From Kristan Dietz of the Open:

Hi Everyone,

Our last NYRR scoring race of the year took place in Central Park on Sunday. We had some great performances at the Join the Voices Five Miler.

Leading the team was Lauren Carter in her first race back from injury. She ran a 30:58, which a 14 second personal best. What a way to start her comeback! Lauren decided to save her energy for the last mile, which she ran in 5:53.  Following Lauren was Sarah Schillaci in 31:04, a 45 second PR. You might think that a 45 second PR would be Sarah’s favorite race moment, but you would be wrong. She was more excited about scowling at mile five and that she was “able to finish before the chocolate chip bagels at the finish line were obliterated!”

New CPTC Hall of Fame member Yumi Ogita finished third for the team in 31:05. Megan Kelly followed in 31:10. Megan ran over a minute faster than last year and said it was “nice to have Lauren, Sarah and Yumi in sight through the race and CPTC cheerers helped wake me up on the last hill on the west side.”

Stephanie Yang ran a 31:45, which is exactly one minute faster than last year. It was her first time scoring for the team and her first age group victory! Rounding out our CPTC team presence at the race were Sarah Abdallah in 33:11, Anna Fyodorova in 33:29 and Debbie Lee in 44:12.

Congrats ladies, and thank you to everyone who participated in NYRR Scoring Races this year. Even though our scoring race season is over, I know many of you will still be hitting the roads to race, so don’t forget to send over your performances!

GOOD LUCK to our cross country team this weekend at XC Nationals in Lexington! Finally, for anyone who is looking to race this weekend, NYC Runs is putting on the New York City Ekiden this Sunday in Central Park. Details can be found here. If you are interested in running, please contact Joe Kennedy, as he is putting together a CPTC team.

Thanks!

Kristan


From Ani Go of the 40+:

Conditions were near perfect this morning for our last points race, the thin cottony veil of fog over the park seasonal and even a bit festive.  The 40+ master ladies had the eyes on the prize, the voices in their heads telling them to compete compete compete!

After battling a heel injury for most of the year, comeback queen Jill Vollweiler closes out the season (and looking’ good doing it!) with 32:50 grabbing the lucite for third in her age group and scores for our masters.

Susan Laucius-Stamp, an incredible team player, lends her talent and support, completing her fifth club points race of 2012.  Susan keeps our team strong.  This still new mama of one comes to represent and finishes out 35:56, in the top 10 of her age group.

Tigress Terry Ballou prowls the 5mi course in her park debut for the first and last time this year.  In only her second road race of the season (not counting the 5th Ave Mile, her first road race was a 5k in July), Terry’s 32:22 for the five miler dominated her age group.  And our newest hall of famer, the great Yumi Ogita, outruns the fog, her time of 31:05 scores not only for the masters team, but for open as well.  Good golly, Ms Yumi’s had a wonderful year!  She, as usual, literally runs away with first in her age group.

We end our last race on the podium in 2nd place.  If my calculations are correct, we will be first for the season.  Who are the 40+ masters queens this year?  We are!

It has been a wonderful year running with you ladies, and an honor to be your humble little captain.  Running is a gift we all share, and you are all running muses, talented and hard workers, with lives and families and work, still time is found to run and compete in races.

Let’s make next year even better!  Wishing quick recoveries to my injured valkyries, and for everyone else to stay healthy and injury-free.  Happy holidays, everyone!