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Current Public News
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| B.A.A. Men's and Women's Teams Start the Summer on Top With Victories at the Mount Washington Road Race |
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| 6/21/2008 |
Eric Blake captured the U.S. Mountain Running title with his victory at the 2008 Mt. Washington Road Race on Saturday, June 21st. Blake, the 2006 Mount Washington champion and the runner-up in 2005 took advantage of his familiarity with the course to take the title in a closely contested race. Unlike his victory in 2006 where he made a move at the half-way point and went on to win by over 30 seconds, Blake was challenged throughout the race. By the halfway mark it was a three-man race, and it was down to two just after the 5-mile mark. But Blake did not secure the win until the final meters of the race when he dug deep on a brutal incline leading to the finish line. His 11-second victory earned him the U.S. Mountain Running title and a spot on the U.S. Mountain Running team for the World Mountain Trophy race Sept. 14 in Switzerland.
Blake set the pace for the B.A.A. men's team whose solid performances added up to a team title. Mark LaRosa, Ben Schmeckpeper, and Matt Ely, all finished in the top twenty. Sean Livingston, who was a member of the runner-up team in 2006, rounded out the scoring with his 29th place finish. Also posting an impressive result was sixty-year-old Bill Riley who took second in his age division, completing the race in just over an hour and a half.
Fresh off of her 11th place finish at the U.S. Olympic Trials Women's Marathon, Kasie Enman improved upon her 4th place finish in 2007 to place second this year. Enman lowered her time by more than three minutes and passed the pre-race favorite to take the runner-up spot. Carly Graytock, who was sixth here in 2006, improved by two places to finish 4th. The duo was backed by Brett Romano Ely in 23rd place, Amy Nedeau in 42nd place, and Karen Ringheiser in 50th place. Their combined time was over 20 minutes ahead of the second place team.
In addition to serving as the U.S. National Mountain Running Championship , the 2008 Mount the race is also the selection race for the Teva U.S. Mountain Running Team that will compete in the World Mountain Trophy race in Switzerland in September. The winning woman and the first four men have an automatic berth. As a result, the race attracted top-level mountain runners from across the country, making the B.A.A. results even more impressive.
The 7.6 mile race up the Mount Washington Auto Road climbs 4700 vertical feet at an average grade of 11.5 percent. In addition to the climb, runners face varying weather conditions as they race from the base to the summit at 6,288 feet. Temperatures can range from 70 degrees at the base to the 40s at the summit with wind gusts of 40-60 mph.
Mt. Washington Results
MEN'S RESULTS:
1. Eric Blake 1:00:39
12. Mark LaRosa 1:06:19
16. Ben Schmeckpeper 1:06:40
18. Matt Ely 1:06:53
29. Sean Livingston 1:08:39
45. Matthew Carter 1:13:22
48. Andy MacDonald 1:14:17
67. Christopher Smith 1:17:38
108. Mike Brown Dowling 1:24:52
162. Bill Riley 1:31:41
330. John Cederholm 1:44:55
446. Jesus Estrada 1:53:14
518. Richard Schilder 2:00:32
WOMEN'S RESULTS:
2. Kasie Enman 1:13:26
4. Carly Graytock 1:15:41
23. Brett Romano Ely 1:28:40
42. Amy Nedeau 1:36:45
50. Karen Ringheiser 1:39:28
MEN'S TEAM RESULTS:
1. BOSTON ATHLETIC ASSOCIATION = 5:29:10
Eric Blake, Mark Larosa, Ben Schmeckpeper, Matthew Ely, Sean
Livingston, Matthew Carter, Andy MacDonald
2. CENTRAL MASS STRIDERS = 5:38:30
3. WHIRLAWAY RACING TEAM = 5:56:10
WOMEN'S RESULTS:
1. BOSTON ATHLETIC ASSOCIATION = 3:57:47
Kasie Enman, Carly Graytock, Brett Romano Ely, Amy Nedeau, Karen Ringheiser
2. CENTRAL MASS STRIDERS = 4:20:42
3. CAMBRIDGE SPORTS UNION = 4:25:30
For complete results of the Mt. Washington Road Race, go to the Event Website
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