Paul
Fratini, Roland Cormier, Charlie Towse
and Mary Ryczek All Set Records
as
Peter Maksimow and Kelly Heroux Win
Peter
Maksimow joined the Snowstorm Classic Hall of Fame in his debut race
on the Forest Park 5K course while Kelly Heroux notched her third
triumph in the women's division. Four new age records were set as the
crowd chased the speedy winners on a picture perfect December morning.
At
the sound of the Sacramento cowbell a large group of speedsters bolted
up the first hill and the race officials quickly predicted fast times
were in the making. Harriers Carlos Rivera and Paul Fratini soon
locked horns with CMSer Peter Maksimow, with GSH teammates Tom
Bousquet and Tom Michaud close behind. All around the infield and then
the outskirts of the park the leaders took turns forcing the pace with
no one able to gain a decisive advantage until the final sprint up the
path to the finish line. The newcomer crossed first in 16:19 closely
followed by Carlos in 16:30, Paul in 16:39 and Tom Bousquet in 16:51
as all four cracked seventeen minutes thus validating the race
official's predictions. Joe Pike was the first junior in 18:03.
For
his efforts Paul earned an elusive Snowstorm Classic age record as the
39 year old clipped five seconds off the 16:44 standard established by
fellow Harrier Burt Prokop five years earlier. Two members of the
club's star filled veterans team, fresh off the USATF National Masters
Cross Country circuit (Saratoga Springs, NY; Boston, MA; and Portland,
OR) demonstrated why the Greater Springfield Harriers are developing a
national reputation in the older divisions. The amazing Roland Cormier
toppled yet another age record with a workmanlike 20:43 outing,
erasing the 21:13 standard for 64 year old men set by Charlie Towse
not quite three years ago. So Charlie proceeded to do likewise,
running 21:41 to easily break the 22:29 standard for 67 year old men
set by Harrier legend Doug Blanchard eleven years ago.
In
fact the race was chuck full of GSH medalists from the Nationals
including Tim Brown who was first master and senior in 18:51 and Art
Roberts who was first veteran in 20:15, plus seniors Rich Clark
(19:25) and Ramon Alicia (20:43). Rumor has it that the medals will be
on display at the upcoming Harrier banquet on February 5th.
Kelly dominated the women's race as the gazelle like Harrier sped
around the five thousand meters in a quick 20:05. Teammate Meghan
Lynch won the junior title with a 2nd place 21:25 followed by Laura
Fontaine in 21:53. Mary Ryczek notched her second age record in as
many weeks by running 22:58 to erase the 23:19 standard for 58 year
old women established by Hartford Track Club's Zofia Turosz in 1997.
Mary now owns thirteen age records on the 5K course alone, the most
among the women.
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