2008 Competition Award Winners
Published Jan 27, 2009
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The Newbie Award - (Rookie of the Year)
Female: Cassie Wright
Cassie is an active member of our GCS youth program under Bill Spencer. She participated in each of 10 Mine Falls Summer Trail Series 5k races winning her age group and scoring the most points among women for the 5k. She ran 3 NHGP races scoring 16 points for the club and ran 1 NEGP race scoring 5 points. She also ran a 22:53 at the Cigna 5k, 2nd in division and a 28:58 at the Medical Center 6k, 1st in division.
Cassie was a bit of a revelation to us this year. But, after looking at her results it became apparent what a force this young runner is growing into.
Male: Steve Tomasi
Steve ran 4 NHGP races scoring 35 points for the club and 3 NEGP races scoring 26 points. He was the captain of the GCS MCR Team that took 2nd in Male Seniors Div. scoring 10 points. He was 6th in the State for overall age-graded scoring for NHGP. He ran a 30:54 at the Feaster Five, 3rd in division, a 1:20:46 at the Clough Tri, 1st in division, a 38:49 at the Soup Kitchen 10k, 1st in division and a 31:07 at Sandown 5m, 1st in division.
How about that for bookend ROY’s! At 13 Cassie is probably the youngest ROY we’ve ever had and at 51 Steve is probably the oldest. Sorry Grandpa --- I mean Steve.
The Bounce Back Award - (Comeback of the Year)
Female: Aline Kenney
In 2007 Aline ruptured the Plantaris tendon in her right calf during the 6th mile of the New Bedford Half Marathon. As a result, she couldn’t walk on her own and had to be helped off the course and taken to the hospital by ambulance.
This year Aline ran 4 NHGP races scoring 12 points for the club and ran 4 NEGP races scoring 24 points. She was captain of the GCS MCR Team that took 1st in Female Veterans Div. scoring 2 points. She was 9th in the State for overall age-graded scoring for NHGP. She took first place in the GCS Ultimate Runner Competition. She ran a 6:58 at the Millennium Mile, 1st in division, a 1:54:29 at the Manchester Half 1st in division, a 24:41 at the Footrace for Fallen 5k, 1st in division and a 50:32 at the Tufts 10k, 5th in division and under USATF age-group guideline for distance.
When Aline injured herself at the NB Half the EMT’s that helped her were kind enough to let her use their personal cell phone to contact her husband Terry who was waiting at the finish line. And, Terry was given an escort to the hospital by the woman operating the parking garage. A feel good story for everyone involved. Everyone except Aline, that is.
Male: Steve Wolfe
Early in 2007 Steve had surgery to repair a torn tendon in his right knee. One month later he was back in the hospital because he developed a blood clot from the surgery. Three months later he had surgery to repair a torn tendon in his left knee and was diagnosed with a blood disorder requiring him to be on blood thinners for life. He worked his way back through trail, mountain & snowshoe running doing 7 trail races & 4 snowshoe races
This year Steve was a member of the GCS MCR Team that took 3rd in Male Masters Div. (5th overall) scoring 12 points. He raced & volunteered at most of 10 Mine Falls Summer Trail Series 5m Races. He ran a 1:24:33 at the Big Lake Half, 5th in division, a 2:58:29 at the Baystate Marathon (which was a 13 min PR), a 17:53 at the Great Bay 5k, 3rd in division, a 21:26 at the Christies Crusade 5k snowshoe race, 1st in division, and a 7:11:07 at the Jay Mountain Marathon (a 33 mile trail/endurance race), finishing 56th overall.
Unfortunately, Steve couldn’t make it to the awards dinner. So, I left his plaque somewhere along the trails in Merrimack for him to pick up.
The Leaps and Bounds Award - (Most Improved Runner)
Female: Amber Cullen
Amber ran 4 NHGP races scoring 23 points for the club.
5k – 21:15 to 19:56 (a 1:19 improvement)
5m – 41:29 to 35:55 (a 5:34 improvement)
12k – 53:45 to 50:13 (a 3:32 improvement)
10m – 1:30 to 1:25 (a 5:00 improvement)
½ Mar – 1:46 to 1:43 (a 3:00 improvement)
Clough Tri – 1:29 to 1:21 (a 8:00 improvement)
Mar – 4:44 to 3:47 (a 57:00 improvement)
This year the “Most Improved Runner” award could be changed to read “Most Improved Couple” because of the season that this next guy had.
Male: Dan Ferreira
Dan ran 4 NHGP races scoring 21 points for the club.
5k – 18:59 to 17:44 (a 1:15 improvement)
5m – 34:18 to 31:18 (a 3:00 improvement)
12k – 53:45 to 48:00 (a 5:45 improvement)
15km - 1:12:06 to 1:10:03 (a 2:03 improvement)
20m - 2:35:44 to 2:27:13 (a 8:31 improvement)
Mar – 3:44 to 3:19 to 3:08 (a 36:00 improvement)
Dan recently informed me that he’s planning on moving up to ultra marathons this year with one 50m & 100m on his race schedule .Good Luck Dan!
The Ubiquitous Award - (Most Active Runner)
Female: Janice Platt
Janice is a coach & program director of Granite State Flash Team -Bantam Boys. She participated in 8 of the 9 Fitness University clinics including Finals Day. She is one of only 94 runners in New England to complete all 7 NEGP races. In doing so she scored 49 points in our Intra-Club Team competition, won the overall womens title and earned the status of Iron Runner. She was a member of the GCS MCR Team that took 1st in Female Masters Div. scoring 12 points. She ran in over a dozen races this year including winning her age group for the 5m in the Mine Falls Summer Trail Series. She ran a 5:50 at the Millennium Mile, 3rd in division and a 3:30:02 at Baystate Marathon which qualified her for Boston, again.
