Sunday, March 26, 2023

A Brief Middle Distance Recap-2023 USATF Masters Indoor Championships

March 23, 2023. The 2023 USATF Masters Indoor Championships were held at the Norton Sport Center Track in Louisville KY from March 10th through 12th. As my focus is Masters Long Distance Running, I will focus on the 3000M Run, the 1500M Run along with a brief glance at a couple of 800 M races, one of which was very close and another which was a record performance. Take this as a 'shout out' to the many distance runners who enjoy both the track and the roads, not to mention the turf!

3000 METERS-Friday, March 10th

Friday the 10th was the first day of competition with the 3000 m run. Since many of the competitors expected to run in the 1500M run the next day, many top runners raced tactically to win the race but conserve as much as possible for the 'main event' the 1500M.

WOMEN

W75 Terry Foody BLUEgrass Runners took the win over Sally Moyer Unattached (UN), with over a minute to spare, in 20:07.41

W70 Kathy Martin UN ran conservatively, meaning she did not break a record, taking the win with over 4 minutes to spare in 12:49.94, less than a second off the listed American Record and less than 12 seconds off the listed World Record in the program. Norma 'Nonie' Hudnall Atlanta TC (Atlanta) took 2nd. Perhaps that is because the WMA has already credited her with a new 3000M World record of 12:30.48 in NYC on January 5th of this year. Presumably the record books will eventually all show the 12:30.48.

Kathy Martin on her way to another fine Indoor Track performance earlier this year FB post


W65 Debbie Lee So Cal TC (SCTC) took this title wire to wire over a field of 7, in 13:54.97. Ivy Bell Central Park TC (CPTC)  finished 2nd over half a minute back.

W60 Mireille 'Mimi' Silva Atlanta was never headed in this contest among 5 competitors. Silva took the win in 13:35.31. In the race for the Silver medal, Cheryl Bellaire Greater Philadelphia TC (GPTC) had a 6 second lead over Jan Teft SCTC with a kilometer to go. Teft ate into that lead gradually over the next 800 meters, seizing the lead on the next to last lap, and entering the final lap with a two second cushion. Bellaire was able to dig deep, find another gear and surge past Teft to take second with 0.7 seconds to spare in 13:56.34.

W55 This race featured two of the strongest middle and long distance runners in the country, Michelle Rohl GPTC and Lisa Veneziano Pursuit of Excellence TC (POETC). Veneziano was no match for Rohl in this race although she had no problem distancing herself from the other 5 runners in the field. Rohl was a second ahead at the 400 meter mark and gradually grew that to a 16 second lead. Veneziano cut into that lead slightly over the last 800 meters but was never close enough to threaten Rohl. The Gold Medal went to Rohl in 10:30.50 with Veneziano second in 10:42.71, nearly two minutes ahead of the rest of the field. Rohl was only 8 seconds off the American Record but was probably conserving her energy for her other two races.

W50 Perry Shoemaker UN had no trouble winning this race; the only doubt was whether she would also claim an American Record. To do so, she needed a 10:11.03 or better; averaging 3:23.6. Shoemaker started out well and had almost 4 seconds in the bank at the 1-kilometer point. She lost a little in the next kilometer but was still 3 seconds to the good! Even though she lost a few more tenths of a second with each lap, she was still almost two seconds ahead of record pace. When Shoemaker was able to throw down a final lap of 39.07, it was all over! She had the new American Record with a 10:07.36! Shoemaker also had the Gold medal; it was over two minutes before Yuko Whitestone Potomac Valley TC (PVTC) claimed Silver.

W45 Elizabeth Wells Dayton TC and Rebekah Kennedy CPTC had a dandy duel in this division. Wells took the early lead with Kennedy a couple of strides back. After 800 meters, Kennedy tightened things up a bit and at 2400m she made her move to the lead. But Wells did not wilt; she stayed within striking distance. Wells moved past Kennedy on the final lap to take the win in 11:17.93 to 11:18.65!

W40 April Lund GYS TC had a banner year in 2022, coming home from the WMA Championships in Finland covered with medals. This year has been just as good. By taking first overall in the Masters race at the USATF Cross Country Nationals in Richmond VA, Lund qualified for funding to compete at the first ever WMA Cross Country Championships in Bathurst, Australia. She teamed up with Ben Bruce to bring home a Silver medal in the 40-44 team competition and brought home Gold in the individual W40 championship. 

April Lund demonstrating her grit through the 'Billabong' section of the course at the WMA Cross Country Championships in Bathurst Australia FB post


In this race she would be going up against Jennifer Pesce Garden State TC (GSTC), fresh off her overall win at the Masters 5 Km Championships in Atlanta, GA. On the track it as no contest. Lund went out with purpose, up by a second after the first lap and up by over 3 seconds at 400 meters. The gap kept building. By the end, Lund had the win in 9:58.43, eight seconds off the American Record. Pesce could not keep up with Lund but had no trouble with the rest of the field, claiming Silver in 10:25.79 with almost 15 seconds to spare.

Jennifer Pesce winning overall at the 2023 USATF Masters 5 Km Championships in Atlanta Photo Credit: Joaquin Lara 


MEN

85-89 Colben Sime SCTC took the win unopposed in 21:32.75.

80-84 With two entrants scratching, Stan Edelson Shore AC (Shore)was also running unopposed. He won in 16:44.44.

75-79 Four competitors toed the line, but all expected Gary Patton SCTC to take the win and they were not disappointed. Patton holds the M70 American records indoors in the 1500M and 1 Mile and the Outdoor M70 American Records in the Mile, the 1500M and the 3000M. From the start it was clear this weas a race Patton was running to win, not set a fast time. Patton settled in behind Harold Nolan Shore who was happy to set the pace and see what developed. With 600 M to go, he accelerated smartly away from the field. Patton took Gold in 15:36.23, almost twenty seconds ahead of Nolan who was comfortably in 2nd.

70-74 Eugene Myers PVTC took the win with no trouble, clocking 12:37.63 and winning by well over a minute.

65-69 This was a rematch of sorts. David Westenberg Greater Lowell Road Runners (GLRR) won this division at XC Nationals in Richmond, with Tim Conheady GPTC a minute behind in third. Would it be a different story on the track? If this were the 1500, Westenberg would be the strong favorite; he broke the American Indoor 1500M mark in his first race of the Indoor season last December with a nifty 4:54.18. But this was the 3000 so there was hope. Westenberg set the early pace but Conheady was able to match it for the first 600 meters. After that the gap slowly started to grow, reaching ten seconds by the 1600 meter mark. At that point, Westenberg put it on cruise control, focused on winning and not expending too much energy to deplete his performance at 1500M, his main focus of this event. Westenberg took the win in 10:54.80, with Conheady 2nd at 11:05.92.

60-64 Patrick Billig TC Running Company (Twin Cities), Rick Lee Shore, and Joe Mora GVH last met at the Club Cross Championships in San Francisco. There Lee prevailed in a torrential downpour, finishing 18 seconds ahead of Billig and 28 ahead of Mora. On the roads in 2022, Mora was able to find a way to beat Lee at both the 1 Mile and the 5 Km Championships. Would he have the same success on the track? And what about Billig? Would he fare better on the track than the turf? Lee was happy to set the early pace and dare the others to stay with him. Neither did. Billig was 4 seconds back at the 400M mark, with Mora another 5 seconds back. Lee stayed comfortably in front the whole way, winning in 10:13.94. Billig could not stay with Lee, but he could not fully shake Mora either. Nonetheless, Billig had a lead of over ten seconds on Mora with just 600 meters to go. That was when Mora started to close the gap. Billig's lead was down to 7 seconds with 600 meters to go and with just 200 meters to go, he still had 4 seconds on Mora. It was not enough! Mora uncorked a 35 second last lap to nip Billig at the wire, for second, by just 0.08 seconds!

