Top Masters Athletes Primed for Fast Four Miler in Peoria

 June 12, 2025. The Steamboat Classic, celebrating more than 50 years of races, hosts the USATF Open and Masters 4 Mile Championships this Saturday, June 14th. Light rain showers are expected to stop before the 7:13 AM race time; temperatures in the upper 60’s, with little wind, should make for fast times. Those sensitive to humidity may need to adjust. The relative humidity should be high, but the dewpoint is expected to stay under 70. The course, located in downtown Peoria Illinois, is flat and fast! 

Note: It appears that the 4 Mile distance is not record-eligible. So even though the course would be record eligible if USATF tracked the 4 Mile, no records will be set. Lots of personal bests will, no doubt, be achieved.

OVERALL MEN Five athletes are likely to be at the front. David Angell won a 45-49 10K Gold Medal at the World Masters Championships in March in 33:31. He finished third overall among those defined by USATF as Masters athletes. A month later, Angell ran twenty-eight seconds faster to finish fifth overall in the Masters 10K Championships, hosted by the James Joyce Ramble in Dedham MA. 

David Angell on the Final Turn on His way to the Overall Win at the 2019 USATF Masters 5 Km Championships in Atlanta GA Photo Credit: Michael Scott

Dickson Mercer finished nine seconds ahead of Angell at the Masters 10K championships in April, in 32:54. With a recent 15:52 5000M effort on the track, Mercer may be primed for his first Masters overall win. 

Dickson Mercer On His way to a 5th place finish overall at the 2024 USATF Masters 10 Km Championships Photo Credit: Michael Scott

But he will need all of his experience at Masters National Championships to stay ahead of Taylor Smith. Smith ripped off a 33:12 at the Bolder Boulder 10K a couple of weeks ago, an impressive time on that course at 5400' elevation. Added credentials include a 16:01 5K last July (also at altitude) and a 2:35:06 Marathon at the California International Marathon Note: CIM is a point-to-point race known for fast times as it falls by over 90 meters.  Robert Duncan and Brian Valentini could also factor in the podium race. If the Duncan who is entered is the Robert Duncan from Plainfield Illinois that I found in Athlinks, he ran a 16:33 at the Packers 5K last July in Wisconsin and a 34:05 10K this March. Valentini has very similar credentials. He ran 16:37 to finish on the M40 podium at the Brian Kraft Memorial 5K in the Twin Cities this May. That was after running 34:00 at the Get It in Gear 10K in April. I would give Mercer the edge due to experience and being at the top of his game, then Smith, then Angell.

Likely podium in alphabetical order:

David Angell     Dickson Mercer     Taylor Smith

WOMEN Note: Jessica Hruska, now in 45-49, whose 18:12 won the Masters 5 Km Championships, overall, three years ago, is the favorite among the Women. That year she also finished third in the 10K Masters Championships in 37:15 and, in December, finished fourth at the highly competitive Club Cross Country Championships in San Francisco. 

Jessica Hruska wins the Overall Title at the 2022 USATF Masters 5 Km Championships hosted by the Atlanta Track Club Photo Credit: Courtesy of Atlanta Track Club 

Hruska has competed more sparingly at Masters National Championships in the years since 2022. Recent outings include a 30:55 8K at the 2024 Shamrock Shuffle in Chicago (finishing top ten in W40) and a 19:19 5K at the Indy Mini Marathon this May. Abby Dean and Kara Parker will challenge. Dean, in 50-54, finished fourth in the 2023 Masters 10 Km Championships in 38:17. 

Abby Dean finishing fourth Overall at the 2022 USATF Masters 5 Km Championships hosted by the Atlanta Track Club Photo Credit: Courtesy of Atlanta Track Club 

Since that time, Dean has had to work back from a couple of injuries. Her best recent road 10K effort was at the WMA Indoor Championships in late March, where she ran 39:55 to finish as 2nd American. Two weeks before, Dean clocked a 19:05 at the Haddonfield Adrenaline 5K. Dean stumbled a bit at the 10K Championships in late April but rebounded in mid-May with a sparkling 5:34.31 time at the Memorial Main Street Mile. It is even more amazing that the third contender, Parker, is now in 55-59. But Fiona Bayly has made the podium at national championships out of that division so why not Parker? She ran 19:28 at the Brian Kraft Memorial 5K in the Twin Cities last month and has staying power as well. Parker clocked 1:05:36 in the Ten Miler at the Medtronic Twin Cities Marathon last October. She finished fifth Masters overall in that race which always attracts a strong field. Based on recent 5K times, it appears to be a toss-up. But let's go with Hruska-Dean-Parker as a likely finishing order. 

Note: Another entrant who might be able to stay with Hruska is Jeanette Ingham. Ingham owns an unusual set of marathon results if the athlete I found in Athlinks, from Texas, who is the right age, is the Ingham in question. In 2021 the Boston Marathon offered a virtual option as we were just coming out of Covid. Ingham entered and was credited with a 2:47. The time is listed by the BAA with no added information. That is not so surprising. But all other Athlinks result I find are also virtual. The most recent is a 2:32 virtual marathon credited this spring by a small marathon relay outfit in Kentucky. If Ingham can run an actual 2:32 Marathon, she is fit enough to win. Ingham's results in the Athletes section of Athlinks are private. None of this makes sense, though, and the Ingham entered is running for Atlanta. So, the Ingham entered may be entirely different from the Ingham with the virtual marathon results.

Likely podium in alphabetical order:

Abby Dean    Jessica Hruska     Kara Parker

AGE GRADING. The Age Grading score, the Performance Level Percentage PLP identifies the best performance adjusted for age, the higher the PLP the better. In terms of Age Grading medals awarded, 90% is gold; 85% silver; and 80% bronze.

WOMEN Nora Cary is the favorite. She is USATF’s 2024 Masters Athlete of the Year and the current holder of 70-74 records from the 5K to the 10 Mile. Cary regularly grades in the high 90's! 

Nora Cary closes out another spectacular W65 Win at the age of 69 at the 2024 USATF Masters 10 Km Championships hosted by the James Joyce Ramble in Dedham MA Photo Credit: Michael Scott

Patrice Combs, fourth in Age Grading at the 10K Championships, in the low 90's, is likely to make the podium here. 

Patrice Combs making the final turn on her way to a W60 Win and a Fourth place Age Grade Finish at the 2019 USATF Masters 5 Km Championships hosted by the Atlanta Track Club Photo Credit: Michael Scott

Abby Dean and Kara Parker will make her earn it. Dean's Adrenaline 5K time grades in the upper 80's and Parker's Kraft 5K is a couple of percentage points higher. Let us go with Cary-Combs-Parker for the age grade podium order.

Likely podium in alphabetical order:

Nora Cary    Patrice Combs     Kara Parker

MEN Frank Zoldak, out of Boulder CO, who took top age grading honors at Club Cross in both 2023, in Tallahassee, and 2025, in San Francisco, will try to add a road title to his collection. 

Frank Zodak on his way to an Age Grade win in addition to 50-54 at the 2023 USATF Club Cross Country Championships at Apalachee Regional Park in Tallahassee FL Photo Credit: Michael Scott

Zoldak is no slouch on the roads; his 35:47 at the 2024 Bolder Boulder 10K graded in the upper 80's and that was at altitude. Dan King won the M65 Fifth Avenue Mile last year. Despite the very active record-breaking in the 60's division, King still holds the Outdoor Track record at the Mile in 4:51.45. He is also the reigning M65 Club Cross Country Champion and had the second highest PLP in the M60+ race. 

Dan King closing in on a Dominant Victory Overall in the M60+ 8 Km Race at the 2021 USATF Club Cross Country Championships hosted at Apalachee Regional Park in Tallahassee FL Photo Credit: Michael Scott

His 17:33 at the Boulder Thanksgiving Day 5K last fall, earned a PLP in the mid-90's.   Like Zoldak, he trains in Boulder at altitude. Roger Sayre, a third athlete training out of Boulder CO is the M65 record holder at 25K. But he also is strong at shorter races, winning the M65 title at the recent 10K Championships in 38:17. That graded in the low 90's, good enough for an Age Grade podium finish. 

