Sunday was a very busy day for Pacific Association Road runners. In Sacramento, we had the inaugural Capitol City Classic 12K as part of our Road Gran Prix. Results at: http://changeofpace.com/capital-city-classic/results/
In Dedham MA, the James Joyce Ramble 10K was the site for the USATF Masters 10K Road Championships where PA Masters runners Christine Kennedy and Brian Pilcher each turned outstanding performances. Pilcher, 58, came in 2nd in the M55-59 age group and won the honor for top male age-graded performance. Kennedy easily won the F60-64 age group came in 2nd just behind Jan Holmquist of Burlington MA for top female age-graded performance. Additionally, Christine smashed the existing F60-64 American Record of 40:10 set by Kathryn Martin at this same race last with a blistering 39:26. In February, Christine also broke Martin’s F60-64 8K AR with a 31:27 USATF Masters 8K Road Champs in Brea. Full results of 10K championship race will be posted on the USATF website shortly.
In Düsseldorf, GER, Annie Bersagel of the PA’s Strava TC successfully defended her 2014 crown at the METRO Group Marathon Düsseldorf with a PR of 2:28:29. An effort even more remarkable considering Annie fell near the 10K and had to run virtually solo the second half of the race. Annie has to be considered a strong contender in January’s Olympic Marathon Trials.* The press release on Annie’s victory can be found here.
*Additional information courtesy of David Monti, Race Results Weekly.