Chris Hamel and Sidney Ledendre Win Finale
Pedro the Goat DNF , Yukon Jack Triumphs
The
26th annual Snowstorm Classics came to a successful
conclusion with Chris Hamel joining the Hall of Fame, Sidney
Letendre setting a new age record while winning her 8th
lifetime
race, four runners completing a perfect season, and Yukon
Jack defeating Pedro the goat.
More on that later.
Led
by Chris Hamel, Tim Dannay and the Ryan Palmison, the college crowd
was out in force for the 5K season finale, but Aaron Kincaid of the
Hudson Mohawk Road Runners Club (Albany, New York) wasn’t a bit
intimidated by the youngsters.
All were seeking their first Snowstorm Classic title.
The students bolted up the hill into the lead at the sound of
the Sacramento cowbell, with the Empire State ace right along side.
As the kilometers clicked by the runners began separating
until finally Springfield College’s Chris Hamel forged into the
lead.
Chased by the others until the finish line, he clocked a
respectable 17:43 victory to become the 90th member of
the Harriers’ winter Hall of Fame.
Aaron crossed next in 17:54, Ryan took 3rd in
18:06 while Tim was the first junior (under 20) in 18:13.
In
the other age divisions, Art Reilly (19:00) edged Harrier Billy Rowe
(19:05) to win the
masters (over 40) division, CMSer Frank Rucki took another
senior (over 50) title in 19:21 and George Walker was the first
veteran (over 60) male in 23:42.
Sidney
Letendre held off Kelly Joyce to capture the women’s crown in
19:53 thereby earning a multitude of honors. The Central Mass
Strider gained her 8th lifetime Snowstorm Classic title
while also setting a new age record for 51 year old women , toppling
the standard of 21:33 established by teammate Mary Ryczek eight
years ago.
Sidney now owns five age records on the 5K course.
Kelly’s challenge earned her 2nd in a season pr
of 20:15 while Harrier teammate Rogina Modestow was 3rd
in 21:41.
Hartford Track Club’s Lyn Walker concluded a stellar season
with a 23:26 veteran’s title while 7 year old Julie Carroll outran
five grownups to win junior honors for the Harriers in 35:24.
A
wildly anticipated match race between Yukon Jack, a Siberian Husky
and Pedro, a rather large goat, ended badly for Pedro.
The race was apparently prompted by the rivalry between the
University of Connecticut (Huskies) and the University of Rhode
Island (Rams).
Pedro made the classic rookie mistake of going out too fast
and was forced to stop just past the one mile mark, breathing
noisily and unable to continue…a classic DNF.
Meanwhile Yukon Jack who had been trained all season by Tom
DeLuca, scampered
across the finish line in 24:26, obviously enjoying the cold
22 degree temperature.
Club president Peter Stasz stated that Pedro would have been
disqualified in any event.
“While I’m honored that someone named a goat after me, I
still can’t overlook the fact that Pedro cut several runners off
at the top of the hill” he declared “as international rules
require a full stride lead before cutting in.”
Finally, four runners earned the prestigious Harrier iron foot award
(as well as a few valuable Fast Feet bucks) for completing all
thirteen Snowstorm Classics this season.
Neither rain, nor snow, nor ice, cold, wind……could deter
these runners from their appointed 5K’s and 10K’s.
Joe LaValle is a first time recipient, while Brian Goddu not
only ran but volunteered at registration, helped with results, etc.
EORC’s Tony Lucia repeated the feat from last year as did
that venerable SMACer Bruce Kurtz, who has now completed 117
consecutive Snowstorm Classics!
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