Tatu & Hendry compete at Road Mile Champs, Cowart Smashes 1500 PR, Hurt sets 10k course record at Carytown

RMR middle distance runners Alex Tatu and Mike Hendry competed in the USATF Road Championships held this past week in Minneapolis, Minnesota. Tatu led the way with a time of 4:07.9, good for 8th place overall. Hendry followed closely behind in 11th place with a time of 4:11.6. In other racing action, Andrew Jesien and Donnie Cowart raced a 1500 at North Carolina A & T University, and finished 2nd and 3rd overall behind UVA freshman phenom Robbie Andrews. Jesien's time of 3:42.28 is a new season best, and Cowart's time of 3:43.56 established a new PR by over 5 seconds. Finally, in Richmond VA, RMR distance runner Charlie Hurt set a new course record (31:35) at the Carytown 10k. Full results are available below.

Full Results: USATF Road Mile Champs ~ North Carolina A & T Meet ~ Carytown 10k Results

Cowart ties steeple PR; Tatu and Hendry finish 4th and 5th in 1500 heat

Despite falling over the final water barrier, RMR steepler Donnie Cowart tied his lifetime steeple PR. Cowart, who tripped over the last barrier, regained his composure and narrowly missed outkicking the eventual winner to finish second with a time of 8:44.75. In men's 1500 meter action, middle distance runners Alex Tatu and Mike Hendry finished back-to-back in 4th and 5th place in their respective heat with times of 3:47.93 and 3:48.11. Full results, as well as the race videos, are available below:

Full Results: Payton Jordan Invite ~ Steeple Heat 2 Video ~ 1500 Heat 3 Video

Hutchinson and Knudson Lower Marathon PR's

RMR marathoners Seth Hutchinson and Lousie Knudson both turned in superb performances this past weekend at the Boston Marathon, creeping closer to the Olympic Trials marathon standards. Hutchinson bested his previous PR (from Chicago 2009) by over 3 minutes to finish in 2:20:56, good enough for 20th place overall in the stacked men's field. In the women's race, Knudson lowered her PR by nearly 7 minutes to finish 34th overall. Both athletes ran even to negative splits for the entire race and were never passed by a single runner of their gender after the halfway point.

Searchable Results: Boston Marathon

Jesien finishes 3rd in co-ed field

RMR miler Andrew Jesien finished 3rd place overall in the Puma Mile, an unconventional mile race, held in conjunction with the Mt. Sac Invitational in California. The race consisted of a combination of male and female milers all vying for a $10,000 purse and a sponsorship from Puma. The women were given a 29.4 second head start in the race. Jesien was one of two other men who ran down the entire women's field and finished third overall with a time of 4:02 (without the handicap). The results are below.

Results: Puma Mile

Tatu runs 4:03

Middle distance runner Alex Tatu finished 4th place overall at the Blue Shoes Mile in Furman, South Carolina. His time of 4:03.97 established a new PR and is the 2nd fastest time turned in by an RMR athlete this year.

Results (scroll to bottom): Blue Shoes Mile

RMR men sweep top 3 spots; Women place 2 in top 5

Competing in his first Charlottesville 10-miler, RMR marathoner Seth Hutchinson pulled away from two-time defending champion and teammate Charlie Hurt for the victory. Hutchinson's winning time of 50:58 established a new personal best for the distance and was the fastest time recorded on the Charlottesville 10-Miler course over the past decade. Teammates Charlie Hurt and Chris Post rounded out the top 3 overall spots, finishing with times of 52:55 and 55:14. On the women's side RMR community members Louise Knudson and Vicky Schandevel both raced to personal best performances to finish second and fifth overall with times of 1:01:52 and 1:03:38.

Results: Charlottesville 10-Miler

Cowart wins steeple; RMR sweeps men's 1500m; Adam PR's by 21 seconds in 5k

In the first outdoor meet of the season, RMR posted several strong performances at the innagural Washington and Lee distance carnival in Lexington, VA. Donnie Cowart got the night started with a solid season opener of 9:01 to win the men's steeple. In the men's 1500, teammates Mike Hendry, Alex Tatu, and unattached RMR athlete Kevin Tschihart swept the top 3 spots with times of 3:51, 3:52, and 3:52. Finally, Thomas Adam ended the evening on a high note with a 21 second PR in the 5k, finishing 3rd overall with a time of 14:49. Full meet results are available below.

Results: Washington and Lee Carnival

Saunders cracks 3:00 mark; Hutchinson finishes top 10 in men's HM; Schandevel PRs in HM

Shannon Saunders broke the 3 hour barrier for the second time in her marathon career, good enough for a 5th place finish among all females. In the half marathon, Seth Hutchinson finished 8th place overall with a time of 1:08:30 and Vicky Schandevel ran a 3+ min PR to finish in 1:23:57, good enough for 12th place among all females.

