Record Turnout at Doyle’s – Pub Extravaganza Deux

Heading up the record 2,229 strong field at Doyle’s this
April 10 was Newton’s Greg Picklesimer,
44. Three weeks earlier, the Somerville Road Runner clocked 1:12-flat at
the USATF-NE Half Marathon Championship in New Bedford. At Doyle’s, a 5:11 pace
over the undulating Franklin Park course was needed to keep Brian Deal at bay.
No hometown or age (20-something) in the results but Deal was just four seconds
in arrears of the winner in 25:57. Cape speedster Joe Navas pulled in third at
25:59 with Hurtin’ For Certain’s Lee
Danforth and T.J. Unger going
4-5.

 

While Picklesimer’s showing puts him atop the Masters
scoring in the Pub Series, he currently sits second to Danforth in overall
scoring.

 

The BAA’s Kristin
Murphy, 29, went sub-6 in securing the women’s crown as the 2010 Pub Series
queen is now 8-for-8 on the Series. “I’m a miler/5K runner so five miles is a
bit long but I felt good. I was being chased so I couldn’t let up,” allowed
Murphy, who crossed the finish line in 29:47 with (ala An Ra’s Mo’r) Somerville
Road Runner heroine Rachel Shanley,
27, just 13 seconds back in 30-flat.

 

SRR was further represented by Master runner Jennifer Rapaport, 46, numero uno among
the distaff 40-49 Series’ set with a win at An Ra’s Mo’r and silver at Doyle’s
in 34:06. Top Master Petra Platt ran 33:10 to place among the top 10 right
behind Pub Series’ sirens Meaghan
Scearbo of Hurtin’ For Certain and Jacquelyn
Cilley of the BAA.

 

There were sparks in the Senior division as Greater Lowell
ace Mark Reeder took down the men’s 50-59
record‰Û¢and not just any record, but Larry Legend’s 27:43 from 1999. Reeder had
dominated the best of New England’s Seniors at New Bedford just three weeks
prior.

 

“I was happy with New Bedford. I’m in pretty good shape. I
hope to get in better shape,” said Reeder, whose time of 27:37 won his division
by over a minute. “I had no idea Larry Olsen held the record. That’s a
surprise.

I felt very heavy. I’ve been doing a lot of hill work and
mileage and my legs felt heavy. I’m trying to get my legs in shape for some
interval training so I don’t get hurt when I do some work on the track.”

 

“Reeder and his heavy legs!” laughed two-time
Pub Series champion Terry McNatt. “They
almost gunned me down approaching the chute; it took one last ugly gut sprint,
more like a spasmodic flail, to stay ahead to the line.” CSU’s McNatt took 9th,
3-seconds up on Reeder in 27:34.

 

There was iron in the age groups as the
Liberty AC’s Joan Miller came out of the woodwork to lead Senior women in
34:47. Liane Pancoast of Greater Lowell
and Team Fabulous got the best of defending Pub champion Marge Bellisle of Warren, RI‰ÛÓ35:14 to 35:40‰ÛÓwith Marge holding a
one-point Series lead over Liane.

 

What’s up with the female Vets division?
National class Liberty AC ace Jan
Holmquist is now 2-for-2 after laying down a 7:21 pace over the
certified Doyle’s course at age 66. Some years back, before beset by injuries,
Holmquist was the best Veteran female in the country. Cape Cod AC Hall of Famer
Janet Kelly arrived next in 38:06, followed by Stowe, VT’s Patty Foltz in 39:11‰ÛÓtheir 1-2-3 finish
somewhat mirroring the trio’s standings in the Series Kelly missed the 1st race
wintering in Fla. while Holmquist & Foltz are currently 1-2 in the
standings).

 

CSU’s
Gordon McFarland, 62, was once again
the class of the men’s Veteran field, running 6:08 pace to win handily in
30:44. With Pub stalwarts John Winters
(big race by Mr. Winters!) and Dave
Pember arriving 2-3, this division mirrors the Pub standings.

 

Framingham’s
Bob Tomassini won the 70+ division in 38:58 but the Cape Cod AC’s Larry Cole, 77, in third, and four-time
malt and hop master Bob Hillman of
the Marshfield RR, look to be the most Pub worthy at this early juncture.