Roger Sayre on his way to a Dominant M65 W and the Age Grading Silver Medal at the 2024 USATF Masters Half Marathon Championships hosted by the Indy Half Marathon at Fort Ben in Indianapolis IN Photo Credit: Pam Fales

Mark Zamek, who trains in the Twin Cities these days, finished second M60 at the 2024 10K Championships in 36:08. 

Mark Zamek On His Way to a Top Five Age Grade Finish at the 2023 USATF Club Cross Country Championships hosted at Apalachee Regional Park in Tallahassee FL Photo Credit: Michael Scott

This past March he won the M60 gold medal at the WMA Championships in Gainesville FL in 36:14. Age 61 at the time, both of those also graded in the low 90's. The crystal ball is a little murky. All four appear to be at or near the top of their game right now. Let's go with a likely order of King-Zoldak-Sayre, with Zamek very capable of messing up that predicted order.

Likely podium in alphabetical order:

Dan King    Roger Sayre     Frank Zoldak 

AGE DIVISION. MEN 40-44 All of the athletes discussed in the analysis of the Overall Championship, except Angell are in this division. If Mercer and Smith are to finish 1-2 overall, they will also finish 1-2 in this division. To round out the podium, I need to choose between Duncan and Valentini. Their recent efforts at 5K and 10K are within a few seconds of each other so it really is a toss-up. As 5K is closer, in distance to a 4 Mile Run, I will go with Duncan who had the slightly faster 5K time at 16:33. It will be up to Valentini to prove the prediction wrong!

Likely podium in alphabetical order:

Brian Duncan    Dickson Mercer     Taylor Smith

45-49 Angell, picked for the Overall podium, is the favorite to take the M45 title as well. Matthew Di Pretore has the edge over Richard Jennings. Di Pretore finished 10th in this division at the 2024 10K Championships in 35:18. His most recent relevant race is his 17:05 5K at the Buffalo Marathon in May. A Richard Jennings finished mid-pack, finishing 34th of 50 in the M45 division at the 2021 Club Cross Championships, running for Cal Coast. If Jennings wound up in Texas a couple of years later, and registered as Rick, not Richard, Jennings, then he ran a 17:34 at the Buffalo Stampede. If that is our athlete, he could push Di Pretore. If not, there is no reason to think Di Pretore will have any trouble claiming the silver medal. The likely order is Angell-Di Pretore-Jennings. 

Likely podium in alphabetical order:

David Angell    Matthew Di Pretore     Richard Jennings

50-54 Robb Awe won the Masters Half Marathon M50 championships last fall. His 1:20:45 was achieved over a challenging course in his hometown of Indianapolis. His 5:09, in June 2024, took second in M50 at the Masters 1 Mile Road Championships. In November he ran 17:00 flat at the Bolt for the Heart 5K. 

Robb Awe Making a Turn on the Way to a Strong M50 Win at the 2024 USATF Masters Half Marathon Championships hosted by the Indy Half Marathon at Fort Ben in Indianapolis IN Photo Credit: Pam Fales  

Alan Black will give Awe a good challenge. Running for the Atlanta Track Club, Black won the 2018 Masters 1 Mile Overall Championships and finished ninth overall at the 5K Championships. This spring he has been rounding back into shape; in April he ran 17:48 at the Athens Twilight 5K. Jason Newport looks solid for third. In February 2024, Newport finished 11th in this division at the Masters 5K Championships in 18:31. Last November he clocked 17:58 at the Jingle Jog 5K. The most likely finishing order is Awe-Black-Newport.

Likely podium in alphabetical order:

Robb Awe    Alan Black     Jason Newport

55-59 This division just became a little less interesting. Gregory Putnam is a scratch due to a knee flare up. Christopher Harris and Putnam went 1-2 M55 at Dedham in April, with just five seconds between them. There is still plenty of interest. Zoldak, mentioned in Age Grading above, is also in this division. Harris's 35:20 at the 10K Championships suggests he has the fitness to run in the mid-22-minute range for a 4 Miler. Harris's 17:06 at the 2024 Masters 5 Km Championships reinforces that notion. 

Christopher Harris heading for an M50 Podium Finish at the Warm USATF 2023 Masters 5 Km Cross Country Championships in Boca Raton FL Photo Credit: Michael Scott

Zoldak, as noted, in addition to his Cross Country wins, ran 35:47 at the 2024 Bolder Boulder 10K. That suggests they are pretty close. Zoldak's slightly slower time is at higher elevation, but also a year older. And there are other contenders as well. John McMahon finished a minute behind Harris at the WMA Cross Country Championships over 8K in March. He clocked 28:12 at the Running of the Green 5 Miler in March 2024, a time comparable to Harris's 35:20 10K. Michael Mallon finished second at the Masters 10 Mile Championships last August over the challenging Crim racecourse in Flint MI. His 59:33 suggests he should be in the mix with Harris, Zoldak and McMahon. For now, I will give the edge to Harris who is the closest thing we have to a reigning M55 4 Mile Champion. After Harris, I will go with Zoldak and then McMahon, leaving Mallon to prove the predicted podium wrong!

Likely podium in alphabetical order:

Christopher Harris    John McMahon     Frank Zoldak

60-64 Douglas Baldwin finished 15 seconds ahead of Mark Zamek at Club Cross last December. 

Douglas Baldwin leading a pack of top M60's Runners on his way to a Top Five M60 Finish at the 2024 USATF Club Cross Country Championships hosted by Club Northwest in Tacoma WA Photo Credit: Michael Scott 

This April, Baldwin demonstrated his range by taking 4th M60 at the Boston Marathon in 2:50:47. Zamek was top American at the WMA Indoors Cross Country championships, claiming the silver medal. But Baldwin was not there. That was Cross Country which does not always map in the same order to road races.  At the 2024 Masters 10 Km Championships, Zamek finished second in 36:08. At the WMA Championships this March in Gainesville FL, Zamek took gold in the 10K Road Race in 36:14. A couple of weeks ago, Zamek ran 17:53 at the Brian Kraft 5K. Zamek trains on the edge between glory and injury. Zamek appears to have recovered from his latest injury. Though not as fit as he would like, Zamek will be formidable. Lester Dragstedt, Joe Mora are the favorites for the final podium spot. Dragstedt's most recent national outing was the Masters 10K Championships, where he finished 5th M60 in 38:12. In 2024 he won M60 at the Masters 5K Championships in Atlanta with a sterling 18:19. Mora is a middle-distance runner on the track first and a long-distance runner on the roads second. In 2023, Mora clocked 5:13.4 to finish third at the Masters 1 Mile road Championships. That kind of speed means that Mora is dangerous. If he is in the mix close to the end, he could win it all. That he could run a 30:37 Five Miler last November at the Liverpool Turkey Trot suggests Mora has decent staying power up through and beyond the 4 Mile distance. Mora has also recently beaten Dragstedt on the cross country turf, finishing 26 seconds ahead of him at Club Cross in Tacoma last December. This is a packed field. Others who could work their way onto the podium include David Black, Dale Flanders, Mike Nier, and Brendan Sullivan. Black finished behind Dragstedt at the 10K championships, but ahead of Flanders. The claim for Flanders relies on his performance last September at the 12 km Championships where he came in a minute ahead of Dragstedt. Nier finished two seconds ahead of Black at the 10K championships and ran a 32:38 Five Miler at the Running of the Green race this March. And it is worth noting that at the 2023 1 Mile road championships in Indianapolis, Nier, in the 55-59 age division then, ran ten seconds faster than Mora. This is way too tough to call. But I will go with Zamek for the win, followed by his teammate, Baldwin, and then Mora edging Dragstedt for third.

