By Jim Dandeneau

November

Abbey D’Agostino pulls away after 4K at the NCAA Division I National Cross-Country Championship in Terra Haute, Indiana to win going away. With 5 NCAA titles including Indoor/Outdoor she becomes the most decorated Ivy League runner ever. The Providence College women’s team wins their second NCAA team title with Emily Sisson finishing 7th individually. Former Peabody standout Catarina Rocha, only a freshman, is P.C. ‘s 4th runner. On the men’s side, Harvard’s Maksim Korolev caps a fantastic season in finishing 3rd overall in windy/muddy conditions in which the start was moved up 115 meters due to standing water. Freshman phenom Edward Cheserek, 19, surprises winning the individual title over heavy race favorite and defending champion Kennedy Kithuka.

At the NCAA Division III national championship, Connecticut College’s Mike Leduc roared home to victory capping off an extremely impressive season. Colby Horowitz, Bowdoin finished 12th, Greg Krathwohl, Middlebury was 16th. On the women’s side, Kaleigh Kenny, Williams. 3rd, Abby Barker, Tufts was 16th, and Ameila Lundkvist, Brandeis, 21st. Middlebury women were 3rd.

At the NCAA Division II national championship, Bentley’s Tara Dooley finished 4th with Mike Biwott, AIC, also 4th.

At the USATFNE Cross Country Championship at Franklin Park, New Balance Boston’s Jillian King pulled away to win the 6K in 20:48 over Katrina Spratford of New England Distance and Joanna Murphy and Sydney Fitzpatrick both of New Balance Boston leading her team to an easy victory. Eric Ashe of the BAA rebounded from a serious heel injury earlier in the year to pull away to victory in 30:49. leading his team to a 1-2-3-4 finish (Sam Alexander 2nd, Dan Harper 3rd, Brian Harvey 4th) In the men’s masters division, Sandu Rebenciuc, 44, of the Springfield Harriers a former Augustana College All-American (and Division III national cross country champion) easily won the men’s race in 26:44 with the BAA’s Peter Hammer (2nd) and Chris Magill (3rd) leading their Master’s team to a dominating victory. In the women’s race, Diana Bowser, 40, defeated former Olympic Trials marathon qualifier Mimi Fallon, 48, of Walpole, MA.

At the 79th New England High School Championship in Manchester, NH Trevor Hopper, a senior from Ridgefield, CT displayed an incredible kick winning in 15:08, leading 5 (wow!) runners under Ben True’s course record. LaSalle Academy (Providence, RI) won the boys championship by 3 points over Ridgefield. In the girls race, Hannah Debalsi, Westport, CT showed why she is one of the best female distance runners in the country, winning by 24 seconds. Coe-Brown Academy in New Hampshire won the girls race.

Down in Alexandria,Virgina, at the USA road racing finale (The .US 12K), Molly Huddle showed that the longer distance suits her just fine, pulling away from Shalane Flanagan in the last mile to set a WORLD best for 12k (37:50) with Flanagan 8 ticks back. Katie Matthews finished 10th in 40:22. In the men’s race, Aaron Braun, won his first national championship (34:28) by 7 seconds over Shadrack Biwott. Tim Ritchie, just 6 weeks removed from a 2:14:49 marathon at Twin Cities, runs down a few athletes over the last half mile finishing 6th in 34:46 solidifying his place among the nation’s elite.

At the New York City Marathon, Kim Smith finished 6th in 2:28:49 in very windy conditions.

On Thanksgiving, at the Manchester, CT 4.748 mile Road Race, former NCAA Division I National Cross-Country champion, Sam Chelanga, who recently relocated to Hanover, NH, passed defending champion Aaron Braun (after Braun had run the first mile in 4:13…. yikes!) going up the Highland Street hill to win in 21:31. Braun gamely hung on for second 21:40 with Tyler Pennell (Zap Fitness) 3rd in 22:03, Donn Cabral (Glastonbury, CT) 4th 22:07.

That very same day, Pat Fullerton cruises along into the wind to a solo 15:10. That was 30 seconds faster than the old course record of 15:40, which was set by Harry Norton back in 2007. Alanna McDonough, fresh off an appearance at the NCAA DIII cross country national championships, wins her first Feaster Five race. In the five mile race, Ruben Sança breaks the tape in 24:19 with Nate Jenkins right behind him in 24:23. Kirsten Kasper, 22, was the top woman in the five miler, running a 27:48 and beating out Cat Beck of the Central Park Track Club (who ran a 28:18).

