The Bill Robinson HMRRC 10K Championship (GP)
10K Adirondack USATF Master's Champioinship
USATF Certified
Guilderland HS April 26, 2003 10:00 A.M.
PLACE time NAME AGE S CITY STATE PACE
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1 35:58 Derrick Staley 44 M Ballston Lake NY 5:48
2 36:25 Dale Keenan 52 M Selkirk NY 5:52
3 37:35 Christopher Murphy 46 M Scotia NY 6:04
4 38:03 Jim Jacobs 46 M Berne NY 6:08
5 38:25 Rob Picotte 49 M Slingerlands NY 6:12
6 38:31 John Parisella 45 M Schenectady NY 6:13
7 39:22 Pat Glover 56 M Clifton Park NY 6:21
8 40:25 Richard Clark 49 M Feeding Hills MA 6:31
9 40:40 Paul Bennett 51 M Latham NY 6:33
10 41:19 Ken Klapp 53 M Schenectady NY 6:40
11 41:26 Dale Broomhead 47 M Latham NY 6:41
12 41:44 Tom McGrath 43 M Albany NY 6:44
13 42:11 Mark Devenpeck 42 M Albany NY 6:48
14 42:19 Michael Bromm 43 M Valley Falls NY 6:49
15 42:39 Jeff Cole 47 M Voorheesville NY 6:53
16 42:50 John Haley 48 M Guilderland NY 6:54
17 42:56 Brent Becker 40 M Ballston Spa NY 6:55
18 43:05 Bill Teetz 50 M Johnstown NY 6:57
19 43:14 Parker Race 45 M Albany NY 6:58
20 43:21 Pete Cure 44 M Altamont NY 6:59
21 43:45 Timothy Mackesey 45 M Altamont NY 7:03
22 43:51 Blaine Berner 50 M Clifton Park NY 7:04
23 43:52 Nancy Taormina 43 F Albany NY 7:04
24 44:13 Helen Shekerjian 42 F Niskayuna NY 7:08
25 44:23 Frank Paone 45 M Troy NY 7:09
26 44:35 John Stockwell 55 M Troy NY 7:11
27 44:38 John Axten 46 M Rexford NY 7:12
28 44:56 Daniel Doak 46 M Albany NY 7:15
29 45:08 Marty Fisher 55 M Glenmont NY 7:17
30 45:26 Jessica Spatz 41 F Valley Falls NY 7:19
31 45:34 Daniel O'Connor 40 M Scotia NY 7:21
32 45:57 Ed Bown 61 M Broadalbin NY 7:24
33 45:59 John King 46 M Troy NY 7:25
34 46:04 Timothy Perry-coon 48 M Latham NY 7:26
35 46:08 Daniel DeFrees 48 M Rochester NH 7:26
36 46:34 Leo Vogelien 58 M Voorheesville NY 7:30
37 46:38 Steve Sheffer 42 M Latham NY 7:31
38 46:45 Tom Schreck 41 M Albany NY 7:32
39 46:57 Michael Marra 47 M Delmar NY 7:34
40 46:58 Tom McManus 44 M Athens NY 7:34
41 47:03 Tim Vermette 52 M Albany NY 7:35
42 47:06 Martha DeGrazia 52 F Slingeralands NY 7:36
43 47:19 David Hayes 59 M Niskayuna NY 7:38
44 47:30 Bill Dunbar 44 M Ghent NY 7:39
45 47:31 Gary Robinson 40 M Altamont NY 7:40
46 47:44 William Elliot 48 M Altamont NY 7:42
47 47:45 Mike Reger 53 M DeFreestville NY 7:42
48 47:48 Gian Carlo Mangano 64 M Utica NY 7:42
49 47:59 Judy Phelps 52 F Rensselaer NY 7:44
50 48:31 Paul Murray 58 M Albany NY 7:49
51 48:34 Dorine Peregrim 42 F Lake Placid NY 7:50
52 48:54 David Flansburg 58 M Little Falls NY 7:53
53 48:57 Hank Steadman 59 M Delmar NY 7:53
54 49:11 Pete Bukowski 49 M Glenmont NY 7:56
55 49:14 Janine Groves 40 F Gilboa NY 7:56
56 49:29 Ray Bremm 70 M Colonie NY 7:59
57 49:37 Jim Moore 63 M Niskayuna NY 8:00
58 49:50 Wade Stockman 68 M Rensselaer NY 8:02
59 50:19 David Pickel 49 M Guilderland NY 8:07
60 50:23 Tom Bulger 50 M Menands NY 8:07
61 50:26 Susan Burns 48 F Selkirk NY 8:08
62 51:46 Joanne Richardson 42 F West Sand Lake NY 8:21
63 51:49 Ed Doucette 73 M Bennington VT 8:21
64 51:50 Ken Skinner 63 M Albany NY 8:21
65 52:15 Phil Carducci 53 M Altamont NY 8:25
66 52:50 Frank Harris 52 M Troy NY 8:31
67 52:53 Tim O'Connor 44 M Loudonville NY 8:31
68 52:59 Joe Premo 53 M Rensselaer NY 8:32
69 53:27 Jim Bowles 53 M Cohoes NY 8:37
70 53:30 Paul Scully 53 M Watervliet NY 8:37
71 54:05 Sally Goade 44 F Wynantskill NY 8:43
72 54:25 Ray Lee 61 M Halfmoon NY 8:46
