Staatsburg, New York
January 5
Hilly, out-and-back 5km road loop
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Three-time U.S. 100km team member Bob Sweeney defended his title, and Conni Grace repeated as womens champ and bettered her own race record at the seventh annual Mid-Hudson Road Runners Club Fat Ass 50km.
Sweeney improved his time from last years Mid-Hudson Fat Ass by three minutes and narrowed the gap on the 1997 race record, held by Brent Backus (3:21:09). Grace, a MHRRC member, shattered her mark of 4:16:18 from 2001 with her fourth-place finish of 4:01:21. Sheryl Wheeler, the second-place woman, also bettered last years mark by finishing seventh overall in 4:16:01.
MHRRC member Wayne McDaniel placed second in 3:36:10 and lopped 22 minutes off his 2001 time. Russ Hoyer, las years second-place finisher, was third this year in 3:43:39, an improvement over his 2001 clocking of 3:45:04.
The husband-and-wife team of Jeanine and Keith Armbrust had never completed a marathon but got through the 10 laps for the longest run of their lives. Jeanine was 19th in 5:10:38 and Keith was 21st in 5:26:40. Charles Dermody remains the only entrant to complete all seven Mid-Hudson Fat Ass races. He was 20th in 5:14:44.
The race enjoyed its largest field since it was started in January of 1996. Runners enjoyed perfect winter conditions, with temperatures in the 30s, a light breeze, a partly cloudy day and no ice on the roads. In keeping with the spirit of Fat Ass races everywhere, no entry fee was collected. However, voluntary donations were accepted and $114 was collected and donated to the New York Police and Fire Widows and Childrens Benefit Fund. The eighth annual Mid-Hudson Fat Ass 50km will be held in early January 2003.
-- Pete Colaizzo
1. Bob Sweeney, 34 3:23:58
2. Wayne McDaniel, 42 3:36:10
3. Russ Hoyer, 41 3:43:39
4. Conni Grace, 39 4:01:21
5. John Affronti, 46 4:07:44
6. Sheryl Wheeler, 38 4:16:01
7. Bob Dion, 46, VT 4:16:11
8. Jim Lofthouse, 46 4:18:22
9. Doug Freese, 56 4:21:40
10 Martha DeGrazzia, 50 4:21:49
11. Franklin Coles, 53 4:25:35
12. Ben Maynard, 25 4:28:11
13. Ken Klemp, 44 4:33:00
14. Don Villeneuve, 61 4:35:17
15. Pete Colaizzo, 37 4:37:04
16. Dave Getz, 44 4:38:16
17. Larry Phillips, 40 4:44:10
18. Nick Palazzo, 54 4:57:55
19. Jeanine Armbrust, 35 5:10:38
20. Charles Dermody, 50 5:14:44
21. Keith Armbrust, 39 5:26:40
22. Deborah Redding, 47, NY 6:15:57