September 30 2018. BUFFALO NEW YORK – Sunday, September 23rd was a beautiful day for
watching Cross Country Races. As the morning wore on to midday, the
temperatures at Delaware Park had risen to 64 degrees under fair skies. The combination of sun and mid-60’s was slightly
warmer than ideal, but this is about as good as it gets for Cross Country!
There had been no rain earlier in the week, so the footing was excellent, with
no muddy patches. It was golf course grass with one exception where runners
were shunted onto a gravel path for 20-30 meters. Two 2.5 Km loops around a golf
course made up the 5 Km course. With few elevation changes, this course should
have been about as fast as they come for Cross Country. Of course, cross
country distances are measured carefully, but not as precisely as for a road
course certification, especially when there is no chalk line to measure along.
The consensus among the runners, based on their GPS readings, was that the
course was about 3.2 miles, a tad long. If they are right, someone averaging 5
minutes per mile would have taken an extra half minute or so; at 7 minutes per
mile, it would be close to an extra 45 seconds.
The first two races of the day, the Men’s 60+ and the Men’s
50+, were covered in recap #1. This installment will cover all age groups
for Women, who ran in a single race, and Men 40+, who ran separately from
the 50+ and 60+. Officials had to decide on those details early on;
as it turned out the races were reasonably evenly subscribed. Sixty women ran; 34,
49, and 74 men respectively ran in the Men 40+, 50+, and 60+ races. A final
report will cover Age Grading and Teams.
[All photos by Andy Martin, Exclamation Services. For all his photos of this race, please visit: www.facebook.com/USATFMasters5kmXC/]
The Women’s race went off at high noon, which included competition
for all 5-year age divisions 40-64 through 80-84 as well as team races for 10-year
age divisions 40+ through 70+.
WOMEN
Women 40-44
Jill
Braley celebrated her 40th birthday on the day of the race
and so was eligible to run in her first race as a Masters athlete. And as is
sometimes the case, she snuck in under my radar. I knew she had run under 20:00
in recent 5Ks but I should have paid more attention to the 5K races earlier
this year and last year where she broke 19 minutes. Once it was known Kathy Wiegand would not be running, I
had it as a race between Heather
Webster, Sunday Patterson, Heather Patterson, Murphee Hayes, and Liz Gottlieb.
Braley was having none of that as she raced out alongside her teammate from
the 45-49 division, Sonja Friend-Uhl,
both in the hunt for the race victory. By the time they reached the transition
area between the two loops, Friend-Uhl had about 20 meters on Matisa Sutera Strange, the gifted
runner from the 55-59 division; Strange, in turn had about 15 meters on Braley.
In terms of the division race, Braley had a similar margin on Webster in 2nd,
followed a few strides later by Gottlieb in the division 3rd place. Those
three 40-44 runners had opened up a substantial gap over the chasers, led by S.
Patterson, M. Hayes, and H. Patterson. By the end of the 2nd loop,
Braley had extended her lead over Webster to 47 seconds.
 |
| Jill Braley with a step and a half on Abby Dean at the end of the first loop at the 2018 USATF Masters 5 Km XC Championship in Buffalo NY |
But Webster hung tough
in 2nd, putting added distance between her and Gottlieb, who wound
up 23 seconds behind in 3rd.
 |
| Heather Webster strides to the finish knowing her 2nd p[lace division finish was not in jeopardy at the 2018 USATF Masters 5 Km XC Championship in Buffalo NY |
A minute later we learned that H.
Patterson put in a stronger 2nd lap than S. Patterson, enabling her
to pass and hold on for a 4 second margin in 4th place. Hayes was 12
seconds back from S. Patterson. And it was a nice debut for Braley. Her
teammate, Friend-Uhl, said of Braley: “Keep
an eye on her because she’s a warrior!”
Jill
Braley 19:20 Heather
Webster 20:29 Liz Gottlieb 20:52
Women 45-49
This division contained two of the contenders to win the Women’s
race, Sonja Friend-Uhl and Abby Dean. Caroline Bucci and Alexandra
Newman were expected to contend for the final podium spot. I thought Olga Huber and Melissa Senall had a chance, but it was not their day. As mentioned
above, Friend-Uhl had the lead at the end of the first loop. Dean was just a
step back from Braley, so about 15 meters back from Friend-Uhl. It was a
substantial distance back to Newman who had several strides on Bucci at that
point. Dean ran well over the 2nd loop but could not cut into
Friend-Uhl’s lead, which was 26 seconds at the finish line.
 |
| Sonja Friend-Uhl crusies to victory in the Women's 40+ race and takes the W45 title at the same time at the 2018 USATF Masters 5 Km XC Championship in Buffalo NY |
Bucci was able to
overtake Newman and carved out a half minute gap to take the Bronze Medal.
