March 20, 2022, Syracuse, NY: The Shore AC women's 50+ team rallies together at team check-in.  They roared on to victory on this vernal equinox day.  Left to right: Suzanne La Burt, Alysia Puma, Ali Marzulla, Susan Stirrat and Leslie Nowicki.  Photo courtesy De Dollard.

Shore AC Results for the 2022 USATF National Masters Half Marathon Race in Syracuse, NY

Race date: March 20, 2022                                           Full Results from Leone Timing & Results Services.
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SHORE AC TEAM RESULTS:

50+ Women:

  1     SHORE AC "A" 50+  WOMEN                     TOTAL   4:43:55   AVERAGE:  1:34:39
     80.Suzanne La Burt              Greenwood Lake, NY   58 F               1:29:19*
   105.Alexandra Marzulla          Middletown, NJ             50 F               1:35:41*
   114.Alysia Puma                     Flemington, NJ             50 F               1:38:55*
   164.Susan Stirrat                   Rockaway, NJ               66 F                2:08:41
   168. Leslie Nowicki                Holmdel, NJ                  58 F                2:13:23

40+ Men A:

  5     SHORE AC "A" 40+  MEN                         TOTAL   4:08:04   AVERAGE:  1:22:42
     37.Christopher Whitehead     Wall, NJ                       40 M               1:21:32*
     47.Brian Prendergast             Brick, NJ                      48 M               1:22:56*
     51.Joseph Maranzani             Hawthorne, NJ             44 M               1:23:36*
     90.Daniel Campbell                Middletown, NJ            47 M               1:32:32

50+ Men A:
 
  4     SHORE AC "A" 50+  MEN                         TOTAL   4:38:57   AVERAGE:  1:32:59
     76.Ken Ginsburg                   Bedminster, NJ             53 M               1:28:39*
     84.Christopher Rinaldi          Berkeley Heights, NJ     52 M               1:30:08*
    122.Harry Pino                       Pomona, NY                  62 M               1:40:10*
    171.Przemyslaw Nowicki        Holmdel, NJ                  77 M                2:16:42

60+ Men A:

  2     SHORE AC "A" 60+  MEN                          TOTAL    4:42:18   AVERAGE:  1:28:06
     26.Rick Lee                           Bayville, NJ                   60 M              1:19:40*
     87.Donald Schwartz              Belmar, NJ                    61 M               1:31:55*
     92.Kevin Dollard                    Hopewell Junction, NY  66 M               1:32:43*
     96.Reno Stirrat                      Rockaway, NJ                67 M              1:33:06

March 20, 2022, Syracuse, NY: Shore AC's Alysia Puma concludes an outstanding race to wrap up W50+ team scoring and secure victory!

Shore AC Masters Shine in Overcast Syracuse

Upstate New Yorkers know that, during the month of March, you can practically count the number of sunny days on one hand.  The first day of spring was no exception for Syracuse.  Grey clouds blanketed the sky and threatened rain there during the USATF Masters National Half Marathon.

But gloomy heavens never dampen the spirits of our stalwart Shore AC harriers!  Bedecked in brilliant white singlets, they gathered cheerily at the starting line.  When the gun sounded, four SAC teams took on the winding course.  They flashed fancy footwork through the city streets, dodging puddles and potholes.  Then, thanks to blazing finish-line flourishes, each team exceeded expectations, earning big points in the national Grand Prix.

​When to begin?  Let's start with our NATIONAL CHAMPIONS, the 50+ ladies!  Front-runner Suzanne La Burt ripped another stunning race, tripping the clock at 1:29:19.  Her chip time of 1:19:15 equated to a scorching 91.89% age grading for this 58-year-old phenom.  The hit parade continued when Ali Marzulla sped through the finishing chute with a superb time of 1:35:41.  Victory was sealed in dominant fashion when Alysia Puma flew across the timing mats in a stupendous 1:38:55.  Shore AC's average time of 1:34:39 bested the second-place team's by a full 10 minutes.  Key insurance runners Susan Stirrat (2:08: 41) and Leslie Nowicki (2:13:23)  ensured high team placement in case any of the front three faltered.

March 20, 2022, Syracuse, NY: Shore AC's Rick Lee rockets across the finish line in a stunning 1:19:40 to lead all USATF runners of age 60 and over.  His scintillating age grading of 90.29% ranked him third among all USATF masters men in this race.