73 55:30 Frank VanWely 43 M Fairport NY 8:57
74 56:17 Don VanWely 53 M Delmar NY 9:04
75 56:29 Joe Corrigan 72 M Clifton Park NY 9:06
76 56:58 George Francisco 48 M Scotia NY 9:11
77 57:09 Paul Goldman 45 M Schenectady NY 9:13
78 58:06 Linda Fisher 55 F Glenmont NY 9:22
79 58:08 Anny Stockman 70 F Rensselaer NY 9:22
80 58:43 Don Wilken 65 M Slingerlands NY 9:28
81 59:33 Bruce Ginsburg 43 M Slingerlands NY 9:36
82 59:45 Ken Orner 73 M Albany NY 9:38
83 59:56 Donna Lustenhouwer 49 F Altamont NY 9:40
84 1:00:18 Scott Ginsburg 47 M Slingerlands NY 9:43
85 1:01:44 Ralph Feinstein 49 M Scotia NY 9:57
86 1:01:59 Aileen Muller 41 F Castleton NY 9:59
87 1:03:47 Betty Langevin 63 F Cohoes NY 10:17
88 1:04:03 Susan Mochrie 46 F Broadalbin NY 10:19
89 1:07:44 Charlie Matlock 58 M Averill Park NY 10:55
90 1:08:05 Ed Thomas 65 M Delmar NY 10:58
91 1:08:42 Sharon Spies 44 F Schoharie NY 11:04
92 1:08:43 Ned Norton 68 M Albany NY 11:04
93 1:18:48 Eiko Bogue 65 F Schaghticoke NY 12:42
94 1:24:23 Harry Hennessy 71 M Albany NY 13:36
95 1:30:23 Kenneth Clikeman 72 M Altamont NY 14:34
Record 31:54 by Pete Vangardaren in 1983
********** AWARDS LIST **************
********** MALE OVERALL RESULTS ***********
1 Derrick Staley 44 Ballston Lake NY 35:58
********** FEMALE OVERALL RESULTS ***********
1 Nancy Taormina 43 Albany NY 43:52
MALE AGE GROUP: 40 - 44
1 12 Tom McGrath 43 Albany NY 41:44
2 13 Mark Devenpeck 42 Albany NY 42:11
3 14 Michael Bromm 43 Valley Falls NY 42:19
FEMALE AGE GROUP: 40 - 44
1 24 Helen Shekerjian 42 Niskayuna NY 44:13
2 30 Jessica Spatz 41 Valley Falls NY 45:26
3 51 Dorine Peregrim 42 Lake Placid NY 48:34
MALE AGE GROUP: 45 - 49
1 3 Christopher Murphy 46 Scotia NY 37:35
2 4 Jim Jacobs 46 Berne NY 38:03
3 5 Rob Picotte 49 Slingerlands NY 38:25
FEMALE AGE GROUP: 45 - 49
1 61 Susan Burns 48 Selkirk NY 50:26
2 83 Donna Lustenhouwer 49 Altamont NY 59:56
3 88 Susan Mochrie 46 Broadalbin NY 1:04:03
MALE AGE GROUP: 50 - 54
1 2 Dale Keenan 52 Selkirk NY 36:25
2 9 Paul Bennett 51 Latham NY 40:40
3 10 Ken Klapp 53 Schenectady NY 41:19
FEMALE AGE GROUP: 50 - 54
1 42 Martha DeGrazia 52 Slingeralands NY 47:06
2 49 Judy Phelps 52 Rensselaer NY 47:59
MALE AGE GROUP: 55 - 59
1 7 Pat Glover 56 Clifton Park NY 39:22
2 26 John Stockwell 55 Troy NY 44:35
3 29 Marty Fisher 55 Glenmont NY 45:08
FEMALE AGE GROUP: 55 - 59
1 78 Linda Fisher 55 Glenmont NY 58:06
FEMALE AGE GROUP: 60 - 64
1 87 Betty Langevin 63 Cohoes NY 1:03:47
MALE AGE GROUP: 60 - 64
1 32 Ed Bown 61 Broadalbin NY 45:57
2 48 Gian Carlo Mangano 64 Utica NY 47:48
3 57 Jim Moore 63 Niskayuna NY 49:37
FEMALE AGE GROUP: 60 - 64
1 87 Betty Langevin 63 Cohoes NY 1:03:47
MALE AGE GROUP: 65 - 69
1 58 Wade Stockman 68 Rensselaer NY 49:50
2 80 Don Wilken 65 Slingerlands NY 58:43
3 90 Ed Thomas 65 Delmar NY 1:08:05
FEMALE AGE GROUP: 65 - 69
1 93 Eiko Bogue 65 Schaghticoke NY 1:18:48
FEMALE AGE GROUP: 70 - 99
1 79 Anny Stockman 70 Rensselaer NY 58:08
MALE AGE GROUP: 70 - 74
1 56 Ray Bremm 70 Colonie NY 49:29
2 63 Ed Doucette 73 Bennington VT 51:49
3 75 Joe Corrigan 72 Clifton Park NY 56:29
Volunteers: Bill Robinson, Bill Haefeli, Ed Neiles, Nancy Egerton, Joan Corrigan, Vince Juliano. Pat Piniazek, Betty Langevin, Armand Langevin, Joan Montgomery, Lowell Montgomery, Laurel Petersen, Sharon Boehlke, Erle Daniels, Debbie Beach, Ken Klemp, Cameron McLean, Mike McLean, Charles Bishop, Katherine Ambrosio, Ken Skinner, Bob Knouse, Harry Hennessy, Ken Orner, Charlie Matlock, Arleen Reyell, Lori Christina, Ben Greenberg and the Guilderland Police Department. Director: James Tierney.
