Exciting Races at the USATF Masters Mile Championships at CRIM Festival of Races in Flint Michigan--Individual Races

August 25 2015. The Masters Elites tore up the roads at Flint Michigan in the Michigan Mile portion of the CRIM Festival of Races last Friday evening. In its 39th running, the CRIM 10 mile run on Saturday is their signature event but the Michigan Mile has added a lot of crowd-pleasing excitement the Friday evening before. And the USATF 1 Mile Road Championship is proud to be part of the event staged by Race Director, Andy Younger and his able assistant, Joe DiMambro. It was a perfect evening for racing. The weather was sunny with temps in the mid-70's, the crowds were gathering for this gorgeous race around the well-groomed campus of the University of Michigan-Flint near downtown. The race course itself has some minor elevation changes, some technical parts where runners move from the road to pedestrian paths and then back to roads, and a gradual up slope from about 1200 to 1500 yards; it is a fair but tough mile circuit.

[Action photos are provided by links to RunMichigan.com's photo galleries.]

Overall. The Men's races attracted runners from Coast to Coast. The favorites in the Men's races included three West Coast guys, one from the Rockies and one Michigan speedster. Gregory Mitchell (McMinnville OR) came in representing the Bowerman Track Club and holding recent credentials in the form of an impressive win at the 8K USATF Championships in Brea CA in February and a nifty 14:58 5K at Carlsbad. Could he repeat at the shorter distance? Challenging him were two Cal Coast Track Club speedsters, John Gardiner and Jerome Vermeulen. Gardiner was bested at both Brea and Carlsbad by Mitchell but he was coming to Flint with an eye to reversing those results. Vermeulen was a bit of a question mark. In 2014 he threw down a 4:26 in the So Cal Mile but his times earlier this year were not up to that level. Which version of Vermeulen would show up in Flint? Todd Straka took the Master's crown at Colorado's Superior Mile in a blazing 4:23.3. It is a downhill course but there is something about a sub 4:25 Master's Mile that commands respect. The final contender was Clint Verran who had a half hour drive up I-75 from his home in Rochester Michigan, a suburb of Detroit. His 15:11 5K earlier in the year showed plenty of speed.

After a little jockeying at the start, Mitchell and Verran went to the front, with Gardiner hanging tight and Vermeulen and Straka just off the pace. Just before the half mile mark, Mitchell pushed harder at the front, with Verran tight on his shoulder and Gardiner struggling to maintain contact; Vermeulen was trying to stay relaxed in 4th, with Straka in stride behind him. When they turned onto Harrison Street with about 500 yards to go, Mitchell started to pull away from Verran. With a quarter mile to go, Gardiner figured it was now or never. He accelerated past Verran and drew a bead on Mitchell but could not close the gap as Mitchell's acceleration matched Gardiner's. At the final left turn to the finishing straightaway with about 250 yards to go, Gardiner accelerated again but Mitchell was running confidently and smoothly and it looked like the race was his. Then, to the crowd's surprise and delight, with 150 yards to go, Vermeulen kicked into high gear, passing first Verran and then Gardiner. Gardiner stayed with Vermeulen as he tried to run Mitchell down. With 50 yards to go, Vermeulen passed Mitchell to take the lead. But Mitchell was not done; he dug down, found that last bit of speed, recovered and leaned into the tape, edging Vermeulen by a fraction of a second. Their rounded times were given as 4:29 and 4:30. Gardiner came across 1 second back to claim the last spot on the overall podium. Verran also toughed it out to the line in 4:33 for 4th place. He needed it all as Straka was only 2 seconds back in 5th.

Greg Mitchell (#155) shifts to higher gear to edge Jerome Vermeulen (#178) and John Gardiner (#132) at the 2015 USATF Masters Mile Championship at the CRIM Festival of Races
 
In contrast to the Men, the Women's race had more of a Mid-American flavor. A week before the race it looked like the newly minted Masters runner from Michigan, Betsy Frens, and the talented Indiana Masters runner, Lucie Mays-Sulewski, would add to the excitement. But in the end injury or other commitments kept both runners away.

In the event, the women's affair featured a dominating win by Tammy Nowick of Michigan's Patient Endurance Racing team. Nowick established a gap and held on to win by 12 seconds in 5:29. Her teammate, Serena Kessler, outdueled the pride of Fenton Michigan, Lisa Veneziano, running unattached, who took 3rd another 4 seconds back.

Tammy Nowick winning the 2015 USATF Masters Mile Championship at the CRIM Festival of Races

Age Group Races. 

Women.

W40. The podium for this age group is the same as for the overall race except that Veneziano is in the 50-54 age group. Sharon Becker of Fowler Michigan took 3rd in 6:04.

W45. A Playmakers Elite runner, Amy Nemeth, a Patient Endurance Racer, Erin Larusso, and Liz Bondar, an unattached runner from Madison Heights Michigan went toe-to-toe in the 45-49 group, and they finished in that order. Nemeth clocked 5:49 to take the gold by 6 seconds over Larusso, with Bondar another 8 seconds back.

Amy Nemeth winning the W45 title at the 2015 USATF Masters Mile Championship at the CRIM Festival of Races

W50. As well as taking 3rd overall, Lisa Veneziano took first in this age group in 5:45. Nine seconds back was Christine Vincent of Jackson Michigan, and six seconds further back was Birchrunville Michigan's Lorraine Jasper in 6 minutes flat!

