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FLRC Newsletter - May 2004 |
| IUTC starts 5k season with a bang, 4/19/04 | |
IUTC Runners and parents attended two 5k events this past weekend, one in Geneva and one in Ithaca.
Race conditions were ideal: 60 degrees cool, sunny, and a slight breeze.
On the line for IUTC were Andris Goncarovs, Doug Moore, Chris Van Loon, and Alex Salton. IUTC adults Andri Goncarovs and Garrit Van Loon .
Andris (age 12) went out with lead pack of 6 runners and was dropped at mile one when the group of leaders decided they had had better pick it up. Andris spent most of the race in runners limbo, thats the space where you cant quite catch the lead pack ahead of you, and you are aware that the next pack just behind you and gaining. From what this Coach could see, as I steadily faded into the thinning line of tiring runners, Andris spent most of the race in that empty space, yellow shorts flapping. He must have kicked the last 800 meters becuase he caught a fellow that dropped from the lead pack in the last mile moving form 6th to 5th place. 18:51 for a hilly course, not bad.
The big news is that Doug Moore (age 11) ran a 22:51 beating Coach G by 2.5 seconds So yet another IUTC runner passes coach in a 5k. A true milestone. Only a few IUTC runners have managed that feat so far. Dougs strategy was simple, keep Coach in sight, and sprint past him on the down hills. Which he did 3 times with great flare, slapping his feet the whole time. I had to work extra hard to close the gap and then pass him on the flats. He held on in the end as he heard me puffing and panting on the left. I did manage to pass three older fellows in the last 200 meters though. This I believe is a PR for Doug, a good starting place. All the Treman trail runs on his own have helped, I say.
Chris Van Loon 25:00 The youngest entrant in the race at age 8 (soon to be 9) This is also a PR. Chris was not far behind me for the first mile, I could hear the Hobart Football team (all 45 of them) complaining that they were getting whooped by a little twerp, as Chris threaded his way past beefy legs and ankles. Garrit , Chris Dad was a bit ahead at 24:02. The HWS field hockey team was there also, They fared better than the Football team, only a few managed to get past Chris.
Alex Salton age 11 established a 29:10 in his very first road 5k. Alex has been working very hard all winter, trimming down and building new muscle. What a great transformation this athlete has undergone. Obvious to all, he was enjoying the race (and the pain), he kicked strong at the end. He managed to finish ahead of 110 other runners Good work Alex! -
All the kids got to meet MY coach from High School, Ron Fluery, who is now the XC and T&F coach for Hobart William Smith. He is very pleased to see IUTC out and about .
We gorged at Friendlys as is tradition when we run at Hobart. Good conversation , a new chef, occasional fork wielding by Jason(Dougs little brother), a long wait for the food, HUGE omelets( Alex and Coach each ate one the size of a small house), one free breakfast, embarrassed managers, and a back roads trip back home made it a fine day.
In all it was a great day with new benchmarks established. I predict that these marks will fall at the next few 5Ks we run in the next 2 months.
Place overall -
Name
Age
Town
Time
5
ANDRIS GONCAROVS
12
TRUMANSBURG, NY
18:51.72
54
DOUGLAS MOORE
11
ITHACA, NY
22:51.75
55
ANDRI GONCAROVS
43
TRUMANSBURG, NY
22:54.16
80
GARRITT VAN LOON
42
ITHACA, NY
24:02.77
112
CHRIS VAN LOON
8
ITHACA, NY
25:00.57
230
ALEX SALTON
12
ITHACA, NY
29:11.86
Complete Results available at
http://www.hws.edu/athletics/herons/ghrr/2004a.html
I got the call from the new race director at the Cooperative Extension Saturday asking me to be the lead duck again for the 5k and change duck race Sunday. Eagerly I donned my duct taped helmet , duck yellow biking shirt, whistle and duck flash sun glasses and announced I was ready.
IUTC was represented by Ben Kuder, Nathan Greene, Jessica Tunnison, Andris Goncarovs, and Dave Fernandez(Dougs dad). Truth be told the, The race is not a 5k, but a 3.33333333333 mile course. All participants are expected to do the higher order extrapolations as they run what is essentially a reverse Puds run. As head duck, I was whistling at every intersection to alert the course marshals of oncoming runners. The most difficult intersection was the corner at First and Lincoln , near the end of the race. The intersection was missing its IPD officer that was present last year. I was concerned for the safety of the runners and spent extra time at that intersection escorting or announcing via whistle, runners across the corner. Unfortunately I did not get to see much of IUTC in action except for the very end and in one place in Stewart Park. What I did see was Ben and Nathan together, all very serious, determined to finish strong. Both boys as did Jessica put in great finishes, with final surges lasting at least 200meters at the end. As soon as I have the actual times I will put them up. I think all three boys were in the low twenties for the distance. Rumor has it that Ben was able to get a couple of 4H girls to kiss a duck for good luck. Nathan, I believe is getting ready for the YMCA Triathlon in two weeks and is tuning up.. We wish him good speed.
Correspondent,
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