December

At the USA Club National Cross-Country Championships in Bend, Oregon, Sam Alexander (Waterford, CT) runs a sensational breakthrough race to finish in 9th place on the treacherous 10K course. Former Division III national cross-country champion at Trinity College, Ryan Bak, living in Oregon finishes 7th. Joe Gray, the USA mountain running champion runs 31:05 to claim the championship. Jillian King (20th) and Sydney Fitzpatrick (22nd) led the New England contingent in the women’s 6K even to lead New Balance Boston to a 5th place finish. The BAA men’s master’s squad finishes on the podium with a 3rd plae finish led by former Penn State star Harry Stants in 20th. North Kingstown, RI Keven O’Neil finishes 22nd. New Hampshire’s Sandu Rebenciuc finishes 6th.

At the Nike Cross National High School Championship in Portland, Oregon Chaplain Valley Union (VT) Autumn Eastman finishes 16th while Cumberland, RI and Bishop Feehan’s Abbey McNulty finishes 25th. Two time Rhode Island high school cross country champion Emma McMillan, Barrington, RI, only a sophomore, finishes 45th.

At the Foot Locker National Cross-Country Championship, Hannah DeBalsi finishes 2nd (17:26) and Kirsten Sandreuter, from Greely High School in Maine finishes 20th (18:08). In the boy’s race, Josef Holt-Andrews, Telstar Regional High School in Bethel, ME finishes an impressive 10th (15:30) with Dan Curts, Ellsworth High, (ME) in 19th (15:44) on the challenging Balboa Park course.

At the Boston University Season Opener, P.C. stars Emily Sisson (15:40.62), Sarah Collins (15:41.00) and Laura Nagel (15:42.62) posts automatic qualifying times for the NCAA Indoor Track and Field Championships in the 5000 meters.

At the Boston University “mini-meet” Amherst College’s track & field/cross-country coach Erik Nedeau 42,, a former bronze medalist at the World Indoor Track and Field Championships in the 1500 meters, showed he still has wheels, running 8:49. Way back in January he had teamed with Scott Weeks, Chris Simpson and former teammate at Northeastern University Mark Gomes to become the first men’s master’s quartet to ever run under 8:00 completing 8 circuits of the indoor oval in 7:58.12.

For more, see:
Part I
Part II
Part III

Thanks again to Jim for putting this all together for us. As you can see from all this, 2013 was quite an exciting year. Whether you’re an age-grouper just giving it your all at a local road race or a post-collegiate runner trying to break through on the national stage, we love to see the hard work put in (and pay off). We’ll be there to support and report in 2014!

By Jim Dandeneau

August

Maine’s signature road race, the TD Bank Beach to Beacon 10K, was won by Kenyans Joyce Chepkrui (31:23) and Micah Kogo (28:03). Gemma Steel of the United Kingdom surprised with her runnerup finish (31:36). Maine’s top finishers were Oklahoma graduate Riley Masters (now running for Brooks Beast) in 30:18 and Erica Jesseman (34:17). Other top New England finishers were Colman Hatton 12th (30:27), 52 year old Todd Coffin (34:14) and the amazing performance of 42 year old Sherri Piers (34:40).

A week later, down on Cape Cod, Ben True attempted to to become the first American male to win the New Balance Falmouth 7 mile Road Race in 25 years, just losing out to Kogo in a sprint finish (32:10-32:12). Cornell alum Zac Hine (7th) with Boston College assistant coach Tim Ritchie (9th) were top men’s local finishers. Chepkurui followed up her Beach to Beacon win (36:43) again over Steel (37:06). In the men’s and women’s mile race held on the night prior to the main event, Minnesota grad Ben Blankenship pulled a mild upset winning in 3:56.27 leading all 10 mens finishers under 4 minutes while Katie Mackey of Seattle won a tactical race kicking home in 4:41.39.

Pat Fullerton,24, became the first athlete to break 4 minutes at the High Street Mile holding off Abiyot Endale in a spectacular 3:58.8!

In New Hampshire, at the Cigna Elliot 5K, 10 men broke 15 minutes led by Ethiopian Aschalew Meketa (14:03) with compatriot Tufa Tigest (15:48) leading the female contingent. Overall 51 athletes broke 17:00.

Julie Culley, a London U.S. Olympian at 5000 meters, conquered the competition at the 12th Annual 4 mile Run for Kerri in Wakefield (22:22) while Chris Zablocki was given first place (19:17) after being led off course. 14 year old sensation DJ Principe runs 21:31.

Shelby Greaney, (28:29) Providence College steeplechase extraordinaire, wins the Bobby Doyle Summer Classic while Sam Alexander (24:25) pulls the upset over Iona All-American Mitch Goose (24:32).

At the first ever Level Renner 10K, 2012 Cape Verde Olympian Ruben Sanca, a UMass Lowell graduate, showed he is back in fine form cracking the 30:00 minute barrier winning in 29:54 on a spectacular morning at DW Field in Brockton, MA. with 34 year old Lindsey Willard winning the women’s division in 36:21.

