B.A.A. Men Repeat as USATF-New England Cross Country Champions
11/18/2007
It was a tough battle, but gutsy running and strong performances led the B.A.A. men's team to their second consecutive USATF New England Cross Country Championship. The men have won this event five times since 2000 and have not finished lower than second during that time.
David Bridgewater led the team with his 3rd place finish. Bridgewater went with the leaders from the gun and stayed with them until they made their move on the final lap. His time of 30:49 was just ten seconds back from first place.
Just behind Bridgewater, Ben Schmeckpeper took a more conservative approach to his race, gradually moving up through the field to finish fifth overall. Ramon Laboy and Mark Miller who were ahead of Schmeckpeper for most of the race, were sixth and seventh respectively. Josh Ferenc rounded out the team scoring for the B.A.A. with his eighth-place finish. Matt Ely moved up every lap and managed to work his way into the top ten and Matt Carter was the B.A.A.'s seventh man in 11th place overall.
The men's team bested New England rival New Balance Boston by a mere 5 points. Last year, the men handily defeated New Balance Boston, putting 69 points between themselves and their rivals. Over the past four years, the B.A.A. and the former Reebok Boston have traded titles with 2003 and 2004 being decided by only a few points. The B.A.A. men have held the title in 2001, 2002, 2004 and 2006.
The women have dominated this race, winning five consecutive titles from 2002 to 2006, but this year they were unable to claim their sixth consecutive New England Cross Country Championship. With a number of the top women preparing for the U.S. Olympic Trials women's Marathon in April, the B.A.A. harriers lacked the depth needed to challenge a strong New Balance Boston Team and finished second.
Like Schmeckpeper in the men's race, Jennifer Donovan also employed the "come from behind" approach and, like her male counterpart, placed fifth overall. Mariko Holbrook who was recently named the "New England Runner November Athlete of the Month", was seventh. Just two seconds and two places back Mary Proulx broke into the top ten with her ninth-place finish. B.A.A. newcomer and former Division II NCAA Cross Country Runner-Up Nicole Plante ran in her first overland race since the NCAA Championship last year. Still coming back from a summer injury, Plante placed a respectable 21st. Lara Johnson was 30th and rounded-out the scoring for the women.
The men's masters team was missing some key personnel,but had a strong showing, finishing second overall. John Noland, Bob Collins, and Andy MacDonald all placed in the top twenty finishing ninth, fifteenth and ninteenth respectively. Mark Bell and newcomer Mike Vitelli rounded out the scoring for the masters team. Andy Gordon and Kyle Bowers displaced the competition and helped the masters team hold on to second place.
Next up for the open teams is the USATF National Club Cross Country Championships at Voice of America Park in West Chester, Ohio on Saturday, December 8th. The meet will feature the top clubs from across the United States as they vie for top honors and bragging rights as the nation's top cross country team. The B.A.A. Women are the defending champions.
MEN'S RESULTS 3. David Bridgewater 30:49 5. Ben Schmeckpeper 30:57 6. Ramon Laboy 31:00 7. Mark Miller 31:15 8. Josh Ferenc 31:41 10. Matt Ely 31:49 11. Matt Carter 31:52 14. Nick Weidman 32:03 17. Jason Bialka 32:11 21. Chris Volante 32:34 29. Nick O'Malley 32:53 53. Josh Gordon 34:17
MEN'S TEAM RESULTS 1. B.A.A. 29 2. New Balance Boston 34 3. GBTC 99
WOMEN'S RESULTS 5. Jennifer Donovan 21:33 7. Mariko Holbrook 21:41 9. Mary Proulx 21:43 21. Nicole Plante 22:34 30. Lara Johnson 23:07 33. Stephanie Westcott 23:21 57. Barbara Bell 25:54 68. Eileen Troy 27:17
WOMEN'S TEAM RESULTS 1. New Balance Boston 24 2. B.A.A. 50 3. GBTC 52
MEN'S MASTERS RESULTS 9. John Noland 27:14 15. Bob Collins 27:43 19. Andy MacDonald 28:08 22. Mark Bell 28:21 24. Michael Vitelli 28:45 35. Andrew Gordon 30:34 39. Kyle Bowers 31:12 53. Dave Menard 32:56
MEN'S MASTERS TEAM RESULTS 1. Dirigo RC 37 2. B.A.A. 70 3. Greater Springfield Harriers 73
BAA Team Performances at USA Track & Field - New England Cross Country Championships 1997 Men 3rd; Women 3rd; Men's Masters 3rd. 1998 Men 2nd; Women 1st; Men's Masters 1st. 1999 Men 3rd; Women 2nd; Men's Masters 2nd. 2000 Men 2nd; Women 1st; Men's Masters 4th. 2001 Men 1st; Women 2nd; Men's Masters 3rd. 2002 Men 1st; Women 1st; Men's Masters 2nd; 2003 Men 2nd; Women 1st; Men's Masters 1st. 2004 Men 1st; Women 1st; Men's Masters: No Team. 2005 Men's 2nd; Women's 1st; Men's Masters No Team. 2006 Men's 1st; Women's 1st; Men's Masters No Team.
