From Lauren Carter of the Open:
The Women’s Open Team opened Fall road racing with back to back race weekends in different distance categories and very different racing conditions.
Christina Argueta
Photo: Nigel Francis
Fall racing was kicked off by a very warm and sticky 4 Miler that was more reminiscent of Summer on Saturday, September 6th. Christina Argueta endured the course and lead the way for the Women’s Open Team, crossing the finish line in 24:20.
Alysia Dusseau, feeling great throughout the race, completed the race less than a minute behind Christina in 24:59.
Nicole Falcaro
Photo: Nigel Francis
Wrapping up just over 25 minutes, Erin Conroy and Nicole Falcaro posted back to back finishes with times of 25:12 and 25:16 respectively. Rounding out the scoring for Lady Orange on that rough racing day was Tara Conroy in a time of 25:35. Tara, grateful for her teammates support on the course, finished the 4M course just 2 seconds off her PR.
The following weekend the race conditions were much more forgiving and symptomatic of Fall. The Women’s Open Team came back to race the 5th Ave Mile on Saturday September 13th, and what a close race it was! So close Lady Orange didn’t have one leading lady but rather two leading ladies!
Lauren Gregory
Photo: Alysia Dusseau
Lauren Gregory and Alysia Dusseau competed in their respected age groups to BOTH finish in a time of 5:13, leading the way for the Women’s Open. Hot on their heels was Madeline Cummings running for a time of 5:19 and a PR. Katherine Harrington proved her versatility at any distance. Despite her marathon training, Katherine crossed the finish line in 5:25 as the Women’s Open fourth scorer. Rounding out the scoring was Mallory Fratta with a time of 5:27.
Amy Kvilhaug
Photo: Jay Mojica
Other notable performances on the day include Amy Kvilhaug’s stellar start. Amy went through the 3/4 mark in first place, just blazing through the race. Although she couldn’t hold her lead, Amy pushed through to finish 3rd, posting a 14s PR with a time of 5:35.
The following day Shawnessy Dusseau helped NYC Runs kick off their first ever Queens Half Marathon in Flushing Meadow Park. With perfect fall temperatures, Shawnessy ran for a PR in a time of 1:35:51 and placing 7th overall and 2nd in her age group.
From Ani Go of the 40+
Race report double header!
Autism 4mi:
August was a relatively mild month for summer. However, just for the Autism 4mi, temperamental Ma Nature decided to put us in the kitchen for gravy making. The ladies took a technical approach to the race relying on good training and their own perseverance.
Autism 4mi:
August was a relatively mild month for summer. However, just for the Autism 4mi, temperamental Ma Nature decided to put us in the kitchen for gravy making. The ladies took a technical approach to the race relying on good training and their own perseverance.
The great Yumi Ogita took to the road in her first points race after a long hiatus caused by injuries. She captured 3rd place in age with her time of 26:18 and lead our masters team. It’s always a treat when Yumi races!
Next of our fierce masters was the platinum and statuesque Judy Stobbe, in 27:06. Judy placed in 1st in her age group. Says Judy ” (on) the bright side, I won my age group…but boy that 50+ looks crazy fast!. I started on pace (6:22-6:30) but then the heat and hills got me (6:59-6:55). Ugh. Over 1:00 off my pr, but it’s ok.”.
Our next scorer was 60+ superstar Barbara Byrne in 31:03. Barbara yet again scores triplets in the 40’s, 50’s and 60’s categories and won her age group.
Last but not least, Jennifer Ranck did her first road race in years (41:16). Jennifer summarizes her race “I came…I ran ?…I finished – it was all about finishing no matter how slow (and it was definitely 10+min pace…bleh… – weather was not my friend but warmup with Judy T, cheering a là Tony, and signs of team camaraderie were the highlights! Glad to be running and hoping to keep building and staying healthy!”.
5th Avenue:
Aside from the marathon, the 5th Ave Mile has got to be the most fun race to both participate in and watch. The name of the game is speed of the heart explosive kind as everyone tears down the Museum Mile.
The 40+ masters had a full stable. Blazing in first for our ladies was Judy Stobbe–unfortunately, she was the victim of timing chip trolls, she had obviously finished well in the lead pack but the chip did not record her time. This issue is still to be resolved!
Sue Pearsall
Photo: Ben Ko
As always in our mile scoring pack is VP Sue P, in 5:55. It was deja vu all over again when she ran in the media race later on.
And scoring for us was Wonder Wanda Wang with 6:06! Wanda rounds out our scoring team and finishes in the top 10 for the 50’s ladies!
Roberta Little
Photo: Jay Mojica
Up next was Roberta Little, running her first mile as a masters. Roberta says this about her race “(the) last 800 was bad but I had a lot left and should have pushed… think I waited too long to change gears, then it was over…but I’m happy with my result since I had that soleus issue and couldn’t really do much besides jog leading up to the race. Been a tough year for me with injuries…I ran 7 sec slower than my PR. My goal was just to finish healthy and at least run sub 6:30. I accomplished both. 6:22 and I’m healthy!”
Pending Judy’s result, the 40+ masters ladies should place 3rd! Congrats to all!
From Judith Tripp of the 60+:
Judith Tripp
Photo: Nigel Francis
Our 60+ team came in 2nd in the Autism 4-mile points race, just over 2 minutes behind a hard-charging VCTC. Barbara ran 31:03 (1st in age group and 82.38% age graded score!), Judith ran 35:43, Deb 39:04, and Lynn 46:12, on a day when the humidity was a whopping 85% according to the NYRR website.
Sylvie Kimche
Photo: Jay Mojica
In the 5th Avenue mile, we had a strong turnout — Barbara ran 6:14 (1st in age group, 94.46% age graded, also scoring for our 40+ women who placed 4th, and the 50+ women who placed 3rd). Sylvie ran 6:40 for 1st in her age group and 95.56% age graded, also scoring for our 50+ women. Judith ran 8:09, Deb 8:22 and Caryl 9:49, and the team placed 1st in the 60+!
Congratulations to all!
Photo: Ben Ko