Dutchess County Classic: More results, photos

Some more random notes and numbers (and numbers commentary) from Sunday’s Dutchess County Classic race, regarding alumni (and friends) participation. After so many years and versions of the Classic, it seems the Mid-Hudson Road Runners Club (my club, the one that I have belonged to for more than 30 years) has really nailed it with the staging area from Dutchess Community College. It’s convenient, easy to get to and the parking lot is spacious. There was plenty of room and this race could easily double in size based on what we saw out there on Sunday morning. Here’s hoping they do just that. There was definitely a joyful and grateful vibe out there. After last year’s race (like so many others) was rendered virtual, getting back to in-person racing (even with the staggered wave starts) looked and felt so … normal! And, it pretty much was! The Dutchess Rail Trail, which is flat and mostly boring on non-race days, is a great venue. No traffic control needed, plenty of shade and the high school aid stations were well-stocked and energetic as usual. In all, a great return to the Classic. Here are some more complete results from our alums and friends.

Marathon

1-Spencer Johnson 2:22:23. So good.

2-Luke Shane 2:47:42. Low-key stellar himself!

6-David Osterhoudt 3:31:15. Early-morning jogging buddy, he crushed it

15-Ed King 3:40:54. Dave O’s Middle-Aged Machines buddy, he also hosted the post-Classic party that Swifty usually does!

25-Neil Grencer 3:57:55 Another MAMs runner and good pal)

Half marathon

2-Chris Rivas 1:14:42. Side note: I had to talk him into doing this! Rivas is training for the Hartford Marathon. He was in town a few weeks ago visiting his girlfriend Ellie and he stopped by the house. I mentioned that he should do the Classic half marathon. I mentioned it again. And then I bribed him with a Marist Alumni Racing Team singlet. Hey. Whatever it takes!

6-overall (1-women)-Kerri Gallagher 1:20:13. Kerri is a former US Olympic Trials qualifier at 1,500 meters and is the current Manhattan College director of track and cross country. Yes, the Jaspers are MAAC “rivals” but she is a great young coach and I would classify the rivalry (like so many others in the MAAC) as a “friendly rivalry.” It was nice to see her up in our area for this race!

8-overall (1^st in age group)-Omar Perez 1:22:38. Omar ran the early miles with Kerri. This was an outstanding effort from Omar, who’s training has been affected by injury. Neat!

19-overall (3^rd in age group)-Billy Hild 1:29:05. From our most loyal young supporter (no one compares with the legendary Marty McGowan in terms of program loyalty, but Hild is a close second), Hild was pleasantly surprised to break 1:30 (convincingly, I might add!) for the half. And an age-group award too. Highly neat.

25-Michel Joseph 1:32:13. Our energetic MAMs friend crushed it out there.

34-Todd Coulson 1:35:26. Who’s better than Lurch? Nobody’s better than Lurch! We love our gangly old buddy, who celebrates his 25^th class reunion at Marist later this fall. We hope he and the family come back to Poughkeepsie. Lurch never fails to put a smile on our faces.

37-Tony Ferreri 1:35:52. My loyal early-morning buddy sandwiched this run in the middle of a 22-mile day, as he prepares for the challenging Boston/NYC marathon double in the coming weeks/months.

63-overall (3^rd in age group)-Cait Boyle 1:40:23. Great run and huge PR for Toner’s girlfriend. The night before the race, I visited the group (Toner and Cait, Spencer, Stefan and his sister, Joey Miller) at their Airbnb in Poughkeepsie. Cait was a nervous wreck. I reminded her in my usual blunt style that “no one cared” how fast or slow she ran and to go out there and have fun. She did just that and clearly, Toner’s expert coaching paid off. Nicely done, Cait!

82-Ken Schneider 1:43:58. I’ve probably logged the most training miles this year with my good pal Schneider and he crushed it out there on Sunday morning. He’s in such strong hill-running shape. Running this flat course allowed him to fly. He’s in the midst of his NYC Marathon training plan right now. Because of injury, I regret that I cannot help him with his runs for a bit. As you can see? He’s doing just fine!

Jacqueline Morton 1:57:17. Stefan’s sister with a strong sub-2:00!

Zak Harkenrider 2:00:49. A member of our athletics department staff, Zak did this on very little training and just a few runs of around 8 miles. Solid!

Big Bill 2:10:58. Billy Hild’s dad had a strong showing out there as he has turned himself into a legit runner in old age (hey, I can say that, he’s my age!)

Andrew Sahawneh 2:11:22. He won the bragging rights of Marist athletics department staff, edging his pal and co-worker Zak.

5km

4-Mike Kennedy 17:28. Was going to do the half marathon, but after the NJ Marathon (for which he was training) got canceled, he scaled back.

5-Joey Miller 17:56. Still feisty and still fast.

6-Steven Rizzo 18:49. A riveting duel between him and Stefan!

7-Stefan Morton 18:50. Spends most of his leisure time playing soccer and basketball, but he’s still got it on the roads.

11-Riley Hughes 19:11. Great to see Riley again.

2^nd in age group-Jay Doyle, 68, 22:12, Marist cross country alum from WAY back in 1975. So great of him to make it back to Poughkeepsie.