Lisa Veneziano, taking 3rd Overall and 1st in the Women's 50-54 age group at the 2015 USATF Masters Mile Championships at the CRIM Festival of Races

W55. This group was a little more spread out than the others, with Portland Michigan's Maryellen Stornant taking the title in 6:11. A half minute back, Colleen Magnussen of upstate New York's Genesee Valley Harriers took 2nd place with plenty of room to spare. She had over a minute lead on Veronica Jackson of Lansing Michigan who claimed 3rd place.

Maryellen Stornant takes 1st place in the Women's 55-59 group in the 2015 USATF Masters Mile Championship at the CRIM Festival of Races

W60. The Women's 60-64 podium featured two women from the Playmakers Elite squad and a runner from Team Ohio. Deborah Feltz of Williamston Michigan took first in 6:58.   Rae Alexander, from Strongsville, Ohio outside of Cleveland, came across the line 25 seconds later to take 2nd, while Feltz's teammate, Jean Bolley of Bath Michigan took third place.

Deborah Feltz sprints to the tape and the win in the Women's 60-64 group in the USATF Masters Mile Championships at the CRIM Festival of Races

W65. Houston Texas's Sabra Harvey had the Women 's 65-69 age group to herself. But it would hardly have mattered. Despite coming off of an injury, Harvey's 6:25, though not up to her usual standard, still merited 14th place overall, and was the top Women's age-grading performance. (See below)

W70. The Playmakers Elite/New Balance team dominated this category, taking all three medals. Ruth Thelen of St. John's Michigan was the runaway winner in 7:58. She had quite a gap on Southfield's Cora Hill and Grand Blanc's Shirley Larsen, who came in 2nd and 3rd respectively.

Ruth Thelen winning the Women's 70-74 group at the 2015 USATF Masters Mile Championships at the CRIM Festival of Races

W75. Ellen Nitz of Brighton Michigan took the title in this group unopposed in 9:28.

Men.

M40. The description above for the Overall Masters race holds as well for this division. Mitchell, Gardiner, and Verran take 1-2-3 in that order in 4:29, 4:31, and 4:33.

M45. Two of the contenders for the M45 prizes are mentioned in the Overall race as well. Vermeulen and Straka take 1-2 in 4:30 and 4:35. Team Ohio's Charles Novak came up from Cuyahoga Falls, Ohio to run a strong race and take 3rd in 4:42.

Final 100 yards-From viewer's right to left--Mitchell, Vermeulen, Gardiner, Straka (in red), Verran (in black) sprinting for the tape for all they are worth! At the USATF Masters Mile Championships at the CRIM Festival of Races

M50. The Genesee Valley Harriers team had the winner of this group in Mike Nier of Rochester NY who ran a blazing 4:52 to take the gold by 7 seconds. But after Nier it was all Playmakers Elite/New Balance as they took the next four places in times ranging from 4:59 to 5:09. Ruben Henderson of Grand Rapids and Eric Stuber of Lansing battled to the wire as only teammates can, with Henderson getting second by a whisker as they were both given a 4:59 time.Tim Lambrecht and Daniel Dixon, Jr. were not far behind in 5:07 and 5:09.

Mike Nier takes the M50 Championship at the 2015 USATF Masters Mile Championship at the CRIM Festival of Races

Ruben Henderson (left) fighting for that half stride he needed to take 2nd place from his teammate, Eric Stuber at the 2015 USATF Masters Mile Championships at the CRIM Festival of Races

M55. How many 55 year olds do you know who can break 5 minutes on a challenging 1 mile road course? Not many I will wager. Elkhart Indiana's Dave Bussard, who runs for the Playmakers Elite team shocked this division with a 4:57! That left San Jose California's Antonio Arreola of the Wolfpack Running Club and Michael Young of Orchard Lake Michigan to battle for 2nd place. Not only does Arreola 'know the way to San Jose', but he also knows his way around the streets of Flint Michigan as he prevailed by ten seconds to take the silver medal in 5:27. Young secured the third place medal for the Wolverine state.

Dave Bussard [#186], closing in on the finish line and the Men's 55-59 gold medal at the 2015 USATF Masters Mile Championships at the CRIM Festival of Races

M60. This division had the largest number of entries and the closest gold medal contest of the evening, even closer than Mitchell and Vermeulen's struggle. Castro Valley California's Tom Bernhard [Excelsior Running Club] and Manlius New York's Mark Rybinski [Genesee Valley Harriers] had an epic duel. Bernhard had gone out hard in the middle of the race to establish a gap. It looked like he would have the race by a large margin. But Rybinski found a higher gear over the last 440 yards or so and closed the entire gap to pull even with fifty yards left. From there the two runners matched stride for stride. Somehow, with a few yards left, Bernhard plumbed the depths of his runner's soul to come up with just an extra bit of bounce to take the title by a fraction of a second. Both were given a time of 5:21 but the photo finish confirmed that the gold medal was Bernhard's by a sliver. Recently installed Hall of Famer, Doug Bell, the pride of Greeley Colorado and the Boulder Road Runners, was just a few seconds back in 3rd, with Houston's Peter Mullin, recent winner of the 1500 meter silver medal at the USATF Masters Track and Field meet, just off the podium.

