In springlike weather, 44 CPTC runners showed up to race on a muddy course through Van Cortland Park at the NYRR 5k Cross Country Championships. The women’s team, led by Melissa Salerno, Kristina Maletz, and Laura Wang, dominated the rest of the field, winning the team title by a combined time of fifteen minutes. On the men’s side, club president John Roberts led the men’s team to a strong second-place showing behind a tough NYAC squad.
With the greater part of the grass field fenced off, nearly 500 runners were jammed into the narrow gravel path, which made for a slightly cramped start. Those near the front, though, were treated to the sight of Coach Tony Ruiz, in a retro CPTC singlet, looking ready to tear it up. And indeed he did, with a sub-19-minute performance good enough for second place in his age group, closely followed by Thomas Fitzpatrick and John Affleck.
Of the top-ten finishers in the 40-44, six were from CPTC, including fine runs from Jesus Mateo (17:07), Neil Fitzgerald (17:51), Glen Carnes (18:18), and David Greenberg (18:31). On the women’s side, Sue Pearsall and Ani Go both set season PRs and rounded out the top four in their age group.
Another season PR was set by 19-year-old Emma Spencer, who just missed cracking twenty minutes and also joined Alyssa Ross (21:06 ) in helping the open women to an easy victory. The open’s men competition was much closer — only twelve seconds separated our top-five scorers’ combined time from Fordham University’s third-place team; since my quads are still screaming two days later, I’m guessing the extra effort on the downhill made some difference.
For full results and photos, please go to NYRR.