55-59 It was a strong field in this division as well with Mike Nier GVH and his teammate, Dale Flanders, toeing the line next to Mike McManus UN and Charles Novak UN. McManus and Novak were expected to contend for the win. Novak set the pace and McManus matched him stride for stride. Novak went through 1600 M in 5:21.49 with McManus within 0.3 seconds. Novak introduced a gradual acceleration from 2000 to 2400 meters that McManus could not match. Up by 3 seconds at 2400 meters, Novak continued to pull away, winning by 15 seconds in 9:45.88. Nier and Flanders took 3rd and 4th.

50-54 John Lomogda Colonial Road Runners (Colonial) let his teammate, Keith Schumann, set the early pace. By 1200 meters, Lomogda was laying almost 6 seconds off of Schumann's pace. A gradual acceleration brought Lomogda closer to Schumann, a half a second a lap at first and then a second a lap. By the 1800-meter mark, Lomogda was just 3 seconds out of first. Lomogda made his move, taking the lead at 2200 meters and never looking back. Lomogda had the win in 9:41.30. Schumann finished second in 9:53.33.

45-49 Mike Jackson Indiana Elite Athletic Club (Indiana Elite), who took the 45-49 title at the 5 Km Championships in Atlanta, set the early pace. Jerry Snider UN fell in behind. Jackson continued to throw down sub-36 200m laps thereafter and a gap started to grow. Jackson claimed the Gold medal in 9:00.41, with Snider a half minute back in 2nd.

40-44 Tom Burns Indiana Elite led wire-to-wire but did not start to drop Jeremy Ruston UN and Scott Wallace Shadow Project TC (Shadow Project) until 1200 meters. After that the gap grew steadily, with Burns winning in 9:03.59. Ruston was 13 seconds back in 2nd with Wallace third.

1500 METERS-Saturday, March 11th

WOMEN

W80 Angela Staab won the division unopposed in 11:48.72.

W75 Terry Foody BLUEgrass Runners (BLUEgrass) let Kathleen Frable SCTC set the early pace. By 1100 meters, Foody was in the lead. Foody was never headed, taking the win in 9:30.09; Frable was almost a half-minute back in 2nd.

W70 Three women stepped to the starting line in this division. Only one, Kathy Martin UN was expected to win. The question was whether she would be able to take down the American record, listed on the program as 5:57.19. She needed to average under 48 seconds per lap--47.5's would do nicely. Martin had no problem hitting better than that pace for the first 500 meters, putting seconds in the bank, but then her splits started to fall away from that pace. At 700M, with 800 meters to go, Martin was almost three seconds ahead of record pace. By 1100 meters, she was a second off of re cord pace and by 1300m, with just 200 meters to go, she was almost two seconds off the pace needed. No need to fret; Martin kicked in with her fastest lap of the race, a nifty 42.75, to take down the American record by exactly three seconds in 5:54.19! Martin also won the race with almost two minutes to spare. 'Nonie' Hudnall Atlanta took 2nd.

W65 Debbie Lee SCTC asserted herself at 300 meters, took the lead and never looked back, taking the win in 6:30.44Ivy Bell CPTC finished 9 seconds later in 2nd, just two seconds ahead of Alda Cossi Liberty Athletic Club (Liberty AC).

W60 Deb Torneden UN had the early lead, but Charlotte Rizzo Westchester TC ran just off the pace for the first 1300 meters. With a lap to go, Torneden pulled away, winning by 3 seconds in 5:35.48.

W55 It is a good thing Kathy Martin broke the W70 American record. Michelle Rohl GPTC stepped to the track for the W55 1500 with the aim of taking down Martin's American Record, set 16 years ago. They say 'Records are made to be broken.' Rohl would need to average under 40 seconds a lap. She got away quickly over the first 100 meters and settled into a steady pace. Rohl knew she wanted ot be just under a minute at the 300 meter mark; instead she was just over. It is doubtless anyone else noticed, except possibly her coach. And a negative split approach may have been part of the plan. In any case, the next two laps were sub-40's and she crossed the line with 800 meters to go just a half second off the record split. But Rohl had been steadily accelerating ever so slightly and that continued. With 400 meters to go, Rohl was a second under record pace. Her last lap, at 38.08, was her fastest of the race. Rohl's winning time of 4:55.47 was more than three seconds under the AR! 

Michelle Rohl on her way to 2nd place overall and first in 55-59 at the 2023 USATF Masters 1 Mile Championships Photo courtesy of the Rochester Mile 


Almost lost in the excitement was the nifty duel between Lisa Veneziano POETC and Judy Stobbe for 2nd. Neck and neck heading into the final 200 meters, Veneziano led the way from 100m to 1300m, but Stobbe was right there, with never more than half a second between them! Veneziano had the stronger kick though, powering away on the final lap. She took the Silver medal with 4 seconds to spare in 5:15.43.

W50 In her first return to national competition after a lengthy rehab, Sonja Friend-Uhl led wire-to-wire, taking the win in 5:05.94, with a full minute to spare. Yuko Whitestone PVTC was 2nd.

W45 Rebekah Kennedy CPTC and Elizabeth Wells Dayton TC enjoyed a rematch at the shorter distance. Wells had taken the 3000 M title with a strong finishing kick. This one was tight for the first half of the race with Wells setting the pace and Kennedy matching it just a stride off the lead. But this time, Wells left nothing to chance. She expanded a one second lead to three seconds between 700 and 900 meters. Wells grew the lead steadily the rest of the way, enjoying a nine-second win in 5:15.55.

W40 Hidi Gaff Three Rivers Racing (Three Rivers) went to the front, with Jennifer Ledford UN on her heels through 1500M. With 200M to go, Ledford was just a fraction of a second behind. But Gaff ran her fastest split of the night to pull away for the win, 5:12.97 to 5:15.74.

MEN

90-94 Vance Genslinger Philadelphia Masters, 93, claimed the 90-94 Gold with no opposition, in 13:53.19.

85-89 Colben Sime SCTC, 89, may take on Genslinger next year. Sime thought he would have two rivals in this division, but both scratched. This year Sime was content to win this division unopposed in 10:32.39.

80-84 Like Sime, Stan Edelson Shore anticipated some competition but the lone rival who signed up was a scratch. Edelson ran a nicely paced race and kicked it in at the end for the win at 7:58.91

75-79 There were four entrants in 75-79 but all eyes were on Gary Patton. He had taken the 300m title easily the previous day so folks were looking for something special. So was Patton. Patton let folks know there was nothing to worry about. He needed to average 48.2 for each 200 meter lap. No problem, said Patton! His first full lap was in 44.79. 

Gary Patton winning the 75-79 Division at the 2023 USATF Masters 1 Mile Championships Photo Credit: Pam Fales


He would gradually slow down a bit but even his slowest lap, from 900M to 1100M, was still a few ticks under his target. With 400M to go, Patton started his final acceleration, throwing down a 42.42 on his final lap to post a winning time of 5:44.41, a good 17 seconds under the AR! Wow!

70-74 The legendary distance runner, Nolan Shaheed SCTC, allowed Spider Rossiter Shore to enjoy building a lead, which got up over 7 seconds by the time there was just 600M to go. Shaheed started to reel him in, a half-second on the first of those last three laps, 3 seconds on the next and a whopping 5 on the last lap when he uncorked a 38.27 last lap! 