 Likely podium in alphabetical order:

Douglas Baldwin    Joseph Mora     Mark Zamek

65-69 As noted in the Age Grading section above, King is very strong. King strained a calf muscle on the way into this race. But his ability to rehab such strains is second to none. He feels that although it is not perfect, the calf should not be a factor. That is good news for King and bad news for the rest of the field. King's winning 5:09 in M65 at the Fifth Avenue Mile last fall along with his subsequent 17:33 at the Boulder Turkey Trot 5K suggests King can break 23 minutes in the 4 Mile without really pushing. And that should be fast enough to take the win in this division. Of course, if King wants to be competitive in age grading, he may have to push a bit harder than that. Unless something goes wrong for King, Doug Keller and Roger Sayre should battle for 2nd and 3rd, with Sayre having the edge. Keller finished third at Club Cross in Tacoma (in the absence of Sayre) finishing well behind King. On the roads, Keller ran a 31:09 8K in April and ran 18:44 at the Brian Kraft 5K in the Twin Cities this May. Sayre, as noted above is the 25K Record holder for 65-69. So he is very strong. But he also has good speed. Sayre is coming off a 10K win at the Masters 10 Km Championships in 38:17. Last summer he ran 18:45 at the Cookie Chase 5K at altitude. Two other strong runners, John Blaser and Norm Larson should duke it out for 4th and 5th. Larson finished 7th this April at the Masters 10K in 41:02. Blaser finished 4th at the 2024 Masters 10 K Championships but his time was 44 seconds slower than Larson's. Blaser has run a 21:26 and a 22:25 5K this May. Larson ran 20:54 at the Paddy's 5K this March. I will go with King-Sayre-Keller as the most likely order of finish but Larson and Blaser will make them work for it!

Likely podium in alphabetical order:

Douglas Keller    Dan King     Roger Sayre

70-74 Two weeks ago, the favorite going into this race would have been Rick Becker, who won this division at Club Cross and won the M70 10K Road Race at the end of March in 40:39. But he suffered a bike crash giving him a shoulder injury that prevented any kind of training. All his rivals wish him well and would prefer to have him in Peoria competing. But they will carry on! Jim Linn is the favorite. Linn finished second to John Barbour at the 10K Championships. Battles between Barbour and Becker on the turf when both are healthy have been legendary. Barbour's time at Dedham was 21 seconds faster than Becker's. We are looking forward to their next matchup which might not be until Club Cross next January in Tallahassee. With the exception of Becker, all of the entrants here also competed at Dedham. Linn came in at 41:56, half a minute ahead of Jack Pottle. 

Jim Linn blue singlet Wins the M70 Division By Over Two Minutes at the 2023 USATF Masters 12 Km Championships hosted by USATF-NJ at their By Hook or By Crook Run Photo Credit: Jason Timochko

A minute later, Scott Lucking, Denny Kurtis, and Reno Stirrat finished within a half-minute of one another, in that order. Linn also owns wins over Pottle at Tacoma and Boulder on the turf. And Linn won this division at the 2024 Masters 5 Km Championships, clocking a nifty 19:53! Linn will be tough to beat over a 4 Mile course! Pottle has been pushing Linn whenever they meet. Will this be the race where Pottle is able to turn the tables? Lucking, Kurtis and Stirrat will be right on their heels! And Doug Bell could factor in as well. He had an off day at Dedham, finishing a good minute behind Stirrat. But at the 2024 5 km Championships in Atlanta, Bell finished fourth, twenty-seven seconds ahead of Kurtis. Bell cannot be ignored! The most likely order of finish in this highly competitive field is Linn-Pottle-Lucking, but many other permutations are possible!

Likely podium in alphabetical order:

James Linn    Scott Lucking     Jack Pottle

75-79 Gary Ostwald is a strong favorite in this division. Although he did not compete at the Masters 10 Km Championships this year, he finished second in this division at the 2024 championships behind Gene Dykes. Dykes is currently out of commission with a serious knee injury. Ostwald also won the division at the Tacoma Club Cross Country Championships last December. 

Gary Ostwald on the way to an M75 Silver Medal at the 2024 USATF Masters 10 Km Championships hosted by the James Joyce Ramble in Dedham MA Photo Credit: Michael Scott

At the beginning of the year, I anticipated that Don Morrison, aging up from the 70-74 division, would likely be at the front of the pack. But Morrison started the year with a Cross Country skiing accident that kept him out of commission for a few weeks. By the 10K Championships at Dedham, Morrison was starting to get back to his old self, finishing second, a minute ahead of Jerry Learned. But then, a couple of weeks ago a post on Facebook noted that he had been hospitalized for an illness that was not, at the time, clearly diagnosed, but may have been tick-related. Whether that has hampered his training significantly or not, is anyone's guess. A Facebook posting earlier this week indicates he is feeling better but not fully recovered. Learned, as noted, appears to be on his game. For the last couple of years, since putting a health problem behind him, Learned has been a regular on the podium in this division. As noted, he finished third in Dedham over 10K, finishing a minute astern of Morrison in 47:44. Learned finished third at the 2024 5K Championships in 23:35. Last November he ran a 24:23 5K at the Invesco Half Marathon. Allen Joyce and your author, Paul Carlin have been well back from Learned in recent months. They have been back and forth over the past year. I had the edge in the 2024 Grand Prix year, coming in ahead of Joyce at Clubs in Tallahassee, the 5K in Atlanta, and at the 12 Km in New Jersey. But Joyce had the edge at the WMA Championships in Gainesville this March, finishing a minute ahead of me in the 10K Road Race. It is hard to know what to do with Morrison in terms of this preview. He might not show up if his health is not 100%. On the other hand, it may be that he has been feeling well enough to train and will show up but not be fully competitive. I will guess the latter and choose a likely order of Ostwald-Learned-Morrison. If Morrison cannot compete, I would have to put Joyce on the predicted podium as he has the most recent edge. Late breaking news--Morrison does have a form of lyme disease and is a scratch from this 4-mile championship and the one-mile championship on the 21st.

Likely podium in alphabetical order:

Allen Joyce     Jerry Learned     Gary Ostwald

80-84 Richard Kutzner returns to the fray after an absence of a few years from the national championships. He last competed at the 2018 Masters 5 Km Championnships; he finished third in 75-79 with a 24:06. Przemyslaw 'Przemek' Nowicki was competing in those same championships in the 70-74 division, finishing 7th in 22:41. But that was seven years ago. Kutzner has run well recently, focusing mostly on longer distances. He clocked 1:57:33 at the Rock n Roll San Antonio Half Marathon and 1:31:54 at the Capital Pursuit 10Miler in Iowa. Last summer he turned in a 1:04:10 at the challenging Quad City Bix 7 Miler. Were this race longer, Kutzner would be favored over Nowicki. At 4 Miles, however, things move in Nowicki's favor. After overcoming some health problems last year, Nowicki is enjoying a return to good health and fitness. Last fall he ran 53:55 at the Giralda Farms 10K and this April ran 54:45 at the Cherry Blossom 10K in New Jersey. Nowicki finished second at the 10K Championships in Dedham in late April. He noted after the race that he had strained a glute muscle from running the day before and that he hoped it would heal fully before the June races. Nowicki is the favorite, but Kutzner is a close second. Teammates Ed Bligh and Morris Williams will compete for the final podium spot. Bligh ran 28:31 at the 2024 5K championships, finishing second in this division. Williams did not compete that year. In 2023, Williams ran 29:58 on a slightly different course. Bligh clocked 1:02:38 at the Members 10K in Georgia this April. The most recent 10K I know of for Williams was when he ran 1:05:40 at the 10K national championships. Based on that, I will give the edge to Bligh. That gives me a likely finishing order of Nowicki-Kutzner-Bligh.

Likely podium in alphabetical order:

Ed Bligh    Richard Kutzner     Przemek Nowicki

85-89 Roland Cormier competes unchallenged in this division. He had a challenger at the 10 km Masters Championships. Cormier won in 1:34:23. But I understand he used the first part of his race for a warmup. He is likely to run better at Peoria although he will not need to.

Podium: Roland Cormier

WOMEN: 40-44 NO ENTRIES

45-49 Hruska, favored for the Overall win, is expected to win this division as well. Unless Ingham, mentioned in the note in the Overall section is, in fact, a 2:32 marathoner, Hruska should not be challenged. Alicia Eno competes at national championships in track and cross country and occasionally on the roads. She finished fourth in this division at the 5 Km Championships in Boulder last year and 6th the year previously in Boca Raton. 