Tom Bernhard (left) and Mark Rybinski battling to the finish line in the 2015 USATF Masters Mile at the CRIM Festival of Races

M65. Earlier this year, Bemus New York's, Doc Rappole [Genesee Valley Harriers] had an upset win over the 2014 M65 Runner of the Year, Lloyd Hansen, at the USA Masters Cross Country Championships in Boulder Colorado. Friday night he showed that it was no fluke; he can win on the cross country paths or on the roads. He has speed as well as grit. He took first by a wide margin in 6:02. Nineteen seconds back, Gainesville Georgia's Jerry Learned [Atlanta Track Club] nailed down second. Wyoming Michigan's Dave Minier [Ann Arbor Track Club] took 3rd in 6:43.

Doc Rappole surges to the tape to take first place in the Men's 65-69 division in the 2015 USATF Masters Mile Championships at the CRIM Festival of Races

M70. A huge field also sought the Men's 70-74 crown. It was expected to be a showdown between the 2014 M70 Runner of the Year, Doug Goodhue, and the fellow who had won all of the 2015 races so far while Goodhue was injured, Jan Frisby.  Goodhue of Milford Michigan and a mainstay of the Ann Arbor Track Club is known as 'The Silver Bullet.' He has won a huge number of national championships over the years and was not only the age group runner of the year last year but several years in a row before that. Frisby hails from Grand Junction Colorado and was a dominant force on the roads in the 1990's, a two-time runner of the year when he was in his fifties. Since that time he has been nationally competitive when healthy but has battled a variety of ailments over the years. He is having his best season in years as he has been essentially free of any new injuries for the past six months. Goodhue sustained a knee injury at the very end of 2014 that kept him from being able to perform at his usual level. By late spring his name was starting to show up in local race results around Michigan and it was clear his times were not far off his recent bests. In the event it was Goodhue's night to sprint for the win, and a clear 11 second victory over Frisby. Gerard Malaczynski of Bloomfield Hills Michigan, and part of the 4 x 800 meters relay team that set a Men's 70 and over world record on the indoor track in 2014, took 3rd.

Doug Goodhue claims the Men's 70-74 Title at the 2015 USATF Masters Mile Championships at the CRIM Festival of Races

M75. Dexter Michigan's Harlan van Blaricum, who runs for the Ann Arbor Track Club, took the M75 trophy unopposed in 8:20.

Harlan Van Blaricum approaching the finish line in first place in the Men's 75-79 division at the 2015 USATF Masters Mile Championships at the CRIM Festival of Races

Age-Grading

All of the above results are based on first runner across the finish line. USATF wants to compare how a 68 year old did relative to a 53 year old and a 41 year old, and the tool for that purpose is age-grading. Based on extensive statistical evidence, a standard is generated for each single age (by sex) that represents the fastest someone has run at road races from 5K to the Marathon. That has been updated now to include standards for the one mile road race. Age-grading scores are the result of comparing the time actually run to the standard. An age-grading score of 100% is achieved when a runner matches the fastest time run up to the recent past. A score of 90% is considered world class and a score of 80% is national class. Performance medals are awarded to all who achieve the 80% standard.

Women

Sabra Harvey.............Houston Texas...........66............6:25................90.77%
Lisa Veneziano..........Fenton Michigan.......50............5:45.................83.68%
Lorraine Jasper..........Birchrunville PA.......53............6:00.................82.90%
Christine Vincent...   Jackson Michigan......51............5:54.................82.44%
Maryellen Stornant...Portland Michigan.....55............6:11.................82.29%

Men

Jerome Vermeulen....Simi Valley CA.........48.............4:30.................94.10%
Todd Straka..............Boulder Colorado......48.............4:35.................92.38%
Dave Bussard...........Elkhart IN..................55.............4:57.................90.28%
Tom Bernhard..........Castro Valley CA.......64.............5:21.................89.94%
Gregory Mitchell.....McMinnville OR........41.............4:29.................89.73%

Performance Medals. In addition to the individuals who won Age-Grading prizes , all of the following earned performance medals, in age-grading order:

Women--Tammy Nowick, Julie Pangburn, Amy Nemeth.

Men--John Gardiner, Doug Goodhue, Charles Novack, Mike Nier, Doug Bell, Ruben Henderson, Clint Verran, Eric Stuber, Mark Rybinski, Christian Cushing-Murray, Tim Lambrecht, Christian Blondin, Esteban Vanegas, Jan Frisby, Daniel Dixon, Peter Mullin, Lee Shaw, Ron Zywicki, Alec Nevalainen, J.D. Pepper, Eric Green, Dale Flanders, Antonio Arreola, Thomas Preiss, Josh Harter, Michael Young, Gerard Malaczynski, Doc Rappole, Michael Kessler, Wally Hayes.

 

Tight Races Anticipated in the USATF Masters 1 Mile Road Championships at the HealthPlus CRIM Festival of Races

August 20 2015. Over 100 elite Masters Runners will visit Flint Michigan this Friday evening, August 21st for the 2015 USATF Masters 1 Mile Road Championships; they are part of the HealthPlus CRIM Festival of Races. The CRIM 10 Mile Run is in its 39th year and is on many a runner's 'bucket list.' Some years back CRIM decided to add a lead-in event in the form of a 1 mile road race the evening before the 10 miler. Last year was the CRIM's first year of hosting the USATF Masters 1 Mile Road Championships and it looks to be an event that is attracting a growing list of competitors. From 72 last year to over 100 this year, things are looking good. There will be highly competitive races in almost every age group. Here's my take on the individual races.