September

At the CVS Caremark 5K in Providence, serving once again as the USATF national championship, Saucony athlete Molly Huddle (15:28) barely held off upcomer recent Georgetown graduate Emily Infeld, (15:28) with Alexi Pappas a few ticks back. In the men’s race Andy Bumbalough, 26, won his first ever national title outkicking Aaron Braun (13:44-13:48).

At the Stratton Faxon 20K in New Haven, 2 time Olympian Matt Tegenkamp tuned up for the Chicago Marathon winning in 1:00:20 from Shadrack Kiptoo. Meghan Peyton (1:09:57) pulled away from Maddie Suver to win the women’s national title. Katie Dicamillo, a 2009 Providence College graduate, finished 4th.

Abbey D’Agostino wins in her last home XC meet. The Dartmouth senior absolutely dominated, setting the stage for much bigger things to come later in the year.

At the Lone Gull 10k (USATFNE 10K championships) UMass graduate, 24, Sean Duncan held off Nick Karwoski, a Dickinson College grad (2010) dancing to a win in 30:50. Irish Steeplechase Olympian Steph Reilly, skipping the summer track circuit in Europe, coasted to victory in 34:58. Robert Cipriano, 53, Somerville, Ma, may have had the most impressive race of the day winning the 50-59 age group in 34:01 over Mark Reeder, Brighton, Ma 34:13. Binney Mitchell, 44, Burlington, VT , followed up his Carver victory winning the 40-49 age group in 32:55 from Greg Putnam, 32:58. Christin Doneski (37:03) ran sub 6 minute pace to win the women’s masters division.

At the USATFNE “30K” in Nahant, Cheryl Cleary, 39, aka supermom ran 6:30 pace challenging conditions to win while Colby College graduate, Dan Vassalo, a 2:21 marathon, peaking for this race, ran 5:24 pace to claim the championship over Brandon Newbold.

The University of Oregon men’s and women’s cross-country teams (women being the 2012 national championship) showed up for the Boston College Invitational. The women’s race was dominated by #1 ranked Providence College, led by Emily Sisson, Laura Nagel and Sarah Collins finishing 1-2-3 running away to victory. On the men’s side, 2 time high school Footlocker High School national champion, Edward Cheserek ran neck and neck with teammate Jake Leingang pulling away in the last few meters to win his first collegiate cross-country race.

Ben True runs 7:36:59 for 3000 meters in Rieti, Italy.

October

At the Tufts 10K Sentayehu Ejigu of Ethiopia broke Anne Hannam 25 year old course record by 5 seconds running 31:33. Emily Infeld,23, training with Shalane Flanagan and Kara Goucher under Jerry Schumacher in Portland, OR, followed up her strong showing in the CVS 5K winning the U.S. women’s national title while second in 31:37. Kate Dicamillo ran 34:05 while 2013 Boston College graduate Jillian King runs 34:52.

At Franklin Park, Central Connecticut State dominates the men’s New England Intercollegiate cross country championships willing by 46 points over Northeastern. Mike Biwott from AIC (23:43) won easily over Boston University’s sub four minute miler Rich Peters and Northeastern’s Wes Gallagher for the 8K course. UNH won the women’s team race by 110 points over UConn. Rosa Moriello, BU, in 17:13, won the women’s race with Eimear Black, Bryant University in second and Elinor Purrir, UNH in 3rd.

Lelisa Desisa leads 3 under the 61 minute mark in the BAA 1/2 marathon, the final leg of the distance medley running in 1:00:34 while Stephen Sambu in 3rd claimed the 100k prize. Kim Smith, 31, tuned up for the New York City Marathon running away to victory in 1:09:41 claiming the 100k paycheck. Katie Matthews,22, runs 1:14:29 for her debut at the distance. Chris Barnicle prepped for his marathon debut running 1:04:29 in finishing 12th.

At the Mayor’s Cup, in the women’s championship 5K, Jennifer Bergman, 21, kicked home to victory in 17:10 while in the men’s championship the lead runners were led off course but completed 8K anyway. Cameron Bean of Zap Fitness, 23:56, won in a sprint from Cameron Marantz and Mitch Goose.

It was a family affair at the 36th Cape Cod Marathon as Pat and Katie Moulton overcome adversity and outrun the competition (2:35:59 + 2:55:48).

At the Maine Marathon Robert Gomez, 30, runs 2:24:22 and Leah Frost, 30, 3:00:52 to win.

In Hartford, CT, at the ING Hartford Marathon Erica Jesseman (2:38:13) handles defending champion Hilary Dionne Cambridge, Ma, (2:39:39). Getachew Melese runs the first half in 1:07:20 coasting home to victory in 2:19:26. Matt Pelletier, despite missing 3 weeks of critical training in August finishes 2nd in 2:21:22 running negative splits. Eric MacKnight runs aggressively and is rewarded with a 2:22:21 PR.

For more, see:
Part I
Part II

More to come…