Friend-Uhl repeated her win from the 5 Km Masters Championship in Tallahassee
in 2016. Dean showed that she is a tough competitor in Cross Country now that
she is back on her game.
Sonja Friend-Uhl 19:21 Abby
Dean 19:47 Caroline Bucci 22:02
Women 50-54
The
race unfolded much as expected with Katherine
Wolski going out among the top 5 and holding that position throughout, although
Amy Fakterowitz was still only a few
strides back at the end of the first loop.
 |
| Amy Fakterowitz running in 2nd place in th eW45 division at the end of the first loop at the 2018 USATF Masters 5 Km XC Championship in Buffalo NY |
It was a good distance from
Fakterowitz back to Michelle Rohl who
was in third. Fakterowitz’s teammate, Elizabeth
Randell, was about 30 meters further back but had Rohl in her sights and
hoped to move up. As it turned out, all 4 ran a strong enough 2nd
loop and maintained position. Wolski pulled away and enjoyed a victory where she did
not need a finishing kick to win.
 |
| Katherine Wolski drives to the finish line, claiming 4th place in the Women's Race and taking the W50 title at the same time at the 2018 USATF Masters 5 Km XC Championship in Buffalo NY |
Fakterowitz was over a minute behind, as she
hung tight for 2nd. A fast second loop for Rohl left her just 19
seconds back from Fakterowitz, with over a half minute margin over Randell who finished
in 4th.
Katherine Wolski 19:49 Amy
Fakterowitz 21:11 Michelle Rohl 21:30
Women 55-59
Marisa Sutera Strange was the strong
favorite and she did not disappoint, showing she is back on her game after an
off day in Atlanta at the 5K road championships and a return to form in the
mile, but still a loss to teammate, Doreen
McCoubrie. Here Strange would be looking to see if she could get a top 5
finish as she did at the Cross Country Nationals in Tallahassee earlier in the
year and at the 2017 edition of this Championship in Boston last year. Strange
was in 2nd overall at the end of the first loop, but with 3
speedsters from younger divisions not far behind.
 |
| Marisa Sutera Strange, running strong in 2nd place in the Women's Race at the end of the first loop at the 2018 USATF Masters 5 Km XC Championship in Buffalo NY |
In the end, Strange gritted
her teeth and held on to take 5th overall. In the meantime, she was
winning her 55-59 age division by a substantial margin. At the end of the first loop the
chase group was well back. Lorraine
Jasper had pulled out to lead the chasers, with Karyl Sargent 10-15 meters back, followed by Suzanne Cordes, with Mary
Swan just a few strides back. Not only did Strange finish 3rd in
the Women’s race, she easily took the win in the division, finishing nearly a
minute and a half in front of the division field. Jasper held tight to the end,
fending off a challenge by Sargent to take the Silver Medal by 6 seconds!
Swan passed Cordes on the second loop to take 4th twenty seconds back. Cordes ran into difficulties on the second loop and did not enjoy the kind of race she had in Atlanta over the final half of the race.
 |
| Strange's Athena teammate, Lorraine Jasper, takes 2nd in the W55 division at the 2018 USATF Masters 5 Km XC Championship in Buffalo NY |
Swan passed Cordes on the second loop to take 4th twenty seconds back. Cordes ran into difficulties on the second loop and did not enjoy the kind of race she had in Atlanta over the final half of the race.
Marisa Sutera Strange 20:01 Lorraine
Jasper 21:27 Karyl Sargent 21:33
Women 60-64
Believe
it or not, this was the closest race of the day as the first 3 athletes in the
Championship finished within 2 seconds of each other-Wow, that was close! Sharon Moore set the pace on the first
loop; she was gunning for the win!
She had a gap on Ruth Rainero who was followed closely by Patricia Ford, and then another gap back to Cheryl Guth in 4th. The 2nd loop was thrilling as Rainero and Ford both closed on Moore. Who would have the strongest kick? In the end, Rainero had just a little bit more in the tank as she won by a single second.
Moore was able to hold on for second place, with Ford a single second behind her in third. Guth came in 4th.
 |
| Sharon Moore 143 enjoys the lead at the end of the first loop in the W60-64 division at the 2018 USATF Masters 5 Km XC Championship in Buffalo NY |
She had a gap on Ruth Rainero who was followed closely by Patricia Ford, and then another gap back to Cheryl Guth in 4th. The 2nd loop was thrilling as Rainero and Ford both closed on Moore. Who would have the strongest kick? In the end, Rainero had just a little bit more in the tank as she won by a single second.
 |
| The Women's 60-64 Division Race at the 2018 USATF Masters 5 Km XC Championship in Buffalo NY was a doozy. Ruth Rainero 171 won the race by a single second, with Sharon Moore 143 in 2nd place by a single second over Patricia Ford 72 |
Moore was able to hold on for second place, with Ford a single second behind her in third. Guth came in 4th.
