Tallman Winter Series Final Event Preview
Posted: 2/5/09
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The final event for the 2008-2009 Tallman Winter Series is coming up this Sunday. Over 150 runners have braved the cold weather to train for these races and it all comes down to the 10K that starts at 2 PM.
Even if someone has not participated in the first two events, WK Munsey wants everyone to know that they are still welcome to show up. He wants to remind everyone that they will be holding drawings for prizes, sweatshirts, and pizza for a post-race meal!
While most of the people in the race may be focused on the fitness aspect of just running, there are a few that are in it for glory! We at TriStateRacer.com will try to highlight some of the titles that are up for grabs this weekend.
Men’s Preview
Overall Race
The overall title looks to be in the hands of Capital High School and Marshall University Alumni Brad Kohler. He holds a 42 second lead going into the final event. Not only has had a great winter in regards to racing, he also found time to get married while finishing 2nd in the 5K and wining the 8K race. The overall race is not guaranteed to Kohler though. St. Albans High School Runner Thomas Osborne may think that the 42 seconds isn’t hard to overcome in the final 10K.
The third spot currently belongs to Chad McCarty. In our opinion this spot is really up for grabs. The time difference (:52) between 2nd and 3rd place may be too much for McCarty to overcome so we are going to give the first two spots to Brad and Thomas.
If Forrest Reed, who is currently in 4th place, has a good race then he could grab that 3rd spot away from Chad McCarty. Forrest has been getting better as the series goes on and may be poised to run a good race this weekend.
Age Groups
14 & Under
Forrest Reed and Steve Egnatoff will be battling it out for the title here. Lot’s of things can happen. If Forrest breaks into the top 3 then that opens up the title for Steve. Steve is just a little over a minute behind Forrest and has been training hard so he can have a good race.
15-19
David Osborne has over a 2 minute lead on Chris Jones. Unless David has quit training, we don’t see Chris being able to take David down on this one.
20-29
Robert Passmore has a small 32 second lead over Pat Riley. Robert had better be on his best on Sunday because Pat has been taking his Flinstone vitamins getting ready to reclaim the top spot in this age group. Jonathan Baldwin is also in the mix here. If he can have a good race, he may be able to take the title.
30-39
Aaron Kaylor currently is in the lead here. He has won the age group in the first two races and holds nearly a full minute lead over Scott Clark. Scott Merefee is only 35 seconds off of 2nd place and Lloyd Braun is just 21 seconds behind Merefee. This race could go anywhere and should be a very exciting one to watch unfold.
40-49
The patriarch of the Egnatoff family holds the lead by over 3 ½ minutes. We know Karl has been training very well and should be able to hold off anyone else. Darren Barton, Dan Cosgrove, and Lee Javins all have a shot at the 2nd place. Paul Coon, Chis Lambert, and Gary Strauch all have a chance of breaking into the top 3 as well as they are within 2 minutes of the third place time!
50-59
This one may belong to the legendary Glenn Baldwin. He holds a 1 minute 41 second lead over Fred Jones. Jones is a very talented runner but we will predict that Baldwin will take the title in this age group. 3rd place seems to be a lock as well. Duane Dombek holds a solid 2 minute lead over Gary Smith.
60-69
This age group could have a good competition for the title. Andrew Curry and Ken Holley are only separated by 20 seconds. It looks like Holley is getting into good shape as he closed the gap in the 8K to finishing only 2 seconds behind Holley. If he continues this, then Curry’s lead could be in jeopardy. Harr Bruner Jr. looks to be a lock for third place.
70-79
We have three gentleman who are competing in this age group and it looks like Richard Finney will be crowned champion as he has a 12 minute lead over John Hall. Hall should be a safe second as he has a 16 minute lead over Lionel North!
Women’s Preview
Overall Race
This has been the most interesting story to follow. It is going to come down to Megan Schuerger and Chelsea Jarvis. Jarvis won the 5K race beating Schuerger by 5 seconds, and then Schuerger came back and beat Jarvis by close to a minute in the 8K. However, Jarvis had just run a half-marathon the day before so that would have to explain why Jarvis fell off the pace so much in the 8K from the 5K. This race could go to either one of them. We do not believe that Jarvis will be racing the day before the 10K so she should be at her best. Jarvis has her work cut out for her. This is going to truly be a great competition for the overall champion!
The battle for third place is between Erica Hayes and Christine Azevedo. There is only 11 seconds separating them. Azevedo beat Hayes in the 5K but fell behind by close to 2 minutes in the 8K. Third place will go to whoever has been training better in the wintery weather.
Age Groups
14 & Under
This race looks to be in the hands of Sami Harris. She has a 9 minute lead over Madison Holly who has a 4 minute lead over her sister Elizabeth.
15-19
There are a few scenarios that can come out of this ultra-competitive age group. The champion will be either Christine Azevedo or Erica Hayes. One of these two girls will make the top three overall and leave the #1 spot to the other. Leslie Thomas is close to 2 minutes back so we do not think that she will be in the running for the top spot in this age group.
Rachel Williams and Brittany Taft have both been running very well and are ready to drop a very good time. They have the ability to break into the top 3 here. The only question with them is will they be racing or just running on Sunday?
20-29
Rachel Kutsill looks to have this one in the bag. She has a 3 minute lead over Jennifer Ginsberg and has beaten her in the first two races of the series. Ginsberg seems to be solid for 2nd place as she has close to a 7 minute lead over Laura Jordan. Laura seems to be fine in 3rd place as the next two times are 4 minutes back.
30-39
Laurene Johnson has a solid 10:09 lead over 2nd place Jennifer Hillenbrand. We don’t expect much of a battle here. Virginia Hebert could make a move on Hillenbrand but the 3 minutes 22 second gap may be tough to overcome. Cindy Kidd can make a move as she is just 1 minute 5 seconds back of Hebert. The 10K the longest race and if the training is right, we could see a mix up in the top 3 in this age group!
40-49
Roxane Carte has a 4 ½ minute lead over Tina Bailes. We think that Roxane has this one locked in. The true battle here will be between Bailes and Alatheia Stickler as they are only separated by 11 seconds. Alatheia beat Bailes in the 5K but Bailes came back in the 8K and beat Alatheia by 39 seconds. Sarah Casey has an outside shot as placing in this age group but she will have to make up a 2 minute gap to do so!
50-59
This has to be the closest age group battle. Robin Weiner and Connie Young are only separated by 3 seconds. Just like with the 40-49 year old age group, Connie beat Robin in the 5K but Robin came back in the 8K and beat Connie by 19 second. This race is truly exciting as no one can say who is going to come up with the win in this age group.
Lynn Fish is about 5 minutes back but will have to run a good race to hold onto 3rd as Cathy Hill less than a minute behind her.
##Disclaimer: This is just what we see by looking at the results. We have made some light predictions but they are just that, predictions!! Hopefully everyone is training well and we have some surprises come Sunday!!
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