Red Shirts and Blood ran in the Streets of Newburyport

Joel Bargmann, Ken Ross, and Katie Fobert show the strain in racing this hard, hot, ten miler
photo by Ted Tyler, coolrunning

Tom Derderian's mile split matches the price of a pack of cigarettes in Newburyport.
photo by Roger Perham


The Greater Boston Track Club men's team showed the value of numbers. The team depth allowed them to win the USATFNE Grand Prix ten-mile championship in Newburyport, MA on July 29th while two of the club's top runners ran bad races. David Bedoya and Kibrom Temelso who often top the club's finishing list did not finish in the scoring top five. But Avi Kramer returning to action led the club. He had won the individual New England road race Grand Prix series last year, but had been out with an injury. New member, Robert James Emord, recruited by his old high school teammate Ryan Kerrigan, ran second for the club. Junyong Pak and Matt Haringa rose up to seize top positions in the top 20. At the same time the new club R.U.N. (Retail Union running shoe store in Acton, MA) had Casey Moulton running first for them in a brand new pair of racing shoes that began to eat his feet. He had to retire from to race to swab the blood off.
Speaking of blood, a jerk with a double baby jogger started in the front of the race then smashed the machine into GBTC masters runner Bill Newsham leaving a bloody gash in his leg. I had words with the jerk who then started smashing his body into me like a football lineman to "take you out of the race." He wanted to fight me when I told him this was a race not babysitting. Do not get in front of 1,500 runners in a championship race and start running 9 minute miles.
Sara Donahue placed third in the race taking home some cash.
Several club runners arrived late to race only to be told that no more timing chips remained so their could not enter. Megan Lynch ran the 5km unofficially and Brian Hare raced the ten miler but did not count in the masters team score so we finished no masters team.

Yankee Homecoming 10 Miles
Newburyport, MA, July 29, 2008
1 MATT PELLETIER 29 M 1/62 50:59 5:06 RUNNING HERITAGE
6 AVI KRAMER 26 M 3/62 52:28 5:15 GBTC
12 2 ROBERT EMORD 27 M 4/62 53:58 5:24 GBTC
14 JUNYONG PAK 30 M 5/97 54:21 5:27 GBTC
15 MATTHEW HARINGA 24 M 2/36 54:23 5:27 GBTC
24 ANDREW WOMMACK 24 M 3/36 55:02 5:31 GBTC
33 KIBROM TEMELSO 32 M 12/97 55:40 5:34 GBTC
56 RYAN ASCHBRENNER 31 M 57:39 5:46 GBTC
59 CHRIS SMITH 34 M 19/97 57:45 5:47 GBTC
70 TOMOAKI UCHIKI 34 M 21/97 58:55 5:54 GBTC
82 SARA DONAHUE 27 F 1/87 59:33 5:58 GBTC
83 DAVID BEDOYA 31 M 24/97 59:35 5:58 GBTC
123 Bloody Bill NEWSHAM 43 M 17/141 1:02:22 6:15 GBTC
126 MAX WHITE 24 M 16/36 1:02:42 6:17 GBTC
131 RYAN ECKEL 30 M 32/97 1:03:11 6:20 GBTC
197 BETH COUGHLIN 29 F 9/87 1:07:31 6:46 GBTC
207 KEN ROSS 46 M 13/139 1:08:04 6:49 GBTC
232 TOM DERDERIAN 59 M 8/65 1:09:12 6:56 GBTC
233 KATIE FAMOUS 28 F 11/8 1:09:14 6:56 GBTC
240 JOEL BARGMANN 56 M 9/65 1:09:24 6:57 GBTC
255 PETER WARRINGTON 26 M 29/62 1:10:00 7:00 GBTC
284 KATIE FOBERT 32 F 4/85 1:11:11 7:08 GBTC
1464 finishers

team scores
1. GREATER BOSTON TRACK CLUB
52:28 53:58 54:21 54:23 55:02 = 4:30:12
1766 AVI KRAMER 26, 2685 ROBERT EMORD 27, 962 JUNYONG PAK 30,
1912 MATTHEW HARINGA 24, 1931 ANDREW WOMMACK 24
17 teams

5. GREATER BOSTON TRACK CLUB
59:33 1:07:31 1:09:14 = 3:16:18
3006 SARA DONAHUE 27, 2850 BETH COUGHLIN 29, 2869 KATIE FAMOUS 28
17 teams
Yankee Homecoming 5K
Newburyport, MA, July 29, 2008
19 BRAD KOZEL 28 M 2/51 18:06 5:50 GBTC
21 GRETCHEN CHICK 27 F 1/97 18:13 5:52 GBTC
22 ALLISON MCCABE 26 F 2/97 18:16 5:53 GBTC
1577 finishers

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GBTC at USATF East Region Masters

GBTC's Indu Conley and Mike Servizio both came home with hardware from the USATF East Region Masters meet last weekend in Columbia, Maryland. Indu was a triple-medalist, competing in the 100, 200, and 400. Nice work, Superwoman!