Ruth Rainero 24:44 Sharon
Moore 24:45 Patricia Ford 24:46
Women 65-69
This
division was the antithesis of the previous one. Not surprisingly, 2017 Runner
of the Year, Sabra Harvey, was
unchallenged, winning by over 6 minutes.
Cindy Ingalls came in well ahead of her teammate, Jeanne Herrick, as they enjoyed 2nd and 3rd place finishes in the division. Linda Rock placed 4th.
 |
| Sabra Harvey, 2017 USATF Masters LDR Runner of the year, wins her age division easily while claiming the top Age-Grading spot overall at the same time. |
Cindy Ingalls came in well ahead of her teammate, Jeanne Herrick, as they enjoyed 2nd and 3rd place finishes in the division. Linda Rock placed 4th.
Sabra Harvey 21:46 Cindy
Ingalls 27:54 Jeanne Herrick 30:17
Women 70-74
Deborah Bliss took the win in a
cakewalk, enjoying almost 6 minutes on the field,
but Georgia’s Leslie Brass and Kentucky’s Terry Foody had an SEC battle going on that went to Brass by a mere 5 seconds! Carol Rhodes took 4th.
 |
| Deborah Bliss enjoys a large winning margin in the 70-74 Division at the 2018 USATF Masters 5 Km XC Championship in Buffalo NY |
but Georgia’s Leslie Brass and Kentucky’s Terry Foody had an SEC battle going on that went to Brass by a mere 5 seconds! Carol Rhodes took 4th.
Deborah Bliss 28:55 Deborah
Bliss 34:27 Terry Foody 34:32
Women 75-79
Catherine Radle took her third
straight win in the division, joining this to her victories in the 5K in
Atlanta and the 1 Mile Championships in Flint. Madeline Bost, who knows Cross Country,
was less than 3 minutes back, much closer than in Atlanta.
 |
| Madeline Bost finishes 2nd in the Women's 75-79 division at the 2018 USATF Masters 5 Km XC Championship in Buffalo NY |
was less than 3 minutes back, much closer than in Atlanta.
Catherine Radle 38:27 Madeline
Bost 41:24
Women 80-84
Like
Radle in the 75-79 division, Tami Graf
pocketed her third straight win on the Championship circuit. Graf had no trouble
as she won the division by over 6 minutes.
Edna Hyer took 2nd and enjoyed herself tremendously, competing in the race with many long-time rivals and friends.
 |
| Tami Graf collects the Women's 80-84 Division win at the 2018 USATF Masters 5 Km XC Championship in Buffalo NY, her third straight national championship this year |
Edna Hyer took 2nd and enjoyed herself tremendously, competing in the race with many long-time rivals and friends.
Tami Graf 42:23 Edna
Hyer 48:55
MEN 40+
The Men's 40+ race started at 12:45 pm, with the warmest weather of the day.
Men 40-44
David Angell wanted the trifecta,
to win the 40+ race, the Can-Am Challenge and the Age Division. His pre-race
research suggested that Michael Gill
of Canada could be a threat. Apparently he recently ran a 5000 meter on the
track in 15:10. And in the race to win 40+ he had to worry about Philippe Rolly. That gave Angell all
the incentive he needed to get out fast and settle into the kind of pace that
tends to discourage all but the best XC Masters runners at 5:09-5:10 per mile.
Despite Rolly’s best efforts, Angell had opened a gap on him by the end of the
first loop. Gill was a few strides behind Rolly, with Brian Lombardo another step and a half back.
Then there was another gap to a chasing pack led by Jake Stookey.
It was good to see Stookey back running strong after some slow times recently due to injury. Angell said he definitely slowed in the third mile before picking it up again with the last 600 meters in front of him. He kept both Gill and Rolly at bay, not to mention Lombardo and Stookey, so he achieved his goal of 3 wins in one race!
