The Good Mates have returned from the USA Club Cross Country National Championships in Lexington, KY. A solid weekend of racing experience and team bonding. Nothing like 25 hours in a van over 3 days to help you get to know your mates better. I’ll post some observations and musings over the next couple of days but will stick to Saturday’s main events for today.
The morning was kicked off at 10:30 with our Masters Women. We had a late scratch in Natalie Jetensky so it was Stacy Shaw and Linda answering the gun against the best 40+ females in the country. Stacy would finish 20th overall in 24:47 over the 6K tour and 4th in her 45-49 age group. Outstanding finish Stacy! Linda came across in 26:32 for 14th in the same age group. She’s quite anxious to move up to the 50-54 early next year, it gets harder each year against those whippersnappers.
Men’s Masters were next to answer the gun. Gary Wasserman was like a kid in a candy store, in his element with the mud and hills. We had the 10K distance to contend and the multiple hilly loops kicked your scribe’s posterior (27th 55-59, 49:16). Gary had no such problems and ran 39:31 for 37th in the 50-54 age group. Bellevue West coach and former mate Craig Christians finished just ahead of Gary (36th, 39:25). Nice running by both.
The Open Womens race followed and the course was well trod by then. The light rains continued to wash through between races, pausing seemingly on cue once the gun fired. I was very pleased at the cohesiveness the ladies showed. We finished 20th of 24 teams entered. Alysha Davis was our first scorer across the line (91st, 23:00), Megan Zavorka/Thomas (98th, 23:13), Haleigh Riggle (102nd, 23:20), Natalie Como (103rd, 23:20), Shannon Mauser Suing (123rd, 24:06), and Meghan Schneider (141st, 24:57) followed.
The Open Mens competition always caps the day’s races and as always it was fierce. They toured the same 3 loop course as we oldsters and it was thrilling to watch the race develop. At the 2 mile mark Matt Pohren and Luka Thor were strong in the top 25 with Eric Rasmussen not far behind still in the top 30. Cory Logsdon and cross neophyte Nate Stack were running smart and moving up gradually through the mass of runners. The course design was excellent in lending itself to spectators with no less than 6-7 viewing opportunities if you picked the right spot. As the pace quickened and things started stringing out Matt held his position with a few runners interjecting between him and Luka. Eric patiently picked off runners, one by one and moved up.
Club Cross hosts many of the Very Best runners from around the U.S. (Alan Webb would manage a 7th place finish). This was a strength course and as the race developed the strongest continued to make their moves when opportunity presented.
At the finish Matty P would lead the Good Mates finishing 51st in 31:44, Eric (103rd, 32:35), Luka (121st, 32:50), Cory (213th, 34:05) and Nate (247th, 34:55) would round out the scoring placing Team Nebraska 22nd out of 42 teams entered.
Always a Mate Mike Morgan was 3rd scorer for Hansons-Brooks, they would win the Men’s team title in the process. Mike’s mate Jacob Riley led all runners to the finish in 29:58.
Mas manana!
Stacy Shaw mixing it up with a Central Park Track Club athlete. Stacy has shown all through 2012 that she is the toughest masters female in Nebraska, whether on road, trail, or cross country.
Linda too has shown No Fear, from the USA 25K National Champs in May, the Market to Market 50K in October, and over hill and dale this past weekend.
My third time up the 2nd long hill had me suffering but still giving everything I had in the old bones. Still looking for a shot of Gary Wasserman, will include it tomorrow.
Shannon, Haleigh, Natalie, Meghan, Megan, and Alysha. This was the first time Team Nebraska has sent a full women’s team to Club Cross. They all come away with a great experience and I couldn’t be prouder of their efforts.
Matt, Luka, Eric, Cory, and Nate. We needed all 5 men to step up and they delivered.
The Team. Getting ready to head over to the awards ceremony and then to one of the best meals I’ve had all year! Big thanks to Kelly Crawford for his behind the scenes work on Friday while the rest of the mates were in transit from Omaha.
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