Alicia Eno leads Brenda Osovski GVH into the Finish at the 2023 USATF Masters 5 Km Cross Country Championships in Boca Raton FL Photo Credit: Michael Scott

Eno finished 11th in 2024 at the 1 Mile Road Championships on a technical course in Danville CA, clocking 6:56.6. At the Masters 10 Mile championships over a challenging Crim course in Flint MI, Eno finished fourth in 1:16:34. Eno ran a 1:47:21 Half Marathon in Florida in December. Her most recent outing appears to be a June 7th 53:58 10K in Michigan. That is much slower than her usual efforts. If that was unusual for some reason, then Eno looks good for second. If it is a sign of a fitness problem, then Vanessa Lordi could well move up. Lordi ran a 24:05 5K at the Kaiser Permanente Half Marathon in February and clocked 24:43 at Carlsbad in April. Laura Scholz, who clocked 51:06 at the Members 10K in February in Atlanta, could also move up if Eno is off her best. I am going to guess that Eno's last outing was not indicative of her current fitness and leave the most likely order of finish as Hruska-Eno-Lordi. I am leaving Ingham out of the top three without more information.

Likely podium in alphabetical order:

Alicia Eno     Jessica Hruska     Vanessa Lordi

50-54 Abby Dean would be highly competitive no matter who else entered. As it turns out, Dean, who is mentioned in terms of the prospective overall podium above, is the only entrant in this division.

Likely Podium:

Abby Dean

55-59 The first two seem pretty clear cut. Parker, mentioned as an overall Championship contender, should take the win. Her recent outings suggest a time near 25 minutes should be possible over 4 miles. Amy McMahon will not be far back though. McMahon has not competed at a national road championship since the 2022 Masters 1 Mile Championships in Rochester NY. There she finished 4th in 50-54 in 5:42. She also finished fourth in this division at the Club Cross Championships in Tacoma last December. Her most recent outings include a 1:12:06 at the Mountain Goat 10 Miler in May. McMahon is likely to be well under 28 minutes, and perhaps under 27, in Peoria. Teammates, Cassandra Crane and Brenda Osovski will vie for the final podium spot. They often compete at the same national championships with Osovski typically finishing a bit ahead of Crane. At the 10K Championships in April they were close, with Osovski's 48:46 giving her seventh place, just 14 seconds ahead of Crane. The likely order of finish is Parker-McMahon-Osovski.

Likely podium in alphabetical order:

Amy McMahon     Brenda Osovski     Kara Parker

60-64 Kris Huff, a frequent podium contender at national championships, should take the win in Peoria. At the 2024 Masters 5 Km Championships, Huff finished 4th in this division with a 22:07. This April she finished 5th W60 at the Boston Marathon in 3:15:32. 

Kris Huff leading a small pack at the 2024 USATF Cross Country Championships hosted by Club Northwest in Tacoma WA Photo Credit: Michael Scott

Pamela Ricker ran a 37:53 five miler last November and finished 8th in this division at the 10 Km Championships this April in 48:41. Ricker looks good for second. Crystal Kyle and Leslie Nowicki will vie for the final podium spot. I give Kyle the edge based on her 24:39 at the Interplanetary 5K in Illinois in April. The month before she ran 1:22:24 at the Gate River Run which suggests Nowicki can push her for third Nowicki ran 52:47 in finishing 13th at the Masters 10 km Championships this April. Gate River has the challenging Hart Bridge to get over, so I still favor Kyle. The most likely order of finish seems to be Huff-Ricker-Kyle.

Likely podium in alphabetical order:

Kris Huff     Crystal Kyle     Pamela Ricker

65-69 The race in this division got more interesting with the last day entry of Suzanne Cordes. Before that it looked like an easy win for Patrice Combs. At the 2024 Masters 5 Km Championships, Combs finished 2nd in 22:01. At the Masters 10 Km Championships this April, Combs took the win in 44:12. She appears to be back at the top of her game. Cordes is most dangerous on the turf. 

Suzanne Cordes leading a pack on her way to a Podium Finish in W60 and a Top Ten Age Grade PLP at the 2023 USATF Cross Country Championships at Pole Green Park in Richmond VA Photo Credit: Michael Scott

She won this division last year at Boulder after taking the title two years earlier in 60-64. In December of 2023 at Club Cross in Tallahassee, Cordes finished 4th in 60-64 at 27:38. Combs finished second in 65-69 at 29:11. Cordes does not often compete on the roads at national championships. She did compete at the 2023 1 Mile road Championships in Indianapolis but was far off her best. The next year was better; Cordes finished 4th W60 on the technical Danville course in 6:43.3. But that doe3s not seem quite fast enough to challenge Combs over 4 Miles. So, for now, I will keep Combs as the favorite and leave Cordes at number two. Marie Capdevielle, Lisa Vaughn, and Cindy Williams should all be in the hunt for the bronze medal. Capdevielle ran 26:07at the Little Silver 5K in New Jersey last October and 53:21 at the Cherry Blossom 10K this April. Vaughn finished seventh in this division at the 10K Championships in April with a 52:06. She followed that with a 25:41 5K at the Quad City Distance Classic in May. Williams was a regular podium contender on the circuit in the teens but has been less active in the 20's. It appears she is ready to roll again. She ran 26:18 5K in February in Atlanta and followed that with a nifty 51:05 at the members 10K in April. Those three should have quite a race for the bronze! I will give the edge to Williams, in part because she seems to be on the upswing but also because of her successful experience at many national championships. That gives me a likely order of Combs-Cordes-Williams.

Likely podium in alphabetical order:

Patrice Combs     Suzanne Cordes     Cynthia Williams

70-74 This is Cary's division. As noted above she is a strong favorite to take the Age Grading prize. She is as strong a favorite to take this division as one can imagine. This April she broke her own American W70 Record in winning the 10K Championship in 43:20. And that was just three weeks after her 1:10:20 at the Cherry Blossom Ten Mile Run in Washington, D.C. broke the 10 Mile American Record. It seems almost a certainty that Cary will break 28:00 over 4 miles. Even though Cindy Lucking is a very strong runner, she cannot run with Cary. Lucking finished second at the 2024 Masters 5K Championships with a 26:51. She followed that this spring with a 56:41 third place finish in this division at the Masters 10 Km Championships. 

Cindy Lucking on her way to a W70 Win at the 2024 USATF Cross Country Championships at Pole Green Park in Richmond VA Photo Credit: Michael Scott 

Helene Myers finished sixth in this division at the Masters 10 km Championships with a 1:22:43 time. She should collect a third-place finish and 85 points towards her quest to earn a second straight Masters National Grand Prix W70 win.  The likely order of finish is: Cary-Lucking-Myers.

Likely podium in alphabetical order:

Nora Cary    Cynthia Lucking     Helene Myers

75-79 Kathleen Allen finished 7th W70 in the 2024 Masters 5 Km Championships in 32:16. This spring she ran 1:03:06 in winning the W75 10 Km Championship in Dedham MA. Andrea McCarter, her teammate, did not compete at the 10K championships. In April she ran 1:16:43 at the Members 10K in Atlanta. The month before she ran 37:31 at the Hawks Fast Break 5K. The likely order of finish is: Allen-McCarter

Likely podium in alphabetical order:

Kathleen Allen    Andrea McCarter

80-84 Susan Sajdak is the only athlete registered. That is lucky for me. There are no results for Sajdak that I could find either through Athlinks or a general search. Sajdak is the likely winner, however fast or slow she runs.

Likely Podium:

Susan Sajdak

85-89 Joyce Hodges-Hite goes for another win! She is the sole registrant in this division. She won the W85 division in the 10K Road Race at the World Masters Championships in March with a 1:49:08. She finished second at the Masters 10K Championships in April at 1:48:19. 

Joyce Hodges-Hite sets out on her way to a W85 Win at the 2023 USATF Masters 5 Km Cross Country Championships in Boca Raton FL Photo Credit: Michael Scott

This race should provide a win and 100 points toward Hodges-Hites's quest for a third consecutive W85 Masters National Grand Prix award!

Likely Podium:

Joyce Hodges-Hite

Teams The Atlanta Track Club is likely to claim three of the four Women’s team titles up for grabs, with the Genesee Valley Harriers perhaps taking the other. Atlanta battles the Boulder Road Runners in an M50+ clash too close to call. The same is true in M60+ with Twin Cities Running Club, Atlanta and GVH all in the running. Boulder seems likely to take M70+.