Stookey ran strong over the second loop, catching Lombardo and pushing past to build a 16 second gap in taking 2nd place. Lombardo toughed it out to take 3rd, with Tim Rieth 18 seconds back in 4th, followed 8 seconds later by a trio who finished inside a 5 second span-Michael Selig, Shawn Williams, and Josh Harter. Angell commented after the race that he also had an eye on closing out the Individual Grand Prix contest; with this win, he has 500 points, and no one can catch him. That takes the pressure off, so he can enjoy the 15K in Tulsa, the last race of the 2018 series.
 |
| Brian Lombardo in 2nd place at the end of the first loop in the Men's 40-44 Division at the 2018 USATF Masters 5 Km XC Championship in Buffalo NY |
Then there was another gap to a chasing pack led by Jake Stookey.
 |
| Jake Stookey 210 leading the Men's 40+ Chase Pack on his way to a 2nd place finish in the Men's 40-44 Division at the 2018 USATF Masters 5 Km XC Championship in Buffalo NY. Kirt Komocki 113 and Tim Rieth 184 kept pace. |
It was good to see Stookey back running strong after some slow times recently due to injury. Angell said he definitely slowed in the third mile before picking it up again with the last 600 meters in front of him. He kept both Gill and Rolly at bay, not to mention Lombardo and Stookey, so he achieved his goal of 3 wins in one race!
 |
| David Angell cruises to victory in the Men's 40+ Race while taking the 40-44 Division Title and winning the Can-Am Masters Challenge at the 2018 USATF Masters 5 Km XC Championship in Buffalo NY |
Stookey ran strong over the second loop, catching Lombardo and pushing past to build a 16 second gap in taking 2nd place. Lombardo toughed it out to take 3rd, with Tim Rieth 18 seconds back in 4th, followed 8 seconds later by a trio who finished inside a 5 second span-Michael Selig, Shawn Williams, and Josh Harter. Angell commented after the race that he also had an eye on closing out the Individual Grand Prix contest; with this win, he has 500 points, and no one can catch him. That takes the pressure off, so he can enjoy the 15K in Tulsa, the last race of the 2018 series.
David Angell 16:29 Jake
Stookey 17:16 Brian Lombardo 17:30
Men 45-49
As
noted above, Philippe Rolly would
try to stay with Angell to challenge for the M40+ victory, as well as an Age
Division Gold Medal. But he would face a group of 3 speedy runners who would
challenge him in the division, Kevin
Burke, Jonathan Frieder, and Kirt
Komocki. Frieder has proven himself to be a tough competitor for Rolly on
the roads. Frieder was only 12 seconds back from Rolly at the 8K Championship
in Virginia Beach and was even closer at the 10K Championship in Dedham, where
Rolly had only a 3 second margin over Frieder. In their only meeting at USATF
Cross County Championships, Rolly had an edge of over a minute. Komocki and
Burke do not have the road credentials of those two but may be stronger on the
turf. Burke and Komocki would also have the incentive of running for their respective
team, GVH and Checkers AC, while Frieder’s team, the Garden State Track Club, had clinched the Men’s 40+ Club Grand Prix
title already and did not bring a full team. Rolly, in getting out with Angell
for the first portion of the race had a gap on the rest of the field by the
time they came to the transition to the 2nd loop.
Komocki was running alongside Stookey, at the head of a chase pack that included Frieder. Burke was biding his time a bit further back, hoping to move up over the 2nd loop. All four of those runners held their place on the second loop. Rolly had 16 seconds on Komocki at the finish line, with Frieder another 14 seconds back.
Burke never got untracked, finishing just off the podium 22 seconds behind Frieder. Not only does this give Rolly the Masters 5 Km XC Championship, it also moves him within striking distance of Frieder for the 2018 M45 Individual Grand Prix title. Rolly is entered at Tulsa needing to finish third or higher to take the Grand Prix title from Frieder. That assumes Frieder does not run Tulsa; Frieder could enter yet and try to beat Rolly for the first time this year--he should have a better chance on the roads.
 |
| Philippe Rolly enjoys a substantial lead over the chase pack a the end of the first loop on his way to 45-49 Division Gold at the 2018 USATF Masters 5 Km XC Championship in Buffalo NY |
Komocki was running alongside Stookey, at the head of a chase pack that included Frieder. Burke was biding his time a bit further back, hoping to move up over the 2nd loop. All four of those runners held their place on the second loop. Rolly had 16 seconds on Komocki at the finish line, with Frieder another 14 seconds back.
 |
| Kirt Komocki claims 2nd place in the Men's 45-49 Division at the 2018 USATF Masters 5 Km XC Championship in Buffalo NY |
Burke never got untracked, finishing just off the podium 22 seconds behind Frieder. Not only does this give Rolly the Masters 5 Km XC Championship, it also moves him within striking distance of Frieder for the 2018 M45 Individual Grand Prix title. Rolly is entered at Tulsa needing to finish third or higher to take the Grand Prix title from Frieder. That assumes Frieder does not run Tulsa; Frieder could enter yet and try to beat Rolly for the first time this year--he should have a better chance on the roads.
Philippe Rolly 17:16 Kirt
Komocki 17:32 Jonathan Frieder 17:46
The
last installment of the Masters 5 Km XC Championship recap will cover Teams and
Age-Grading.
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