NE Runner dev site
No drizzle this year and despite the lack of murk we missed the NER Pub Series Men of Summer basking like sea lions at West Dennis Beach. We did catch up to the crew at the post-race festivities at Chapins, however, along with the young lionesses of Team Fabulous, aghast and horrified that a waiter from the previous evening (the girls were celebrating with new dance moves the night before) was on premise.
Ah, vanishing youth, like the bloom of summer skimming across the whitecaps….
Congrats to Whirlaway’s Joe Navas on his 15:24 winning scamper over the newly improved 5K course at Meehan. Behind Joe, the HFC trio of TJ Unger, Jason Cakouros and Lee Danforth were booking it with Danforth beating Unger in a finish line sprint to break a tie and take a 1-point lead among men. With Greg Picklemsier AWOL, Cakouros took over sole possession of third and the top Masters slot. Danforth ran 15:39 with Unger 3-ticks back and Cakouros another 8-seconds behind Unger.
Two-time Pub Champ Terry McNatt had another solid run in 16:08 for 5th.
With even opening splits of 5:45-5:45, the BAA’s Kristen Murphy didn’t have to push the final 1.1, but she did, winning her 4th straight Pub foray in 17:35 for a perfect 200 points. Runner-up Megan Sowa (19:01) is just 5-points back, got a job in Boston, won’t be moving back to PA, and has a solid grip on the silver chalice that third-placer and NER July/August covergirl Meaghan Scearbo (19:14) covets.
Good to see Sue McNatt back in fighting trim. The CSU ace won the Masters division in 21:39, good for 10th overall. In overall 40+ Pub Points, Andera Leonard rules the roost, only giving up two points as she placed 15th overall in 22:36.
Outlegging both of these ‘young runners’ was 55 year-old Marge Bellisle (6th-19:52), but still concerned that ever-dueling Anna Pawlosky (4th-19:42) and Amy Pace (5th-19:47) placed ahead of her. But in the overall standings, Marge still retains 4th with Anna 5th and Amy 6th.
Exploiting a home-town advantage, Chatham’s Janet Kelly broke a tie with Veteran Pub Series Champ Catherine Farrell, claiming the top spot by a point after a 24:03 showing.
A lot of people were able to say “I beat Paul Hammond” after the Maine Hall of Famer dragged a tweaked hammy across the line. Teammate and wingman Chris Spinney smelled ‘chum’ in the water but could only dorsal fin his way to within a point of the Senior division winner after leapfrogging past Jimmy Fallon in the standings.
Will Hammond prevail on home turf? Will twice the distance equate to twice the fun for some, ruination for others. Starting around 7:30ish at 3 Dollar Dewey’s on Commercial Street in Portland’s Old Port, the entire staff of NER will be musing over these and other issues on race eve. Drop in to say hello, have a draught and mix with the Mainers. A-Yuh!
