New Management Excels at WDF 2007
David Yon, September 15, 2007Lisa Unger and Jo Lena Pace are fast becoming GWTC rising stars as race directors. In their second year as directors of the Women’s Distance Festival they looked like experienced pros. Their efforts have this unique GWTC event growing. Leading off with a great introduction to new FSU coach Karen Harvey, a social and packet pick up on Thursday, they let everyone know they are committed to making this a top quality race.
Sheryl Rosen got off to a good start and made sure no one – male of female – caught her before she crossed the finish line. Her time, 19:01.73, was good enough to beat second place Micah Adriani who ran 19:32.1 and to make sure that none of the male runners, starting ten minutes after the women, got to the finish line before she did. Kirsten Bagget was the first master across the line running 21:14. On the men’s side it was Jay Wallace grabbing up first place and the maximum grand prix points in a time of 17:03.52. Second place went to Mike Martinez who ran 17:18.84. The top master was, well, Jay, with Mike second.
Conditions were very humid for the 176 5K finishers and 28 one mile finishers. The more than 200 finishers were the most since 2002. The course runs through Indian Head Acres and is tough, but scenic.