Mike competed in the 100 and 400, and reported that the battle was against the sun on a track with no shade. (Mike also notes that nearby Ocean City, MD provided another type of diversion: jumbo crabs, funnel cakes, and caramel corn!). Mike almost entered the 400 hurdles ... and we hope he will next season!

Click here for complete meet results

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Flash Results - GBTC at Club Nationals

Team photo by Aaron Binkley - full photoset here.

Some early returns from Kansas . . . .

GBTC retains its 4th place combined position from 2007 despite a smaller team.

Men's Team 6th
Women's Team 4th ($500 in prize money)
Combined Team Place 4th

The club had 28 folks out at the meet, 14 men and 14 women - missing in action were Liz Kelly and Richard Harrison with unfortunate ill-timed injuries.

Some highlights:
1st Places
Samyr Laine (formerly of Harvard)- Triple Jump with a new meet record (16.38m / 53'9")
Hector Cotto - 110 High Hurdles (13.85)
Tessa Clare - High Jump (1.65m / 5'5")
2nd Places
Jen Hawkes - High Jump (1.65m / 5'5")
Andrew Hall - Javelin (over 64m / over 210")
Hafiz Greigre - 400 (47.55)
Women's 4x800 (Klett, Clark, Barnaby, Gaskins)
Women's DMR (Lee, Clare, Gaskins, McCabe)

We also had four pending club records:
Samyr in the men's triple jump (53'9"), Hafiz in the 400 (47.55), Stacey Connor broke her own record in the discus (44.05m/144'6"), and the women's 4x100 (today's results aren't available online but we think they ran 48).

UPDATE: Full results here
The womens 4x100 relay time was 48.76

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Avi Kramer wins $500 treats teammates

I suggested to Avi and Andrew that the 7 miler in Gloucester would be
an excellent tune-up for the Grand Prix 10 miler coming up in
Newburyport, MA on July 19th. I told them that it would be a good
test of their fitness to go out with the leaders and hang on as long
as possible. I figured that with $500 in prize money for first place,
some bunch of superstars would show up. I told Avi and Andrew that the
stars would try to win the money as easily as possible so would likely
go out no faster than necessary then surge away later. Avi and Andrew went out with the leaders, but it was they who surged away. Well, I was
wrong. Avi and Andrew were the superstars.

I had the great privilege to be with them to compose the winning team.
Winning is nice. Winning is especially nice when Avi spent some of his
prize money taking his teammates to breakfast at a secret Gloucester seaside
fish restaurant that one of the race directors told us about on the
sly. We ate huge quantities of fish chowder, haddock, oysters, and a
mountainous lobster roll. (We are not allowed to divulge the name or location of the restaurant.)

Yes, it was hot, humid, hilly, but all that is in the past now.

4th Annual Seacoast Seven Mile Road Race
Gloucester, MA, July 19, 2008

GBTC won the men's team prize


1 Avi Kramer
GBTC 37:02 5:18
3 Andrew Wommack
GBTC 37:53 5:25
25 Tom Derderian 2/12 M5059
GBTC 48:29 6:56
157 finishers

Full results: http://www.coolrunning.com/results/08/ma/Jul19_4thAnn_set1.shtml

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GBTC Auction Extravaganza Approaches

The most important fundraising event of the year for GBTC is fast approaching.
The success of this event in the last few years has greatly improved our ability to fund travel and other events for GBTC's membership.

The Annual GBTC Date Auction Grandprix will take place at Limelight
Studios on Tremont St in Boston on July 24th. Doors open at 8:00 pm and
bidding starts at 8:30 pm. Newly added this year are volunteer auctions
where you can bid on such items as: house cleaning, babysitting, daily
affirmations and baking on demand! Of course, you'll also have the opportunity
to bid on GBTC singles and members of other local clubs for great dates.

Tickets are $10 with a free raffle ticket when purchased in advance at
the GBTC Online Store or $15 at the door.

Raffle:
Purchase your tickets today for a chance to win a pampered athlete package! This prize worth over $300 includes:
2 strength & conditioning training sessions with Focus Fitness
$100 gift certificate for groceries
Gift certificate to Betsy Jenney on Newbury St
A sports massage
A local sporting goods gift certificate
A mystery bonus prize

Raffle tickets can be purchased online at the GBTC Store or $5 for 1 or $20 for 5.

Even if you won't be bidding, come out for a great way to celebrate the end of the track season with your fellow teammates!

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GBTC Team Set for Club Nationals

Comprised of 16 women and 17 men, GBTC sets out this week for Olathe, Kansas on Thursday July 17th 2008.  Competition starts Friday July 18th and concludes on Saturday July 19th.

Making the trip this year include last year's club national meet scorers Allison McCabe, Tessa Clare, Stacey Connor, Dacia Taylor, Sara O'Brien, Jennifer Lee, Christine Kloiber, Elizabeth Kelly, Jason Hewitt, 2007 javelin event winner Andrew Hall, Joshua Seeherman, and Andie Colon.  Also of note, it is believed that David Cahill may be the only USATF club athlete to compete in every USATF Club National T&F Championship since its inception.