Why would anyone want to run the HMRRC's Masters 10-K? There were plenty of reasons this year to skip the event. The course is very challenging, one of the toughest 10-K's around. Plus, the weather was not cooperative, with a cold rain drenching runners and volunteers alike. Finally, there were numerous other popular races scheduled the same weekend: the Law Run 5-K, the St. Peter's races in Saratoga, the Sean French Memorial Run, the Kingston Classic.
But there were also some very compelling reasons to run this year's race. For master's runners, this was a chance to pit themselves against the best area runners in their age groups. The race was this year's Adirondack Region USATF masters 10-K championship. Plus, the race course though challenging, is also enjoyable in its rural setting. Additionally, this race has always been meticulously well orchestrated by race director Jim Tierney and his crack squad of volunteers.
However, by far and away the most compelling reason to run the race this year was the fact that this year's masters race was held in honor of one of the HMRRC's Hall of Fame members, Bill Robinson. For years, the race had been named after Tom Robinson, one of the HMRRC's founding fathers. As the history of the HMRRC has unfolded, the most well known Robinson in our club has been Bill. So it was a logical transition to rename the master's race after one of our best masters runners. Bill is one of the few individuals who have won this race twice, in 1987 and 1989. His winning time of 34:15 in 1987 is still one of the fastest times turned in on this difficult course.
For those of you who are long-time club members, Bill's history with the club is well known. For newer members, this is a brief and sketchy recount of who Bill was and is. Bill is a member of the HMRRC Hall of Fame because of his outstanding running prowess, both as an open runner and a masters runner. Among his many accomplishments include winning the Heritage Trail Marathon (which used to be held in Troy), winning numerous road races over the years (he owned the Cohoes Thanksgiving Day Race), running some smoking times as a track runner and road racer as a masters runner. For example, he ran a 4:27 mile on the track while in his 40's (the year was 1986). His running career ended when a car ran into him while Bill was training with a group of elite area runners on Hackett Boulevard. That day, March 16 1990, is a day of infamy for the HMRRC.
To this year's race. Ninety-five runners braved the elements and the hilly course. The numbers were slightly down from last year's record 104 finishers, but 95 finishers still represents the second-highest turnout for the masters race since it started in 1981. Derrick Staley was the first finisher in the race for the second straight year in a time of 35:58. If Derrick wins again next year, he will be the first male to win the race three consecutive years. As it stands, he now joins Rick Stark and Dale Keenan as the only runners to win this race in consecutive years. On the women's side, Nancy Taormina overcame the rapidly improving Helen Shekerjian to win in a time of 43:52. This ended a string of three straight victories for Beth Gottung (the only three-time consecutive winner in race history), who did not run this year due to an injury.