Two Records Fall in Highly Competitive Masters 10K Championships

Two Records Fall in Highly Competitive Masters 10K Championships

By Paul Carlin

The USATF Masters 10 Km Championships were held on Sunday, April 27^th in Dedham, MA. The James Joyce Ramble, in its 40^th running, hosted the Championships for the 11^th time. The weather was great for running, with temperatures in the low 50’s. The moderate wind seemed like it might be troublesome; it did not cause any problems once the race was under way. A true national championship, 248 athletes, from 23 states, finished the race. As always, there was a great turnout from New England. But they came to Dedham, MA, a small town rich with history, outside of Boston, from as far away as the Pacific Northwest and the Southwestern United States!

NOTE: All of the photographs are provided by Mark Mathis mmphoto060@gmail.com      https://www.bostonrunningscene.com/   

RECORDS Nora Cary, who runs for New Jersey’s Shore AC, won four national championships last year, despite being in the last year of her age division. Once she turned 70, it was time to get the record books ready. She broke the 10K American 70-74 Record of 45:19 at Gainesville for the WMA Championships at the end of March, running 43:41. A week later, she dropped the Ten Mile record by almost six minutes in winning the prestigious Cherry Blossom Run in Washington DC.  Along the way, she established a 15K Record at 1:05:28. Here in Dedham, Cary lowered her new record by another twenty seconds, running 43:20! Records are pending until ratified. Local phenom, Jan Holmquist, running for Whirlaway, did not mind that her 70-74 record was taken down by Cary. She has new heights to climb. Holmquist added her name to the W80 Record Book. Her amazing 52:45, at age 80, smashed the existing American Record by a whopping two minutes and twenty-five seconds! Note: World Masters Athletics posts world records for track events and the Marathon. It is impossible to say if these two amazing records are also world bests or world records.

Pre-Race-Jan Holmquist red singlet joking with a Race Official as, from left, Robert Knight, Alice Miller, Ram Satyaprasad, and Richard Paulsen look on--at the 2025 USATF Masters 10 Km Championships hosted by the James Joyce Ramble Photo Credit: Mark Mathis

OVERALL

Note: The USATF registration system was down for the final 36 hours of registration, so the staff had to enter entrants during that time manually. As a result, the posted list of entrants lacked some important names, including the overall winner and the winner of the M70 division.

The sixteen-time US Mountain Running Champion and 2019 World Mountain Running Champion, Joseph Gray, out of Colorado Springs, claimed his second straight win, this time in 30:58. He was pressed more closely this time by Connecticut’s Mario Vazquez, the silver medalist, this year and last. Vazquez has been on a tear since last year, winning the 2024 USATF Masters 12 Km Championships last September, and finishing second overall at the Eversource Hartford Half Marathon in 1:06:39. Gray enjoyed an 18 second margin over Vazquez last year; this year, his cushion was just nine seconds! 

Joseph Gray breaks the Tape for the Overall Win, with Mario Vazquez, in the background, second at the 2025 USATF Masters 10 Km Championships hosted by the James Joyce Ramble Photo Credit: Mark Mathis

Justin Freeman, running for Maine’s Dirigo RC nailed the bronze medal for the second consecutive year, in 32:33.

Joseph Gray 30:58     Mario Vazquez 31:07     Justin Freeman 32:33

 Jessica Smith, Impala Racing, of San Francisco, won here, going away, in 2022. She ran 36:01 and enjoyed a winning margin of more than a minute. It was much closer this time. Despite Smith matching her 36:01, she had a mere six seconds on the silver medalist, Karen Bertasso, Fleet Feet Upstate Racing, New York. This was Bertasso’s second silver medal in her first two tries, matching her prize at the Masters 12 Km Championships. 

Jessica Smith Wins Overall, with Karen Bertasso, second, in the background at the 2025 USATF Masters 10 Km Championships hosted by the James Joyce Ramble Photo Credit: Mark Mathis

Jennifer Lutz, Greater Boston’s Battle Road TC, top Masters finisher at the Frank Nealon Boston Tune Up 15K in 56:56, claimed her second consecutive bronze medal in 36:57.

Jessica Smith 36:01     Karen Bertasso 36:07     Jennifer Lutz 36:57

AGE GRADING Age grading indicates the best performance, adjusted for age, across all age divisions. Not surprisingly, the two record breakers went 1-2. Cary, 70, enjoyed the edge, 97.15 to 94.91 for Holmquist, 80. Third place went to Suzanne La Burt, 61, Shore AC, NJ, 40:12 for 92.58. The top men were Vazquez, 46, Hartbeat New England, CT, 92.39 on 31:06; Nicholas Conway, 50, ARE, Albany NY, 32:42 for 90.86; 

Nicholas Conway sprints for the 50-54 Win and a Spot on the Age Grading Podium at the 2025 USATF Masters 10 Km Championships hosted by the James Joyce Ramble Photo Credit: Mark Mathis

and Roger Sayre, Bouler Road Running, CO 67, 90.60 from 38:17.

This championship has the largest prize purse on the Masters National Grand Prix circuit; Age grading prizes go seven deep. Finishing 4th through 7th among the women were: Patrice Combs, 67, Atlanta TC, 91.25 from 44:12; Mary Cass 63, Liberty AC, 87.68 from 43:34; Jennifer Rodriguez, 54 Bethlehem PA, 86.57 from 39:27; and Jessica Smith, 44, Impala Racing 85.42 from 36:00. Men finishing 4th through 7th included: John Van Danacker, 62 TC Running, 90.55 from 36:32; Justin Freeman, 48, Dirigo RC, 89.81 from 32:32; John Barbour 71 Greater Lowell RR 89.77 from 44:14; and Joseph Gray 41 Club Northwest, 89.18 from 30:58.

Nora Cary 70 43:20 97.15      Jan Holmquist 80 52:45 94.91     Suzanne La Burt 61 40:12 92.58  

NOTE: Records and age grading are based on net time; overall, age division and team competitions are on gun time.

AGE DIVISIONS National champions were crowned: WOMEN 40-44 Smith 36:01 edged Bertasso 36:07 

Jessica Smith left congratulates Jennifer Lutz as She Crosses the Finish Line at the 2025 USATF Masters 10 Km Championships hosted by the James Joyce Ramble Photo Credit: Mark Mathis

and Lutz 36:57.

Jessica Smith 36:01     Karen Bertasso 36:07     Jennifer Lutz 36:57

45-49 Katie Famous, Impala had the fastest 10K time coming in, a 41:09 10K at the Kaiser Permanente San Francisco Half Marathon. Heather Capello Boston Athletic Association was not that far off; she battled Famous for the win. Famous’s 42:07 gave her the win with a 21 second victory margin on Capello. Jessica Bozek 43:27 Cambridge RC, Cambridge MA, finished third.

Katie Famous 42:07     Heather Capello 42:28     Jessica Bozek 43:27

50-54 Jennifer Rodriguez [formerly Malavolta], Bethlehem PA, the division winner of the Masters Half Marathon Championships in Indianapolis last October, entered on a high note. The month before Rodriguez had led a 1-2-3 Team USA sweep in the 10K Road Race at the WMA Championships in 39:43. She finished twelve seconds ahead of Abby Dean, Greater Philadelphia TC DE who finished second there. Sarah Trigg, Queens NYC, was another sixteen seconds back. How would the rematch of these three turn out? And how would Hortencia Aliaga. Garden State TC, NJ factor in? Aliaga won the Masters 12 Km Championships in this division last September in 47:48, suggesting a sub-40 10K might be in her grasp. But Aliaga’s most recent 10K, from earlier this month was a 41:06 effort at the Cherry Blossom 10K in New Jersey. Rodriguez left nothing to chance; she had a sizable gap heading into the final kilometer, winning in 39:27. 

Jennifer Rodriguez closes in on her 50-54 Win at the 2025 USATF Masters 10 Km Championships hosted by the James Joyce Ramble Photo Credit: Mark Mathis

Trigg had more in the tank this day as she and Aliaga pulled away from Dean. Trigg 40:21 captured second, with Aliaga in third, just five seconds back. Dean 41:12 finished fourth. How strong was this division? Dean, who finished fourth in the division, was eighth overall!

