Marion & Custer Earn Snowless Snowstorm Classic Honors
A near record crowd enjoyed the continuing mild temperatures with an enthusiastic romp around the Forest Park 5K course. No one appreciates warm weather more then the older runners and sure enough four of the top five slots were earned by masters.
Newly minted master Rich Marion showed the young'ins a thing or two as he sprinted around the course unchallenged in 16:08, the fastest Snowstorm Classic time in the past five years. His efforts earned him a place in the hallowed Harrier record books as snipped the record
for 40 year old men of 16:11 set by CMS's Cliff Matthews nearly ten years ago. Harrier master
and near senior Dave Reinhart chased the leader for an impressive 17:41 second place finish over teammate Steve Byrne's 18:01. Steve O'Neil took the senior crown in 18:31, 5th overall.
Doug Blanchard ran about like a frisky colt to chop another minute off the record for 76 year old men he set two weeks ago, clocking 24:45 this time, his fastest run in three years.
Suzanne Custer bested a stellar women's field in 19:10 and in the process broke the 19:45 course record for 23 year old women set by Dawn Roberts six years ago. Our newest Harrier also joined the ranks of the Top Ten Women , moving into the eighth spot tied with three others, ie. Alison Wade, Sheila Troy, and Donna Levy. Sue Haryasz (tied for #1 on the Top Ten List) made it a race with a 19:26 effort, good for second and masters honors, while Dawn Roberts added a third place 20:30 to her Snowstorm Classic resume. Carol L'Esperance (the other #1 on the Top Ten List) took the senior crown in 20:46, 4th overall.
Mary Ryczek added an eleventh individual age record to her renowned collection, eclipsing the 24:14 record for 55 year old women held by Marjorie Kos of the Millrose Athletic
Association (New York) with a quick 22:53.
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