Pace Setter : January 2026

Been There, Done That

 Been There, Done That - By Thomas and Sara O’Grady

 

Enjoy a look back at memorable racing moments in our region from January, February, and March—spanning 25 years and including pandemic challenges, Olympic Trials excitement, standout high school performances, and top results from athletes with Capital Region roots.

 

2021

Still feeling the lingering effects of the COVID-19 pandemic, racing in early 2021 remained limited, and the Winter Series was held virtually.

In-person competition triumphantly returned on March 13 in Schenectady with the Electric City 5-Miler, which welcomed 583 finishers back to the roads.
 Winners:
 • Brian Reis (Cooperstown) — 25:23
 • Karen Bertasso-Hughes (Selkirk) — 29:36

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2016

Nearly 600 runners launched the new year at the traditional doubleheader:
 • Hangover Half Marathon: Kevin Dixon — 1:14:50; Karen Bertasso — 1:22:36
 • Bill Hogan 3.5-Miler: Chris Herbs — 21:28; Courtney Breiner — 23:17

February spotlighted the Olympic Marathon Trials in Los Angeles, featuring top-3 elite performances from Galen Rupp, Meb Keflezighi, Jared Ward, Amy Cragg, Des Linden, and Shalane Flanagan. Locally connected standout Kieran O’Connor placed 24th in 2:21:36.

March brought runners to Green Island for its fast 4-mile USATF Grand Prix opener, drawing 304 finishers. This would be the last edition of the ROTG to be held on the flat and fast 4-mile course through Green Island before moving to hillier course in Rotterdam a year later.

 Top Finishers:
 • Eric MacKnight — 19:57
 • Julia Flower — 23:04

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2011

A beautiful, calm New Year’s Day (mid-40s, no wind) set the tone for competitive racing:
 • Hangover Half Marathon: Kiernan O’Connor — 1:11:07; Roxanne Wegman — 1:25:33
 • Bill Hogan 3.5-Miler: Pete Rowell — 19:19; Janice Phoenix — 24:47

Fred Joslyn earned his place at the 2012 Olympic Marathon Trials with a 2:18:49 victory at the Rock ’n’ Roll Mardi Gras Marathon.

At the USA High School National Championships (NYC Armory), Capital Region teams excelled:

• Latham Track Club / Shaker HS
  • DMR — 4th, 10:10.10
  • ​​​​​​​4×800 — 8th, 7:52.90

• Shenendehowa HS
  • DMR — 2nd, 11:46.73
  • 4×800 — 3rd, 9:01.30
    ​​​​​​​
• Kinetic Running Club / Saratoga HS
  • ​​​​​​​4×Mile — 1st (20:58.04) and 4th (21:55.48)​​​​​​​

• ​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​Colonie HS
  • ​​​​​​​4×Mile — 5th, 22:08.32

 

 

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2006

A look back into club history reveals fascinating details from the January 11, 2006 HMRRC Business Meeting, archived in club records—offering a rare snapshot of club leadership and planning from 20 years ago. Check it out here - https://hmrrc.com/View/PDFs/Results/06janmeeting.pdf

Local high-school talent shined at the historic Millrose Games Mile at Madison Square Garden, with Dan McManamon (Shenendehowa) winning the boys race in 4:17.18, leading a field packed with regional stars including athletes from Saratoga, Guilderland, and beyond. Full results directly below:

Girls

 1           Danielle Tauro           Southern Regional     4:51.89

 2           Colleen Wetherbee   Dennis-Yarmouth       4:52.78

 3           Lindsey Ferguson      Saratoga                      4:54.74

 4           Aislinn Ryan               Warwick Valley            4:55.60

 5           Bridget Franek          Crestwood                   4:59.51

 6           Katie Doswell            St. Catherine's             5:02.17

 7           Kara McKenna          Suffern                          5:03.15

 8           Liz Costello               Conestogo                    5:03.95

 9           Shelby Greany          Suffern                         5:12.02

10         Sarah McCurdy         Bay Shore                    5:20.0

Boys

 1           Dan McManamon       Shenendehowa            4:17.18

 2           Mark Amirault              Xaverian Brothers       4:18.10

 3           Greg Kiley                     Saratoga                       4:18.42

 4           Greg Kelsey                 Saratoga                        4:19.26

 5           Brian Rhodes-Devey Guilderland                   4:19.45

 6           Ben White                   Liverpool                       4:19.47

 7           Alex Bean                   Somers                          4:22.79

 8           John Coghlan             Castleknock/Ireland    4:28.76

 9           Charles White            Garden City                  4:30.04

 

At Van Cortlandt Park, the USA Cross Country Championships delivered more highlights:

• Nicole Blood — Junior Women’s 6K Champion, 20:45
   
• Tom Dalton — 2nd in Masters 8K, 26:39
   
• Junior Men’s 8K:
  • Jordan McDougal — 5th, 24:09
  • Seamus Nally — 18th, 24:50

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2001

High-school standout Jaimie Julia conquered the notoriously challenging Fulmont Road Runners Winter Wimp 4.4-mile race in 24:32, with Kim Davey winning the women’s division in 31:56. Julia went on to become one of the Capital Region’s premier road racers, eventually running 2:20:17 at the 2016 Hamburg Marathon.

Over 100 athletes tackled the Cystic Fibrosis Stair Climb at the Corning Tower—42 floors, 809 steps—with a winning time of 5:06.

At the Running of the Green (4-Miler), winners were:

• Nick Conway (Albany) — 19:51
• Emily Bryans — 22:58
   

Now 25 years later, Conway remains a world class-caliber masters athlete, consistently producing age-graded performances of 90% and higher.