Franek-Samuelson-Wykes & Cullen at New Englands

It was a great day for cross country at Franklin Park as the USATF New England’s played out before the NCAA Div. 2 Regionals. Under partly sunny skies with moderate temps and good footing, the first race of the day, the Masters 8K, was taken out Maine’s Bobby Winn. The 49-year-old still has the fire and would place 6th in 27:17.

In a tightly fought battle between three Greater Springfield Harriers and Dirigo’s Dan Franek, it would be the Mainer who’d prevail. The National Masters 5K champion would cross the finish line in 26:25 with GSH’s Mike Nahom 9 seconds back

The Open women’s race was a carbon copy of Mayor’s Cup, at least as far as RI’s Mary Cullen was concerned. Gearing up for European Nationals, Cullen had run the first mile of Mayor’s Cup in 5:07. At New England’s, she went through in 5:05, alone, and won by over a minute in 19:39. Led by third placer Kasie Enman, the BAA won the women’s title while runner-up Jenn Donovan of New Balance-Boston took her squad to the runner-up position.

A little over a month ago, former Providence College harrier and native Canadian Dylan Wykes had run 2:16:21 on a day that saw 80-percent humidity. “Other than the humidity, it was a day a lot like today. A group of us went through the mile in 4:44 and I felt good so I made a push up Bear Cage.‰âÂVbCrLf

If not a surprise to the field, Wykes surprised himself by lengthening his lead to win the men’s 10K in 30:04 to Lynx Elite runner Harry Norton’s 30:37. New Balance-Boston’s Roland Lavallee and Paul Ryan took the 3-4 positions.              

The USATF team positions were the same in both the men’s and women’s races with the BAA 1st, New Balance-Boston 2nd and GBTC 3rd.

2008 USATF New England Open and Masters – 11/9/2008
                                   Franklin Park, Boston
  Men 40+ 8k
      Comp#  Name                            Team                             Time Points
=========================================================================================
    1   662  Dan Franek                  43  Dirigo RC                       26:25      1
    2   705  Michael Nahom               41  Greater Springfield Harri       26:34      2
    3   702  Kent Lemme                  42  Greater Springfield Harri       26:42      3
    4   696  Francis Burdett             43  Greater Springfield Harri       27:03      4
    5   708  Josh Brown                  40  Green Mountain AA               27:13      5
    6    59  Bob winn                    49  Unattached                      27:17
    7   663  Mark Goettel                41  Dirigo RC                       27:17      6
    8   659  Peter Bottomley             47  Dirigo RC                       27:22      7
    9   665  Dave Weatherbie             40  Dirigo RC                       27:24      8
   10   725  Jason Cakouros              43  Hfc Striders                    27:26      9
   11   667  John Barbour                54  Greater Lowell Road Runne       27:31     10
   12    62  Joe Shairs                  40  Central Mass Striders           27:36     11
   13   632  Terrry McNatt               43  Cambridge Sports Union          27:41     12
   14   701  Joe Lemay                   41  Greater Springfield Harri       27:47     13
   15   675  Mark Reeder                 49  Greater Lowell Road Runne       27:52     14

Women Open and Masters 6k
      Comp#  Name                            Team                             Time Points
=========================================================================================
    1   289  Mary Cullen                 26  Unattached – Ire                19:39
    2   872  Jenn Donovan                    New Balance Boston              20:56      1
    3   804  Kasie Enman                 29  Boston Athletic Associati       20:58      2
    4   898  Jessica Cickay              23  Unattached                      21:05
    5   879  Jen Toomey                      New Balance Boston              21:09      3
    6   880  Aileen Conlon               26  Nike Central Park TC            21:10      4
    7   813  Julie Spolidoro             27  Boston Athletic Associati       21:13      5
    8   868  Joan Bohlke                     New Balance Boston              21:32      6
    9   829  Sara Donahue                    Greater Boston TC               21:38      7
   10   883  Kate Irvin                  29  Nike Central Park TC            21:51      8
   11   282  Joan Samuelson              51  Nike                            21:56
   12   808  Lara Johnson                27  Boston Athletic Associati       22:00      9
   13   807  Mariko Holbrook             27  Boston Athletic Associati       22:01     10
   14   811  Mary Proulx                 28  Boston Athletic Associati       22:05     11
   15   835  Emily Kroshus                   Greater Boston TC               22:08     12

Open Men 10k
     Comp#  Name                            Team                             Time Points
=========================================================================================
    1   799  Dylan Wykes                     Unattached – Can                30:04
    2   521  Harry Norton                23  LynxElite                       30:37
    3   752  Roland Lavallee                 New Balance Boston              30:44      1
    4   512  Paul Ryan                   28  Whirlaway RT                    30:50      2
    5   759  Jarrod Shoemaker            26  Nike                            31:00
    6   628  Rick Rountree               30  Boston Athletic Associati       31:16      3
    7   796  William Sanders             21  Unattached                      31:19
    8   751  Dave Juiliano                   New Balance Boston              31:28      4
    9   753  Justin Lutz                     New Balance Boston              31:32      5
   10   622  Mark Miller                 28  Boston Athletic Associati       31:34      6

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