The Gun Sounds! The Front Row of Women Runners Reacts From Left: Karen Bertasso #102, Jennifer Lutz #147, Sarah Trigg #130, Hortencia Aliaga # 99, Abby Dean blue singlet/gray gloves, and Suzanne La Burt white singlet/blue cap at the 2025 USATF Masters 10 Km Championships hosted by the James Joyce Ramble Photo Credit: Mark Mathis

Jennifer Rodriguez 39:27     Sarah Trigg 40:21     Hortencia Aliaga 40:26

55-59 Last year, Jody Dushay, Tracksmith Boston Hares, Mimi Fallon, Liberty AC, Greater Boston, and Kathleen Shaw Manchesteer RC, CT, finished 1-2-3 in this division with times ranging from 42:00 to 43:06. The chief challenger was Kimberly Aspholm, Garden State, primarily a middle-distance track athlete, who extended her range to claim third in 50-54 at the 12 Km Championships last September. Her 52:12 was equivalent to a low 43-minute 10K.  Aspholm stayed with the leaders and surged in the final kilometer to win in 42:53. Dushay outlasted Shaw to finish second in 43:01, edging her by a single second. Fallon finished fourth half a minute later.

Kimberly Aspholm 42:53     Jody Dushay 43:01     Kathleen Shaw 43:02    

60-64 Suzanne La Burt and Mary Cass Liberty AC went 1-2 here last year in 40:58 and 42;03. They ran in the Cross Country event at the WMA Championships last month, claiming second and fourth as the top two Americans. La Burt was on fire, enjoying her biggest margin of victory over Cass in recent memory. La Burt took first in 40:13, running 45 seconds faster than last year. Cass 43:37 finished second. Lauren Leslie Liberty AC pulled away from the rest of the field to claim third in 46:55. Jane Polley Greater Boston, edged Virginia Bok Liberty AC, for fourth at the line, both credited with 47:25.

Suzanne La Burt 40:13     Mary Cass 43:37     Lauren Leslie 46:56

65-69 Patrice Combs Atlanta TC was the favorite. She finished second last year in the Masters 5 Km Championships. Last summer she won this division at the AJC Peachtree Run in 45:21. No one else seemed likely to break 46 minutes. Julie Menosky Liberty AC finished 7^th in this division here last year in 46:38, finishing almost a minute ahead of her teammate, Jacqueline Shakar. Mireille Silva’s Atlanta TC time at Peachtree last summer, 52:21, was not competitive with those two. But her recent 22:36 at the Chattahoochee 4 Mile run suggested she could go well under 50 minutes for a 10K. Combs ran into no difficulties, winning by over three minutes in 44:13. It was a tight battle for second, with Menosky edging Shakar by just three seconds, in 47:49. Silva finished fourth at 48:10.  

Patrice Combs 44:13     Julie Menosky 47:49     Jacqueline Shakar 47:52

70-74 As noted above, Cary 43:22 took the win and lowered her own American Record. Jessica Wheeler, Rhode Island, who won here in 2023, could not keep pace with Cary but finished second in 55:341, with over a minute to spare. Cindy Lucking Atlanta TC placed third in 56:50, with a six-minute gap back to the rest of the field.

Nora Cary 43:22     Jessica Wheeler 55:34     Cindy Lucking 56:50

75-79 Kathleen Allen Atlanta TC finished third in this division at the AJC Peachtree Run last year in 1:06:59. Allen ran away with the win in Dedham, claiming gold in 1:03:06, well ahead of her teammate, Nora Renzulli, 1:34:07.

Kathleen Allen 1:03:06     Nora Renzulli 1:34:07

80-84 Holmquist 52:51 would have been in a class by herself even if she had encountered rivals for the 80-84 championship. She did not have to break an American Record to win her division, but she did it anyway.

Jan Holmquist 52:51

85-89 Joyce Hodges-Hite, Atlanta TC, winner of the 2023 and 2024 Masters Grand Prix in her age division, finished second here last year. This year she had no opposition, winning in 1:59:15.

Joyce Hodges-Hite 1:59:15

MEN 40-44 Gray, the overall winner, won this division by nearly three minutes in 30:58. Eric Mendoza Greater Boston TC, Edward Katz HFC Striders, Greater Boston, and Chuck Terry, Willow Street AC, Greater Albany NY battled for the other podium spots. Mendoza’s 51:50 in the recent Boston Tune Up 15K was equivalent to a 34:00 10K. Katz finished a minute behind Mendoza in that race. Terry ran 34:23 here at Dedham two years ago. Mendoza 33:45 finished second with over a half minute to spare. Katz 34:21 edged Terry for third by just four seconds.

Joseph Gray 30:58     Eric Mendoza 33:45     Edward Katz 34:21

The Gun Sounds! The Front Row of Men Sets Off! From left: Justin Freeman #180, Rich Wilson #183, Ben Jarrett #230, David Angell #34, and Joseph Gray #101 -- at the 2025 USATF Masters 10 Km Championships hosted by the James Joyce Ramble Photo Credit: Mark Mathis

45-49 Vazquez and Freeman, who went 2-3 overall, finished 1-2 in this division. David Angell Roanoke Valley Elite, VA, finished fourth here last year in 33:00. This year he emerged from the chase pack to run alone over the last two kilometers. His 33:03 gave him the bronze medal. T.J. Unger 34:18 HFC Striders finished fourth. Who would guess that an athlete could come close to breaking 34 minutes and miss the podium in the 45-49 division!!?

Mario Vazquez 31:07     Justin Freeman 32:33     David Angell 33:03

50-54 Conway’s 32:23 10K at the Troy NY Turkey Trot last year was by far the fastest recent 10K time in this division. But because the USATF registrations system was down for the last 36 hours of registration, his entry did not become generally known until race day. It was expected that Mark Andrews Genesee Valley Harriers Greater Rochester NY, Richard Falcone Shore AC, and Shawn Powers Notch Run Club, Greater Boston, would battle for the win. Andrews edged Falcone for the win here last year, by three seconds, in 34:08. Powers ran 34:10 at the Lone Gull 10K last summer. Conway sprinted away from the rest of the field, winning in 32:43 and turning in the second-best Men’s age grade of the day. Andrews and Powers vied for second and third this year. Powers enjoyed the stronger finish this year, edging Andrews for silver, by four seconds in 34:42! Falcone 35:30 was fourth.

Nicholas Conway 32:43     Shawn Powers 34:42     Mark Andrews 34:46

55-59 None of the top finishers from last year were in the field. Gregory Putnam Central Mass Striders won this division in 2023 in 34:21 but missed last year. It looked as if Putnam might miss it again this year as he was coming out of a period of rehab. His teammate, Todd Callaghan, ran 36:38 at Lone Gull last year. Christopher Harris Atlanta TC came in with the best 10K within the last year, his 35:39 at Peachtree last July. Shane Anthony Shore AC won the Masters 12 Km Championships last September in 42:54, equivalent to a sub-36 10K. Kristian Blaich, who won the overall race here ten years ago, is starting to train and compete more regularly again. Recent results suggested a time of around 37 minutes or better might be within his reach. Harris ran well again, coming home in first at 35:21, faster than his Peachtree outing. That was enough to hold off Putnam, a ferocious closer, who had enough training under his belt to turn in a 35:27 silver medal effort, just six seconds back. Half a minute later, Anthony collected bronze. Another minute later, Blaich edged Callaghan for fourth.

Christopher Harris 35:21     Gregory Putnam 35:27     Shane Anthony 35:57

60-64 John Van Danacker Twin Cities RC finished second here two years ago in 35:53. With Nat Larson out injured, Van Danacker was the favorite. He would need to withstand challenges from two newly minted 60-year-olds, Greater Springfield Harrier teammates, Scott Grandfield and Mark Hixson. Grandfield finished fourth M55 in 36:57 in 2023 and Hixson claimed second in M55 last year in 36:31. Rick Lee Shore AC was back, although this time running just six days after a Boston Marathon effort. Last year he finished third in 36:32. Van Danacker moved up to the gold medal, winning in 36:32. The 60-64 youngsters, Hixson and Grandfield, finished second and third in 37:01 and 37:15. In his last year in the age division, and after a busy week where he also ran a 400M leg at the Penn Relays Thursday evening, Lee finished fourth in 37:57.