WOMEN

40-44

Sharon Becker—Playmakers Elite/New Balance (Fowler MI)

Running for the strong Playmakers Elite team out of Lansing MI, and defending age group champion in the F40 division, Becker was able to win last year in 6:18. She appears to be in condition to run that fast or faster again this year. But it also appears she will have a real race for the gold in front of her.

2015—Mar 21]—Spectrum Health Irish Jig (5K)—Grand Rapids MI—4^th in F40--19:52 [6:23 pace]

2015—[Jun 13]— Pewamo St. Joseph  Parish 5K—Pewamo MI—1^st Masters--21:08 [6:48 pace]

Betsy Frens

A newly minted Masters runner this year, Frens appears ready to step to the front row. She was the first Masters runner in the Spectrum Health Irish Jig this year. If her earlier races are a good guide she appears ready to run a sub 5:15 mile and could well break 5:00!

2015—[Mar 21]—Spectrum Health Irish Jig (5K)—Grand Rapids MI—4^th in F40—17:07 [5:30 pace]

2015—[May 9] --Fifth Third Riverbank Run  (25K)—Grand Rapids MI—1^st Masters in 1:38:28 [6:20 pace]

2015—[Jun 13]—Brian Diemer Amerikam 5K—Cutlerville MI—1^st Masters in 17:08 [5:30 pace]

Serena Kessler—Patient Endurance Racing

Second to Frens (above) in the Fifth Third River Bank Run, and Masters winner of the Detroit Free Press Half Marathon, Kessler is another runner who will mount a strong challenge to Becker. A sub-5:45 seems almost certain and a sub 5:30 not out of reach.

2015—[May 9] --Fifth Third Riverbank Run  (25K)—Grand Rapids MI—2^nd Masters in 1:39:47 [6:25 pace]

2015—[Aug 9]—Probility 5K—Saline MI—1^st Masters in 18:45 [6:02 pace]

45-49

Liz Bondar

A strong Michigan runner, Bondar has mostly run marathons and half marathons for the last couple of years. But in 2013 she was first Masters athlete to finish the Clawson Firecracker Mile [Clawson MI] in 6:20.

2014 [Nov 1] Indianapolis Monumental Marathon –5^th in F45—3:25:22 [7:50 pace]

2015 [May 23] Bayshore Marathon—Bayshore MI—5^th in F45—3:20:20 [7:38 pace]

Erin Larusso—Patient Endurance Racing (Ypsilanti MI)

LaRusso is another Michigan runner who focuses more on mid-long distance events from 8K to half marathons.

2015 [Mar 20] Rock CH Rivers Half Marathon –Gross Isle MI—1^st masters finisher in 1:29:20 [6:49 pace]

2015 [Jun 19] Kona Strawberry Run—Belleville MI—1^st Masters finisher in 33:41 [6:46 pace]

Lucie Mays-Sulewski (Westfield IN)—Update as of 8/20/15—A calf injury has forced Mays-Sulewski out of the competition.

A very strong runner out of Indiana, Mays-Sulewski has occasionally dipped her toe into Masters National Championship events. She finished 5^th  overall in the 2013 USATF Masters Marathon Championships in the Twin Cities in 2:49:15 and finished 4^th overall in the 2014 USATF Masters 5K Cross Country Championships in Carmel IN (1 week after winning the Masters division of the Indianapolis Monumental Marathon]. Although primarily a road warrior at the longer distances, Mays-Sulewski did participate in a 1 mile road race last year. So she enjoys the taste of speed as well. This will be her first race in the F45 division.

2014 [Jun 5] Indianapolis Monumental Mile—1^st Masters—5:31

2014 [Nov 1] Indianapolis Monumental Marathon –1^st Masters—2:51:07 [6:31 pace]

2015 [Mar 21] Sam Costa Half Marathon—Carmel  IN—1^st place overall—1:21:25 [6:12 pace]

2015 [July 4] Carmelfest Freedom Run [4.5 miles]—Carmel  IN—1^st place overall—26:56 [5:59 pace]

Amy Nemeth –Playmakers Elite/New Balance

Strong from the 5K to the 10K, Nemeth does not have the longer distance qualifications of some of her rivals but she is plenty speedy at the shorter distances, and the defending champion in this age group.

2014 [Aug 22] CRIM Michigan Mile—USATF Championship—Flint MI—2^nd Masters Overall, 1^st F45—5:46

2015 [May 23] Bayshore Marathon—Bayshore MI—10^th in F45—3:36:54 [8:16 pace]

2015 [Jun 18] Bring Back the Mile—Okemos MI—1^st Masters -- 5:44

50-54

Lorraine Jasper—Athena Track Club

Off her game in the 10 K championship earlier this year, we are eager to see if her fitness has returned to its 2014 levels. If so, Jasper is definitely the favorite.

2014 [April 27]-- USATF Masters 10 K Championships [James Joyce Ramble]—Dedham MA—4^th F50—40:44 [6:33 pace]

2014 [Jun 20]—The Saucony Mile—Limerick PA—2^nd Masters Overall and 1^st F50—5:41

2015 [April 26]—USATF Masters 10 K Championships [James Joyce Ramble]—Dedham MA—5^th F50—44:14 [7:07 pace]

Julie Pangburn—Athena Track Club

2015 [Feb 7 ]—USATF Cross Country Championships [6K]—Boulder CO—8^th F50—27:39

2015 [May 10]—5K for Mother’s Day—West Chester PA—1^st Masters—20:46 (6:41 pace)

Betsy Stewart—Athena Track Club (West Chester PA)

2014 [Jun 20]—The Saucony Mile—Pottstown PA—3^rd Masters Overall & 1^st F50—6:12

2014 (Oct 5)—USATF 5K Championships (Syracuse Festival of Races)—Syracuse NY –8^th F50—21:15 [6:50 pace]

2015 [Jun 30]—The Saucony Mile—Limerick PA—1^st F50—6:16

55-59

Colleen Magnussen and Maryellen Stornant appear to be the class of the F55 group. Based on her recent mile run in Okemos Michigan, it appears that Stornant has the speed to take the gold. But we know Magnussen will fight every inch of the way.