As the results show, there were many other impressive performances in the race. Dale Keenan was second to Derrick in a time of 36:25. Chris Murphy ran a strong 37:25, followed by Jim Jacobs. Rob Picotte, Bill Robinson's former training partner and protégé, ran 5th in 38:25. Pat Glover won his age group and finished 7th overall in 39:22. Several other performances of note include the ever-competitive older age groups. Ed Bown blistered the course in 45:57 for first place in the 60-64 age group. The 65-69 age group winners were all HMRRC notables, with Wade Stockman first in 49:50. He was followed by Don Wilken, the first male winner of the Masters race in 1981 in a time of 35:50. This year, Don ran 58:43. Third in this illustrious category was Ed Thomas, the HMRRC Distinguished Service Award winner this year.
But what is arguably the best performance as an age group as a whole was in the male 70-74 age group. This contingent was led by Ray Bremm in 49:29, followed by Ed Doucette in 51:49, and Joe Corrigan in 56:29. Amazingly, this trio ran faster times than their corresponding finishers in the age group before them.
The most competitive age groups for the women were in the 40-44 and 45-49 categories. In the 40-44 year old category, Helen Shekerjian finished in 44:13, with Jess Spatz coming off her broken foot to finish second in 45:26, and Dorine Peregrim in for third at 48:34. In the 45-49 category, Susan Burns won in 50:26, with Donna Lustenhouwer second and Susan Mochrie third. The amazing Anny Stockman ran her usual fine race in 58:08.
Just as impressive as the running results were the efforts of the many volunteers (listed with the results), who served the runners despite the downpour. It reminded me of the HMRRC Winter Marathon, and shows how dedicated our club members can be. Thanks to one and all of these people, particularly to those who had been working the night before at the Law Race: Sharon Boehlke, Erle Daniels, Ken Klemp, and Ed Neiles. They are truly indefatigable.
I put this account of the race results first, before discussing the honors accorded to Bill Robinson, because I know that is how Bill would have wanted it. Before the race, Jim Tierney and I discussed whether or not Bill should present the awards as he has in the past, not that Jim or I didn't want him to give out the awards, but that we wanted him to enjoy the event untrammeled by work obligations. Bill told us he wanted to pass out the awards, and he did. Bill told Jim and me in an e-mail, "I always feel that I should be doing more. This race isn't about me but should be what it is, a quality low-key fun race for us 40+ men and women only. It's the competitors that make the race." Before he gave out the race awards, Jim Tierney had arranged to have a plaque commemorating this day for Bill. As the club President (and as a former racing comrade of Bill's), Jim asked me to present Bill with this plaque. I was honored and happy to do so. Before doing so, I asked Pat Glover and Dale Keenan to speak about Bill, since they along with Bill were the three dominant male racers of their era together.
Both Pat and Dale graciously agreed to speak, recounting some of their epic battles with Bill on the race courses. Their words were a great tribute to Bill as a runner and a person. That Dale even agreed to speak (he is not fond of public speaking) shows the enormous respect and admiration he continues to have for Bill.
I then recounted my all-time favorite running story, which was told to me by Rob Picotte, who first heard it from Bill. The story goes like this. Bill was running the Boston Marathon one year, and during the middle portions of the race, found that he was in dire need of a bathroom. Since the Boston Marathon course is not "bathroom friendly," he decided to ask a couple (who were watching the race from their front porch) if he could use their bathroom. They graciously agreed, so Bill went into the bathroom and shut the door. As Bill was sitting on the toilet, the door opened, and the couple's young son walked in (the boy obviously had bathroom carte blanche privileges). The boy took one look at Bill, and said, "Mister, you're not going to win the race in here."
Bill might not have won that particular Boston Marathon, but he was a winner in numerous other road races, and most importantly, he is a winner in the race of life. He continues to contribute his time and most important his personality to the benefit of the running community. In my May President's column, I spoke of the four types of heroes found in running literature (everyman, the rebel, the star performer, the giver). I showed this column before publication to my running friend and English Department colleague, Meg Woolbright. She in turn passed it along to one of her running friends, Rich Jones. After reading my column, Rich had these comments:
"There is a category of runner hero that I would add who goes one step beyond the examples mentioned and that is the injured runner or disabled runner as coach, or support person for his able-bodied comrades. Because among other things running is in part a selfish and self-actualizing activity, to be able to rise above that loss to assist and encourage, to me is a heroic act. The immediate benefits of running are gone: endorphins, self-esteem, uniqueness, participation with other in mutual toil, no longer exist yet the individual continues to rise above these losses and give of himself. Certainly the talented runner who contributes his time in the assistance of lesser runners qualifies to some degree, but the person who has been forced to give up his love and yet unselfishly helps others find theirs is in my mind powerfully heroic."
This is extremely well said, and I couldn't have said it any better. Let me say, Rich, that I agree with you, and the only reason why I didn't include this kind of hero in my list is that in the extant list of running literature, this hero's story has not been told. The story of Bill Robinson, however, is precisely the story of a true running hero.