John Van Danacker 36:32     Mark Hixson 37:01     Scott Grandfield 37:15

65-69 With David Westenberg and Ken Youngers out injured, it was time for the third member of the 65-69 Big Three, Roger Sayre Boulder Road Runners to step up. This would be his first tour of the roads of Dedham. He holds the 65-69 25K American Record; his most recent 10K effort was at the mile high Bolder Boulder 10K, an age group win in 40:08. That time would have been at least a minute faster had it been at sea level. But nothing comes easy at a national championship. Kevin Haas Twin Cities RC finished third in the division at the highly competitive Club Cross Championships in Tacoma WA, right behind Youngers. In 2023, Casey Hannan Atlanta TC finished 9^th in 60-64 in 39:19. Paul McGovern Whirlaway Racing, Greater Boston ran 40:00 at Lone Gull last summer and his Boston Tune Up 15K time suggested he might be able to come home faster than that. Sayre made his first Ramble a good one, pulling away from Haas to win by nineteen seconds in 38:19. Haas showed he could perform as well on the roads as the turf and has a national championship silver medal to prove it. McGovern defended the home streets, claiming third, another half minute back, with Hannan fourth.

Roger Sayre 38:19     Kevin Haas 38:38     Paul McGovern 39:06

70-74 John Barbour Greater Lowell Road Runners was off his best last year; he still finished second in 43:23. Five months later he ran a minute faster at Lone Gull. His 1:04:18 at the Boston Tune Up 15K in early April suggested he was ready to run under 42 this year. Jim Linn Shore AC won the Masters 5  Km Championships last year in 19:34; he finished 3^rd at Club Cross in Tacoma. His 1:10:28 at the Garden State 10 Miler in March suggested a sub-43 minute capability at 10K. Jack Pottle Boulder RR finished ahead of Linn, winning the division at the 5 Km XC Championships in Boulder last November, but finished behind Linn at Tacoma, at sea level, in December. His 27:22 at the Mile High Turkey Trot4 Miler last November is consistent with a sub-43-minute 10K at altitude. Perhaps a sub-42 10K at sea level would be possible? Brian Cummins Syracuse TC would likely be in the mix. In March, he clocked 1:05:46 at the Gate River Run (including the scaling of the Hart Bridge [‘Green Monster’], That is consistent with a sub-43 10K. Scott Lucking Atlanta TC ran 43:45 at the WMA Championships in Gainesville this March. It turned out that Barbour was fit for an even better race here. With a 40:18 effort, Barbour was a good minute ahead of the field. Linn managed to fight off Pottle, claiming second in 41:59. Pottle was able to move away from Cummins, claiming third, with twenty seconds to spare, in 42:30. Behind Cummins, Lucking and Fernando Moura Greater Philadelphia TC finished with the same time, 43:39, the side scan camera giving the edge for fifth to Moura.

John Barbour 40:18     James Linn 41:59     Jack Pottle 42:30

75-79 Nine years ago, Doug Winn Bowerman TC, Oregon, won the 65-69 division here in 38:23. Applying a standard nine years of age grading to that would make it equivalent to Winn running a sub-43-minute 10K this year. If he could do that, he would surely win. The evidence from the Club Cross Championships in Tacoma is broadly supportive. Winn finished third behind Gary Ostwald and David Dunbar, neither of whom is entered here. Ostwald finished 2^nd here last year in 45:32. Gene Dykes won last year in 44:02 but is currently injured. One might view Winn as the favorite on that basis. On the other hand, Don Morrison Greater Philadelphia TC, was in 70-74 last year, finishing ninth in 44:16. But Morrison had a nasty XC Skiing accident in January that required a hospital stay and recuperation. Nonetheless he was able to clock 38:23 at the Valley Forge 5-Miler in early April, equivalent to a sub-48-minute 10K. With the additional weeks of training, Morrison would surely be faster than that. Terry McCluskey Ann Arbor TC ran 46:45 to earn the 75-79 Bronze medal at the WMA Championships in Gainesville at the end of March. Jerry Learned Atlanta TC finished third here last year in 46:35. Club Cross was a good predictor! Winn was able to hold the others off, winning in a very respectable 46: 11. Morrison continued to improve, clocking 46:41 for the silver medal. Watch out for Morrison at the 4-Mile Championships! 

Terry McCluskey #11 leading Jerry Learned #135 in the Early Going at the 2025 USATF Masters 10 Km Championships hosted by the James Joyce Ramble Photo Credit: Mark Mathis 

McCluskey claimed bronze in 47:46. He edged Learned for third by a mere two seconds!

Doug Winn 46:11     Don Morrison 46:41     Terry McCluskey 47:46

80-84 Przemek Nowicki Shore AC and his teammate Jack Frame, entered as favorites. They finished 1-2 in this division at the Cherry Blossom 10K in New Jersey in early April. Nowicki clocked 54:45, with Frame eighteen seconds back. Robert Knight New England 65 Plus Runners Club clocked 1:01:57 at the Lone Gull 10K last September. His teammate, Richard Paulsen ran in the Open Race at the Ramble last year over the same course, clocking 1:06:06. Nowicki and Frame encountered no difficulties, but Frame reversed the tables on Nowicki this time, taking first in 54:51, nearly a half minute ahead of Nowicki, who claimed the silver medal with minutes to spare. Knight had five minutes on his teammate, finishing third in 1:04:19.

Jack Frame 54:51     Przemyslaw Nowicki 55:09     Robert Knight 1:04:19

 85-89 Roland Cormier Shore AC and the 85-89 USATF-NE Runner of the Year, Ram Satyaprasad New England 65 Plus RC lined up for the competition. It has been a while since Cormier has competed on the roads at national championships. In September 2022, Cormier won the 80-84 division at the Masters 12 Km Championships in New Jersey in 1:17:11. That equates to a sub-1:04 10K. Adjusting that for the three year hiatus, the 2025 equivalence is to a sub-1:09 10K. Cormier’s performance this February on the track at the Masters Indoor Championships in the 3000 Meter run provides some confirmation. Cormier clocked 18:09 to take second place. Satyaprasad won the 85-89 division here last year in 1:31:33. He finished nine minutes behind Cormier in that 3000M race in February. Cormier did not have a fast race, but he won comfortably in 1:34:29. A few minutes later, Satyaprasad claimed the silver medal.

Roland Cormier 1:34:29     Ram Satyaprasad 1:39:07

TEAMS The Club, with by far the greatest success overall in the team competition, was the Shore Athletic Club, out of New Jersey. They won the Men’s 50+, 70+, and 80+ and the Women’s 60+ divisions; they finished 2^nd in W60+ and 3^rd in M60+.  The Atlanta Track Club won W70+, finished 2^nd in M50+, and 3^rd in M70+ and W60+. The HFC Striders, of Greater Boston, won M40+ while the Impala Racing team, from the San Francisco Bay area, took the W40+ win. The Greater Springfield Harriers took top honors in M60+. NOTE: Team scoring is the cumulative time of the top three runners on each team, low score wins. Teams may declare up to five runners but only the top three score.

M40+ Five teams contested the division. The HFC Striders were the strongest Club by far in this division. There was substantial separation between the top three teams, with the top two being HFC’s A [TJ Unger, E Katz, A Massie (L Danforth) and B [A Greenspan, T Gavin, B McCarthy] teams. The Boston Athletic Association, in rebuilding mode after losing some of their top 40+ runners, in recent years, to either relocation or club transfer, finished third. The Greater Lowell Road Runners finished fourth.