Nolan Shaheed far left Claims the 70-74 Win at the 2023 USATF Masters 1 Mile Championships Photo by Pam Fales 


Shaheed had the win in 5:32.68, with Rossiter 2nd in 5:34.08.

65-69 David Westenberg led wire to wire. Three seconds ahead at 300M, he built that gap up to ten seconds by the end. 

David Westenberg headed for the 1500 M win at the 2023 USATF Masters Indoor TF Championships Posted on FB


Westenberg won in 4:56.93. There was a tight battle for 2nd place. Fred Torneden UN kicked past Tim Conheady GPTC to claim Silver, 5:06.56 to 5:07.23.

60-64 Mark Pinckard and Greg Athayde came down from Canada to try their luck at 1500M. Rick Lee Shore and Joe Mora GVH stood in their way. Pinckard set the pace, with lee right on his heels through 1300M. With 200 meters to go they were separated by less than half a second. Both kicked for all they were worth; in the end, Pinckard had just enough to hold off Lee, 4:42.64 to 4:43.22. Both had run sub-36 for the last 200 meters! Mora also kicked in with a sub-36 split, keeping Athayde off the podium with a 4:51.08.

55-59 Charles Novak set off at the start like a man on a mission. He moved swiftly and fluidly to the front and had a 3 second lead at 300 meters. No one ever got close; Novak won in 4:24.67. Todd Straka took 2nd in 4:34.84, with three seconds to spare.

50-54 Mark Williams led from the front with Keith Schumann Colonial on his heels. 

Mark Williams leading Keith Schumann at the 2023 USATF Masters TF Indoor Championships Posted on FB 


Ahead by less than half a second with 200 meters to go, Williams uncorked a sub-30 second final 200 meter to take the win over Schumann, 4:33.79 to 4:37.93.

45-49 Mike Jackson Indiana Elite led all the way, clocking 4:16.53 to notch his 2nd win of these Championships. Chris Hernandez GVH and Matt Richardson CHT Elite were locked in a duel for 2nd. Hernandez came from just off the pace to claim Silver at 4:23.15, with a dandy 31.97 closing lap.

40-44 Tom Burns and Scott Wallace were content to let others lead for the first few laps. Wallace made a swift move from 5th to 1st after 800 meters; it took Burns a lap before he gradually eased up into the 2nd spot behind Wallace. Burns ran stride for stride through to the 1300 meter mark. With one lap to go there was less than three tenths of a second between the two leaders. Burns tried to accelerate but Wallace was accelerating just as fast up the backstretch. Burns tried to make one more move off the final turn, appeared to be making up ground, but tied up just short of the finish line. Wallace had the victory, 4:16.68 to 4:16.94 for Burns. Jaret Herter GVH ran a close third over the final laps but could never quite move up even with either of the two leaders. He moved closer in the final stretch, taking 3rd in 4:17.48.

800 METERS-Sunday, March 12th

I comment on just two of these middle distance 'sprints'! 

65-69 Michael Lebold Jamul Toads was a distant 4th in the 1500-meter race won by David Westenberg GLRR. But Lebold was confident in his fitness and his speed; he would challenge Westenberg for the 800-meter title. Westenberg moved into the lead on the backstretch of the first lap but Lebold held back for a bit. But he moved smartly around three other runners and positioned himself behind Westenberg by the end of the first lap. On the backstretch Lebold briefly moved even with Westenberg. Whether due to a slight increase in pace by Westenberg or the realization that the turn was coming up too soon, Lebold fell in behind again. With 200 meters to go they were still running stride for stride. Lebold made a move to pass on the backstretch but Westenberg held strong, forcing Lebold to run the last turn in lane 2. 

Michael Lebold left and David Westenberg coming off the final turn in the 65-69 800 M race at the 2023 USATF Masters TF Indoor Championships Posted on FB 
 


But that was it, coming off the turn, Lebold had just a little more speed than Westenberg, easing in front to take the win 2:29.55 to 2:30.46.

55-59 Charles Novak was taking no prisoners in this race. He sprinted his first 200 meters in 31.28 seconds. He slowed by just a tenth of a second on the 2nd lap, hitting the 400-meter split in 1:02.65. He was on pace to break both the American and World Records! Novak did a terrific job of holding it together, but did slow slightly over the last 400 meters, covering it in 1:04.06. That gave Novak the win in 2:06.71. That was under Horace Grant's 2007 American Record of 2:07:05. The Masters Indoor program lists the World mark as 2:06.87. If that had been correct, Novak would have taken down the World Record as well. Unfortunately, the current posting at the WMA site lists a time from February of 2022 at 2:06.41 as the World Record. Hat's off to Novak for his stirring American Record! He was so close to taking down the World Record. He will get another chance at the WMA's in Torun, Poland. Both he and the current World Record holder, Francesco D'Agostino Italia are entered. That should be a fun race to watch!

4 x 800M Relay

Three World Records were broken or established.

W60-64 Julie Hayden and Lorraine Jasper of the GPTC, joined up with Kathy Martin, running UN and dropping down from 70-74, and Deb Torneden, also UN, to form a non-Club 60-64 team that could challenge for a World Record. The WR they were chasing was 12:12.46; they needed an average 800-meter time of 3:03.15. Could a team with a 70-74 year old running the leadoff leg break a World record. They were certainly game to try, and Martin is one of the World's fastest 70-74 year olds over the middle and long distances. Martin did not have to run a 3:03 and change herself but she had to run close enough to let the other three bring the record home. Martin did her job brilliantly, handing the baton off to the 2nd runner a few ticks under 3:10. That meant the other three just had to run 3 minutes each or better. In fact, the 2nd runner, probably Hayden, ran fast enough to immediately get them back on track. A 2:50:58 split meant that the baton was handed off to #3 runner, Jasper, at 5:59.84. They were 6 seconds ahead of WR pace. Jasper covered her 4 laps in 2:49.87. Torneden brought it home in 2:50.08. They smashed the WR by over half a minute in 11:39.79!

W75-79 Running for TNT International, the 4 x 800M team of Angela Staab, Mary Trotto, Nancy Berger and Cora Hill established a new World record. They are, apparently, the first team of 75 and up women to run the event. Their 22:43.88 is now listed as a World Record!

M80-84 As with the W60 effort, one member of the 4 x 800M team dropped down from a higher age division. Innocencio Cantu, 89, from PVTC joined with Hal Lieberman of the CPTC, Gary Muhrke, UN, and Stan Edelson Shore AC, all from 80-84. The existing World Record was listed as 17:52.9. The team needed to average 4:28.17. With two runners capable fo breaking 4:00 on their legs, the team felt confident. Assuming they ran in th eorder listed, Hal Lieberman led off with a 3:56.71, giving them a half minute cushion in the bank. Muhrke's split was the closest to the average they needed to attain at 4:23.16. At the end of his leg, they were at 8:19.87, thirty-six seconds clear of the pace they needed. After that it was a cakewalk! Cantu contributed a 4:21.46 and Edelson brought them home with a splendid 3:52.97 last leg.Their final time of 16:34.30 gave this team from the USA the WR, with a minute and 18 seconds to spare!

Congratulations to One and All for an Exciting Event! As always, so many athletes commented on the incredible camaraderie exhibited where rivals compete hard but also support each other and become lifelong friends!

