The Assault on Mt Hood (12/12/2009)

<< [ All Race Results ] >>

5th Annual Assault on Mt Hood (3.75 mile XC Race)
Melrose, MA
December 12, 2009

On a sunny but cold (30 degree) and windy day, seven CRC'ers ventured to Melrose for the final cross-country race of the season, The (legendary) Assault on Mt Hood. And what an experience it was! The start was delayed a few minutes while race officials applied salt to melt ice on the course, allowing runners to completely fill their lungs with thick smoke from the Melrose Fish and Game Club's massive open hearth fire.

CRC Assault on Mt Hood Team

Chad once again led the CRC effort, finishing 3rd overall (17-seconds behind the winner) and 2nd in his age-group. He was ably supported by Justin, who ran superbly from start to finish and looks set for a great 2010 winter/fall season. (Justin was planned to set a 5km PR in the Jingle-Bell race the very next day!) The CRC 007s (James O and James V - the later in his first cross-country race) finished strongly, putting CRC in a good position in the open mens team competition.

Despite a touch of the flu, Kaitlin ran a great race to be 2nd female overall and just 18-seconds behind the winner. Mehgan also ran well finishing 6th female overall and 3rd in her age-group. To the amazement of onlookers, Meghan performed a 360-degree running pirouette in a confused state near the finish! Rebecca completed the trifecta of CRC female finishers and commented afterwards that she "loved the course," although one imagines that she was actually wondering what happended to the remaining 46.25 miles.

Chad, Kaitlin, and Meghan picked up prizes that to the best of my ability I describe as reincarnations of "the Little Drummer Boy". See photo below! Although, the CRC men and female open teams finished 3rd and 2nd respectively, no further loot was forthcoming as Yours Truly failed to realize that day-of entrants had to register at a "special unadvertized table" for teams. 2010 CRC ORGANIZER PLEASE TAKE NOTE OF THIS!

CRC Assault on Mt Hood Prize Winners

The race was followed by a great spread of food, free commemorative (full or empty) pint glasses, and good hearty conversation. Justin had the distinction of being the first CRCer to get his well-deserved pint of beer while James O probably squeezed more food onto his plate than anyone else. In the festive atmosphere, this battle-scarred old-timer reflected on a great year, a great club, great people, and a hope that such races will continue to be a part of the CRC tradition for many years to come.

Place Name                No.  Div/Tot  Div   Ag S City       St Time    Pace  
===== =================== ==== ======== ===== == = ========== == ======= ===== 
    3 Chad Carr             17   2/45   M3039 34 M Cambridge  MA   20:52  5:34 
   10 Justin Verdirame     234   5/45   M3039 31 M Cambridge  MA   22:52  6:06 
   12 James OMalley        229   7/45   M3039 38 M JamaicaPla MA   23:20  6:14 
   18 Kaitlin Anelauskas     5   2/15   F2029 24 F Cambridge  MA   24:14  6:28 
   31 Meghan Weaver        153   3/15   F2029 24 F Malden     MA   26:09  6:59 
   40 James Vola           239  13/45   M3039 31 M Boston     MA   27:06  7:14 
   50 Rebecca Nisetich      98   5/15   F2029 26 F Cambridge  MA   28:24  7:35

--------------------------------------------------------------------
                     MENS OPEN TEAM RESULTS
--------------------------------------------------------------------
   1.  BAA                                
            20:45   21:45   22:18 = 1:04:48
         Joshua Gordon, Ben Schersten, Mike Dowling
   2.  CSU                                
            20:35   21:46   22:46 (  23:16) = 1:05:07
         Stephen Granger-Bevan, Terry McNatt, Jon Waldron, Tom Dmukauskas
   3.  CRC*
            20:52   22:52   23:20 (  27:06) = 1:07:04
         Chad Carr, Justin Verdirame, James O'Malley, James Vola

--------------------------------------------------------------------
                     WOMENS OPEN TEAM RESULTS
--------------------------------------------------------------------
   1.  BAA WOMEN                          
            23:56   24:53   26:18 = 1:15:07
         Renee Knapp, Beth Coughlin, Jaquelyn Cilley
   2.  CRC*
            24:14   26:09   28:24 = 1:17:47
         Kaitlin Aneluaskas Meghan Weaver Rebecca Nisetich
   3.  HAPPY FEET                         
            33:41   36:20   36:20 = 1:46:21
         Wendy Healy, Jennifer Porennan, Anne Healy

*Unofficial results due to the failure of CRC teams to be properly entered.

Complete results: http://www.coolrunning.com/results/09/ma/Dec12_Assaul_set1.shtml

Report entered by James O'Malley
Report entered on 12/13/2009