ANDY’S ROUND-UP (June 16-22): There’s Just One Hill and More

Northeast Delta Dental Mount Washington Road Race

Pinkham Notch, Gorham, NH, June 21, 2014

A Cold Day At Mount Washinton– Only at the summit of Mount Washington can the first day of summer feel like winter. With a wind chill factor in the 20’s over 1,000 participants finished the 54th Northeast Delta Dental Mount Washington Road Race on Saturday, June 21. Leading the way were a couple of runners from Colorado Springs, Colorado, Joe Gray and Shannon Payne. It was an emotional win for Gray who had finished second in 2012 and 2013 and admitted before this year that he was wondering if he would ever finish first. Gray not only accomplished his goal but finished in 59 minutes, nine seconds, only the eighth time a winner had broken one hour at the race to the clouds.Three-time winner Eric Blake of West Hartford, Ct. was second with 2012 winner Sage Canaday of Boulder, Colorado finishing third.

Payne created a bit of history herself. Running the NEDD Mt. Washington race for the first time Payne’s winning time of 1:10:12 was the fifth fastest time ever for women. At the awards ceremony she told the crowd she felt her day had gone well.

“I had heard so much about how difficult the race was so I took it easy in the first half,” Payne. “That allowed me to maintain a good pace throughout out and it never got too difficult.”

Rounding out the top three women were Italy’s Valentina Belotti and two-time winner Brandy Erholz of Evergreen, Colorado.

The other highlight of the race was the awarding of the Crossan Cup, given to the top New Hampshire male and female (named after four-time winner Gary Crossan, a New Hampshire native). New Hampton’s Justin Freeman was the men’s winner for the second year in a row while Bow’s Denise Sandahl was the women’s winner in her first attempt at the race.

The only disappoint of an otherwise spectacular day was George Etzweiller’s inability to run. Etweiller is 94 years old (yes, you read that right) and has finished the race the past three years as the only 90 and older runner ever to finish. He showed up but had to drop out because he was under the weather. He vows he will be back in 2015.

Click Here for complete results of the 54th Northeast Delta Dental Mt. Washington Road Race.

Smuttynose Will Run For Beer 5K

Hampton, NH – June 22, 2014

Hamel Continues to Shine – You could make an argument that Northwood’s Derek Hamel is having the best year of any New Hampshire male at 2014 New Hampshire races. Prior to this weekend Hamel recorded wins at major N.H. races including the Great Bay Half Marathon, Runner’s Alley/Red Hook 5K, and Margarita’s 5K. Hamel added to his wins on Sunday, June 22 when he beat over 1,400 runners and walkers at the Smuttynose Will Run For Beer 5K in Hampton. Hamel finished in 16:09 almost 90 seconds ahead of second place finisher Randy McNeil of Epping.
The women’s race was much closer Ariel Beccia traveled north from Rutland, Massachusetts and took top honors in 18:40 only three seconds ahead of New York’s Megan Lessard.

The race was the final race in the 2014 Will Run For Beer Series and hundreds of participants went home with their new souvenir lime green jackets for completing the series.

Click here for complete results of the Smutty Nose Will Run For Beer 5K

11th Annual Shaker Seven

Enfield, NH – June 22, 2014

The Birthday Girl Celebrates – Lebanon’s Laura Hagley turned 30 on Sunday and did so with a win, taking top honors at the 11th Annual Shaker Seven in Enfield. Hagley, who has been one of the top female runners in the state this year, battled Hanover’s Lorna Young most of the way and won by six seconds, crossing the line in 41:37 to Young’s 41:33.

Hanover’s Alex Hall was the men’s winner in 38:44

Click here for complete results of the Annual Shaker Seven.

Elsewhere Around The State

• Plaistow Old Home Days 5K: Was won by Sandown’s Louis Saviano and Nancy Corsaro of Methuen, Massachusetts. – RESULTS
• Somersworth’s Hilltop Hustle: Newmarket’s Kyle Williams and Portsmouth’s Karen Blackwood took top honors – RESULTS
• Bobcat Bolt in Durham: The winner’s were Aliaksandr Leuchanka and Nataliya Tereshchenko – RESULTS
• The Eastman Splash, Mash, and Dash Sprint Triathlon saw Laconia’s David Martino and Amherst’s Karin Biskovich beat the rest of the field – RESULTS
• N.H.-Vt. Covered Bridge Half Marathon: Christian Parentea of Hollis and Alyssa Lindau of Roxbury Crossing, Massachusetts were the winner  – RESULTS
• Lite Up The Nite 5K took place in Manchester Last Thursday night and when all was said and done Bedford’s Sam Daly and Manchester’s Mary Klene were the winners. – RESULTS

Looking Ahead

Some Granite State races to choose from next weekend:

• Newfield 5K, Newfields
• I’m Trying 5K, Hampton
• Goffstown Gallop, Goffstown (35th edition)
• Run For the Lake 5K/10k, New London
• Action For Aiden 5K, Exeter

Trivia Question of the Week

Post your guesses in the comments below.

In honor of the Northeast Delta Dental Mt. Washington Road Race- Can you name the only two runners to win both the Boston Marathon and Mt. Washington? Answer next week.

 

About Andy Schachat: Andy has been involved in the New Hampshire road race/triathlon community for well over 20 years. As a runner Andy has three Boston Marathons to his credit. Behind the scenes Andy has reported on New Hampshire road races and triathlons for various publications and has covered races for radio stations and newspapers. Perhaps he is best known as the “voice” of New Hampshire races having been the announcer at hundreds of Granite State events. Andy is also the found of the New Hampshire Road Race Hall of Fame.