129 finishers were treated to freshly squeezed lemonade, hot dogs, and corn chowder at the Greater Derry Track Club’s annual Mack’s Run for the Apples this past Sunday. This was the 20th anniversary of the event and it was pulled off in finer fashion than ever. Here’s some highlights from the competitive side of things:
Leaders in the early steps of the race. Forest Mackenzie out front with race winner Jeff Allen tucked in to his left. Photo credit: Eldon Burkinshaw
The top men were all promising New Hampshire high school athletes. Fronting the race was Jeffrey Allen (Campbell High School) and Forest MacKenzie (Concord High School) through the mile in 5’28 with a pack of three right on their heels. Allen would eventually emerge on top in a time of 16 minutes, 06 seconds over the technical 2.9 mile XC course. Jeff and Forest are rising sophomores at their respective prep schools and were the top two freshman finishers at the NH State XC Championships last fall. With this finish, these two will be battling it out all season and are definitely the future stars. Mackenzie will also have a strong Concord High team to back him up as Ryan Devine and David Cook placed 3rd and 4th in 16’39 and 16’44. Both Devine and Cook graduated Deerfield Middle School this past spring and as freshmen, could be the young talent Concord needs to win championship meets over the next few years.
Members of the Concord High XC team ran well on the women’s side too. After trailing early leader Athena Eyster by nearly 15 seconds at the mile, rising senior Jennika Mannesto rallied well over the last 3k and won the event in a time of 20’06. A rising senior for the Crimson Tide, Jennika placed 32nd in the state of NH last year as a junior and may be seeking to make the All-State team in 2016. Despite being outraced by Mannesto in the later stages, Athena Eyster would hold onto the 2nd spot to finish in 20’32. Recent Gordon College grad Mariah Geiger and 11-year old Melanie Kaplan (Greater Lowell Road Runner Youth) locked in the 3rd and 4th spots for the ladies in 21’54 and 23’47 respectively.
Complete results courtesy of New England Timing
Full photo album courtesy of race director Eldon Burkinshaw
Check out our race video below:
