From Lauren Carter of the Open:

women warmup crop

Photo: Ben Ko

Despite a tough winter filled with snow, ice and lack of bridle path, the Women’s Open Team had a sensational showing on Sunday in the first road race of the year, the Washington Heights 5K.

rolanda bell 2

Rolanda Bell

Photo: Sue Pearsall

The Women’s Open Team displayed great depth and speed with six ladies running under 18 minutes and, as team, finishing just 1:18s behind rival NYAC in 2nd place. They were led by Rolanda Bell’s sub-17 finishing time of 16:52 and 2nd place overall finish.  Jane Vongvorachoti followed suit as the second scorer finishing the race with a 16s course PR in a time of 17:08.  As Christina Argueta began the race she had high hopes of finishing the course in under 18 minutes and that she did.  Christina ran for a whopping 32 course PR for a finishing time of 17:29 making her the third scoring woman. Lady Orange’s fourth scorer, Ivette Ramirez made her return to the road in a blazing 17:51, more than a minute course PR for her.  And Lauren Carter (17:56) and Andrea Bradshaw (17:59) traded places constantly over the course of the race to finish as the 5th and 6th ladies.

 

ivette ramirez

Ivette Ramirez

Photo: Ben Ko

It should be noted that 7th finisher for the Women’s Open Team, Sarah Alaei, completed the course in 18:02 in perfectly even splits!

sarah close up

Sarah Alaei

Photo: Atsede Aemro-Selassie

A terrific start to the road season despite tough winter training conditions.  The Women’s Open Team will compete in their next road race on April 5th as they take on the Scotland 10K.

megan kelly 2

 Megan Kelly

Photo: Sue Pearsall

From Ani Go of the 40+:

As the Washington Heights 5k was on the same day as the Oscars…I’ll start by saying “all right all right all right!”

colleen mc gurk

Colleen McGurk

This race brings out the fight in all of us. For those familiar with the course, the hills build until about mile 2–and if you can get through that, there is reward in the last mile, a blissful downward flight to the finish. The 40+ ladies were a bit light in numbers, but still heavy hitters, as we had fire incarnate, Colleen McGurk, (who raced with a 102 degree fever–fiery in more than one way!) blazing a path in 20:44. There is a fantastic photo of Lady McGurk, an expression of the most fierce determination on her face. True grit! Drafting from afar, was me, chasing the sub-21 but not quite making it, in 21:05. And once again, the 40+ scoring team dipped into the incredible talents of Ms Barbara Byrne, who rounded out the crew with 21:42…first in age of course, and an awesome 90.74% AG. These ladies, in the cold, disagreeable weather, placed us at 3rd place in our debut scoring race of the season. We’ll take it, thank you!

There’s more! Representing the 50+ team was Wanda Wang, finishing in 22:09–top 10. Not bad for one who confesses to lack of training. Looking forward to more racing from her in the future! Go Wanda!

wanda atsede good

Wanda Wang

Photo: Atsede Aemro Selassie

Big congrats to our first place ladies and mens 60+ team, and our open and masters podium finishers!

If you haven’t already signed up, our second scoring race is the Scotland 10k on Saturday, April 5th.

http://www.nyrr.org/races-and-events/2014/scotland-run-10k

Also, dues are due by the end of the month!

GO ORANGE!

–ani

 

From Sylvie Kimche of the 50+ and 60+:

This morning the (undefeated in 2013) CPTC W60+ team started the year

with a bang and another big win in the club point race for 2014 (six

minutes ahead of second team Van Cortland TC and 13minutes ahead of third team

Mercury Masters).

The big news today was the return to road racing of our long-time

member Mary (Rosado) who came in third for the team in a very decent

29:41 and ninth age group place. We’re happy that you’re back racing and

hope to see you often at the races!!!

The other big news was that for her anniversary race of joining CPTC,

Barbara (Byrne) ran 25″ faster today than last year!!! Way to go!

She was, as has been her habit since she joined the team, the first

runner for the team (W60+). She was also first for the W50+ team. And

for good measure, she again scored for the 40+ team in third place.

She took first in her age group with a time of 21:42 (a neat 7:00mn

pace), good for a 90.74% AG percentage and 2nd place in the AG

competition.

Your captain, Sylvie, was fresh off the plane from Paris where she’s

been taking care of her ailing sister Danièle*, and had a good race

despite the cold (it’s been springtime in Paris all winter long!!!).

She was 2nd for the W60+ team in an even 23:00 (7:25 pace), 1st in her

age group and 1st in the AG competition with a 92.28%. She also scored

3rd for the W50+ team

(* NB: For all of you who know her, Danièle is finally doing much

better and starting to see the proverbial light at the end of the

tunnel. Thank you all for all your support!)

Rounding out the W60+ were 2 of our very long time CPTCers:

Our founder Lynn Blackstone 5th in the W70-74 age group in 32:24

(10:27 pace) 5th in her age group and Caryl Baron, also coming back to road racing, 6th in the W70-74 age group in 35:28 (11:27pace)

Congrats!!!

Unfortunately, Deborah (Barchat) who had signed up for this race could

not make it because her knee has been acting up again lately. So Deb,

all our best wishes of prompt and full recovery!

The W50+ team got 3rd place in the club point race, thanks to the

arrival of Wanda Wang in the 50-54 age group in late 2013… She ran a

solid 22:10 (7:09 pace) 9th in her age group, 2nd for the W50+ team.

So welcome again to the W50+ team and congrats on scoring for the team

once more*! (*NB her first scoring for the W50+ was the Ted Corbitt 15k In Dec 2013).

To second team Captain Hank of the M60+, five out of the 71 CPTC

finishers were women 60+: Thanks you ladies!

Hope to see you at the next race Scotland Run 10K on April 5th.

Otherwise, have a great race again and take first place team again!!!

 

GO Orange!

 

Captain Sylvie