Regional Standouts Capture Holiday
Race
Springfield - In other years, Jon Corso and Seana Carmean
would have been awarded the first-place trophy following their performance at yesterday's
Fourth of July Road Race.
But Sandu Rebenciuc and Debbie Gould showed up - and those two don't settle for
second place too often.
Rebenciuc and Gould won yesterday's 5K race downtown, showing again why they are
so highly regarded throughout the region.
Rebenciuc broke away from Corso during the second mile before winning in 15
minutes, 40 seconds. Gould, meanwhile, led
the entire way in the women's division en route to a first-place time of 18:19.
Corso took second in a competitive men's field in 15:51, followed by Carlos
Rivera (16:03), Neal Graves (16:13) and Tom Bousquet (16:16). Rounding out the top 10 were Matt Harris (16:30),
Chris Gould (16:45), Bob Willis (16:45), Paul Fratini (16:49) and Chris Rigali (17:11)
Carmean trailed Gould by 16 secods in 18:34, Kristine Ross was third in 18:52
followed by Cheryl Place (19:24) and Patti Cranston (19:32)
The field of 270 runners began to string out two minutes into the race, with
Corse, Rebenciuc, Rivera and Graves leading the way.
Rebenciuc took a slight lead and passed the first mile marker in 4:51. Corso, though, battled back and regained the lead
entering East Columbus Avenue.
It became a two-man race between Corso and Rebenciuc as the runners made their
way along East Columbus. Rebenciuc looked
like he was gliding, and Corso appeared to be giving it all he had. Rebenciuc too the lead before the second mile
marker and quicly increased his lead. Rebenciuc
checked in at the second mile marker in 9:53, for a four second lead before holding steady
for the third mile and winning by 11 seconds.
"If I had felt bad in the early going I was going to back off", said
Rebenciuc, who had a scheduled workout later in the day in preparation for the U.S.
Olympic Trials July 17 in Sacramento, California. "But
my first split was a 4:51. I was on
pace."
"I hoped he was just going to jog. I
think he did anyway" said Corso, who graduated from Agawam High School in 1987 and
now lives in Haverhill.
"I felt all right. I didn't
feel especially fast, but I ran hard. There
was a pack at the mile. I was happy just to
break free from that."
Gould was coming off an impressive third-place showing at the Lions Sizzler 20
Road Race in Bedford, NH. Yesterday was the
fourth time that she has won a race in Greater Springfield this year.
The 34-year old from Pelham went out quickly and covered the first mile in 5:40. She followed with a pair of 6-minute miles.
"Time wise I was happy," Gould said.
"I shouldn't have started so fast. I'm
usually more consistent. I want to go out
fast because if I don't I don't get my legs moving. But
I was hoping for more of a 5:50."
Carmean does not run in many races and she hadn't trained much sine getting
married June 16. Still, she managed a very
good time and a high placing in a good field.
"I run for the (Greater Springfield) Harriers," said Carmean, of
Easthampton, whose maiden name is Zelazo. "I
was going to work the race, but (Peter) Stasz told me to run instead. He said he had enough people to work the
race."
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