Full results may be consulted at:

MileSplit Live Results (finishtiming.com)

Tuesday, March 7, 2023

Records Fall-Masters Athletes Tame the ‘Atlanta Flat’ 5 Km Championship Course

March 6, 2023 Atlanta provided great conditions for the 2023 USATF Masters 5 Km Championships this past Saturday, February 25. Masters athletes toed the line under cloudy skies, with temperatures in the mid 50’s and light winds. The race started at 7:30 Am, about 20 minutes after sunrise. The athletes headed to Centennial Olympic Park. Once in the park, they flocked to the Masters tent, illuminated with lights and good cheer. A quick exchange of greetings among old rivals, now longtime friends, bantering among teammates, and then off for warmups. Athletes could exit the park on the top side, step onto Marietta Street and jog the few blocks to the Starting area. Once there they passed those who were assembling for the Community race which would start a few minutes after the Masters Championship. After a few stride outs, the runners were called to the starting line.

A handful were focused on the Overall win; others on racing at the top of their Age Division. Still more were eager to do their team proud, emerging with a medal if possible and, if not, the satisfaction of a noble attempt. Others were there simply for the enjoyment of running and the thrill of competition regardless of outcome! One came with an American Record on her mind and a plan to take it down. In all, two American records were broken or tied. In addition, ten course records were broken.

AMERICAN RECORDS Masters Hall of Famer, Kathy Martin, has ten 60-64 American LDR Records, from the Mile to the 50 Km, and seven 65-69 records from 10 Km to 25 Km. Now that she is in her 70’s, it is time to acquire some more. Martin knows that Masters Championships courses are always sanctioned and certified, two of the three main requirements for a record attempt to be ratified. It must also be record eligible. That box was checked; the course elevation is slightly higher at the finish than the start. The Finish Line is a few hundred meters from the Start. All that is needed is less than a meter per kilometer drop and a Finish Line that is no further away from the Start than half the distance to be run. And race officials at a USATF Championship are always happy to fill out the necessary paperwork for a record submission. The final part of the equation is ability, and the training necessary to achieve the required time. Martin had no doubt she was ready. The current record, set by Jan Holmquist in 2015, was 22:14. Martin expected to break 22 minutes even on a course as hilly as this one; the elevation gain is over 40 meters. Another challenge is to survive the first few hundred meters in a crowded field of Masters runners striving for fast times. It is possible to get tangled and go down. That would likely end a record attempt. Martin had no trouble, although others were not as lucky. Once out on the course, Martin settled into a rhythm and found her own space in the stream of runners. Martin maintained a steady effort, finished strong and was delighted to see the finishing clock with the first two digits at 21! 

After the race, the time was confirmed—21:44 (Gun time)/21:41 (net time)—Martin had the record beaten by over half a minute. That is her first 70-74 American Record. I do not doubt we will see more later this year.

Note: Net time is always accepted for Masters record submissions.

John Glidewell, by contrast, arrived with no Masters records to his name. The only race appearing in Athlinks was a 17:55 5K in 2013, at age 56. Apparently he was a standout distance runner at Ohio State. In 1980, he almost nipped Olympian, Benji Durden, at the finish line of a 25 Km race, clocking 1:16:17, roughly equivalent to a 1:03:41 HM. Now 66, Glidewell embarked on serious training last year. I heard from one of the Atlanta runners that Glidewell had been posting on Facebook that he felt ready to break 18 minutes by a good margin. If that is what he was posting, Glidewell delivered, and then some. He crossed the line at 17:31 precisely. That tied Tom Bernhard’s 2016 record for Men 65-69. Huge congratulations to both Martin and Glidewell. Setting or tying an American Record on a hilly course like this is totally unexpected and a major accomplishment!

Note: These do not become records until they are ratified. There is a 5 Km mark by Jacob Nur from 2022 that is not yet ratified. If that mark is ratified as a record, it will supersede Glidewell's effort. If not, Glidewell's mark becomes the new record once it is ratified.

OVERALL CHAMPIONSHIP 

Once the gun, or the horn in this case, sounds, the runners take off from the starting line. 

The Horn Sounded-Ben Bruce led them out, followed by, from L: John Poray white singlet, Matt Yacoub lime green, Christian Cushing-Murray lime green, Brendan Prindiville white singlet, Mark Zamek white singlet, Shore AC -- Photo Credit: Jouaquin Lara


The first one to cross the finish line is the overall winner of the Masters Championship. All times are gun times. Ben Bruce HOKA Naz Elite, a late entry after returning from Australia with his WMA Cross Country medals, sprinted to the front when the horn sounded. He put a hundred meters on the chase pack in the first mile, never let up, and led all the way to the tape. He broke the 15:38 course record established last year by 31 seconds! That is his second consecutive win on the Masters National Grand Prix circuit! 

Ben Bruce smashes through the tape at the finish line-He won the Overall Championships, setting a new course record of 15:06 Photo Credit: Jouaquin Lara


Bradley Merner, Luke Mortensen Athens Road Runners, John Poray Indiana Elite AC, and Aaron Rowe made up the chase pack. Together over the first half of the race, Mortensen started pushing the pace as they approached the Luckie street hill. By the time they had surmounted it, Mortensen had a gap. He held the others at bay, taking 2nd place in 16:01. 

Luke Mortensen finishes 2nd overall at the 2023 USATF Masters 5 km Championships Photo Credit: Jouaquin Lara


Merner and Rowe battled to the wire, with Merner finishing 2 seconds ahead of Rowe in 16:08. Merner, a Canadian citizen, was ineligible for awards; Rowe captured the bronze medal. Poray finished in 16:22 just off the podium in 4th. Brendan Prindiville Tracksmith Boston Hares and Mark Andrews Genesee Valley Harriers were not far back, capturing the next two spots in 16:28 and 16:30. 

Ben Bruce 15:07Course Record (CR)     Luke Mortensen 16:01     Aaron Rowe 16:10

Jennifer Pesce Garden State TC, a top New Jersey high school runner, recovered from hip surgery and had returned to serious training last year. Her Masters win in 30:08 at the Philadelphia Marathon 8K last November gave her the confidence to contest for a national championship. Jill Braley Atlanta TC, who finished 2nd last year in 18:21, and Amber Morrison Bellingham Distance Project, a top marathoner from Washington, gave Pesce no quarter. Pesce pulled away of the win in 17:49, breaking the women’s course record by 26 seconds. 

Jennifer Pesce claims the Women's Overall Title in a New Course Record 17:49 Photo  Creidt: Joaquin Lara


Morrison finished 2nd in 17:59, with Braley in 3rd, 12 seconds back and ten seconds faster than last year. 

Amber Morrison-2nd Overall at 2023 USATF Masters 5 Km Championships in Atlanta Photo Credit-Creagh Cross


Elizabeth Wakeling Garden State finished t4th in 18:38, followed closely by Fiona Bayly, 18:38, Hidi Gaff Three Rivers Racing, 18:40 and Jessica Hruska Garden State, the defending champion, in 18:46.

Jennifer Pesce 17:49 CR     Amber Morrison 17:59     Jill Braley 18:11

AGE GRADING Those with the top age grade scores are the athletes with the best performance, for their age, across all runners. The scores are based on worldwide data on the best performances ever at each single year of age. All times are net time. Betty Lindberg, 98, set a world record last year in winning the 95-99 division championship. Lindberg did not break her own record, but she still had the highest age grading performance. Her 58:47 net time earned a score of 100.71%. 

Betty Lindberg, 98, finishing the USATF masters 5 Km Championships with the highest age grading score and winning the 95-99 division Photo Credit-Joaquin Lara


Almost as impressive was the 21:41 net time turned in by Kathy Martin, 74, 2nd at 98.54%. Michelle Rohl’s 18:57 at age 57 closed out the Women’s podium at 94.36%. 

