Defending Champions Stay on Top in 2009 Team Points Competition
West Side Runners men and New York Athletic Club women dominate open division
The strong got stronger in 2009, as defending champions won both open divisions and four of the six age-group contests in NYRR’s annual team competition.
Team points races are held about once a month; anyone can enter the races, but athletes on local teams race as part of a group effort, with the places of each team’s top finishers adding up to a total score. Yearly standings are based on points accumulated in 10 scoring races. The top teams in each category will be honored and receive special awards at NYRR Club Night on March 4 from 6:00 p.m. to 11:00 p.m. at the Hard Rock Café in Manhattan. Click here to purchase tickets.
The 2009 season began on March 1 with its shortest race, the Coogan’s Salsa, Blues, and Shamrocks 5K, and progressed through nine more events, including the ING New York City Marathon. Here are the results of these year-long contests:
Open men (A): Defending champions West Side Runners (WSX) held off a spirited challenge from early leader New York Athletic Club (NYAC), winning 142-121 on the year; the Greater New York Racing Team (GNY) was third with 84 points. WSX’s team leaders included Bado Worku Merdessa (winner, Joe Kleinerman 10K), Mohammed Awol (2:19:31 at the ING New York City Marathon), and Halefom Abebe Tsegaye (winner, NYRR Fred Lebow Classic and NYRR Gridiron Classic). The Hoboken Harriers dominated the open B category; they have the option of moving up to the A division for 2010.
Open Women: NYAC was also a repeat winner, putting a bigger gap on perennial rival Central Park Track Club this year, 142-115. Strong showings by Catha Mullen (2:43:13 at the ING New York City Marathon), Abbi Antablin (28:00 for second place, NYRR Women’s Team Championships 5M), and Megan Guiney (winner, Fred Lebow Classic), contributed to NYAC’s outstanding year, which included wins in the first seven scoring races. Running Divas New York (RDNY) reprised their 2008 third-place showing with 105 points.
Masters Men (age 40+): The defending champions of the Warren Street Social & Athletic Club (WS) found themselves in a dogfight with the upstart Urban Athletics squad. Paul Thompson’s crew pulled out a three-point victory (135-132) in the year’s final event, the Joe Kleinerman 10K, in which Thompson led all masters finishers for the third straight year. WSX (102) repeated their 2008 third-place finish.
Masters Women (40+): Running Divas New York are building a dynasty here; they overtook early leader CPTC and built an insurmountable 23-point margin. RDNY’s Sheila Casey had an amazing nine points-race age-group victories. CPTC outlasted GNY for second place, 98-96.
Veteran Men (50+): CPTC compiled a rare perfect score of 150 here, winning all their scoring races with solid teamwork from Alan Ruben, Stuart Calderwood, and Michael Rennock. Front Runners New York (110) broke into the division in a big way, outdueling perennial power Taconic Road Runners (TRR), third with 83 points.
Veteran Women (50+): The defending champions of CPTC had to work hard to stay ahead of GNY, but they emerged with a 119-109 win behind strong showings from Margot Sheehan, Mary Diver, and super-vet Deborah Barchat. The New York Flyers weren’t far back in third (103).
Super-Vet Men (60+): A major resurgence saw TRR overwhelming second-place Rockland Road Runners, 144-104, and relegating 2008 winners Korean Road Runners Club to third (93). Timothy Delaney, Joseph Porcaro, and Thomas Maile were unstoppable.
Super-Vet Women (60+): The Millrose Athletic Association resumed their familiar place atop this division on the strength of great racing by Carol Johnston, Laurie Baker, and Ruth Liebowitz. CPTC, led by the undefeated Sylvie Kimché, edged defending champs Mercury Masters for second place, 102-100.
Click here for complete 2009 team points results.
