One Last Gulp Left

It's heartening to see some Publicans break into the standings at long last while the tightest women's race in Pub Series history (8 years) remains just that. Mimi Fallon will be wearing the yellow leader's jersey down Newton's Champs D'Elyse at Paddy's on Oct. 16 - will she become the first woman to break the Hurley curse? Hopkinton, NH's Christin Doneski is still just 3 points back. Christin did catch one break as she only had to drive 20 minutes (for once) to get to the race site.

No other breaking news other than recently engaged Michele Carletti blinded arch rival Sue McNatt with the size of her "rock" and cut 3 points into Sue's lead (212 to 209) for the all-important 5th place $ position. County Mayo's Emer O'Donaghue is off the Mtn. circuit and has positioned herself nicely in the Masters division.

Steady Senior Joanne Morris of Quincy was (at first)inexplicably shut out in the scoring. It seems Joanne chose exit 5 in Nashua before exit 5-Granite St. in Manchester. Joanne arrived late and ran the course anyway in her quest for a vest. She grew up in Newton so she should fare better at Paddy's Shillelagh Shuffle

Congrats to all who've made it thus far. The last race is a flat, fast certified 3-Miler that's ultra heavy on the amenitites and a fitting finale to Pub Series VIII.

Pub Series Women's Standings After the Halfway to St. Patrick's Day 5K, the 5th of 6 Series Races

Open Women (Top 50 Score)

1. MIMI FALLON - MA-------------------------248
2. CHRISTIN DONESKI - NH--------------------245
3. MEAGHAN SHAW - MA------------------------238
4. EILEEN CAKOUROS - MA---------------------226
5. SUE MCNATT - MA--------------------------212
6. MICHELE CARLETTI - MA--------------------209
7. SUE MASLOWSKI - MA-----------------------182
8. SUSAN KENNEY - MA----------------------- 172
9. CHRISTINE HOLLANDER - MA-----------------147
10. MARIANNE WITHINGTON - MA----------------123
11. ANA HUBERT - MA-------------------------106
12. CATHERINE FARRELL - MA-------------------97
13. EMER O'DONAGHUE - MA--------------------75
14. BETH HACKETT - MA-----------------------68
15. CATHY CAGLE - MA------------------------67
16. MARY GAVIN - MA-------------------------65
17. JOANN MORRIS - MA------------------------40
18. KATIE WALSH - MA------------------------50
19. DOROTHY ZULLO - MA----------------------29
20. SAMANTHA BURGESS - MA-------------------11
21. HEATHER McLOUGHLIN - MA-----------------26
22. SUMMER STASTNY - MA---------------------20
23. MAUREEN FARREN - MA---------------------9
24. ELAINE PROVENCHER - ME------------------2
25. KAREN SOMERLAND - MA--------------------1

Masters (Top 10 Score)

1. SUE KENNEY - MA----------------------------39
2. CHRISTINE HOLLANDER - MA-------------------33
3. MIMI FALLON - MA---------------------------20
4. EMER O'DONAGHUE - MA------------------------11
5. CATHY CAGLE - MA---------------------------9
6. BETH HACKETT - MA--------------------------8
7. MARIANNE WITHINGTON - MA-------------------6
8. DOROTHY ZULLO - MA--------------------------4

Seniors (Top 6 Score)

1. SUE MASLOWSKI - MA-------------------------30
2. MARIANNE WITHINGTON - MA-------------------16
3. JOANNE MORRIS - MA-------------------------6
4. MAUREEN FARREN - MA------------------------4

Veterans (Top 4 Score)

1. CATHERINE FARRELL - MA--------------------------16