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It wasn’t exactly “crisp” but no one was complaining about dry, overcast conditions with temps in the mid-50s at Franklin Park where 103 years of XC tradition continued with the USATF-NE XC Championships on Sunday, Nov. 5. (Photo: Maine’s Ryan McCalmon wins the Masters 8K just ahead of teammate Pete Hammer (M50) and Battle Road coach Ryan Carerra, M40). Photos by FitzFoto/NERunner
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The opening race of the day, the Men’s Masters 8K, featured a sea of blue and gold Unicorn runners with the addition of Battle Road TC coach Ryan Carrera and Central Mass Strider Greg Putnam. Carrera found the opening 5:18 mile “fairly slow” and McCalmon felt “comfortable” through two miles at 10:28. Consequently, there was a big pack on the last loop heading up Bear Cage. “I’m not a downhill runner but I felt pretty smooth coming off Bear Cage and pushed it just enough to get a small gap. McCalmon broke the tape in 24:46, the time time given Hammer with Carrera 2-ticks back. The B.A.A. scored 15 points to take the team prize. Full Results
Photo: In the women’s 6K, Molly Rouillard (un), the Battle Road TC’s Danielle Bessette and Vermont’s Kasie Enman of the Green Mt. AC.
Defending champion Liv Westphal captured her third straight title in 20:21 for an 8-second margin over Rosie Donegan of team titlist Battle Road TC. “This was my first race of the fall,” noted Westphal, a native of France, current resident of Brighton, MA and former harrier for BC where she’s now enrolled in a Masters program. “It’s been hectic. I just signed a pro contract with Nike, I’m teaching classes, taking classes and training. It’s been tough to balance.”
(Photo: NE Distance runner Henry Sterling (in yellow) breaks up the ocean of blue Ocean State AC runners L-R: Trevor Crawley, winner Julian Oakley, Jordan Mann, Shane Quinn and Hugh Armstong.)
With dad Brendan Quinn among the spectators, Shane Quinn handled pacing duties up front for half of the men’s 10K. “Coach (Ray Treacy) told us to put the hammer down after 5K so we started running uptempo at that point,” offered Julian Oakley, won of several former Providence College runners in the blue of the Ocean State AC. Oakley would win in 30:26 with Sterling 11 seconds back and Ocean State compiling 15 points to run away with the team title. “They ran well two weeks ago (Mayor’s Cup) and they ran slightly better today,” commented Treacy. “Julian had a very strong run.” Full Results
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