From Phil Falk of the Open:
Rob Gill and Jonevan Hornsby
Photo Ben Ko
This really is my favorite time of year – I figure we have about a three week interlude between unbearable humidity and bone-chilling frigidity, and what better way to seize it than hurtling down Fifth Avenue? Seriously, though, when I walk outside in the early fall, the classic Bart Simpson comes to mind:
“What a day, eh, Milhouse? The sun is out, birds are singing, bees are trying to have sex with them – as is my understanding…”
Well, my understanding is that the open men threw down some really good performances at the Fifth Ave Mile on Sunday, elbowed out the guys in cross trainers in board short toeing the starting line. Our top five were: Jonathan Wetzel 4:27, Jonevan Hornsby 4:28, Matt Lacey 4:29, Peter Brady4:29, and Rob Gill 4:30. Big shout to Joneven and Rob for taking first and second in the 35-39 race – always great to see CPTC breaking the tape! Special mention for Jon W as well, taking fourth in his heat. In the Road Mile Champs heat, none other than David Peters unleashed a 4:19.9 – no small feat – congrats! Lots of other PRs around the team.
These five sub-4:30 times put us in first place in the team results! (Well, tied for first – every second really does count! We’ll see just how that shakes out.) Great race everyone!
Grete’s Gallop – that lovely half marathon in the park – looms just two weeks out – so keep logging the miles.
-Phil
From David Greenberg of the 40+:
Peter Brady and Gerry O’Hara
Our top three averaged 4:28 and won the 40-49 team competition by a good amount. We not only won the 40-49 team event, but also won the 45-49 individual race and placed second in the 40-44. I could plug in some metaphors and hyperbole, but none are needed: sometimes the facts are good and well enough left alone.
Here’s how it happened: Our top guy, David Peters, ran in the NYRR Championship race and placed 13th, running 4:19/91.6%. Our second guy, Peter Brady, was second in the 40-44 race at 4:29/88.25%, and our third man was Gerald O’Hara, who ran the best AG of all: 4:36/91.71% and won the 45-49. Because David did not run in the 40-49 race, our third scorer in the unofficials was John Milone, on comeback, who ran 4:55/80.70%.
David Peters was pleased with his performance particularly because he has been managing an achilles injury in the run-up to the race. “My time was down on the past few years but given that I’ve been struggling to walk (let alone run) for the past three weeks because of an achilles injury, I can’t be too disappointed…As usual, it was a great experience and I hope to return next year, fitter and quicker.” David said afterwards that he dropped the hammer from the start – running hard from the start on a bad achilles is indeed a spectacular all-in moment.
David Peters
Photo Sue Pearsall
Peter Brady was in the mix for 1608.9 meters and was just nipped at the line by the winner, Nick Berra of Pennsylvania. Or was he? NYRR timing had Peter’s chip time ahead of Nick’s, and the NYRR initially insisted on giving the win to Peter based on chip time. After the race Nick and Peter tried to change the result. “He beat me fair and square,” said Peter right after the race, and eventually the NYRR switched the two.
The race itself was a sit and kick deal, having gone through half in a pedestrian 2:20. Our own Gerald O’Hara eventually took off down the hill, starting an exciting run for the barn. Nick and Peter ran the second 800 in just 2:09 and fought to the last step.
“Nick is a great runner and I know I gave it my best effort yesterday,” wrote Peter after the race. “I just didn’t run the greatest tactical race. I either should have waited until 100m to go to make my move…Or I should have dropped the hammer from the gun and forced the pace.”
Gerald hung on to win the 45-49 by a solid 3 seconds and had the third best AG score among all the men in the race.
John Milone and Jim McQuade, a middle distance specialist and a marathoner, found common ground, running 4:55 and 4:57 respectively.
Frank Ayala ran his first 80% race ever, with his 5:03/80.25%.
Nigel Francis ran his best AG ever for the 5th Avenue mile, at 5:07/80.42% and was top 10 in the 45-49.
Wayne Merdis continues on his amazing improvement curve with a 26 second PR at 5:3-0, his first race over 70%.
Mickey Hawtrey ran his best Fifth Avenue Mile since 2009, and Laurence Go hit a huge 14 second PR with his 5:53. Laurence is training for a half marathon, but still put the hammer down as he accelerated down the hill.
Here’s the sweet part: This was our first win of the year, after a stretch of seconds and thirds. After Autism Speaks we were in third place behind Urban Athletics and West Side Runners. But now…West Side Runners finished only 10th in the Fifth Avenue Mile, so we will be right up with them, close to tied up with three races to go.
Which brings up Grete’s. This is often a difficult race for us to score well in because it is a long race so close to the marathon. Please let me know ASAP if you are running. We already had some weak races in 2013 so we can’t afford to drop Grete’s.
I have to think our 40+ mile squad might be the best of any team in the country. We have four guys who can run 4:30 or better, and several more who can run around 4:40. One is a world champion in the 800 and anther is a national champion. That is outstanding and we should enjoy watching them race.
This will serve as a second call for the USATF Masters 5k Championship in NJ, on October 20. Please let me know ASAP if you can run.
