NE Runner dev site
Temps in the mid-60s, sunny skies, low dew point, a moderately downhill USATF certified course and a rollicking post-race extravaganza at the nearby Tinker’s Son. Not a bad script for the silver anniversary of the Pub Series midway stop.
4:42 pace and a new Evan’s Run course record for Gilmar Lopes
It’s transition time for the Series as the “miss two and you’re through” clause kicks in to separate the wheat from the chaff. Brazilian Gilmar Lopes is still in the hunt but without prize money at the next Series stop – the Cambridge Summer Classic – we probably won’t see him again (and out of the Series) until the BHZ 5K.
Derik Noland.
A safer bet is Dirty Water Distillery RC ace Derik Noland, past course record holder here (15:38, 2022) and part of the Noland lineage that saw dad John set a record (and land on NER’s cover) on the Evan’s Run old course (back when it was a 5K/10K).
So there’s no arguing with a 4:42 pace and that’s what Gilmar laid down to lower his own course record to 14:35. Derik was a solid 2nd in 16:21 to retain his Series lead while mighty Tim Gavin of HFC placed 3rd in 16:54 to tie defending champ Patrick Bugbee, who fell to 7th while coming off Boston and suffering a mysterious leg ailment of the catch/release variety that was also at problem at Boston.
CSU’s Jason Goldschmidt also had a great race, as did teammate and Senior stalwart Doug Johnson, as did Somerville RR coach Joe O’Leary to move into the M50 silver medal position. As further evidence that the action is heating up, Dave Pember outkicked Rich Paulson in the M80 division on the course’s final downhill!
Steady Terry McNatt is the new sheriff of the M60 division while M70 defending champion Gary Morin is still looking for a challenger.
Jennifer Johnson.
This race is a big fundraiser for autism awareness and former high school/collegiate runner Liz Melevsky has an autistic child and was naturally drawn to this race as she defended her women’s crown in 19:22. Current Series leader Elizabeth Bugbee of CSU arrived third in 20:56 to retain her Series lead while current silver medalist Mimi Fallon arrived next in 21:23. CSU’s Jennifer Johnson in 6th and Concord’s Kalen Leblanc in 7th move into the overall top-10 among female Pubsters.
Viki Bok.
Repping the BHZ RC, Christina Geagan placed 9th to take command of the Masters division while the Liberty AC’s Viki Bok is the alpha W60 division dynamo. Plymouth Mimosa Run maven Marianne Withington recently turned 70 and is numero uno … although Ocean State great Marge Bellisle will turn 70 before the Cambridge Classic. Yegads!
If you haven’t signed up the for the Cambridge Summer Classic on June 29, join the New England Runner team and join us post-race at our VIP tent in the University Quad Beer Garden. (Links for the Classic and BHZ 5K are in the Manifesto
Also, the BHZ 5K out of the Barrel House Z Brewery in Weymouth on Aug. 24, opened registration last week with the entry fee at a paltry $30 (for the time being).
