High Noon Women Win National XC Title!
The Yankees didn't win the World Series, an American didn't win the New York City Marathon and Michael Jordan is looking a little rusty around the edges.
It seems like yesterday that things were looking bleak in the testosterone-driven, wide world of sports.
Leave it to four local women, representing the High Noon Athletic Club, to bring home a national masters cross country championship team title to Ithaca.
Gillian Sharp, Suzanne Myette, Audrey Balander and Lorrie Marnell competed in the 2001 USA Track & Field National Masters 8K Cross Country Championships, Nov. 4, at Black Creek Park in Rochester, and walked away No. 1 in the nation -- $450 richer in prize money, plus another $16 from a lucky lottery ticket purchased on the trip
The national championship, one of many such masters events of varying distances in the U.S., was hosted by Peter Glavin and the Genesee Valley Harriers (GVH), the folks who bring you the annual Upstate New York Cross Country Series.
The nearly 5-mile race, held on a course which consisted of hiking, bridle and ski trails, two ponds, a model airplane field, and picnic and camping areas, was open to all runners age 40-over, who are members of USA Track & Field. Individuals competed for an overall title or age-group medals; teams vied for a share of a $2,600 prize purse.
The High Noon foursome realized they had fire power when they won the masters team titles at the Berkshire Heritage Day 15K and the Syracuse Festival of Races 5K, both in September. Each race was a gritty time trial for the more difficult cross country challenge.
"I don't want to sound cocky, but I said going in, 'We are going to win (nationals)!'" said Marnell, the team captain and president of the Finger Lakes Runners Club. "I had to e-mail, coordinate and beg to get people together and committed to the team. But we all felt confidence in each other."
Sharp, who placed second overall among women in 31:43, also won the title of individual U.S. masters 8K cross country champion on a technicality. Kathyrn Martin of Long Island, who won the women's race in 31:14, is a Canadian citizen.
"This was one of those races that I'm proud of," said Sharp, also the 1993 national summer biathlon (shoot and run) champion. "But this was the first race I've been to that I was a youngster -- at age 40. It was inspiring to see how many good runners there were in all the age classes.
"It's a strange feeling (being called national champion), because the whole United States was not represented. But, that's what they call it, although in biathlon there's only one national championship per year," she said. "I know I'm not the top runner in the nation ages 40-44. That would be crazy to think that."
All four women are married with children, have jobs outside the home and are active in community service. When it comes to athletic credentials, the High Noon squad is tough to beat.
Sharp is a lieutenant in the Ithaca Fire Department; an elite-class summer and winter (ski and shoot) biathlete who qualified for the world team and almost qualified for the winter Olympics; and an outstanding cross country skier and runner.
"It wasn't just a group of women brought together by a common location. We had a great team, because we're all good friends who know each other," said Sharp. "It was such a great feeling when we all crossed the finish line in the top 10, and the announcer said, 'The High Noon women have clinched the team title.' We all ran well, we pulled it off and that's the special part of being on a team."
Myette, 44, of Endicott was a world-class masters duathlete (run/bike/run), and a national-class triathlete; one of the top masters women at the 2000 Philadelphia Marathon (3:05); co-winner of the women's masters title in the 2000 Upstate New York Cross Country Series; and currently one of the leading masters runners in our region.
"As a team, we had depth and determination to win the title," said Myette, who finished second American overall behind Sharp, in 32:03. "I had no individual strategy going into the race and was only focused on the team task. Unlike most cross country races that are based on place, this race was based on time, and therefore, everyone's time was important."
Balander, 45, of Cortland is best known for her trail and mountain running skills on the local circuit, and is an Empire State Games medalist in cross country skiing.
"I felt a lot of pressure to not let the team down," said Balander, in a dog fight to the finish, and second by a whisker among women ages 45-49, in 34:23. "I knew Gill and Suzanne would be out there in front, but I didn't know what time I needed to do. At one point, I thought I was going to die, and felt like saying, 'I'll pay you the $450 (to let up).
"But I knew we were good, because my teammates assured me we were good, so I could relax. It was my last big race of the year, so I said, 'Let's go all out for one big championship. This is it, then let's start skiing!" she said.
Marnell, 40, of Locke won the masters titles at the God's Country, Adirondack and Wineglass marathons this year; is a six-time champion of the Finger Lakes Fifties Trail 50K; and is especially gifted in long-distance, trail and mountain running events.
"I think you try harder because you don't want to let your teammates down," said Marnell, sixth among women ages 40-44, in 34:47. "It's not about you, it's about your team. It's the bigger picture of doing the greater good for all. In retrospect, winning didn't mean a lot at the time. But now I understand the significance, and it's impressive to know we can compete at the national level. I'm in awe of my teammates."
There will be more races to do, and more women to recruit to the team. But ultimately, the whole experience has little to do with money, beating rivals or making headlines. All four women talk about friendship, teamwork, a second-chance at sports after being an athlete in a pre-Title IX era -- and their love of running.
"Running is something I love to do, but when I do it off-road, it's all about fun and play," said Sharp.
"To me, running on a women's masters cross country team is a second chance not at a new age division, but a chance at a sport that I totally missed in high school and college," added Myette. "Running on a cross country team is fun, and lends a whole new perspective to the sport. There is a group camaraderie on our women's team that I have not experienced just being a member of a running club. We have kids, we have jobs, we have a lot of obligations and priorities, but for a few hours, we leave it all behind and run together, for each other. The icing on the cake is winning a national title in the process!"
-- Diane Sherrer
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