Wet and Wild - Eastern Championships
July 22, 2006 - Springfield College, Springfield, MA
[RESULTS]
by Larry Libow
[Photos by Larry Libow, Warren Heap]

In the weeks leading up to this meet I had envisioned a beautiful summer day, perhaps with a bright sun beating down making shade a hot commodity. In my mind I saw the largest gathering of the Mass Velocity clan to date, everyone healthy and having a great meet. The reality quickly soaked in and it wasn't anything like I thought it would be.

I arrived at the field early to set up the canopies, hang up the banner and T-shirts. The air was thick as pea soup and there was absolutely no breeze. I spent the morning watching the long jumpers and greeting the early arrivals.

Mike Travers

New MVTC member Kevin Gleason


John Polevy in red discusses strategy with John Oleski. Laura Barre in background.


John Polevy

Here, Laura Barre jumps a personal best

(I apologize to those involved in other field events. I promise
to get other throwing and jumping events at future meets.)

By noon the sky grew darker and then the rain came. By the time the 400m was ready to start the sky opened up. Two canopies (especially with the gap in-between) was barely adequate to cover all the Mass Velocity competitors, family and gear. Everything and everyone got soaked while we huddled for about 30 minutes waiting for the tempest to let up.

Finally the rain appeared to have stopped

We used everything we could to keep the rain out

We were wet but as you can see, everyone's spirits were high

When it appeared that the rain had stopped the officials decided to start the 400m event and called for everyone to check in. Two problems - the monsoon-like conditions immediately restarted with renewed vigor and we couldn't hear the call for the check-in. The result was that our women one-lappers were standing under the canopy and watched their heat run by without them. This was a wake-up call for the men who quickly ran over to check in.

I hope the following photos convey the absolutely horrid conditions the quarter-milers had to contend with. By the time the 400m was over the rain had stopped and the following events went off without much more interference from the rain.

First up in the 400m was 90-year-old Bob Matteson



400 meters in a torrential downpour at 90. Amazing!


Spencer Parrish walks to the starting line


I tried to get Roger's start. What you really see is how hard the rain was hitting the track


I think this photo says it all along with the close up below






Spencer will be aging-up to 70 in just a few weeks.
From race-walking to sprints, Spencer does it all.


In this heat Tom Gillen (center) and Tucker Taft (right) have Ed Gonnera on the outside




It's bad enough coming down the stretch. Imaging doing it with wind and rain in your face!
With your eyes closed, how do stay in your lane?


Next up, Butch Blake, Ralph Souppa and Tom Cunningham round the first turn




The rain is easing up a bit so Butch can run with his eyes open


Ladies first in the 100m with (L-R)
Hillen von Maltzahn, Kim Williams and Gail Johns-Rees


Lots of red in the M40 heat but only two are with MVTC -
Dave Neumann (#259) and Mike Travers (#464)


If there was ever a reason to be the photographer and not the subject,
this image is proof! I did catch the guy on my right but I need to thank
Lee Hess, Butch Blake, Bob Marchetti, and Tom Cunningham for not running in the
M55 heat, allowing me the dubious honor of taking gold with the slowest 100m I've ever run!


Tom Talbott (#258) and MVTC's M70, John Polevy duke it out in the next heat.
John, admit it - you look good in your speedsuit and shades!


300m hurdle-meister, Warren Graff in action


Warren was going by so fast I never got a good photo. But new MVTC photog,
Warren Heaps did a nice job below. All of Warren Heaps' shots are the
slightly wider ones. Thank you!




If you haven't met Kim Williams yet, she's one of our newest members from Maine.
Warren Heaps happens to be her husband who caught her in 200m action.


Once again, nonagenarian Bob Mattison starts the men's heats - this time in the 200m


John Polevy looks good even without the cool shades


Do Roger's feet ever touch the ground? Spencer Parrish in the background.


In red (left-right): Larry Libow, Ralph Souppa, Butch Blake and Tom Cunningham


Moving too fast for the camera - Rob Porcaro (#460) and Tom Gillen


In the 200m, M40 heat, Terrence Haynes is in lane 5 with brand new MVTC
member, Jeff Morrison (Londonderry, NH) in lane 7.


Unfortunately Jeff pulled a hammy and DNF and gets surrounded in a sea of red

With no one from the Adirondack crew to inaugurate our NY vs. NE Relay Carnival, it was in the capable hands of Tucker Taft to assemble three 4x100m mostly-MVTC relay teams. With only one other non-MVTC relay team from NY added to the mix, the wild relay brought the wet Eastern Masters Championships to a close.

As best I can tell, at the first hand-off, it's Rob Porcaro passing to Tom Gillen on the inside.
It's Tucker Taft handing off to a GBTC guy in lane 2 while Gail Johns-Rees is approaching
Paula Fortuna in lane 3. Up front the NY team is getting ready to pass the stick.


At the next passing zone two of our teams have caught up to the NY squad.
Tom Gillen is trying to put the stick into Tom Cunningham's hand and up front
Sarah Lawson is about to take off.


On the inside, Tom Cunningham and Dave Neumann are about to experience a passing
mishap and the baton will end up on the track.




The NY crew is about to give the stick to their anchor but they will
have no chance of catching Roger who gets a clean pass from Sarah with a big lead.


When all you can see is a red back and the bottom of blue shoes - it's all over


Kim to Laura - one of the best passes of the day


By the time Dave locates the baton and picks it up, The MVTC Women's Team
with Laura Barre anchoring, is right behind as they cross the finish line.


Laura about to gather up the rest of her relay team


Foggy, soggy, drenched but in great spirits, from left to right -
Kim Williams, Gail Johns-Rees, Paula Fortuna and Laura Barre. Great job ladies!
Mass Velocity is so lucky to have you.

So there you have it - one of the wettest, wild and wonderful meets I've had the pleasure to be at. We all became better acquainted as we huddled under the canopies and our friendships are growing stronger. If it weren't for the all the friendly, funny and supportive team members on and around the track, it could have been a miserable meet. Instead I think we all had a great time despite the weather. I look forward to the next gathering of the crimson sprinters. Remember: Not Far - Just Fast!

~