Colleen Magnussen --Genesee Valley Harriers [Geneseo NY]

2014—USATF 5K Championships—Syracuse NY--W50--10^th place in 22:59

2014 [Aug 22]—USATF 1 Mile Road Championships—Flint MI--W50--5^th place in 6:56

2015 (June 6)—Charlie McMullen Memorial Mile Run –1^st F55--6:42.7

Maryellen Stornant—Playmakers Elite/New Balance [Portland MI]

2015 (Apr 26) – Komen Mid-Michigan Race for the Cure (5K)—1^st F55, 2^nd masters overall in 20:59

2015 (Jun 18)—Bring Back the Mile (Okemos MI)—1^st F55—6:20

60-64

Rae Alexander

2015  (May 10) Eugene Marathon (5K)—1^st F60 in 24:27 [7:52 pace]

2015 (Jul 31) GNC Live Well Liberty Mile—1^st F60 in 7:20

Deborah Feltz

Feltz is the 2^nd place finisher from last year’s 1 mile road championship but Coreen Steinbach will not be back to defend her title. It appears from her June 18^th mile run that Feltz has the speed to outlast Alexander (see above) but Alexander shouldn’t be far back.

2014 (Aug 22)—USATF 1 Mile Road Championships (CRIM)—Flint MI—2^nd F60 in 6:50.

2015 (Jun 18)—Bring Back the Mile (Okemos MI)—1^st F60—6:57

65-69

Sabra Harvey  [Houston, TX]

Age group runner of the year in 2009 and 2010, Harvey outdid herself in 2014 to attain the status of Runner of the Year (across all age groups). In 2014 Harvey set a new American W65 record for 5K of 20:27. At the time, that added to her US record collection as she was also the holder of the W60 8K mark [32:43]. Harvey also has a record pending certification for the W65 10K [42:37] record.

She is the defending champion in the F65 group with a time last year (in this race) of 6:08. This year has been more of a challenge; this will be her first national championship race since rehabbing a fractured left ankle over this past fall and winter. It will be interesting to see if she is ready to go at her usual record pace or if she is still running herself back into shape.

70-74

It seems almost certain that a runner from the Playmakers Elite team will win this race; the only question is who? Although Hill, the defending champion, and Larsen will give it the old college try, it appears that the newcomer to the age group, Thelen, should have enough speed to claim the victory.

Cora Hill—Playmakers Elite/New Balance

2014 (Aug 22)—USATF 1 Mile Road Championships (CRIM)—Flint MI—1^st F70 in 9:08

Shirley Larsen-- Playmakers Elite/New Balance

2015 (Aug 1)—Kaylie O’Mara Memorial Road Race (5K)—1^st F70 in 33:12 [10:41 pace]

Ruth Thelen-- Playmakers Elite/New Balance

2014 (Aug 22)—USATF 1 Mile Road Championships (CRIM)—Flint MI—2^nd F65 in 8:00

75-79

Ellen Nitz-- Playmakers Elite/New Balance

Last year, Nitz was third in the very competitive F70 group in 9:14. Barring a late entry, Nitz appears to have the F75 group to herself. She should, deservedly, get a gold medal this year.

======================================================================

MEN

40-44

Christian Blondin—Greater Boston Track Club

2014—3^rd in USATF Masters Outdoor Track 1500 Meters—Winston-Salem NC—4:08 (4:26 pace)

2015—Sunday Aug 2 – Newburyport MA—High Street Mile—4:31—1^st Masters and 6^th Overall [overall winning time 4:12]

2015—July 3—Manchester NH—Hinckley-Allen Manchester Mile—4:13—2^nd masters [overall winning time 3:47]

John Gardiner—Cal Coast Track Club [Rancho Santa Margarita CA]

One of the mainstays of the powerful Cal Coast Track Club, Gardiner has already participated in 3 USATF Masters National Championships this year, in addition to the world famous Carlsbad 50000 Meter Run. A demon on the roads from 5K to 10K, he showed earlier this year he has the staying power for a half marathon. Now he will move down in distance to test his speed at the one mile run. Can he crack 4:2 in Michigan as he did a year ago in Irvine CA?

2014 (Aug 31)—USATF SoCal 1 Mile Road Championships—Irvine CA—1^st   Masters Overall—4:22

2015 (Feb 7)—USATF Cross Country Championships (8K)—Boulder CO—27:29 –5^th Masters overall

2015 (Feb 22)—USATF 8K Road Championships—Brea CA—3^rd Masters overall –25:53 [5:12 pace]

2015 (Mar 29)—Carlsbad 5000 Meter Run-Carlsbad CA—2^nd Overall Masters Division— 15:22 [4:56 pace]

2015 (May 31)—USATF Half Marathon Championship [RocknRoll San Diego]—4^th overall Masters finisher in 1:10:04

Gregory Mitchell—Bowerman Track Club [McMinnville OR]

A tower of strength on the roads and in Cross Country for the famous Bowerman Track Club of Oregon, Mitchell has won national titles in both events. In 2014 he won both Cross Country national championships he participated in at 8K and 10K. On the roads, he has been on the podium for national championship races from 5K to the Half Marathon.