Meanwhile, Shore AC men made monster noise of their own.  Our geriatric gents lit up the age 60+ team competition with red-hot performances.  Spearheading the charge was of course the Jersey Speed Devil himself, Rick Lee.  His sneakers are probably still smoldering after he notched a scalding 1:19:40.  Next in for the 60+ lads was Belmar boardwalk denizen Don Schwartz.  His 1:31:55 kept the team high on the scoreboard.  SAC supporters barely had time to catch their breath before duffer Kevin Dollard birdied with a superb 1:32:43.  Folks were still sounding huzzahs when national running legend Reno Stirrat hammered home a terrific 1:33:05 for incomparable insurance.  The average time of 1:28:06 for our 60+ beaus would beat most teams from throughout the country.  However, a trio from Boulder Road Runners ran even faster.  We settled for second place, itching for a future rematch with our friends from Colorado!

March 20, 2022, Syracuse, NY: Members of the Shore AC men's 60+ A team celebrate a hard-earned second place.  Left to right: Rick Lee, Reno Stirrat, Don Schwartz and Kevin Dollard.  Photo courtesy De Dollard.

Advancing to the younger Shore AC men's team, we come to our 50+ squad.  Built in part with spare runners from the older 60+ and 70+ age groups, we expected this team to trail the competition.  However, the late addition of speedster Ken Ginsburg, coupled with a splendid performance by team captain Chris Rinaldi, spiced up the situation.  Ken barnstormed the course in 1:28:39 to get the party started.  When Chris barreled home in a fantastic 1:30:08, spectators began to take notice.  Stout 60+ harrier Harry Pino, demonstrating true grit as he ignored pain from a recent leg muscle tear, recorded an impressive 1:40:10 to close out team scoring.  Elder statement Przemek Nowicki supplied ever-appreciated backup in 2:16:42.  OK, the M50+ crew finished last as expected.  But in a field of only 4 teams, they collected 70 grand prix points.  Nice work, men!

March 20, 2022, Syracuse, NY: Ken Ginsburg polishes off a great half marathon race in 1:28:39 to lead the Shore AC men's 50+ team to a fourth-place finish.  Photo courtesy De Dollard.

The youngest Shore AC masters team in this grueling race was a delightful surprise: a legitimate group of age 40-49 speedsters.  The average time of 1:22:42 for our M40+ team was close to the average time for the bronze medalist third place Checkers AC team in 1:21:35.  Our nimble crew was led by rookie Shore AC member Chris Whitehead, who nailed a superb 1:21:32 in his first race wearing the white singlet.  Running buddy Brian Prendergast left it all on the streets of Syracuse with an outstanding 1:22:56 performance.  A mere 40 seconds later, sophomore sensation Joe Maranzani closed out team scoring with a 1:23:36 masterpiece.  Fellow quadragenarian Dan Campbell delivered a solid 1:32:32 to provide excellent backup.  Although our M40+ team placed fifth, they were close behind the fourth and third place teams and substantially ahead of three other teams.  Hooray, guys!!!

The author hereby thanks Chris Rinaldi for filling in as Shore AC Team Captain for this race.  Great job, Chris!

March 20, 2022, Syracuse, NY: Rookie Chris Whitehead crosses the finish line in 1:21:32 to lead the Shore AC men's 40+ team to a string fifth place finish in a field of eight teams.  Photo courtesy De Dollard.

Individual Accomplishments

Let's applaud our bright Shore AC stars who medaled individually in this national race.

• Rick Lee                      1st M60-64               1:19:40         90.29% age grading  (3rd among masters men)
• Kevin Dollard              2nd M65-69              1:32:43         81.56%
• Reno Stirrat                  3rd M65-69               1:33:06         82.07%
• Suzanne La Burt         2nd F55-59               1:29:19        91.89%  (4th among masters women)
• Susan Stirrat                3rd F65-69                2:08:41         71.21%

Give a sunny cheer now for our harriers who placed within the top ten in their age groups.

• Brian Prendergast        7th M45-49                1:22:56         76.45%
• Don Schwartz               8th M60-64                1:31:55         78.31%
• Przemek Nowicki          7th M75-79                2:16:42         63.85%
• Ali Marzulla                  5th F50-54                 1:35:41         77.78%
• Alysia Puma                 7th F50-54                 1:38:55         75.23%