Women's Age Grading Podium-From L: Michelle Rohl, Kathy Martin, Betty Lindberg Photo Credit: Creagh Cross 


Kristine Clark, 60, finished 4th; her 19:44 net earned a 93.75%. Fiona Bayly took the last bit of Age Grading prize money. Her 18:37 net time, at 55, merited a 93.64%. 

Betty Lindberg 98 58:47 100.71     Kathy Martin 71 21:41 98.54     Michelle Rohl 57 18:37 93.64

John Glidewell, 66, posted a 17:31 to net the highest score in the Men’s race at 95.53%. He was followed by Steve Schmidt, 62, whose 17:39 earned a 91.50%, edging his 61-year-old rival, Rick Lee, by less than a tenth of a percentage point. Lee’s 17:31 earned a 91.44%. 

Men's Age Grading Podium-From L: Steve Schmidt, John Glidewell, Rick Lee Photo Credit: Creagh Cross 


John Van Danacker’s TC Running Company 17:37 at 60, merited a 90.05, leaving him in 4th, just two-hundredths of a percentage point ahead of Roger Sayre’s Bolder Road Runners 18:25 at 65. It was a very tight race for top 5. Mark Andrews was five hundredths of a percentage point behind Sayre. 

John Glidewell 66 17:31 95.53     Steve Schmidt 62 17:39 91.50     Rick Lee 61 17:31 91.44

Note: Age Grading awards are based on net time.

AGE DIVISION. Twenty National Champions were crowned. Ten Age Division course records were broken! All times are gun time.

WOMEN 

40-44 The Overall podium, Pesce, Morrison, and Braley was the same for the 40-44 division.  

Jennifer Pesce 43 17:49CR     Amber Morrison 42 17:59     Jill Braley 44 18:11

45-49 Sara Girotto Philadelphia Masters was spotted after the race in the Masters tent with an ice bag on her knee. Another athlete told me that she had been pushed and fell at the start. She bounced up, gritted her teeth, and was still able to compete well in 45-49. But any chance she had of running with the lead pack was gone. Girotto was, nonetheless in good spirits treating the incident as the ‘fortunes of warShe had won the division last year in 19:07, a course record for 45-49. She must have been pleased to lower that time by 13 seconds this year. Had she repeated her 19:07 effort, it would have been a mad dash to the finish to beat Jennifer Weston, who clocked 19:09 for 2nd place. Weston came in with a 2:52:50 at the Wineglass Marathon. Girotto was one of the ten athletes who broke course records this year. Euleen Josiah-Tanner T.H.E. TC finished 3rd last year in 19:36. Josiah-Tanner beat that time by 14 seconds this year as she closed out the podium once again. 

Women's 45-49 Podium-From L: Sara Girotto, Euleen Josiah-Tanner, Jennifer Weston Photo Credit: Creagh Cross


She enjoyed a half minute cushion over the 4th place finisher, Rebekah Kennedy Central Park TC.  

Sara Girotto 18:54CR     Jennifer Weston 19:09     Euleen Josiah-Tanner   

50-54 Abby Dean Greater Philadelphia TC won the division and finished 4th overall last year in 18:40. Rehabbing a hamstring tear from earlier in the year, she did not expect to be competitive overall. She was looking forward to a good competitive race at the front of the division pack. Dean got what she wished for. Hortencia Aliaga Garden State was giving no quarter. Finally, as they rushed up Marietta, Dean felt she had the race in hand. Dean took first in 19:22, a mere 4 seconds ahead of Aliaga. Rachel Hopkins Sirius Athletics , who had been among the early leaders, finished 17 seconds later in 3rd

Women's 50-54 Podium-From L: Abby Dean, Hortencia Aliaga, Rachel Hopkins Photo Credit: Creagh Cross


Samantha Forde Impala Racing, who had won the division at Cross Nationals in Richmond, was 22 seconds back in 4th. 

Abby Dean 19:22     Hortencia Aliaga 19:26     Rachel Hopkins 19:43

55-59 Fiona Bayly was looking to redeem what was, from her perspective, an unsatisfactory outing here last year. She finished 3rd in 50-54 in 18:57. The race did not unfold as expected. This time she would be in the front of the starting area and go out with the leaders. Her main rival in the division this year, as last, was Michelle Rohl Greater Philadelphia, who set American Records on the track last year in the 800M and 1500M outdoors. Rohl also won the 55-59 division and finished 3rd overall at the Masters (Road) Mile in Rochester in 5:12. More relevantly, she had run almost half a minute faster than Bayly last year in this race, taking 3rd overall. This year the honors went to Bayly, despite some bumps at the start. Rohl was not able to match her splendid time of last year. Bayly improved from 18:57 to 18:40, giving her the division win. Rohl claimed the silver medal in 18:57, with Kris Huff Atlanta 3rd at 21:28.

Women's 55-59 Podium- From L: Fiona Bayly, Michelle Rohl, Kris Huff Photo Credit: Creagh Cross


 Rohl's teammate, Anabelle Broadbent, was a half-minute back in 4th. 

Fiona Bayly 18:40     Michelle Rohl 18:57     Kris Huff 21:28

60-64 Kristine Clark Athletics Boulder  came in with the credentials of a June 5K last year in 20:29, a September one in 20:48, and a 43:11 on the tough Bolder Boulder 10Km, all at altitude. Clark also hails from Salida CO, above 7,000 feet. Running for Athletics Boulder, perhaps she drops to mile high elevation for some of her training. Dropping another 4000 feet to compete in this race seemed to suit her just fine. She covered the first downhill mile in 6:08, and the second mile in 6:15. She did a good job on the final hilly mile. Many saw their times increase by 8% or more, comparing Mile 1 to Mile 3. Clark only showed an increase of 6.25%. She clocked 19:48 to take the win and get the course record! By any reckoning she beat two pretty fair runners in Mary Cass Liberty AC and Doreen McCoubrie Greater Philadelphia. Cass finished 6th here last year in 21:42 but had seen strong improvement over the year. McCoubrie ran a minute faster than Cass here in Atlanta in February. Cass was just 21 seconds back over 12 km in September. Cass took the division crown at Club Cross in December. Cass's improvement continued through to this event as she nabbed 2nd in 20:17, 14 seconds ahead of McCoubrie. 

Women's 60-64 Podium-From L: Kris Clark, Mary Cass, Doreen McCoubrie Photo Credit: Creagh Cross


Cass's teammate, Lauren Leslie finished 4th, a minute behind McCoubrie. 

Kristine Clark 19:48CR     Mary Cass 20:17     Doreen McCoubrie 20:31

65-69 Patrice Combs Atlanta, the 2019 Masters Grand Prix Champion for 60-64, celebrated her 65th birthday last year at the Masters TF Outdoor Championships last summer, taking home wins at the 1500M, 5000M, and 10,000M distances. Combs finished 5th in 60-64 here in Atlanta last year, but her 5th place time was over a half minute faster than the winning 65-69 time. The defending champion, Kitty Musante Shore AC, tried her best to repeat, but Combs claimed the win with a 22:32, a good minute ahead of Musante's silver medal effort. Cindy Williams Atlanta, a mainstay of Atlanta's 60+ team, ran 22 seconds faster this year, taking 3rd in 25:06. 

Women's 65-69 Podium-From L: Patrice Combs, Kitty Musante, Cindy Williams Photo Credit: Creagh Cross



Williams had a margin of over 40 seconds on the 2022 MNGP winner, Susan Stirrat Shore AC, who finished 4th. 

