2010 Nittany Valley Running Club Indoor Mile #1
Saturday, January 9, 2010
by Marty Mazur

The first Indoor Mile of this year's Series drew a fast crew.  Several PRs were set, and one Series record broken. There was only one heat, a large one with 17 runners. Dave Rasmussen came in as the favorite after winning last year's series, but he was given a tough race by Mark Burnham. Rasmussen finished first in 4:39 flat, followed closely by Burnham in 4:40.77. Brian Petraco was third in 4:45.83. Jeff Smucker was the top Master's finisher in 5:07.56. The first female was Beth Herndon, late of Penn State's running squad. Beth shaved over a half-second off of the women's NVRC Indoor Mile mark, set last year by Ann Skulas-Ray. Beth's time was 5:17.03. Meira Minard was the second female in 5:36.93, and Cheryl Capone was third in 5:48.33. Cheryl was very happy with her time. She's coming off of a frustrating injury that hobbled her for much of last year and cost her a shot at the NVRC Race Series title. We'll be looking for her to improve on that in the weeks to come. Also very happy with their times were Michael Goldfine, Jonathan Thurley, and Tara Murray, and Dave DeGroote, all of whom ran PRs.

Results

Heat 1
------

Place  Name                      Time
-----  ----                      ----
 1.    David Rasmussen          4:39.00
 2.    Mark Burnham             4:40.77
 3.    Brian Petraco            4:45.83
 4.    Jeff Smucker             5:07.56 (M)
 5.    Beth Herndon             5:17.03 (R)
 6.    Jonathan Fleming         5:20.31
 7.    Steve Banks              5:23.62
 8.    Meira Minard             5:36.93
 9.    Michael Goldfine         5:46.82 (M)
10.    Cheryl Capone            5:48.33
11.    Jonathan Thurley         5:51.85
12.    Tara Murray              5:52.98
13.    Dave DeGroote            5:56.44 (M)
14.    Cory Neff                6:15.95
15.    Earl Lake                6:18.53 (M)
16.    Marty Klanchar           6:23.80 (M)
17.    Nari Soundarrajan        No Time

 
   (M) - Designates Masters (over 40) runners.
  (R) - NVRC Indoor Mile Record
Photos: Marty Mazur.

Meira Minard laces up as Tara Murray, Cheryl Capone, and Beth Herndon try to relax before the start..
The men toe the line before the start..
It was crowded as the men try to move into lane 1 after the start.

Dave Rasmussen and Mark Burnham battle it out early in the first heat.
Beth Herndon was in a zone of her own as she established a new NVRC women's Indoor Mile record of 5:17.03.
Earl Lake tries to get rid of his runner's cough after the race.

Back to Indoor Mile Results Page.
Return to NVRC home page.