By Jim Dandeneau
Amos Sang and Stephanie Reilly took similar paths in winning the second annual Level 10K held in and around D.W.Field in Brockton, MA. Both got off to fast early starts, gradually building leads and cruising to easy victories.
Sang, 27, an Eldoret, Kenya native who resides in Indian Orchard, MA, has been on a tear this summer. Recently, he has claimed titles at the Bridge of Flowers 10K, Run 4 Kerri, and Feast of the Blessed Sacrament 5K. “I have been feeling good lately and wanted to get off to a fast start….I was kind of hoping Ruben Sanca was going to be here so we can push each other to a fast time but after the first mile I was on my own,” noted the former Abilene Christian athlete who was a 2 time NCAA Division II champion in the 5K and 10K on the track.
“I think my first mile was around 4:36 which is a bit fast but after that I sort of did like a tempo run.” Sang’s “tempo effort” resulted in a finishing time of 30:34, well off his 28:20 track PR but satisfactory and deserving of the $200 first place prize.
Reilly, 36, originally from Ireland and who represented her home country in the 2012 Olympic Games in the 3000 meter steeplechase, completed her first cycling race last weekend. The race was a CAT4 and she finished 3rd overall. “I’ve been doing more cycling than running and I’m kind of just exploring what that is all about. I’m enjoying it…I only decided to run this race when Eric (Narcisi) contacted me asking that I complete. I felt ok out there. My fitness is pretty good,” noted the reigning USATF NE 10K champion.
“I got off to a good start and was just trying to run between 5:45-5:50 per mile” cited the Bryant University head men’s and women’s cross country coach.
More on this to come, including interviews. Here’s some race footage captured by Mike Giberti:
