More than 5,000 runners take part in two races
By Dan Doyon
Hampton Union, October 2, 2012
[The following article is courtesy of the Hampton Union and Seacoast Online.]
Some of the more than 5000 runners at the start of the
Smuttynose Rockfest Marathon in Hampton Beach on Sunday.
HAMPTON BEACH — Another visit to the Seacoast resulted in another win for Claremont's Justin Montgomery.
The 36-year-old returned to the scene where he won February's Half at the Hamptons Half Marathon by dominating a field of more than 1,200 runners to claim first place in Sunday's Smuttynose Rockfest Marathon. Montgomery dodged the rain and puddles to cross the finish line of the 26.2-mile race in 2 hours, 38 minutes, 58 seconds.
Montgomery also won last November's Seacoast Half Marathon in Portsmouth.
"It just seems like every time I come down to the Seacoast, I have really good races and I enjoy it," Montgomery said. "It was a little wet but no complaints. It was fun; I know you don't think about it like that running 26 miles, but it was a good time."
James Pierce, 32, of Durham, N.C, finished a distant second (2:50:00), while 26-year old Keith Lundquist of Concord placed third (2:54:58).
It had been seven years since Rochester's Denise Sandahl had run a marathon, and she felt the effects of it when she was done. Nonetheless, the 32-year old former University of New Hampshire standout continued her memorable season by winning the women's division in 2:54:51.
Sandahl is also signed up to run in next month's New York City Marathon.
"I don't think I'm going to run in a marathon anymore after New York," Sandahl joked. "It was a learning experience; I hadn't done a marathon in a few years. I think I kept an even pace for more of the race, so I was happy. But I think I'd feel better if I went a little slower."
Laura Hagley, 28, of Lebanon, finished behind Sandahl in a time of 2:59:27, while Angie Zinkus, 35, of Leads, Tenn., placed third (3:00:11).
Montgomery started off the race wanting to run at six-minute pace throughout each mile and felt that he kept at a comfortable pace throughout the race. He quickly separated from the rest of the field, but kept himself motivated by running with participants who were running simultaneously in a half marathon.
"I was running pretty consistently all the way throughout," Montgomery said. "Around miles 16 through 20, when there was no one around, I started thinking and it started getting into my head a little bit.
"We were going through a lot of back roads and uphills and that's the part of the marathon when you know you still have at least 45 minutes of running," he added. "You start feeling it and it gets to your head, and you have to push through that. The really cool part is in the final two miles when you're on the coast and it's just a straight shot."
The rain that pelted the runners throughout the morning was a welcomed addition for Montgomery.
"This is perfect; this ideal running weather," he said.
This was Montgomery's first marathon since running April's Boston Marathon, where he was the second New Hampshire finisher behind Contoocook's Time Perry.
Montgomery is signed up to defend his Seacoast Half Marathon title next month, but isn't sure if he'll be in the field.
Pierce quickly realized that catching Montgomery was out of the question, but still was happy with his race. He said he is on a mission to run sub 3-hour marathons in all 50 states and this marathon was his 12th stop. He attended St. Paul's School in Concord and ran track at Yale University.
Pierce's last marathon was the Hatfield & McCoy Marathon on the border of West Virginia and Kentucky. He plans on running the Jacksonville Bank Marathon in December and next April's Boston Marathon.
"I was beautiful conditions with the rain; I'm not in the best shape but I ran a 2:50:00 and that's about what I needed to do," Pierce said. "I saw (Montgomery) one time, but I knew I didn't have the legs to catch him. I knew there was nobody around me, so I just settled into a groove and held onto second."
Sandahl said that she got off to a little faster start then she wanted to, but felt good through the first half of the race. The final 13 miles were trying for her, but she had a big enough lead over Hagley to run for the victory.
"I had a pretty good pace and I kept it up, but I don't think my body is made for it — not yet, anyway," she said.
"In the first half I felt great. After 13 miles, my legs started going, but it was great conditions."
No female has dominated the Seacoast running scene like Sandahl has this year. Other highlights included wins in the Great Bay Half Marathon, the Market Square 10K and Saunders at Rye Harbor 10K.
"It's been unbelievable; my family has been very supportive because they let me get out and get my running in," Sandahl said. "I had no idea I'd have this good of a year. For some reason, I've gone through some sort of barrier."