2014 (Oct 5)—USATF 5K Road Championship—Syracuse NY—15:03 [4:50 per mile]

2015 (Feb 7)—USATF Cross Country Championships (8K)—Boulder CO–2^nd Masters overall--26:44

2015 (Feb 22)—USATF 8K Road Championships—Brea CA—1^st Masters overall –24:27 [4:55 pace]

Clint Verran  [Rochester MI]

A recent addition to the Masters Division, Verran will be a Michigan runner to be reckoned with in USATF national championships. He was the overall winner of the Dexter-Ann Arbor Half Marathon in 2013, finished 3^rd in 2014, and in June of this year finished 1^st in the Masters division. And on Friday evening August 21^st we will find out just how much speed he has when only a mile is laid out before him. This spring he ran a pretty fast 5K.

2014 (June 21)—Grandma’s [Gary Bjorklund] Half Marathon—Duluth MN—13^th Overall—1:05:55 [5:01 pace]

2015 [Mar 21]—Bill Roney Memorial 5K –Utica MI—4^th overall in 15:11 [4:53 pace]

2015 [May 31]—Dexter-Ann Arbor Run—Ann Arbor MI—1^st Masters—1:10:19 [5:22 pace]

45-49

David Atkinson (Grand Blanc MI)

A strong national class runner (from the Flint area) at the half marathon and marathon, Atkinson showed some speed in claiming the top Masters spot in a 5K last year (below). Will he be able to crank it up another notch to stay with some of the West Coast and Mountain speed in this race?

2014 (Jul 5)—Manistee Firecracker 5K—Manistee MI—1^st Masters—17:27 [5:36 pace]

2015 (Mar 29)—United Airlines NYC Half Marathon—3rd—M45—1:17:29 [5:54 pace]

2015 [Jun 20] Grandma’s Marathon—Duluth MN—3^rd  M45—2:45:35 [6:19 pace]

Christian Cushing-Murray—Cal Coast Track Club (Santa Ana CA)

A mainstay of the powerful Masters teams of the Cal Coast Track Club, Cushing-Murray surprised many with his virtuoso running at the Half Marathon championships in May. Coupled with his stellar performance at Carlsbad this year, Cushing-Murray is burning up the roads in this, his first year in the M45 division.

2014 (Mar 30)—Carlsbad 5000 Meter—Carlsbad CA—7^th Masters finisher in 16:20 [5:15]

2014 (Aug 31)—USATF SoCal 1 Mile Road Championships—Irvine CA—3^rd  Masters Overall—4:31.5

2015 (Mar 29) –Carlsbad 5000 Meter—Carlsbad CA—4^th Masters Overall—15:37 [5:01 pace]

2015 [May 31] USATF Half Marathon Championship—San Diego CA [RockNRoll]—1^st place M45—1:13:51 [5:38 pace]

Todd Straka—Runners Roost Colorado (Boulder CO)

2014 (May 25)—Bolder Boulder 10K—Boulder CO—5^th Masters Overall—35:56 [5:47 pace]

2015 (Jan 1)—Resolution Day Runs [5K]—Santa Barbara CA—2^nd Overall & 1^st Masters—16:26 [5:17 pace]

2015 (May 3)—Colorado Half Marathon—Fort Collins CO—1^st M45 and 2^nd Masters—1:21:19 [6:12 pace]

2015 (July 4)—Four on the Fourth [4 K]—Boulder CO—2^nd Masters Overall—13:22 [5:22 pace]

Jerome Vermeulen—Cal Coast Track Club

Slightly off his game earlier this spring, has his fitness returned to his smoking 2014 heights?

2014 (Mar 30)—Carlsbad 5000 Meter—Carlsbad CA—5^th Masters finisher in 16:06 [5:10]

2014 (Aug 31)—USATF SoCal 1 Mile Road Championships—Irvine CA—2^nd  Masters Overall—4:26.2

2015 (Mar 29) –Carlsbad 5000 Meter—Carlsbad CA—8^th M45—16:45 [5:23 pace]

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It looks like this will be a heck of a race again this year. Last year the 5 teammates below from Lansing, Michigan’s Playmakers Elite/New Balance all finished within ten seconds of one another.

Who is the favorite?  It looks like the newest addition to the M50 group, Mike Nier, from the Genesee Valley Harriers in upstate New York, should be up front in this group; his 4:56 from last year is 5 seconds faster than the fastest of the Playmakers Elite team. His recent races this year suggest his fitness is right there again this year. Eric Stuber, the defending champion from the Playmakers Elite team of Lansing MI, has focused mostly on longer races this year. But his 1 mile road race earlier this summer in Okemos Michigan suggest he may have found a few seconds more speed this year. He will need all that and more to match Nier.

Daniel Dixon Jr.--Playmakers Elite/New Balance

2014 (Aug 22)—USATF 1 Mile Road Championship—CRIM—Flint MI—2^nd place M50 in 5:07.

