Heather Gardiner Wins Again

            Last year Heather Gardiner set the 10 K course record, tied the 5K course record, and, while doing so, became the first woman to win a Snowstorm Classic outright. Yet today’s race may have topped even those impressive accomplishments. 
            On a decidedly less then perfect course, with numerous stretches of rutted snow, slush, and ice, the Hartford, Connecticut, speedster clocked a 37:36. That’s the fourth fastest women’s time ever, a new record for 24 year old women (handily beating the 38:14 set by fellow CMSer Sue Haryasz seventeen years ago) and once again fast enough to top all competitors, men or women. 
            Harrier Peter Fratini forced the early pace, with Heather tagging along, after the opening hill separated the two leaders from the rest of the field.  As they approached the 5K mark and headed back into Forest Park, Heather forged ahead, quickly building a commanding lead. After navigating a slippery Washington Boulevard, she cruised down the hill, flew past a few startled ducks in their ponds, and sprinted across the line before an astonished Harrier finish line crew.  Surely one of those races which will be talked about in the Forest Park Skate House for many years.
           Mr. Fratini strode home 2^nd in 38:38, comfortably in front of master and senior winner Steve O’Neil (40:39). Maureen Burns was second among the women and first master in 41:59, while Mary Misiaszek placed third in 47:10. 
           Meanwhile Zofia Turosz quietly claimed her seventh age record on the 10K course. The 64 year old Hartford Track Club dynamo recorded a 51:39, a minute and a half better then the 53:08 standard set by Connie Bills twelve years ago.

1 	37:36	Heather Gardiner	24F	CMS
2	38:38	Peter Fratini		37M	GSH
3	40:39	Steve O'Neil		51M	GSH
4	41:51	John Bigos		49M	GSH
5	41:59	Maureen Burns		42F	CMS
6	43:39	Alan Bohdiewicz		17M	GSH
7	44:44	John Goda		33M	---
8	44:56	Israel Schepps		44M	---
9	45:00	Chris Conz		26M	---
10	45:19	Brian Goddu		53M	GSH
11	46:03	Neal Lamberton		54M	GSH
12	46:03	Jim Snyder		50M	---
13	46:16	Tim Londo		37M	GSH
14	46:28	Tom DeLuca		47M	GSH
15	46:46	Willie O'Neill		45M	GSH
16	47:10	Mary Misiaszek		36F	GSH
17	47:22	Richard Wood		25M	---
18	47:58	Steve Sheffield		52M	GSH
19	48:00	Jason Dominick		31M	---
20	48:14	Kent Fernald		48M	GSH
21	48:37	Jason Davis		32M	---
22	49:51	Bill Thibault		45M	EORC
23	50:15	Ed Dwyer		37M	GSH
24	50:51	Don Grindle		47M	GSH
25	51:17	Kathy Lynch		40F	GSH
26	51:25	Mary Gubala		37F	GSH
27	51:39	Zofia Turosz		64F	HTC
28	52:55	Bryon Dailey		48M	GSH
29	53:48	Peter Stasz		55M	GSH
30	54:24	Dick Green		68M	GSH
31	54:29	Dave Mengel		39M	---
32	54:33	Steve Richardson	42M	---
33	55:44	Doug Bielefeld		43M	GSH
34	56:40	Mike Connor		52M	---
35	56:41	Mike Butler		30M	---
36	56:53	Ellen Bellicchi		52F	GSH
37	58:00	Beth Rice		41F	---
38	59:02	Erv Landry		63M	GSH
39      1:03:36	Bill Milkiewicz		48M	GSH
40      1:13:51	Bruce Kurtz		66M	SMAC
41      1:17:19	Jan Komaiszko		47M	GSH