31st Annual Snowstorm Classics Begin
Brian Nelson and Jenny Richard Win Season Opener
Carol L’Esperance and Lyn Walker Topple Age Records
Since December 1980, a winter
Saturday morning in Forest Park has meant a Snowstorm Classic race,
regardless of the weather. Thus the 31st edition of the
popular series began as scheduled on the 10K course.
Brian Nelson and Jenny Richard
found the cold weather and dry roads to their liking as each cruised
to a comfortable win in the season opener. Newly minted Harrier
Brian Nelson galloped over the ten thousand meters in a quick 33:57,
scaring the age record for 30 year old men held by Celio Hernandez.
Another new member, Ed Parrot (37:45) held off Nick Curelop (37:51)
for 2nd and masters (over 40) honors. Ed is a welcome
addition to an already strong men’s masters team, helped the
Harriers to a 2nd place finish at the New England Cross
Country Championships two weeks ago and will be competing with the
club in Charlotte, North Carolina next week at the USATF National
Club Cross Country Championships.
Harrier Norm Fuller paced the
seniors (over 50) with a sharp 43:04 clocking while Harrier teammate
George Walker led the veterans (over 60) with an equally impressive
49:24.
The indomitable
Bruce Kurtz captured the super veterans category (over 70) with a
steady 1:59:00 effort. At the opposite end of the age spectrum,
fourteen year old Liam Garvey was the first junior (under 20) with a
noteworthy 41:28 followed by ten year Harrier Bill Carroll in
45:21.
Among the women, Jenny Richard
clocked 44:04 to garner her first Snowstorm Classic crown, with
Sugarloaf’s Allison Belanger 2nd in 46:23. Two Harriers
were next. Long time member Carol L’Esperance covered the distance
in 48:57, a new record for 61 year old women, lowering the 49:17
standard set by Hartford Track Club standout Zofia Turosz. And
just behind Carol, twelve year old Julie Carroll in 49:07 to win
junior honors. Carol won the masters, seniors and veterans titles,
but 70 year old Harrier Lyn Walker took the next age category, and
set a new age record in the process. In fact Lyn now has six
consecutive age records on the 10K course, from age 65 to age 70.
Both Carol and Lyn will also be
traveling to Charlotte this weekend, along with sixteen other club
members, with hopes of gaining national recognition for themselves
and the club. Information about the USATF Club Championships,
including a list of all entrants, can be found at the USATF web site
www.USATF.org. The club will be fielding a men’s open, men’s
masters and possibly a women’s masters team, and we wish them all
best of luck. Next week’s Snowstorm Classic race will be held on
the 5K course and has been named the Charlotte Run to commemorate
the championships in North Carolina.
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