Following Montgomery, Pierce and Lundquist in the men's top 10 were Francis Lauzier (2:55:09) of St.-Jean-Sur-Ric, Quebec; Todd Archambault (2:57:31) of Essex Junction, Vt.; Ryan Randolph (2:57:32) of Norwell, Mass.; George Barthelmes (2:58:06) of Bryceville, Fla.; Jerry Vondruska (2:58:13) of Bloomingdale, Ill.; Steven Ruhm (2:59:59) of Exeter; and Thor Kirleis (3:00:45) of North Reading, Mass.
Sandahl, Hagley and Zinkus were followed in the women's top 10 by Caitlin Sawyer (3:01:00) of Dedham, Mass.; Christine Irish (3:04:14) of North Yarmouth, Maine; Brenda Cook (3:09:54) of Claremont; Jennifer McHale (3:10:55) of Southington, Conn.; Kristen Courcelle (3:14:31) of Colchester, Vt.; Nataliya Tereschenk (3:15:21) of Nottingham; and Stephanie Burnham (3:18:16) of Manchester.
Male age-group award winners were Jarrod Brennet (16-29, 3:04:12) of Worcester, Mass.; Randolph (30-39); Lauzier (40-49); and John Brown (50-59, 3:12:24) of Northbridge, Mass.
Female age-group award winners were Sawyer (16-29); Irish (30-39); Cook (40-49); and Lauri Wilson (50-59, 3:35:46) of Charlottesville, Va.
Half Marathon
There was also a half marathon with more than 3,800 runners that began at the same time. It was won by former University of New Hampshire standout Andrew Van Hoogenstyn, 28, of Portland, Maine. He ran in a time of 1:10:20 and was followed in the men's top 10 by Ian Nurse (1:11:52) of Cambridge, Mass.; T.J. Unger (1:12:15) of Roslindale, Mass.; Josh Andrews (1:13:00) of Portsmouth; Mark Maggi (1:14:18) of Cohasset, Mass.; Jacob LeBlance (1:16:23) of Hudson; Aaron Stone (1:16:54) of Greenfield, Mass.; Chris Ritchie (1:17:28) of Hampton; Timothy Carven (1:18:21) of Kittery Point, Maine; and Joe McGovern (1:18:37) of Allston, Mass.
Nicole Santos, 25, of West Lebanon, won the women's division in a time of 1:25:01. She was followed in the women's top 10 by Kelly Lecours (1:27:04) of Bradford, Mass.; Brittany Moriarty (1:27:17) of Brighton, Mass.; Stefani Penn (1:27:58) of Boston; Jaime Schmidt (1:28:34) of Lancaster; Gina Newton (1:28:36) of North Chelmsford, Mass.; Amy Kvilhaug (1:29:18) of New York City; Beth Dollas (1:29:53) of Amesbury, Mass.; Sarah LaGasse (1:30:15) of Jaffrey; and Tracy Joslin (1:30:38) of Waitsfield, Vt.
Male age-group award winners were Jake Hastings (19-and-under, 1:41:31) of La Canada Flintridge, Calif.; Andrews (20-24); Maggi (25-29); Ryan Proulx (30-34, 1:18:51) of Portsmouth; Jimmie Cochran (1:18:39) of Sandown; Michael Fraysse (40-44, 1:19:41) of Derry; Carven (45-49); Mike Hayeck (50-54, 1:27:46) of Boylston, Mass.; Ernst Linder (55-59, 1:26:46) of Durham; Richard Larsen (60-64, 1:22:43) of Shelburne, Mass.; Michael Woelfel (65-59, 1:46:21) of Bradford, Mass.; and Maryln Hahn (70-and-over, 1:57:39) of York, Pa.
Female age-group award winners were Holly Shreckengast (19-and-under, 1:41:31) of La Canada Flintridge, Calif.; LaGasse (20-24); Penn (25-29); Schmidt (30-34); Newton (35-39); Joyce Holsten (40-44, 1:31:43) of Jericho, Vt.; Tina Dowling (45-49, 1:32:35) of Bolton, Mass.; Carmela Taveras (50-54, 1:39:08) of Tewksbury, Mass.; Madison Stedl (55-59, 1:52:29) of Topsham, Maine; Marilyn Hintz (60-64, 1:42:37) of Stillwater, Maine; Geraldine Liebert (65-69, 2:01:45) of Keene; and Wendy Burbank (70-and-over, 2:05:44) of Boxford, Mass.