Patrice Combs 22:32     Kitty Musante 23:34     Cindy Williams 25:06

70-74 Kathy Martin smashed the American 70-74 5 Km record with her 21:41 net time, which was also good for the 2nd best age grade score. She pulverized the 70-74 course record by 2:15 with her 21:44 gun time mark. The latter also gave her the 70-74 win, with over 2 minutes to spare. Jeanette Groesz Team Red Lizard took the division title at Club Cross in San Francisco but was no match for Martin on the roads of Atlanta, finishing 2nd in 24:02. Norma 'Nonie' Hudnall Atlanta prefers the track to the roads. She is a top runner from the 800M to the 5000M and is a feared competitor at the steeplechase. She shows up whenever and wherever her team needs her. Hudnall led the Atlanta effort, taking 3rd in 70-74. 

Women's 70-74 Podium-From L" Jeanette Groesz, Norma 'Nonie' Hudnall, Kathy Martin Photo Credit: Creagh Cross
 
Hudnall had the better part of a minute on the 4th place finisher, Mary Lewis

Kathy Martin 21:44AR,CR     Jeanette Groesz 24:02     Norma Hudnall 27:40

75-79 Last year, the Atlanta Track Club trio, Myrna Barnett, Catherine Radle, and Andrea McCarter went 1-2-3 in 35:12, 36:24, and 36:59. This year the threesome had no challengers either. They went 1-2-3 in a slightly different order. 

Women's 75-79 Podium-From L: Myrna Barnett, Andrea McCarter, Catherine Radle Photo Credit: Creagh Cross


Barnett claimed the gold medal again, but McCarter and Radle switched finishing places. 

Myrna Barnett 36:46     Andrea McCarter 37:09     Catherine Radle 38:35

80-84 No entries. 

85-89 Last year Joyce Hodges-Hite Atlanta TC competed unopposed in 80-84, claiming the win in 50:05. This year Hodges-Hite was unopposed in 85-89, winning the gold medal in 48:51. She took over a minute off her 2022 winning time! 

Joyce Hodges-Hite 48:51

90-94 No entries. 

95-99 Once again the Masters tent rocked to the chorus of "Bet-ty! Bet-ty! Bet-ty!" Her fellow athletes saluted Betty Lindberg Atlanta TC, 98 years fit! She won this division unopposed, as she did last year. 

Betty Lindberg, in high spirits right after finishing the race and donning her finisher's medal 
Photo Credit: Joaquin Lara
 

She repeated as Age Grading champion!

Betty Lindberg  59:04

MEN 40-44 Bruce, Mortensen, and Rowe went 1-2-3 overall. They all came from this division; they mount the age division podium as well.

Ben Bruce 15:07CR     Luke Mortensen 16:01     Aaron Rowe 16:10

45-49 In 2019, Brendan Prindiville Boston Tracksmith Hares, took 4th in the Masters 10 Km Championships with a 33:14. This was his first national championship since that race. He tested his fitness last November at the BIGGSTEPS Boston 5K and in February at the Super Sunday 5K. A 16:10 and a 16:12 demonstrated that he was nationally competitive. He was not quite confident enough to go with the main group chasing Bruce, laying 9 seconds off the pace at the first mile. He held that for the 2nd mile and then cut slightly into Poray's lead over the last 1.1, finishing in 5th at 16:28. That performance allowed him to take the 45-49 win. 

Brendan Prindiville captures the Men's 45-49 Division Title, finishing 7th overall at the 2023 USATF Masters 5 Km Championships Photo Credit: Joaquin Lara


Matt Yacoub Cal Coast was also competing in his first Masters National road championship in a few years. Yacoub was just off Prindiville's pace at the mile and stayed with him around the 180 degree turn and well into the 2nd mile. At that point a gap started to form, which Prindiville widened to over a hundred meters as they toiled up the final hills to the finish. Christopher Hernandez GVH, who finished 3rd at the Road Mile Championships in 4:48, showed that speed with a good closing effort to take 3rd, 20 seconds behind Yacoub and 18 seconds ahead of the 4th place finisher, Mathew DiPretore Greater Philadelphia.

Brendan Prindiville 16:28     Matt Yacoub 16:52      Christopher Hernandez 17:12

50-54 Mark Andrews GVH, who won the 2016 Overall Men's 10 Km Masters Championship, got out fast, kept it going on the uphill sections, building his lead to over 150 meters by the time he crossed the finish line in first. His 16:30 time broke the course record by 15 seconds! Steve Bell Atlanta pulled away from the rest of the chasers to claim 2nd ahead of his teammate, Brent Fields, by an equivalent distance. Sixteen seconds after Fields took 3rd, John Fernandez and Marco Cardoso Garden State approached the finish line neck and neck. Fernandez had the edge at the line as both received the same 17:42 time. 

Mark Andrews 16:30 CR     Steve Bell 16:59     Brent Fields 17:26

55-59 Christian Cushing-Murray Cal Coast, who took the 50-54 honors last year in 16:45, was back to try his luck, now in the 55-59 division. With his 16:27 at Carlsbad last spring, and his 34:21 10 Km effort in November, Cushing-Murray entered as the favorite. Even though he could not match his time of last year, Cushing-Murray had no trouble getting an early gap on the field and pulling away. He led by over 150 meters as he sped across the finish line, setting a new course record for 55–59-year-olds, 17:05! A half-minute later, Dean Thompson Chattanooga TC and Kristian Blaich Atlanta raced up Marietta Street in tandem, neither giving an inch. Thompson enjoyed a narrow margin for the silver medal, crossing the finish line just 2 seconds ahead of Blaich. Thompson enjoyed his second consecutive podium finish; he took 3rd in this division at Cross Nationals. Blaich, after taking a few years off, was enjoying his first podium finish at a Masters National Championship since 2018. 

Christian Cushing-Murray sprints for the 55-59 win at the 2023 USATF Masters 5 Km Championships Photo Credit: Joaquin Lara


Mark Zamek surprised many who knew of his recent rehabbing efforts, dealing with multiple ankle and Achilles issues. Zamek, despite being in the last few months before aging up to the 60-64 division, almost landed on the podium, just 4 seconds back from Blaich. 

Christian Cushing-Murray 17:05 CR     Dean Thompson 17:42     Kristian Blaich 17:44

60-64 Rick Lee Shore AC, Steve Schmidt Ann Arbor, and John Van Danacker TC Running Company entered the race as co-favorites. Lee is known as an athlete who loves to race, almost any distance, whether a race on the track, a road race from the mile to the marathon or a multiple day race across the Sahara Desert. And he wins most races he enters. Schmidt is famed as being one of the first athletes to run a sub-3 hour marathon in each of six decades. Van Danacker had emerged recently as a Cross Country contender on the national scene. Their recent history includes Club Cross, run over 8 Km on a tough weather day. Schmidt finished 9 seconds ahead of Lee, with Van Danacker 7 seconds behind Lee. Schmidt did not run at Cross Nationals in Richmond, another 8 Km race over the turf. But Lee and Van Danacker did; Van Danacker had the edge over Lee by 26 seconds. This time, Lee hit the mile in 5:31 and ran the second mile in 5:34. At that point, Lee, Schmidt and Van Danacker were in a tight pack. Lee was just a little stronger up the final hills. He had a 25-meter lead as he took the final left turn down into the finish within Centennial Olympic Park. It was enough! Lee took the win with a course record 17:32! Six seconds later, Van Danacker was able to edge Schmidt for the silver medal by 2 seconds! 

