Masters Athletes Compete In the Heat!
10/07/2023 BOCA RATON FL
The temperatures had climbed into the 80’s when the Women’s Race went off at 9:30 and mid-80’s for the Men’s race 45 minutes later. With relative humidity at 72% and a dew point of 74, medics and volunteers were busy with ice bags and fluids at the finish! Euleen Josiah-Tanner, out of Georgia, a decorated track athlete in both US and international competition, enjoyed her first National Masters Overall Cross Country championship. Clocking 19:59, Josiah-Tanner put a half minute between herself and her closest pursuers, the hometown Florida Track Club-Southeast duo, Sonja Friend-Uhl and Jennifer Sober, in 20: 30 and 20:33. Christopher Miller, running for the University of Miami club, was the hometown hero in the Men’s race. Running in the lead most of the way, Miller pulled away for the win in 16:12 ahead of Team Run Flagstaff teammates, Dirk de Heer and Jesse Chettle.
Age Grading identifies the athletes who ran the fastest, adjusted for Age. In the Men’s race, it was a solid win for 3-time Masters Harrier of the Year, Rick Becker, 68. Flying in from Selah, Washington, his 18:57 earned a 90.02%. Steve Schmidt, 63, out of Michigan, claimed 2nd in 88.40, ahead of the overall winner, Miller, 47, in 3rd at 88.08. Mary Cass, 62, from Massachusetts, who was top five at the Club Cross Country Championships last December, took top age grade honors in the Women’s race with a 90.63 from her 20:55. Suzanne La Burt, 60, from New Jersey, was 2nd with 88.71, ahead of Atlanta’s Patrice Combs, 66, at 85.04.
Age Division National Champions included: WOMEN 40-44 Samantha Gerrits 21:41; 45-49 Josiah-Tanner; 50-54 Friend-Uhl; 55-59 Brenda Osovski 25:49; 60-64 La Burt 20:51; 65-69 Combs 23:28; 70-74 Victoria Crisp 26:03; 75-79 Sharon Gerl 30:02; 80-84 Marie-Louise Michelsohn 41:39; 85-89 Joyce Hodges-Hite 55:32. MEN 40-44 de Heer 16:33; 45-49 Miller; 50-54 Gregory Putnam 17:17; 55-59 Mark Callon 18:06; 60-64 Mark Zamek 18:13; 65-69 Becker; 70-74 Robert Qualls 20:28; 75-79 Richard Katz 24:48; 80-84 Doug Goodhue 26:48; 85-89 Adrian Craven 44:42; 90-94 Eric Seiff 58:15.
MEN Team Championships were earned by Team Run Flagstaff in 40+, with an average time of 17:18. The Atlanta Track Club took top honors in both 50+, 18:31, and 60+, 19:30. The Boulder Road Runners enjoyed the 70+ win, 23:15. Shore Athletic Club was the 2nd place finisher in 50+ and 70+, with the Ann Arbor Track Club 2nd in 60+. WOMEN Shore AC took home the 40+ team awards with an average time of 24:27. The Genesee Valley Harriers claimed first in 50+, 24:31. In 60+ the win went to the Atlanta Track Club, 25:39 while Team Red Lizard ran an average of 29:14, for the win in 70+.
Submitted By
Paul Carlin
Consultant to USATF Masters LDR
www.runningprof.com
