50K Champs!

Central Mass. Striders win USATF 50K title

The Polar beverage sponsored CMS men's team of Kevin Beck, Ben Nephew and Dan Verrington captured the National championship team title at the USATF 50K National championships by taking 2nd, 3rd, and 4th place in Peachtree city GA on November 14.

CMS was the favored team heading into the race as they had won the last 50K road championships in Pittsburgh in 2002 (the championships were not held in 2003).
The Darkside running club hosted the race, which was contested on cart paths that run throughout the city. The course was a 5.2 mile loop, which had a short out/back section in order to get the correct distance over 6 loops. Race day conditions were good with temperatures in the upper 30's at the 7:30 AM start and mid 40's when most had finished. Skies were clear and there was very low humidity, however it was quite windy even with most of the course shielded by trees. The course had very few turns, gently rolling hills, a few tunnels under main roads and one BIG tree that had blown down and completely blocked the path about ½ way through the loop.

Approximately 45 runners lined up at the start finish area to determine who was the top USATF team, overall, and age group winners. The men's race looked to be a contest between 2:14 marathoner Michael Dudley, 2:24 marathoner Kevin Beck, USATF trail marathon runner-up Ben Nephew, and reigning 50K road champ Dan Verrington. On the ladies side Anne Riddle was the fastest entrant, fresh off her victory two weeks ago at the trail marathon championships.

A lead pack formed right from the gun with Nephew, Beck, Dudley and Verrington quickly pulling away. Ryne Melcher and Danny Fink ran together and the rest of the field strung out. At the end of the first loop (5.2 miles) Nephew, Beck and Dudley had a 13 second lead on Verrington with a 30:47 to 31:00. Melcher and the 40 year old Fink cam through 2 minutes later, and former sub 3 hour 50K runner Dave Dunham passed in 34:24 in 7th place. Anne Riddle lead the women's field by about 30 seconds passing through the first loop in 10th place overall.

The second lap saw little change with Dudley sitting behind the CMS teammates through another 30:47 lap (1:01:34 @ 10.4m). Verrington slipped another 6 seconds back running alone in 4th. Melcher moved ahead of Fink and Dunham ran another 34:24 split. Riddle began to slowly pull away from the other women.

There were very few developments in the third lap as the runners fell into a groove. The community began waking up and there were some vocal run-ins with speeding golf carts. Nephew led the group with a 30:50 split (1:32:24 @ ½ way). Verrington held fast with a 32:19, as Fink began to move up on Melcher for the last money spot. Dunham continued to run even with another 34:24 split (1:43:15).

The fourth lap saw things shake up as Dudley made a decisive move. Beck followed him as they split in 31:31 (2:03:56 @ 20.8m). Nephew followed 24 seconds back and Verrington looked to have settled into a comfortable pace splitting in 32:59. Melcher began to slow and was passed by Fink and Dunham (who ran his fastest loop, 34:14). Riddle continued to cruise in the top 10 overall as she extended her lead over Floren Ansley.

During the fifth lap Dudley went off course twice, missing the minimally mark turns (course markings were mostly from other races help on the paths, and mile markers for the race were non-existent). Beck was passed twice in the lap as he rolled through with a 31:14 split and continued through the marathon in 2:37:07. Nephew followed with a 33:00 split in 3rd place and hit the marathon in 3:39:30. Verrington was next with a 34:15 split (marathon in 2:43:20). There was a substantial gap to Fink who passed the marathon in 2:52 and Dunham who continued to close with a 34:31 lap (2:54:12 marathon).

Very little changed during the final lap as Dudley powered home in 3:05. Beck finished his first ultra with a final lap of 31:10 for an excellent 3:06. Nephew slowed a bit but easily held 3rd place with a 33:55 lap and a three minute PR in 3:11. Verrington closed out the race with a 35:15 to take 4th and win the master's title. Dunham passed Fink early in the final lap and ran a 35:14 last lap to take 5th and 2nd master. Fink held on to take 6th (3rd master), and Melcher closed the gap to take 7th. Anne Riddle finished 8th overall in 3:39:58 to take a 5 minute victory over Floren Ansley. Four women finished in the top 12.

CMS defended the team title with an excellent combined time of 9:34:15.

1 Mike Dudley 3:05:35 USATF National Champion
2 Kevin Beck 3:06:25
3 Ben Nephew 3:11:15
4 Dan Verrington 3:16:40 USATF Master Champion
5 Dave Dunham 3:27:14 2nd 40+
6 Danny Fink 3:33:50 3rd 40+
7 Ryne Melcher 3:34:33
8 Anne Riddle 3:39:58 USATF National Champion
9 Jack McDermott 3:44:00
10 Floren Ansely 3:44:56 2nd Female
11 Regan Petrie 3:51:21 3rd Female
12 Patricia Zerfus 3:51:40 4th Female

Pictures available on request...