Men's 60-64 Podium - From L: John Van Danacker, Rick Lee, Steve Schmidt Photo Credit: Creagh Cross


A minute later, Lester Dragstedt finished in 4th.

Rick Lee 17:32 CR     John Van Danacker 17:38     Steve Schmidt 17:40 

65-69 As noted earlier, John Glidewell had a standout career as an undergrad at Ohio State and some impressive races shortly thereafter. But this was Glidewell's first Masters national competition. He made it count! He ran away from the field, winning by almost a minute over a strong field. In so doing, he tied the American Record and broke the course record for 65-69. Roger Sayre Boulder Road Runners ran a terrific race; his 18:28 time landed Sayre in the top 5 for age-grading and left him 22 seconds ahead of the 12 Km 65-69 American record holder, Ken Youngers. 

Men's 65-69 Podium- From L: John Glidewell, Roger Sayre, Ken Youngers Photo Credit: Creagh Cross

The 2017 silver medalist in the 60-64 division, Tom Devers, finished 4th in 19:47.

John Glidewell 17:32 AR tie, CR     Roger Sayre 18:28      Ken Youngers 18:50

70-74 Robert Qualls kept his streak going. Since returning from the WMA Championships, laden with medals, Qualls has been unbeatable at national masters Championships, He took the 12 km, the 5 Km Masters XC, and the Masters races at Club Cross and Cross Nationals. Qualls made it 5 in a row in Atlanta. The horn sounded and Qualls moved off, gradually accelerating as the crowd thinned out. He hit the first mile at 6:19. There were no M70 back bibs in front of him. He kept that pace up through Mile 2, slowed slightly heading up to the finish, and crossed the line at 20:09. His closest pursuers were over 150 meters back. Boulder Road Runner teammates, Douglas Chesnut and Doug Bell, approached the finish line with just a few strides between them. Chesnut took 2nd in 20:50, with Bell taking bronze four seconds later. 

Men's 70-74 Podium-From L: Robert Qualls, Douglas Chesnut, Doug Bell Photo Credit: Creagh Cross


A half minute later, Gene Dykes pushed up Marietta and was able to edge Kirk Larson for 4th by a single second!

Robert Qualls 20:09     Douglas Chesnut 20:50     Doug Bell 20:54

75-79 Dave Glass won every national championship 10 Km and up last year on his way to the 2022 Grand Prix championship for 75-79. He did not win a road championship under 10 Km in length. He is ahead of that pace this year, with this 5 Km win in Atlanta. Keith Yeates has turned into a podium threat since he aged up into 75-79. He took 4th at the Masters 5 Km XC Championships in 22:54 at Boulder in October, slipped to 7th at the highly competitive Club Cross Championships in San Francisco, then nabbed his first podium with a bronze medal at Cross Nationals in Richmond. He hoped to improve on that showing in Atlanta. Yeates kept Glass in sight for the better part of that first mile, but once they made the 180-degree turn, the gap increased. Glass was lost to sight and Yeates concentrated on holding his pace and not allowing a single M75 to pass. Paul Carlin, your author, felt like 2022 was a transitional year. Coming out of the Covid interruption in good shape, I ran a 48:37 10 Km in late April and was looking forward to being competitive at the national championships that would be held in the fall. Two weeks later my Achilles would not allow me to run. The only training was walking, spin bike or elliptical--no running. I finally worked my way out of rehab shortly before Christmas. By the time the 10 Km Championship rolled around, I felt competitive. Even though I finished 7th in 50:02, I was only 5 seconds out of 5th. If I had finished slightly faster, I might have passed the two runners I was closing in on. I finished 4th in the division at the 12 Km Championships and 4th at Cross Nationals in Richmond. I was hoping this race in Atlanta might be my 2023 Grand Prix podium breakthrough. I actually never caught sight of Glass. I could see Yeates a bit ahead and then a bit further. I kept him in sight until the long downslope after the 180 turn. By the time the course flattened out it seemed clear I would not be overtaking Yeates. I focused on form and keeping my cadence up. I learned later that Jan Frisby was having much the same experience with me that Yeates had with Glass, and I with Yeates. Frisby had finished 4th at Dedham but one of his old injuries had flared up in the run into the finish. That kept him out of national championships for the rest of 2022. He made his re-entry at Cross Nationals, but again ran into some issues with his training in the run up to the race and he could only finish 7th, 4 minutes behind me. I know that, in the past, Frisby has often been able to recover quickly. This time his conditioning was still not quite there. When Glass crossed the finish line, the win in hand at 22:54, Yeates was over 100 meters back, toiling up Marietta. When Yeates claimed 2nd in at 23:35, I still had a couple of hundred meters to cover. I got my podium finish, holding off Frisby to claim third place. Frisby indicated later that I got a good 80 meters or so on him in the first mile and then he started to gradually bring me back in the 2nd mile. But he could not keep that process going once we got onto the closing hills. 

Men's 75-79 Podium-From L: Keith Yeates, Dave Glass, Paul Carlin Photo Credit: Creagh Cross


When I crossed the finish line, Frisby had a hundred meters yet to cover; he took 4th in 25:08.

Dave Glass 22:54     Keith Yeates 23:35     Paul Carlin 24:39 

80-84 Doug Goodhue Ann Arbor TC  has been in the Masters Hall of Fame for years. He and the legendary Norm Green are the only two athletes to win 8 consecutive Age Division Runner of the Year awards. He won his 59th national title at the 5K Championships in Atlanta in August 2019. Like everyone else, he had a forced break in 2020 due to the Covid pandemic. In 2021, he had knee surgery. One of the motivating factors for Goodhue to come back from that surgery was to win his 60th national championship. Goodhue tested the knee and ran for fun, as he got his 70+ team together for the Club Cross championships. It tested out pretty well and he enjoyed the return to competition and the camaraderie. He entered the championships in Atlanta. Goodhue tweaked his hamstring in the run up to the event; that was his only worry. He resolved to start gradually, not an easy thing for Goodhue. But he had no trouble putting a gap on the rest of the field. When Goodhue crossed the finish line, taking the win at 26:36, the rest of the field had well over 300 meters to go! Ed Bligh Atlanta, who had taken the 80-84 title at Richmond, finished 2nd in 28:45. Seven minutes and change later, Andrew Sherwood Atlanta, the Elder Statesman of the division, at this race, finished 3rd. I have no idea how many podium finishes Sherwood has, but it must be a ton! He shows up to compete and anchor his Atlanta team. Goodhue go t his 60th Championship at the same site and the same distance as his 59th! Atlanta is, no doubt, one of his favorite places to race!

Doug Goodhue 26:36     Ed Bligh 28:45     Andrew Sherwood 36:11

85-89 Adrian Craven, the 85-89 Grand Prix champion for 2022, took the 85-89 win at Club Cross. He entered the race as favorite. Everything was going well until he headed up Matrietta Street toward the turn into the finish., At that point he was probably 1200 meters ahead of his teammate, Sid Davis, the only other entrant in the division. For what happened next, I am relying on hearsay. A runner indicated that he had heard that one of the spectators, a young boy, ran out in front of Craven, they got tangled up and Craven may have fallen down. Whether Craven fell down and whether he was able to get up in unclear. What is clear, in the referee's report is that an adult escorted Craven over the final meters to the finish line. The adult was well-meaning, no doubt, Craven may have been confused at that point. In any case, that action constitutes illegal assistance and resulted in a DQ. With Craven disqualified,   Sid Davis is credited with the win in 53:54 and, incidentally, moved up from 4th to 3rd finisher for the Atlanta TC's M80+ team.