Results: Marathon Results

Results: Half Marathon Results

Jesien finishes 8th in the 1500

Racing at altitude in Albuquerque, NM, Jesien became the first athlete to represent RMR at the USATF Indoor Track and Field Championships, competing in the men's 1500 meters. In his second race in as many weeks, he finished 8th place overall with a time of 3:53.16.

Results: USATF Indoors

Jesien PRs and runs sub 4 min

Andrew Jesien became the first RMR athlete to crack the 4:00 barrier at the Husky Classic at the University of Washington. He raced to a new PR of 3:58.91 to finish 7th in the fastest section of the meet. His time qualified him for the USATF indoor championships to be held in Albuquerque, New Mexico.

Results: Husky Indoor Classic

Video:

Knudson runs 9+ minute PR

Executing an almost perfect race, RMR marathoner Louise Knudson raced her way to her first sub 3-hour performance at the New York City Marathon. Despite taking a fall around mile 18, Knudson negative split her way (running every 5k in the race faster than the previous) to complete the course in 2:58:07 (6:47 pace). Click on the link for searchable results and race splits.

Searchable Results: New York Marathon

Adam debuts with sub 70 mins

Thomas Adam returned to his home state of Ohio to compete in the Columbus Half Marathon this past weekend. Adam turned in a very solid effort, breaking the 70 minute barrier in his half marathon debut. His time of 69:50 was good enough for 9th place overall. In local racing action, RMR athletes Pat McGuire, Mike Hendry and Mike Smayda swept the top 3 places at the Chocolate Chase 5k. McGuire's winning time of 15:46 established a new course record.

Full Columbus HM results: Columbus

Full Chocolate Chase 5k results: Chocolate Chase

Hutchinson and Hurt make strong marathon debuts

Racing for their first time at the marathon distance and among the world's elite, Seth Hutchinson and Charlie Hurt represented Ragged Mountain Racing well at the Chicago Marathon this past weekend. Hutchinson completed the course in 2:24:01 (1:10:36 half split) to finish 41st overall. Teammate Charlie Hurt finished in 69th place with a time of 2:28:01 (1:13:40 half split). While both athletes were satisfied with their debuts, both described the race as a "learning experience" and are optimistic that they can improve their times substantially in future marathons.

Full results: Chicago Marathon

Knudson and Saunders finish among top female runners

RMR athletes Louise Knudson and Shannon Saunders, both training for upcoming fall marathons, made the trip to Lynchburg, VA to compete in the 36th annual Virginia Ten Miler. Both women finished in the top 5 (Knudson - 4th; Saunders 5th) among women and 31st and 32nd overall. Knudson's time of 1:03:31 established a new personal record at the distance.

Full results: Virginia 10-Miler

Hutchinson 16th & McGuire 23rd at Philly Distance Run; Hurt Wins Pepsi 10k

Competing for only his second time at the half marathon distance, Seth Hutchinson lowered his PR to 1:07:21, besting his previous time by over 2 minutes to finish 16th place overall (9th American) at the ING Philadelphia Distance Run. Teammate Pat McGuire, making his half marathon debut, completed the race in 1:09:05 to cross the line 23rd overall and 16th among American finishers. In local weekend racing action, Charlie Hurt won the Pepsi 10k with a time of 32:20, beating the second place finisher and new RMR community member, Thomas Adam, by over a minute. Both Hutchinson and Hurt will return to the roads later this fall to make their marathon debuts at Chicago.

Searchable results (click on competitior name for splits) available here: Philly Distance Run

Pepsi 10k results (courtesy of the CTC) available here Pepsi 10k

Shaves .03 off of 1500 PR

June 20, 2009 - Mike Hendry returned to the track Saturday night for the 2nd Series of the American Milers High Performance Meet. For the 2nd time in 4 days, Hendry raced to a new 1500 meter PR (3:45.78) good enough for 10th place in the competitive field.

Full meet results are available: AMC High Performance Series II Results ~ Race Video

Mike Hendry at the AMC Series II Meet

Hendry PR's in the 1500; Tatu runs 1:51

June 17, 2009 - In only his 3rd race of the outdoor track season RMR middle distance runner Mike Hendry established another PR in the 1500 meters. Competing at the High Performance Meet hosted by the Indiana Invaders Track Club, Hendry raced to a 6th place finish with a time of 3:45.81. Hendry's time narrowly missed the qualifying standard for USA Outdoor Nationals (3:45.00) and marks the 2nd time that he has lowered his PR since joining Ragged Mountain. Teammate Alex Tatu also posted a strong showing in the men's 800 meters, finishing 5th in his heat with a time of 1:51.01. Both athletes will return to the track on Saturday (6/20) to compete in the men's 1500 meters hosted by the American Milers Club.

