From where I sit, racing flats put to bed, my singlet working its way down deeper into my running drawer, my running glove situation already starting to deteriorate, I can say that 2011 was a fabulous year for CPTC masters.
The numbers are fantastic – let’s start with the team points competition: Three of six CPTC masters teams did better than they did in 2010, and none did worse. Individually, CPTCers set world and American records on the high end, and many, many PRs slightly lower on the bell curve.
Let us praise the women’s 60+ team for winning the team competition, after finishing a weak fifth in 2010. Captain Sylvie Kimche rallied the troops month after month, and the team of Deb Barchat, Judith Tripp, Marie-Louise Michelsohn, Lynn Blackstone, Caryl Baron and Sylvie herself squeaked out a season win against Mercury Masters.
The Men’s 50+ also won, but that is like saying Kip Lagat won Millrose – this is at least the third year in a row for the team atop the standings, and a well-won huzzah goes to captain Andrew Moore and his speedy few.
The men’s 40+ surged into second place, better than their 3rd place in 2010. With a heavy assist from ringer Thom Little, the m 40+ kept improving through the year, throwing down a sharp win at the marathon. And with momentum surging and John Milone turning 40 next year, the future looks very bright for the M 40+.
The women’s 40+ matched its second place from 2010, winning three races and narrowly losing to Athena.
The men’s 60+ deserves full credit for a massively successful rebuilding year, finishing just off the podium in fourth by a technicality having to do with how the NYRR counts mulligans. Captain Hank Schiffman tirelessly got his mates out onto the start line, fielding teams in six races this year, versus just three in both 2009 and 2010. The highlight of the year was an incredible one second win over Taconic at the Fifth Avenue Mile, with Hank, Sid Howard and Chris Neuhoff outleaning our northern rivals.
Individually, we have to acknowledge two records of which I am aware: Marie-Louise Michelsohn broke the world records for the 70-74 3000 and 5000 on a windy day at Icahn Stadium. Early in the year, Rae Baymiller broke the 65-69 American record in the half marathon with an amazing 1:33:43. While it happened in 2009, Stuart Calderwood’s 54-59 ARs at 20k, 25k and 30k on the track were finally ratified.
Here are the top 2011 performances in the NYRR database for distances greater than one mile:
Men:
Alan Ruben: 87.5%
Stuart Calderwood: 86.9
Thom Little: 85.8%
Michael Rennock: 84.6%
Hank Schiffman: 84.3%
Women:
Rae Baymiller: 99.9%
Marie-Louise Michelsohn: 92.0%
Sylvie Kimche: 89.9%
Yumi Ogita: 87.3%
Jill Vollweiler: 82.8%
I apologize if I missed anyone.
Rae, Marie-Louise, Sylvie, Alan and Stuart’s marks were among the top 10 performances by CPTCers in the last four years, since I started this column.
Top Performers since 2007:
Men:
1. Alan Ruben 87.7 (2009)
2. Birger Ohlsson 87.7 (2008)
3. Stuart Calderwood 86.8 (2011)
4. Michael Trunkes 86.8 (2008)
Women:
1. Rae Baymiller 100.4 (2010)
2. Marie-Louise Michelsohn 92.1 (2011)
3. Yumi Ogita 90.2 (2010)
4. Sylvie Kimche 89.9 (2011)
5. Jill Vollweiler 86.9 (2008)
On the track, Lisa Daley won multiple golds at the World Masters Champs, and Neil Fitzgerald won one of the best 800 meter races you’ll ever see, at the same meet: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ffHVOuHBlFY
Almost on the track, Yumi Ogita was flying on Fifth Avenue, running a 94.1%/5:18, winning by 27 seconds. Her time would have won the two proximate younger age groups and medalled all the way down to the 30-34.
The team improved its depth in 2011 also – at the last points race of the year ten male CPTCers scored over an age-graded 80%, while in 2010 only six hit that milestone. The faster masters ‘just get me to the line in time’ award goes to Chris Donnelly, who raced more than anyone else: 14 times. On the women’s side, Wanda Wang crossed the line 12 times. While Yasuhiro Makoshi had an off year, only racing seven times, he has raced circa 88 times in four years, far more than anyone else.
One hundred masters men were active through the year, and 22 masters women.
Race Rewind:
Captain Jim McQuade and George Hirsch won their age groups at the Ted Corbitt 15k, but no one set a 52-week age graded PR. Dan Gercke celebrated the holidays with a win in the 45-49 at the Brooklyn Jingle Jog.
The last points race of the season, December 4 and lasting a wonderful 5 miles, was my personal favorite of the year, as no fewer than ten CPTCers set new 52-week age graded PRs. David Greenberg, Mel Stafford, Peter Allen, Michael Rennock, Daniel Gercke, Michael Caggia, Laurence Go, Rich Shaver, Philip Vasquez and Dave Delano had their best races of the year, statistically. The men’s team had an amazing grouping, with David G, Mel S, Michael Ahern, David Bosch, Peter A and Michael R finishing all packed up within 30 seconds of each other. For Davids Bosch and Greenberg, the race was their first Central Park race over the 80% mark.
After Joe DiMaggio grounded out in the 57th game, fans must have sat back and wondered how the heck the clipper had done it. Our own Sylvie Kimche had a streak end this year: 45 straight age group wins in Central Park races. The only way it could end was through injury or another world-class runner moving into the neighborhood – and that is just what happened. Kathryn Martin turned 60 and no one, not even our Sylvie Kimche, can beat Kathy Martin. But Sylvie herself moved up an age group on December 11, so woe to those competitors. And it goes on.
At the XC champs in November, CPTC did its usual torrid best, winning three age groups and taking home fifteen medals, including the open team. Shock and awe. The winners were Daniel Gercke, Hank Schiffman and Sue Pearsall.
Back to the first race after the marathon, a four miler on November 20, Lynn Blackstone set a 52 week age graded personal best and won a bronze medal to fill the traditional role of the maraschino cherry.
I am sure I missed endless good news – please let me know so I can be more complete.