I have as (close to) definites:
Peter Brady
James Charlton
David Greenberg
John Milone
Gerry O’Hara
Armando Oliveira
John Milone and Wanda Wang
Photo Sue Peasall
From Chris Donnelly of the 50+:
Tom Fitzpatrick
Photo Sue Pearsall
CPTC’s 50+ men placed seven finishers in Sunday’s Fifth Avenue Mile. There was a mere hint of Autumn in the air, and changeable wind conditions that offered a tailwind lift one moment and a gentle rebuff the next, but a beautiful day for racing nonetheless. It was a challenging field, and our trio of scoring runners crossed the tape in a tight grouping, an encouraging result despite a few familiar faces on the mend or sitting out injuries.
Tom Fitzpatrick, new to the 50+ contingent and just getting back into his training, led the way with a 5:17 (AG 80.4% ), while Alan Ruben managed to grind out a 5:21 finish (AG 83.53%) despite a mid-race hitch in his giddy-up. Well done, and a 5th place age group finish for Alan, too.
Tim Smith went above and beyond, traveling back to NYC from his home in New Hampshire to take the third scoring slot. Tim confided the other day that in the first mile of a recent 5K he ran his fastest mile since high school, and this one was faster still, at 5:25 for an AG 80.25%. Tim also betters his 2012 Fifth Avenue mile by 4 seconds.
Chris Donnelly followed with a 5:28 in a supporting role (AG 78.32% ), coming off the Philly Half last week.
And welcome back, Bob Schulz. Bravo, Bob for jumping into the Fifth Avenue Mile for the first time! Bob has usually concentrated on the longer stuff (and won a special heat of the Empire State Building run-up in 2003, by the way). It’s a great omen that Bob’s back and healthy after too long away from the NYRR racing scene. Bob’s 6:01 mile was good for 24th place in the 55-59 age group and a 74.16% AG. This is Bob’s new favorite race, he reports.
Alan Ruben
Photo Sue Pearsall
Dennis O’Donnell was fractionally behind Bob, for 25th place in the 55-59 age group, also with a 6:01 (74.09%). It was a PR day for Dennis, who has sequentially bettered his time on Fifth Avenue over three successive years. Next year, Dennis breaks 6:00 for sure.
This brings us to the mighty Budd Heyman. It seems our long-time teammate has never run this race before. Congrats Budd on your 6:14 (71.07% AG). What else? The cheering section was amazing, as always. We’re powered by the Orange. And if Tony couldn’t be out there competing with us, to have him yelling, encouraging, cajoling? That was everything.
From Hank Schiffman of the 60+:
Hank Schiffman and Dan Molloy
Photo Sue Pearsall
Nine men 60+ wearing orange and blue ran this year’s 5th Avenue Mile under cool, blustery skies.
We had the first finisher Men 70-74. But this year it was not Sid Howard, running injured defending his appearance streak, 10th in his age group in 7:40, one hundredth of a percent below 70%. The first place was taken by Hal Lieberman, running it in 6:54 at 73.62%. As cool as Sid ran, Hal had the look of determination.
We had another 2 finishers in Men 65-69: Sam Mann, 4th in 6:04 and 79.71%, our first back up scorer, and Dave Delano, 24th in 7:41 at 64.07%.
The “maturation process” move people up from their prior group. This was evident in the Men 60-64 group, thick as thieves with talent.
Shattering the field was national champion Nolan Shaheed, 64, in 5:02, 1st overall men age graded at 95.25%.
Allan Dias, our first scorer, ran 5:36, 2 hundredth of a percent below 84%, and it was only good for 11th in the age group and 47th men age graded overall. Allan didn’t just have a good day, he is rising to his potential. Scoring second for us was another runner moving up to his potential, Chris Neuhoff, 5:57, 14th in the group at one hundredth of a percent below 79%. I, was our 3rd scorer, running 6:00 even at 79.75% and 16th age group. Our second back up scorer, freshly returned from his UK triathlon was Dan Molloy, 6:13, 75.59% and 21st in the age group. Harry Lichtenstein, also in the age group, finishing 34th, ran 7:07 and 65.45%.
From the near sublime: a mile on the edge of the park, to the near absurd: a tad less than 10k x 2 + 1 mile on the rolling Park Drive. In less than 2 weeks Grete’s Half is our next team point race. If a marathon is no country for old men, how about a half portion?
Sunday, October 20th in Flemington, NJ is the USATF Masters XC 5k. We are scaring up a team, followed by an impromptu team lunch. There is no fool quite like an old guy roiling over trails full tilt: cone join the fun.
We maintain our overall lead in the points competition by adding 3 first place points over second place Taconic. They ran well but we ran better. And our depth with either Sam, Dan or perhaps Hal or Harry, would have covered the unforeseen to still carry first. Van Cortland was all of 5 seconds behind Taconic and Witold’s another 30 seconds, with Witold himself running it in 6:41, third scorer for his team, at 78!
Sid Howard
Photo: NYRR
Captain Hank
Standings after Autism Speaks:
First: 50+, 60+
Third: Open, 40+