2014 (Dec 13)—USATF Club Cross Country Championships (10K)—Bethlehem PA—2^nd place M65 in 41:45

2015 (Oct 5)—USATF 5K Championship-Syracuse NY (Festival of Races)—4^th place M50 in 16:58 [5:27 pace]

Ruben Henderson-- Playmakers Elite/New Balance (Grand Rapids MI)

2014 (Feb 2) –USATF Half Marathon Championship—Melbourne FL—3^rd place M50 in 1:18:02 (5:57 pace)

2014 (Jun 14)—Brian Diemer Run (5K)—2^nd place M50 in 16:51 [5:25 pace]

2014 (Aug 22)—USATF 1 Mile Road Championship—CRIM—Flint MI—5^th place M50 in 5:11

2015 (Jun 6)—Reeds Lake  Run, E. Grand Rapids MI—1^st place M50 in 17:15 [5:33 pace]

Tim Lambrecht -- Playmakers Elite/New Balance

2014 (Aug 22)—USATF 1 Mile Road Championship—CRIM—Flint MI—4^th place M50 in 5:09

Mike Nier GVH

2014 (Aug 22)—USATF 1 Mile Road Championship—CRIM—Flint MI—5^thplace M45 in 4:56

2015 (Feb 7)—USA Cross Country Championships (8K)—Boulder CO—6^th place M50 in 29:34

2015 (Jun 6)—Charlie McMullen Memorial Mile—Pittsford NY—1^st place M50 and 2^nd place Masters overall in 4:56.

2015 (Jul 31)—GNC Live Well Liberty Mile—Pittsburgh PA—2^nd place M50 in 4:54.

Eric Stuber-- Playmakers Elite/New Balance

2014 (Aug 22)—USATF 1 Mile Road Championship—CRIM—Flint MI—1^st place M50 in 5:01

2015 (Feb 22)—Gasparilla Distance Classic Half Marathon—Tampa FL—1^st place M50 in 1:17:34 [5:55 pace]

2015 (April 26)—Komen Mid-Michigan Race for the Cure 5K—1^st place overall in 16:55 [5:26 pace]

2015 (Jun 18)—Bring Back the Mile—Okemos MI—1^st Masters in 5:02.

Ron Zywicki-- Playmakers Elite/New Balance

2014 (Aug 22)—USATF 1 Mile Road Championship—CRIM—Flint MI—3^rd place M50 in 5:07.

2015 (Oct 5)—USATF 5K Championship-Syracuse NY (Festival of Races)—5^th place M50 in 17:05 [5:29 pace]

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Antonio Arreola – Wolfpack Running Club (San Jose CA)

2015 (Feb 22) USATF 8K Championship—Brea CA—6^th place M55 in 29:21 [5:54 pace]

2015 (Mar 22)—Reach for a Star 5K—Brisbane CA—1^st place M55 in 17:49 [5:44 pace]

Dave Busshard – Playmakers Elite/New Balance (Elkhart IN)

2015 (Jun 13)—Brian Diemer Run (5K)—1^st place M50 in 16:46 [5:23 pace]

2015 (Aug 1)—Logan’s Run—Notre Dame IN—1^st Masters/3^rd overall in 17:06 [5:30 pace]

Michael Young—(Orchard Lake MI)

2015 [Jul 13]—Ann Arbor Mile (Dart for Art)—3^rd place M55 in 5:37.

2015 (May 9)—Komen Atlanta Race for the Cure—Atlanta GA—2^nd place M55 in 18:55 [6:05 pace]

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Doug Bell—Boulder Road Runners (Boulder CO)

Recently elected to the Masters Hall of Fame, Bell has been a top Masters runner for decades; he was the M40 Runner of the Year in 1991.

2015 (Feb 7)—USA Cross Country Championships (8K)—Boulder CO—3^rd place M60 in 32:28

2015 (Mar 15)—Sharin’ O’ the Green 5K—Fort Collins CO—1^st place M60 in 18:56 [6:05 pace]

2015 (May 25)—Bolder Boulder (10K)—Boulder CO—1^st place M60 in 39:00 [6:16 pace]

Tom Bernhard— Excelsior Running Club (Castro Valley CA)

Returning from an injury that kept him off the roads for a while, Bernhard has been racing up a storm this year and should be the favorite. He finished 2^nd last year in the CRIM/USATF 1 mile championship to the 2014 Masters Runner of the Year, Tom McCormack. With McCormack injured this year, Bernhard is the favorite. But he will know that Bell and Mullin will be right on his heels!

2014 (Aug 22)—USATF 1 Mile Road Championship—CRIM—Flint MI—2^nd place M60 in 5:26

2015 (Feb 22) USATF 8K Championship—Brea CA—3^rd place M60 in 29:10 [5:52 pace]

Peter Mullin (Houston TX)

Between 2012 and 2013 Mullin  won several national championships at distances from 5K to the Half Marathon. He also competed on the track, finishing 5^th in the 2013 World Championships in the 10,000 meters. He apparently suffered an injury in mid-2014 as he had no further races and when he did resume racing in February 2015, he was not matching his times of the previous year.  However, he is gradually rounding into shape. He recently took 2^nd place in the M65 division of the 1500 meter run in 5:19 and won the 5000 meter run in 19:34. A tough, gritty runner, there is no doubt that Mullin is still a threat in this group.