HFC Striders A 1:43:16 average = 34:26     HFC Striders B 1:49:53 36:38     Boston Athletic Association 1:54:21 38:07

M50+ This division featured, in contrast, a very tight race between the top three teams, among the eight that contested the title. A few seconds here or a few seconds there would have resulted in a different outcome. Among these three teams, Atlanta [C Harris, K Blaich, B Sydow (B Slavens, D Glass] had the fastest #1 runner, Shore [R Falcone, S Anthony, S Siriano (R Shields)] the fastest #2 runner, and Central Mass Striders [G Putnam, T Callaghan, D Harper] the fastest #3 runner. Shore did not need the fastest top runner to win. They won it with each runner being either very close to or ahead of their counterpart on the other teams. These were three terrific team efforts! After each team’s #1 runner had finished, Atlanta led CMS by six seconds which had three more seconds on Shore. After the #2 runners had finished, it was Shore by 40 seconds over Atlanta, with CMS 16 seconds back. CMS gained a little back on the #3 runners but fell three seconds short of the silver medals! The Genesee Valley Harriers finished fourth.

Shore Athletic Club 1:49:44 36:35     Atlanta Track Club 1:50:31 36:51     Central Mass Striders 1:50:34 36:52

M60+ This most contentious of divisions, featured ten teams. Despite the high number, the Greater Springfield Harriers [M Hixson, S Grandfield, A Heuck (F Burdett)] scored a convincing win, with the Twin Cities Running Company [J Van Danacker, K Haas, P Kessler] claiming second well ahead of the rest of the field. Just a few seconds separated rivals Shore [R Lee, H Notaro, K Dollard (G Weisinger,  H Pino)] and Atlanta [L Dragstedt, C Hannan, G Oshust] in the battle for third. GSH were missing their longtime leader, Nat Larson, and TCRC was missing their newest recruit, Mark Zamek. Both are currently rehabbing injuries. Had those two been healthy, the outcome might not have been that much different, but those two teams would have been even further ahead of their rivals. As is, TCRC drew first blood, but GSH had a tight 2-3 finish. After TCRC’s #2 finished 4^th, GSH was ahead by almost a minute. With a faster #3 runner, GSH had the win by over two minutes. TCRC, in turn, enjoyed over three minutes on the third-place team. Shore’s top two runners sandwiched Atlanta’s #1 resulting in an early lead. But Atlanta’s #2 and 3 runners were just eighteen seconds apart and almost clawed back the bronze medals. But Shore’s #3 runner, eligible to run for 70+ next year, held tough all the way to the finish line, insuring a seven-second margin for Shore in the race for bronze!

Greater Springfield Harriers 1:55:06 38:22     Twin Cities Running Company 1:57:18 39:06     Shore Athletic Club 2:00:25 40:09

M70+ Seven teams vied in this division. Shore AC [J Linn, Harold Leddy, R Stirrat] relied on three runners and everyone did their job, obtaining the victory with three minutes to spare. It was a similar story for the second-place team, the Boulder Road Runners [J Pottle, D Chesnut, D Bell] who enjoyed a similar margin over the third-place team. It was much closer between Atlanta TC [S Lucking, K Larson, J Learned (W Irvin, S Benedict)] and Syracuse TC [B Cummins, J Foster, T Larison (P Riccardi)], with less than a minute between them. Syracuse had the early lead and still led by half a minute after both team’s number three runners scored. But when the dust cleared, it was Atlanta in 3^rd with Syracuse fourth. Ann Arbor TC [D Kurtis, A Pratt, T McCluskey] was just over a minute behind Syracuse in fifth.

Shore Athletic Club 2:09:59 43:20     Boulder Road Runners 2:13:27 44:29     Atlanta Track Club 2:16:59 45:40

M80+ Two teams competed for team honors, the Shore AC [J Frame, P Nowicki, R Cormier] and the New England 65+ Runners Club [R Knight, R Paulsen, R Satyaprasad]. Shore’s first two runners finished nine minutes ahead of New England’s first scoring runner. When Shore’s third scoring runner finished a few minutes ahead of New England’s, that capped the scoring in favor of Shore. Shore enjoyed the gold medals; New England scored the silver medals.

Shore Athletic Club 3:24:29 1:08:10     New England 65 Plus Runners Club 3:53:13 1:17:45

W40+ Three Greater Boston teams, the B.A.A. [H Capello, S Harvey, E McVeigh], the Greater Lowell Road Runners [A Mendez, W Jepson, C Curran, V Ryan] and the Liberty AC [J Hill, S Reeder, B King, MR Duran] defended the home roads against the outlanders from the San Francisco Bay area, the Impala Racing [J Smith, K Famous, A Newman] team. Impala made sure the trip from the West Coast was worthwhile. Their top runner gave them seven minutes or more over every other team’s top runner and Impala’s #2 finished shortly before the BAA’s first runner. Once the BAA’s first runner came in, the advantages of a tight pack were evident. Their first two runners finished within ten seconds of one another. The BAA’s third runner was only two minutes behind and came in ahead of the Impala #3. But the third Impala came across the finish line two minutes later, enough to seal the win with plenty of room to spare. Greater Lowell finished 3^rd, with a cushion of over 8 minutes on the fourth place Liberty AC team.

Impala Racing Team 2:04:16 41:06 Boston Athletic Association 2:09:19 43:07

W50+ With six teams entered, this division was much more competitive. Still, the top team, the Garden State Track Club [H Aliaga, K Huggins, K Aspholm (G Panepinto)] placed their top two runners 1-2; their third runner finished ahead of the #1 runner for every other team except the B.A.A. [D Bowser, J Cohen, J Cole]  And there was just five seconds separating the GSTC #3 from the BAA #1. Garden State had a winning margin of over ten minutes. Despite having the second fastest #1 time, the BAA was not able to keep pace with the Shore AC [N Smith, R Keenan, M Massell]. Again, it was the trick of a tight pack. The time between Shore’s 1^st and 3^rd runners was half as big as the time between the BAA’s 1^st and third runners. After the #1 runners had finished, the BAA enjoyed a thirty-five second lead. By the time the second runner for both teams had finished, that lead was reduced to sixteen seconds. Shore’s third runner flipped it from a sixteen second deficit to a winning cushion of over five minutes. It was tighter between the BAA and Liberty AC [M Fallon, J Menosky, A Shreffler] for third. The BAA’s #1 runner gave them a 49 second lead over Liberty. When the #2 runners finished, the difference was up to 4:21. Liberty’s #3 runner clawed back three minutes of that lead but that was not enough to change the result. The BAA won the bronze medals a minute and two seconds ahead of Liberty AC in fourth.

Garden State Track Club 2:05:54 41:58     Shore Athletic Club 2:16:22 45:28     Boston Athletic Association 2:21:57 47:19

W60+ Five teams competed for this title. It is amazing when a team as strong as the Liberty AC [M Cass, L Leslie, V Bok (J Jungels, J Shakar)] does not win a team contest on their home roads! As long as Shore AC [S La Burt, N Cary, P Ricker (L Nowicki, S Stirrat) has the top runner in the division and the top age grader who can drop down from the 70’s and run as if she were ten years younger, they are tough to beat! Up by almost seven minutes after their two aces finished, their #3 wrapped things up by finishing just one minute behind Liberty’s #3. Shore had the win with almost six minutes to spare. Liberty had an even bigger edge over the third-place team.  Atlanta TC [P Combs, M Silva, R Tanner (M Taylor)] had the better of a tussle with the Genesee Valley Harriers [B Lindblom, C Reif, S Gregorich]. Up by three minutes after the two #1 runners finished, and by well over five minutes after the #2 runners finished, Atlanta had to hold on tight. GVH took back three minutes with the final scoring runner! Atlanta’s #3 got the job done! Their final margin was over two minutes.

Shore Athletic Club 2:11:59 44:00     Liberty Athletic Club 2:17:57 45:59     Atlanta Track Club 2:26:34 48:52

W70+ The Atlanta Track Club [C Lucking, K Allen, N Renzulli (J Hodges-Hite)] brought a team but no one else did. Perhaps next year one of the strong New England clubs can add a little suspense by fielding a Women’s 70+ team.

Atlanta Track Club 3:34:03 1:11:21

That wraps up another exciting weekend of racing on the rolling hills outside of Boston. The James Joyce Ramble and the Town of Dedham hosted another weekend of spectacular Masters Long Distance racing! Next up is the Masters 4 Mile Championships at the Steamboat Classic in Peoria IL on the 14^th of June!