Full meet results are available: AMC High Performance Results

3 individual race victories; Hendry debuts on the track; Tatu runs 1:50 point

May 22, 2009 - Competing throughout a variety of locations and over different race distances, Ragged Mountain Racing posted a number of strong showings this past weekend. In Richmond, Va Charlie Hurt successfully defended his title at the James River Scramble 10k, winning the extremely challenging trail race by nearly 2 minutes. Seth Hutchinson followed suit, easily winning the inaugural Waynesboro Park to Park Event in his half marathon debut. Running alone from the gun, Hutchinson finished in 1:09:35, winning by over 10 minutes. JJ Wetzel rounded out a trio of individual race victories by RMR athletes with his second consecutive win at the National Police Week 5k in Washington D.C. Wetzel's time of 16:09 is a career best on the roads. On the track, middle distance runners Mike Hendry and Alex Tatu made the trip to North Carolina to compete. Hendry made his RMR debut, racing to a second place finish in the men's 1500 meters with a time of 3:47.84. Teammate Alex Tatu also finished second in the men's 800 meters with another season's best time of 1:50.57. Results for all of the weekend action are available here:

James River Scramble 10k ~ Waynesboro Half Marathon ~ Police Week 5k ~ UNC Track Meet

Tatu PRs in the 1500; McGuire wins Pittsburgh Race For the Cure

May 8, 2009 - Alex Tatu continued his outdoor track season with another impressive showing at the UNC Elite Meet in the men's 1500 meters. His time of 3:44.30 eclipsed his collegiate PR of 3:46 and was good enough for third place overall in the competitive field. This mark also qualified Tatu for the USA Outdoor Track and Field Championships to be held in Oregon in late June. In addition to Tatu's performance, RMR distance runner Pat McGuire successfully defended his title at the Pittsburgh Race for the Cure 5k. McGuire's winning time of 15:35 was a career best on the hilly road course. Results for both races are available here: UNC Elite Meet ~ Pittsburgh Race for the Cure

Inge runs season best 800

May 2, 2009 - Mike Inge returned to his home state of Ohio to compete in the prestigious Jesse Owens Classic at The Ohio State University. Inge posted a solid 4th place overall finish in the men's 800 meters, recording a time 1:50.65 and shaving 2.5 seconds off of his previous season's best mark. Full meet results are available here

Tatu wins 1500 and 800

April 30, 2009 - Alex Tatu won both the 1500 and 800 meter races in impressive fashion at the Liberty Twilight meet in Lynchburg, VA. His times of 3:51.74 and 1:51.72 were both season bests. Four Ragged Mountain distance runners competed in the 5k, led by Pat McGuire's 6th place finish. Full meet results are available here

Hutchinson and Saunders finish among top Americans

April 26, 2009 - Ragged Mountain distance runners Seth Hutchinson and Shannon Saunders made the trip to Washington D.C. to compete in the 25th Annual George Washington Parkway Ten Miler. Hutchinson finished 11th overall (9th among American Finishers) with a PR of 51:06. In the women's race, Shannon Saunders lowered her 10 mile PR by 1 second, finishing 7th place with a time of 61:38. Both athletes earned prize money for their efforts. Full race results are available here.

Hurt and Saunders Capture Titles

April 4, 2009 - Three Ragged Mountain Racing team members competed in the 34th annual Charlottesville Ten Miler, all finishing in the prize money. In the men's race, Charlie Hurt successfully defended his individual title, breaking away from teammate Bob Thiele in the final mile of the course. Hurt and Thiele quickly gapped the field and engaged in an outstanding back-and-forth battle to finish in 52:02 and 52:13, respectively. In the women's race, Shannon Saunders captured her first Ten Miler title with an impressive time of 61:39, besting the second place female finisher by nearly 50 seconds. Full results are available: here. For additional media coverage in the Charlottesville Daily Progress, click here.

Inge and Tatu take 2nd and 3rd in 800 meters; Hurt PR's in 8k

March 21, 2009 - Middle distance runners Mike Inge and Alex Tatu opened up the outdoor season for RMR, both competing in their first ever post-collegiate track and field competition. Inge negative split his way to a 1:53.09, good enough for 2nd place overall in the event. The race marks Inges' first return to competitive racing in almost 2 years. Alex Tatu followed closely behind, also negative splitting to finish third overall with a time of 1:53.56. RMR distance runner Charlie Hurt also turned in a solid performance on the roads, matching his previous PR at the Shamrock 8k in Virginia Beach. Hurt's time of 25:01 was good enough for 14th place overall and 6th among American finishers.

Hutchinson wins in 24:37

March 14, 2009 - Led by Seth Hutchinson's course record time of 24:37, the Ragged Mountain Racing Team swept the top 4 spots at the Martha Jefferson 8k. Middle distance runner Alex Tatu finished second in 25:05, followed closely by teammate Pat McGuire (3rd - 25:06). Two Ragged Mountain community team members, Bob Thiele (4th - 25:19) and Chris Post (6th - 27:24), also posted strong showings. Full results of the race are available here