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Paul Carlin (Indianapolis IN)

In 2014 Carlin won the national M65 Half Marathon championship and finished 2^nd in the USATF M65  10K championship in 39:53. Later that year he took the age group title at the First Third River Bank Run (25K) and Joan Benoit Samuelson’s Beach to Beacon 10K. He sustained a serious hamstring injury last August and has endured several setbacks during his rehab. He is trying to race himself back into competitive shape but by his own description he is not yet competitive. In the meantime he is chronicling Masters Distance Running on his blog as The Running Professor.

Mitchell Garner—Ann Arbor Track Club

Garner is not as renowned for his racing prowess as for being a dedicated servant of Masters Long Distance Running. Garner is the current Vice-President of the Road Runners Club of America. It would be excellent if Garner could wind up on the podium. But Mitch does not strive primarily for individual glory but for the betterment of road racing in the USA.

Jerry Learned--Atlanta Track Club [Gainesville GA]

Last year Learned finished second to the M65 Runner of the Year, Lloyd Hansen, in the inaugural USATF Individual Grand Prix. A reliable runner for the Atlanta Track Club, Learned is often found on the podium of national championship races and this race should be no exception. None of the runners who finished ahead of him last year are entered this year. But there is a newcomer who is likely to give him a real race for the money. (See Rappole below.)

2015-- USATF 8K Championship—Brea CA—4^th place M65 in 32:54

2014--USATF 10 K Championship --Dedham MA—6^th place M65 in 42:20

2014—USATF 1 Mile Road Championship—Flint MI—4^th place in 5:58

2014—.US Nationals 12K—Alexandria VA—3^rd place M65 in 52:08

2013--USATF 10 K Championship --Dedham MA—6^th place M60 in 41:28

2013—USATF 5K Championship—Syracuse NY—4^th place M65 in 19:31

2013—.US Nationals 12K—Alexandria VA—2^nd place M65 in 50:12

Doc Rappole—Genesee Valley Harriers [Bemus NY]

Doc Rappole served notice at the USA Cross Country Championships [8K] in Boulder CO in February that he would be a force to be reckoned with in this age group in 2015. In that race he upset the 2014 M65 Runner of the Year, Lloyd Hansen, beating him by 7 seconds to take the gold medal. He showed us some grit in that race; here he will have a chance to show us his speed. He seldom races at distances less than 8K so this is his chance! With Hansen out of this race, Rappole becomes the strong favorite.

2014 (Dec 13)—USATF Club Cross Country Championships (10K)—Bethlehem PA—2^nd place M65 in 41:45

2015 (Feb 7)—USA Cross Country Championships (8K)—Boulder CO—1^st place M65 in 34:40

2015 (July 4)--Lakewood YMCA Firecracker 5K—Jamestown NY--  1^st place M65 in 43:09 [6:56 pace]

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Jan Frisby Boulder Road Runners [Grand Junction CO--]

An outstanding Masters runner since he broke onto the scene in the early 1990’s, the last 20 years has seen some up years and some years when injuries interrupted Frisby’s racing. He returned from his latest injury in fall of 2014. In 2015 he has been burning up the roads, winning age group championships and breaking the 10K road record for age 70 and up. He and Doug Goodhue (see below) should have quite a tussle!

1999--M55 Runner of the Year

1994 and 1995-- M50 Runner of the Year

2015 (Feb 7)--USATF Cross Country Championships [8K]—Boulder CO-- 1^st place M70 in 35:52

2015 (Feb 22) USATF 8K Championship—Brea CA—1^st place M70 in 32:24

2015—USATF 10K Championship—Dedham MA—1^st place M70 in 41:36

2015—Marin Memorial Day 10K –1^st place M70 in 40:14—pending USATF certification, establishes a new Age Group Record!

2015 [May 31] USATF Half Marathon Championship—San Diego CA [RockNRoll]—1^st place M70—1:35:35

Doug Goodhue—Ann Arbor Track Club [Milford MI]

Goodhue has been unbeatable over the last few years in road races from 1 mile to 15K. Nine times a USATF  age-group masters Runner of the Year, including the last 8 years in succession. 

Goodhue broke the US 10K record for Men 70-74 with a 40:22 time (since broken by Frisby--see above). He is also the current holder of the US 12K record for men 70-74 in 48:38.

He is the defending champion in this race, winning last year in 6:05. But this year he is coming back from an injury sustained at the end of 2014 in the USATF Club Cross Country Championships. His recent results in local 10K races suggest that he is back on his game. If so, it should be quite a race between he and Frisby!

Gerard Malaczynski [Bloomfield Hills MN]

As a young man in Poland, he was on the Polish National Mountain Climbing Team.  He migrated to the US in the 1980’s and in the 1990’s took up middle distance running. Focusing more on the track than the roads, Malaczynski is a recent winner in the National Senior Games where he took first in the M70 5K road race in 22:49 and second in the M70 1500 meters in 5:49.6. Another feather in his cap is that he joined with three others to break the M70 4x800 meter world record two years ago in 11:33.7. Malaczynski’s leg was a remarkable 2:44! Should either of the two favorites falter, they know that Malaczynski will be right there on their heels hoping to sprint past.

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Harlan van Blaricum—Ann Arbor Track Club

Last year van Blaricum finished 3^rd in the tough M70 age group in this race. This year it appears he has an excellent shot at winning his new age group, M75. A seasoned runner, van Blaricum’s time last year was 7:41. This year I can find no results for him; I hope that does not point to an injury. He is opposed by Sandy Scott who is unknown to me and has no recent results that I can find. This should go to van Blaricum but Scott’s entry, and van Blaricum’s lack of recent results, add just a drop of uncertainty.