Heath Hibbard, Devin Croft, and Jan Frisby] |
75-79. If he were in his usual condition, this would be Doug Goodhue’s race for the taking. His
main competition would come from Ed
Smith. Goodhue took the Men’s 70 crown in 2015 with a 5:55; he was out with
an injury last year and is just coming off of rehab. That kind of time will be
out of his reach this year. He ran a 10K in July in 49:40 and is coming
primarily for the team competition. Still I do not lightly rule out anyone who
can win Age Division Runner of the Year 9 years in a row; his fitness could
improve rapidly with some good weeks of training! Smith ran 6:56 last year to
take 3rd place in the men’s 70-74 division. No one else entered at
present should be able to break 7 minutes although Charlie Patterson may not be far off and could figure into the race
for gold. He ran a 3:21.5 800 meters on the track this summer. Smith,
Patterson [Goodhue?].
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| The Silver medallist Atlanta Track Club Men's 70+ Team at the 2016 Masters National 1 Mile Championships at the Crim festival of Races in Flint Michigan [L to R. Ron Mastin, Frank White, Morris Williams, and Charlie Patterson] |
80-84. Jon Desenberg is
the defending champion in 10:17, but has not yet entered. Jim Askew has the field to himself. Askew ran a 3:27.9 800 meters
in the Senior Games this summer so a sub-8 minute mile would seem to be well
within range. He ran 45:11 in the Masters 8K Championship so has endurance to
go with that speed. Askewi
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