2003 Distinguished Service Race

32nd Annual

By Mark and Angela Warner

The 32nd running of the Distinguished Service 8 Mile Race was preceded by the awarding of the Distinguished Service Award to Ed Thomas for his many years of outstanding volunteer service to the Hudson-Mohawk Road Runners Club. The award was presented jointly by HMRRC Vice President, Jim Gilmer and 1993 Distinguished Service Award winner Al Maikels. Ed has been active in the club since competing in the first club race in 1971 and serving as the third HMRRC President in 1973 - 1974. He also has served as a past race director and currently fulfills the role of liaison between HMRRC and SUNY Albany. Ed has distinguished himself as a HMRRC volunteer for over 30 years and his efforts are greatly appreciated by the members by his selection as the 41st Distinguished Service Award winner.

This year's race took place along SUNY Albany's perimeter road and around the lake and athletic fields. The weather was almost ideal for an early summer race with overcast skies and temperatures in the 60's. The race had 104 finishers, the fifth most in race history.

On the men's side, 22 year old Jamie Rodriguez won for the second year in a row with the fastest time since 1988 running a 42:04, a 5:15 per mile pace. Nineteen year old Chris Hine, in town from Ohio, finished second with a time of 44:07. 37 year old Craig Fischberg finished an impressive 3rd in 45:54. On the women's side, 19 year old Tara Sheedy continues to improve on her times moving up from being an age group winner the last two years to overall winner this year. Her time of 56:52 was a 35 second improvement on 2002. Martha DeGrazia, at 52 years of age, moved up one place from last year to finish 2nd overall in 57:41. 41 year old Jessica Spatz, a perenial age group winner in this race, moved up to third overall this year with a time of 59:22.

There were several excellent performances among the women's age groups winners. Anny Stockman, now 70 years of age, continues to run impressive times once again winning her age group in a time of 71:17. Another returning age group winner was Judy Phelps in the 50 - 54 year old category running 61:34 to finish 5th overall. The closest women's race was in the 45 - 49 year old age category with Joan Celentano edging Karen Dott by 12 seconds with a time of 70:37. One other woman finished with a time under 60 minutes. Elizabeth Paola won the 19 and under age group with a time of 59:20. Laurel Peterson continues to run impressive times winning the 40 - 44 year old age group (and finishing 6th overall) with a time of 61:59. Other age groups winners included Sally Drake (30 - 34) running 65:30, Kate Dewey (35 - 39) finishing in 62:07, Linda Fisher (55 - 59) with a time of 73:16 and Betty Langevin (60 - 64) in 82:54.

The men's competition had two repeat age group winners from last year. Derrick Staley (6th overall) repeated in the 40-44 year old age group with another excellent performance running 47:02. Dale Keenan, five time winner of this race and the owner of the fastest time in the history of the race (40:22 in 1983), finished eighth overall for the second year in a row in winning the 50-54 year old age group. His time of 48:08 was just 3 seconds slower than last year. The closest race on the men's side was in the 20 - 24 year old age group where 2001 overall winner Chuck Terry edged Josh Merlis by 11 seconds finishing fourth overall in 46:34. The only other male runner under 48 minutes (6:00 per mile pace) was Chad Davey, also in the 20 - 24 year old age group, running 47:37.

The deepest age group was the 45 - 49 year old group with Rob Colburn winning in 48:34. He beat an impressive group of runners including Andy Campbell (50:06), James Jacobs (50:45), John Parisella (52:06) and John Haley (52:23). Rounding out the top 10 overall was Todd Messick running 49:05 to win the 35 - 39 year old age group. Two-time overall winner (including a 40:49 in 1984), Pat Glover, won the 55 - 59 year old age group in 50:29 beating good efforts by Ron Bagnoli (55:10) and Marty Fisher (57:31). Another close age group was the 19 and under with Chris Cwemczak running 55:30 to edge Matt Haller by just over a minute. Jeff Williams won the 30 - 34 year old division in 58:06. The 60 - 64 year old age group was won by Ed Bown in 57:46 while Bob Husted won the 65 - 69 year old group in 61:19. In the increasingly competitive 70 - 99 year old age group, 70 year old Ray Breem beat six other finishers with a time of 63:19. 73 year old Ed Doucette was close behind in 65:32 with Pat Fitzgerald (68:55) and Joe Corrigan (69:17) also breaking 70 minutes.

A number of past Distinguished Service Award winners joined Ed Thomas in running this year's race. Ed completed the race in 85:59. The first past Distinguished Service Award winner to finish was Ray Newkirk ('84) who kicked it into the finish with Jim Moore and finished with a time of 64:19. Past winners Chris Rush ('90), Jim Tierney ('99) and Al Maikels ('93) also put in fine efforts. A number of past Award winners volunteered including Lori Christina ('02), Ken Skinner ('00), Doug Bowden ('98) and Ed Neiles ('91).

This year's race was successful not only because of the many competitive runners, but even more so due to the great help of the volunteers. The help that each volunteer provided was greatly appreciated and made the 32nd running of this race a success.

Let's give Ed one final thanks for his years of dedication to the club. THANKS ED!

Volunteers: Doug Bowden, Chris Burns, Lori Christina, Larry Decker, Gregg Hammond, Tom Kieran, Ken Klapp, Beth Mattfeld, Tom McGuire, Karen Mohr, Ed Neiles, Debbie Robinson, Gary Robinson, Ken Skinner, Directors: Mark & Angela Warner