Sid Davis 53:54     Adrian Craven DQ 38:50 

TEAM CHAMPIONSHIPS

Team championships are determined by adding up the times of the first three finishers on each team, low score wins. The ‘Home Team’ Atlanta Track Club led the way with four team championships; five other teams won a single championship each. 

MEN 

40+ The Athens Road Runners Luke Mortensen, Kevin Burke, James Berry, out of Athens GA, edged Atlanta Nathan Deeter, Andrew Marshall, Brennan Pratt [Mike Schmitz, Brad Frink] for the win with a score of 51:12. The difference between 1st and 2nd was an average of just two seconds per runner. Mortensen got Athens a lead of about a minute. The #2 and 3 runners for Atlanta clawed back all but 6 seconds of that. Atlanta’s ‘B’ squad Dustin Heslep, Kevin Gibson, Kurt Rowland [Mark Castleberry] took 3rd. Cal Coast, Athens 'B', and Atlanta 'C' followed in that order.

Athens Road Runners 51:12 17:04 average     Atlanta Track Club 'A' 51:18 17:06     Atlanta Track Club 'B' 55:49 18:37

50+ Atlanta Steve Bell, Brent Fields, Kristian Blaich [Chip Hawkins, Michael Strickland] took this win at 52:09. The Genesee Valley Harriers Mark Andrews, Dale Flanders, Michael Mertens [Keithe Yeates, Mark Rybinski] claimed 2nd in 54:27, with Atlanta’s B squad Fred Weir, David Waid, Brad Slavens [Jeff Haushalter, Hernan LaGreca] matching their 40+ counterparts in taking 3rd in this division. Andrews got GVH a half minute lead but the #2 and 3 runners for Atlanta were able to close that gap and more. Atlanta 'C', Colonial Road Runners, Athens Road Runners, and Atlanta 'D' followed in that order. 

Atlanta Track Club 'A' 52:09 17:23     Genesee Valley Harriers 54:27 18:09     Atlanta Track Club 'B' 55:16 18:26

60+ This contest was tighter, but Atlanta Ken Youngers, Lester Dragstedt, Casey Hannan [Gary Droze, Michael Anderson] again took the win with an average time per runner of 19:01 compared to 19:29 for the 2nd place Boulder Road Runners Roger Sayre, Adam Feerst, John Blaser and 19:42 for Shore AC Rick Lee, Kevin Dollard, Reno Stirrat [Scott Linell, Przemek Nowicki] in 3rd. The Ann Arbor Track Club, Kansas City Smoke, Athens Road Runners, Atlanta 'B' and Atlanta 'C' followed in that order. Shore and Ann Arbor had the top two finishers, but Atlanta had the tightest pack with just a couple of ticks over a half minute between their first and third runners. 

Atlanta Track Club 57:03 19:01     Boulder Road Runners 58:26 19:29     Shore Athletic Club 59:04 19:42

70+ Boulder RR Douglas Chesnut, Doug Bell, Rick Katz [Jan Frisby] moved up one position compared to their 60+ counterparts, claiming the 70+ win at 1:04:42, with Atlanta Kirk Larson, Dave Glass, Ward Irvin [Allen Joyce, Jerry Learned] second at 1:07:37, and Ann Arbor Terry McCluskey, Paul Carlin, Doug Goodhue 3rd at 1:15:44. Atlanta 'B' took 4th. Boulder had the top two runners, and their 3rd runner came in ahead of his counterpart #3 on every other team.

Boulder Road Runners 1:04:42 21:34     Atlanta Track Club 1:07:37 22:33     Ann Arbor Track Club 1:15:44 25:15

80+ As sole entrant, Atlanta Ed Bligh, Andfrew Sherwood, Sid Davis took the win in 1:58:50. It was a lucky thing they had Davis; his time was crucial to the win once Craven was disqualified. Never let anyone say a 4th runner is superfluous. 

Atlanta Track Club 1:58:50 39:37

WOMEN 

40+ The Garden State Track Club Jennifer Pesce, Elizabeth Wakeling, Jessica Hruska [Gabrielle Panepinto] took the win with almost a minute per runner to spare. Their winning total was 55:13. Atlanta Jill Braley, Jamie O'Brien, Amy Koepp ;Hiroko Guarneri]  took 2nd in 58:11, with Athens Rhia Kilpatrick, Emily Noble, Suzanne Baldwin [Lisa Patton, Janet Muse Dorsey] 3rd in 1:00:12. Atlanta's B team took 4th. Garden State had the 1st, third and 4th runners across the finish line for a dominant win. Each runner on Atlanta's team came in ahead of their Athens counterpart; they had a convincing #2 showing.

Garden State Track Club 55:13 18:25     Atlanta Track Club 58:11 19:24     Athens Road Runners 1:00:12 20:04

50+ The Greater Philadelphia TC Michelle Rohl, Abby Dean, Doreen McCoubrie [Patricia Heppelman, Annabelle Broadbent] with a cumulative time of 58:50, claimed the win over Sirius Athletics Rachel Hopkins, Melissa Landers-Potts, Jill O'Grady Julie Luft, Laura Johnson] out of Athens GA at 1:00:43 and Garden State Hortencia Aliaga, Kimberly Aspholm, Angela Riordan at 1:02:30. Greater Philadelphia's top two runners came in 1-2. When McCoubrie, dropping down from her usual 60+ team, came in 6th, that cemented the deal for GPTC. Sirius, with less than a minute between #1 and #3, had the edge over Garden State. Atlanta and Impala followed in 4th and 5th.

Greater Philadelphia Track Club 58:50 19:37     Sirius Athletics 1:00:43 20:15     Garden State Track Club 1:02:30  20:50

60+ Athletics Boulder Kristine Clark, Inge McClory, Laura Bruess made sure their trip from the Rockies paid off. They took the win at 1:04:06. Liberty AC Mary Cass, Lauren Leslie, Victoria Bok [Drusilla Pratt-Otto], the longest standing Women’s track club in the country, out of Greater Boston, finished 2nd in 1:04:51, with Atlanta Patrice Combs, Michelle Keane, Barbara Chandler [Mireille Silva] 3rd at 1:08:37. AB's #1 gave them a half minute lead over Liberty, but Liberty's #2 runner eliminated all but 8 seconds of the gap. When AB's #3 runner came in 37 seconds ahead of Liberty's, that iced it for Athletics Boulder. Atlanta's 1, 2, and 3 runners all finished ahead of their counterparts at Shore for a strong bronze medal showing. Shore AC, Atlanta 'B', Atlanta 'C', and the Greater Buffalo Track Club followed in that order.

Athletics Boulder 1:04:06 21:22      Liberty Athletics Club 1:04:51 21:37      Atlanta Track Club 1:08:37 22:53

70+ Atlanta’s A team Norma Hudnall, Kathleen Allen, Marion Finley [Myrna Barnett, Andrea McCarter] took the win at 1:30:15, with their B squad Catherine Radle, Mary Reed, Nora Renzulli [Joyce Hodges-Hite, Betty Lindberg] 2nd at 2:04:13. I do not know if anyone has a record that could clearly establish it, but in my memory, we have never seen a 98-year-old member of a competing team in our championships. That is another first for Betty and the Atlanta Track Club.

Atlanta Track Club 1:30:15 30:05     Atlanta Track Club 'B' 2:04:13 41:25

That concludes this recap of the 2023 USATF Masters 5 Km Championships. The weather was great; the competition scintillating, and the camaraderie filled our spirits to the brim. Next up is the Masters Ten Mile Championships in Sacramento on April 2nd.