SYRACUSE, NY Sunday, April 16, 2023
It was a sunny 72F when the runners finished, a treat for spectators, but not so good for the half marathoners. The water and Gatorade were in high demand at the aid stations. For Masters athletes, it was a day of hydrating and rehydrating. The combination of heat and hills led to slower times than anticipated. It was a day to run smart and live to race another day.
OVERALL
Chelsea Benson, out of Ithaca NY, enjoyed a successful start to her career at Masters National Championships. She conquered the heat with a 1:20:15, over a minute slower than her most recent half marathon. She enjoyed a dominant win, with Sarah Bishop 2nd at 1:23:19, and Jennifer Weston 3rd in 1:24:55. Sean Battis, Pittsburgh PA, took the Overall win for Men in 1:14:19. Battis, too, was able to pull away in the 2nd half of the race but his pursuers were closer. Sanjay Rawal, Jamaica NY was 27 seconds back in second, with Gregory Putnam, 3rd in 1:16:49.
AGE GRADING
Those with the top age graded scores are considered the athletes with the best performance, for their age, across all runners. It was not a day for breaking records but Nat Larson 60, who broke the American Ten Mile Record two weeks ago was, once more, with his 1:17:31, atop the age grading podium. He earned a nifty 91.90%, the only men’s score above 90. Steve Schmidt 62 ran 1:20:1:12 for an 89.43, and Roger Sayre 65 took the Bronze with his 1:24:43. Fiona Bayly 55 who finished on the age grading podium in Sacramento, dealt with the conditions better than others, taking the Women’s age grading Gold with a 1:25:02 for 92.83%. Suzanne La Burt 59 claimed the silver medal at 1:31:26 and a 90.88, with Mary Cass 61 in third from a 1:34:22 for 90.43%.
AGE DIVISION
The following national champions were crowned: Women 40-44 Benson 45-49 Weston 50-54 Abby Dean 1:28:50 55-59 Bayly 1:25:02 60-64 Cass 65-69 Susan Stirrat 2:03:29 70-74 Suzanne Ray 1:51:48 75-79 Jo Anne Rowland 2:03:04 80-84 Carolyn Slavich 2:07:28 85-89 Joyce Hodges-Hite 2:44:51 Men 40-44 Battis 45-49 Rawal 50-54 Putnam 55-59 Scott Humphrey 1:22:08 60-64 Larson 65-69 Sayre 70-74 James Foster 1:42:05 75-79 Dave Glass 1:43:54
TEAMS
Team championships are determined by adding up the times of the first three finishers on each team, low score wins. The Genesee Valley Harriers came down from Rochester and went home with six sets of team medals including Gold in Men’s 40+ and 50+. The Ann Arbor Track Club out of Michigan claimed the M60+ Gold, with the hometown Syracuse Track Club taking Gold in M70+. Visitors from further afield took the top spots in the Women’s team competition. The Ft Worth Distance Project from Texas took home the Women’s 40+ top prize, with Greater Philadelphia TC on top in 50+. Liberty AC, out of Boston MA, took Gold in W60+ and Team Red Lizard, out of Oregon won the 70+ competition.
Submitted By
Paul Carlin
Consultant to Masters LDR Committee
www.runningprof.com