Janice wasn’t the only Strider to complete all 7 NEGP races and be named Iron Runner.Our Communications Director Dan Dugan did so as well including a 3:38 at the Baystate Marathon breaking his previous best by about 30 minutes. Way to go Dan!
Male: Len Hall
Len is one of only 15 runners in NH to complete all 7 NHGP races scoring 55 points and earning the status of Granite Runner. He was 2nd in the State for overall age-graded scoring for NHGP and 1st in his division. He was a member of the GCS MCR Team that took 2nd in Male Seniors Div. scoring 10 points. He ran 3 NEGP races scoring 18 points. He ran in at least 28 other races this year including all 4 of the Concord Area race series events winning his age group. He ran in all 6 of the Mountain Series Races earning Mountain Goat status and coming in second in his age group in scoring. He ran a 31:28 at the Sandown 5m, 2nd in division (behind Steve Tomasi), a 1:26:27 at Mount Washington, 5th in division, a 1:19:56 at Pack, 1st in division and a 37:50 at the Mt. Ascutney race which was the 7th fastest ever for 50+ year old.
Len proved to be slightly less than ubiquitous at the awards dinner and I’ll be giving him his award at 1st NEGP race of the year (Jones 10m) which he’s already signed up for.
The Breadwinner Award - (Team MVP)
Female: Cathy Merra
Cathy is a coach & founder of Granite State Flash Team - Midget Girls. She ran 4 NHGP races scoring 37 points for the club and 1 NEGP race scoring 10 points. She was 2nd in the State for overall age-graded scoring for NHGP and 1st in division. She was a member of the GCS MCR Team that took 1st in Female Masters Div. scoring 12 points. She ran a 1:29:09 at the Manchester Half, 1st in division and set NH State age group record, a 23:50 at the Medical Center 6k, 1st in division and set a NH State age group record, a 49:33 at the Bedford 12k, 1st in division 2nd women overall, and set a National age-group record in the process, and her 3:16:37 at the Maine Marathon (her first) qualified her for Boston by a mere 54 minutes. And, she was recently named the RRCA NE Region Masters Marathon Champion.
Cathy & her husband Mike will soon be turning 50. So, we look forward to them both tearing up another age group in the process.
Male: Mike Wright
Mike ran 4 NHGP races scoring 30 points for the club and 3 NEGP races scoring another 30 points. He participated in 9 of the 10 Mine Falls Summer Trail Series 5m Races, won his age group and scored the most amount of points among men for the 5m. He was a member of the GCS MCR Team that took 3rd in Male Masters Div. (5th overall) scoring 12 points. He is the Milford High School Track & XC coach & brought at least 2 or three of his runners with him to every race including Peggy Lai and his daughter Cassie not counting the 5-6 that he would bring to the Weekly Summer Trial Series races. He ran a 1:02:03 at the Moose 10m, 1st in division, a 37:16 at the Milford 10k, 1st in division, and a 2:58:50 at the Baystate Marathon (his first ever).
Mike had such a good year that he could have won any one of these awards.
The Heart and Soul Award - (Best Team Spirit)
Female: Laura Rallis
I was first introduced to Laura at the Summer Trail Series this past year where she ran in all 10 races, won her age group and scored the most amount of points among women for the 5m. Her smiling face and pleasant disposition never wavered no matter how the race went or what the weather was that particular day. Since first joining the club she has been a fixture at the summer track workouts and winter Pennichuck runs. And, whether it’s her signature Tutu at the candlelight relay or her kooky running hats in the winter her enthusiasm for running and camaraderie has become contagious. And, if Laura is any indication of the type of people this club is drawing in I feel very hopefully about our future.
As a rule, we usually refrain from giving awards to current e-board members but in the next case we’ve decided to make an exception to this rule for a very exceptional individual.
Male: Mark Sage
I was first introduced to Mark at a General Membership meeting a few years back. He had just joined the club and after talking to him it became very clear to me (even at that first meeting) that he was a person who would be making a very big difference in very short order. Later that year he volunteered to become an e-board member and has faithfully served as one ever since. He too has been a fixture at track (indoor & outdoor), at Pennichuck and at the Saturday Morning runs in Hollis. With his ever present sweat towel, he has never let perspiration get the better of his English disposition. He is one of only 15 runners in NH to complete all 7 NHGP races and earn the status of Granite Runner. And, for each of the 7 races he transported, set up and took down the club tent & banner so that each team member participating in the race could have a home base to meet and mingle with other club members. In essence he was our clubs goodwill ambassador. Now, because of the depth of our Mens Seniors team and because NHGP only scores three runners deep he never scored a single point all season long. But, he never let that impact his commitment to the team or his enthusiasm to participate. He just continued to show up (tent in hand) race after race after race all year long with no complaints. So, let that be a lesson to everyone who sits back and says that they just aren’t fast enough to make a difference to the team. Mark Sage has just proved you wrong.
As you might have noticed 11 of the12 2008 Competition Award winners were new from last year. So, that means that there is still time to make your “Mark” in 2009.
More from Competition
Every year the Gate City Striders give out Competition Awards in 6 different categories to the top Male and Female Striders who have had the greatest positive impact on the club during the year. Here is a list of this years Award Winners and a little bit about what each did to deserve their respective awards. (including a bonus director's commentary with each)
Our clubs biggest event of the year recieves New England Runners highest honor
Check out what it takes to run for free this year!
USATF-NE Grand Prix Races have been selected for 2009. We hope everyone can mark their calendars and show the New England running community that we're a force to be reckoned with.
Check out what it took to get there
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