The 2015 New Hampshire Grand Prix took a trip up to North Conway this past Sunday to close things out with the White Mountain Milers’ Half Marathon. The course was surprisingly flat for being located in a quaint town in the middle of mountainous nowhere and some fast folks showed up to drag out the field.
Assumption college athlete Taylor Days-Merrill made a late break from White Mountain Miler Tim Livingston to take the victory in 72 minutes, 44 seconds. Livingston (aged 41) would come through the chute just 12 seconds behind the young Days-Merrill, very impressive. CMS/SIX03 stud Jim Johnson continues to carve his way back to the scene from recent injuries and grabs the bronze in 1:14:36. Not one of Jim’s faster efforts, but he did race two marathons in a span of 7 days at the end of September/beginning of October. It’s a little surprising to see that he even ran this one, but then again it’s JJ…he doesn’t require rest. Livingston would be far and beyond the top master’s athlete on the roads, but Gate City Strider Brian Ruhm would show up as the top senior in 1:20:46.
On the women’s end of things, Meagan Boucher traveled across New Hampshire from St. Johnsbury, VT to take the title in 1 hour, 26 minutes, 19 seconds. Upper Vallye Running Club teammates Lydia Gill and Hannah Taska would claim the 2nd and 3rd female spots in 1:27:55 and 1:28:39 respectively. Local stalwart Terry Ballou would be the first master’s female to cross the line with Greater Derry Track Club harrier Julia Martinage claiming the top senior’s spot. Gill and Taska would also play the role as two of UVRC’s top scorers in the NH Grand Prix competition, helping the team garner their first NHGP championship title in club history, upsetting the Greater Derry Track Club, who has won four of the last 5 events prior to this year. More on that to come later.
View full results courtesy of Bay State Race Management.