This year's leading GBTC entries include Hector Cotto in the 110Hurdles, hot off his PR in Cali, Columbia's CAC championships, Samyr Laine in the triple jump, winning at the USATF East Region championships just two weekends ago, along with a host of other GBTC top ranked athletes.  See all of our club entries online here.

The meet schedule can be found here.  And the status of entries can be viewed here.

GBTC has made the annual trip, this now our 8th year, dating back to 2001 in its first year hosted by the Indiana Invaders.  GBTC has earned top 4 honors each of the 8 years, with the men winning the team title in 2002 and the women earning the top spot in 2006 and 2002.  Combined Team titles for the club were captured in 2005 and 2002.  Last year, GBTC walked away with both men's and women's teams placing 4th.  You can find the club's historic presence over the years here.

The club is also proud owner of 3 current meet records each held by the ladies in the group, Sherita Williams in the triple jump, Kateema Riettie in the javelin and our powerhouse 4x800 team of Kelly Powell (BrownU), Jen Lee (HarvardU), Caroline Occean (BostonU) and Anna Willard (BrownU, UMichigan, currently Nike, Am.Record Holder 3kStpl).

Keep an eye on the blog for meet highlights, results and entertaining stories!

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Hector Cotto goes 13.55 in 110H for PR!

GBTC member and club record holder Hector Cotto representing Puerto Rico earned a bronze medal at the CAC (Central American and Caribbean) Championships in Cali, Columbia this weekend.  Hector's 13.55 in the 110 hurdles was an A-standard Olympic qualifier and a personal best, but the 2.3 mph tailwind is just 0.3 over the allowable assistance.

Also at the meet, club record holder in the javelin, Kateema Riettie representing Jamaica earned her bronze medal in the Javelin Throw with a 54.90 meter throw.

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Women Defend Title; Men Second at USATF East Regional

GBTC women defend their USATF East Regional Championship title at Ichabod Crane High School in Valatie New York today July 5th.  Men placed second in a tight battle.

Highlights include:

Everad Samuels representing GBTC for the first time, scoring points, and best of all breaking the masters (50+) 200m WORLD record!

Dacia Taylor was a double winner in the 100 and 200, Stacey Connor and Deirdre Murphy raked in huge points in all three throws, while the men's and women's sprint and mid-distance group swarmed the track with their own doubles and triples.  The women's 400/200 double crew included Tiera Fletcher, Sara O'Brien, and Josette Pierre-Louis.  Christine Kloiber joined them for the 400 and 4x4 relay with Tessa Clare, and back-to-back after the 200, Tiera and Sara completed their triple for the day, or in Sara's case quadruple running the 4x1 with Tessa, Indu and Christine.  

Richard Harrison had a season PR in the shot put at nearly 57.5 feet, determined to break 60 in Kansas.  Matt Haringa won the 5000, Adam Greenspan supported for third.  Masters athletes sprinter Indu Conley and Jim Watts (800) provided team points in their events, and ran legs on scoring relays.  Tessa and Jen Hawkes went 1-2 in the high jump, recent H.S. grad Bryant Wang scooped up high hurdles points, same in the triple jump with a PR.  His L-S teammate, Sean Kleeman helped complete our 4x4 team with the addition of Andrew Guida, who also ran the 400mIH for the first time this season.  Off a great h.s. PG year, Newton native Cailean Robinson scored in the 100 and ran great relay legs in the 4x1 and SMR-200.  He was joined by Helal Syed, Derek Rousseau and Kleeman in the 4x100.

Andie Colon probably had one of the hardest of days on the men's side, with his scoring triple in the 1500, 800, and SMR-800 leg.  But Allison McCabe and Jen Lee weren't slacking with their 1500, 800 and DMR distance legs.  Ronnesia Gaskins remained consistent and strong with her close 2nd in the 800.  Joshua Seeherman ran even splits in the 800 for points, and returned later running the 1200 leg for a winning DMR, joined by Jim Watts, Jason Hewitt (after his 2nd in the steeple) and Coach Dave Callum.  Dave Cahill ran triple 400s, with the open, hurdles and 4x4 relay.  Also in the intermediate hurdles, Deanna Clark worked on form, while Jessica Klett dropped 2 seconds.  And new guy Alex Engel scored crucial points in the 400, 200 and SMRelay!

Meet results and official scores.  Next up, KANSAS July 17-20 for the USATF Club Nationals!

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Independence Day Diversity

Use this map to explore the areas of GBTC's expertise over the weekend.

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Willard to the Olympics

To those who attended the 2006 Club Nationals in California, Anna Willard captured a spot on the Olympic Team by virtue of winning the steeplechase at the Olympic Trials. Her time (9:27.59) was also an American record.

Of course, a far more important record is the GBTC women's 4x800 which Ms. Willard is a member of. From left to right, Willard (2:06.6), Kelly Powell (2:17.6), Jen Lee (2:17.5), and Caroline Occean (2:10.1) for a lovely 8:51.80.

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