Topsfield XC Thundering Success

Only steps to go to the finish
photos by GreaterSnap

Amazing was the finish of the women's race today. In the last straight a pack of women ran together, elbows and mud-splattered knees churning as if on one multi-limbed organism. In lock step ran Allison McCabe, Emily Kroshus, Caitlyn Clark, Kara Haas, Meghan Lynch, and Gretchen Chick. They had had five kilometers of hills, dirt, rocks, grass, and mud to separate themselves from one another. But in a scrum they ran looking more like rugby players than runners. First Emily Kroshus tried to run away. Perhaps they had an affection for each other. Earlier in the race Kara Haas of Merrimack Valley had run off course, but Greater Boston's Allison McCabe called her back on rather than let her run to oblivion. Caitlyn Clark of SISU dug down deep into herself to find a little more speed. Her club is called SISU, which is not an acronym but the Finnish word for courage under stress. In her powder blue uniform in a clutch of red and black she reached to her roots to endure. Then Greater Boston's Emily Kroshus felt her legs go from flying flesh to ponderous lead. Only Kara Haas, full of eagerness to run anywhere on or off course, felt a lightness. The oldest and most experienced of the straining bunch found a lightness to float a few inches, then a foot into the lead and first to the finish line.

In the men's race triathlon Olympian, Jarrod Shoemaker, emailed the race director his preference for blueberry pie, should he be lucky enough to place in the top ten to earn one. He took first, running unattached, and took his choice of pie flavors. Kibrom Temelso of Greater Boston and originally Ethiopia before joining his family in Boston took second.

The Greater Boston Track Club won the men's and women's team prizes.
Puma offered cash prizes to the winning clubs.

Full results are here.
More photos are available of women, men, and teams.

Women's team results:

Greater Boston TC 23
Merrimack Valley Striders 51
SISU 64
New England Track & Trail 93

Men's team results:
Greater Boston TC 29
Whirlaway 355
Central Mass Striders 76
Boston Athletics Association 96
SISU 105
New England Track & Trail 176
Naval Academy Prep 197