October 7, 2023, Boca Raton, Florida: Intrepid members of Shore Athletic Club radiate confidence prior to the start of the USATF Masters National 5K Cross Country race. Kneeling, left to right: Mark Zamek, Suzanne La Burt, Scott Linnell, Karyn Baig, Kitty Musante and Leslie Nowicki. Standing, left to right: Jeff Conston, Kevin Dollard, Reno Stirrat, Hal Leddy, Chris Rinaldi, Spider Rossiter, Jim Musante and Przemek Nowicki. Not pictured: Rob O'Rourke.
Shore AC Results for the 2023 USATF National Masters 5K XC Race in Boca Raton, FL
Race date: October 7, 2023 Race results from C.F.P.I. Timing here.
Race web site here.
SHORE AC TEAM RESULTS:
40+ Women:
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Rank Team Total 1 2 3 *4 *5 *6 *7 *8 *9
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49 & Under Results 5000 Run
1 Shore Athletic Club 8 1 2 5
Total Time: 1:13:21.00
Average: 24:27.00
4 171 La Burt, Suzanne 60 Shore Athletic Club 20:51
7 170 Baig, Karyn 47 Shore Athletic Club 22:15
26 173 Nowicki, Leslie 60 Shore Athletic Club 30:15
50+ Men:
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Rank Team Total 1 2 3 *4 *5 *6 *7 *8 *9
=================================================================================
50-59 Results 5000 Run
2 Shore Athletic Club 39 5 7 8 9 10 11
Total Time: 1:55:44.00
Average: 23:08.80
21 174 Conston, Jeffrey 55 Shore Athletic Club 18:49
30 182 Rinaldi, Christopher 53 Shore Athletic Club 20:11
44 175 Dollard, Kevin 68 Shore Athletic Club 22:27
52 177 Leddy, Harold 68 Shore Athletic Club 24:26
55 184 Stirrat, Reno 69 Shore Athletic Club 25:47
58 178 Linnell, Scott 67 Shore Athletic Club 26:31
70+ Men:
=================================================================================
Rank Team Total 1 2 3 *4 *5 *6 *7 *8 *9
=================================================================================
70-79 Results 5000 Run
2 Shore Athletic Club 20 3 8 9 9
Total Time: 1:25:04.00
Average: 28:21.34
50 183 Rossiter, Spider 71 Shore Athletic Club 23:49
66 180 Nowicki, Przemyslaw 79 Shore Athletic Club 30:11
70 181 O'Rourke, Robert 80 Shore Athletic Club 31:04
Race web site here.
SHORE AC TEAM RESULTS:
40+ Women:
=================================================================================
Rank Team Total 1 2 3 *4 *5 *6 *7 *8 *9
=================================================================================
49 & Under Results 5000 Run
1 Shore Athletic Club 8 1 2 5
Total Time: 1:13:21.00
Average: 24:27.00
4 171 La Burt, Suzanne 60 Shore Athletic Club 20:51
7 170 Baig, Karyn 47 Shore Athletic Club 22:15
26 173 Nowicki, Leslie 60 Shore Athletic Club 30:15
50+ Men:
=================================================================================
Rank Team Total 1 2 3 *4 *5 *6 *7 *8 *9
=================================================================================
50-59 Results 5000 Run
2 Shore Athletic Club 39 5 7 8 9 10 11
Total Time: 1:55:44.00
Average: 23:08.80
21 174 Conston, Jeffrey 55 Shore Athletic Club 18:49
30 182 Rinaldi, Christopher 53 Shore Athletic Club 20:11
44 175 Dollard, Kevin 68 Shore Athletic Club 22:27
52 177 Leddy, Harold 68 Shore Athletic Club 24:26
55 184 Stirrat, Reno 69 Shore Athletic Club 25:47
58 178 Linnell, Scott 67 Shore Athletic Club 26:31
70+ Men:
=================================================================================
Rank Team Total 1 2 3 *4 *5 *6 *7 *8 *9
=================================================================================
70-79 Results 5000 Run
2 Shore Athletic Club 20 3 8 9 9
Total Time: 1:25:04.00
Average: 28:21.34
50 183 Rossiter, Spider 71 Shore Athletic Club 23:49
66 180 Nowicki, Przemyslaw 79 Shore Athletic Club 30:11
70 181 O'Rourke, Robert 80 Shore Athletic Club 31:04
October 7, 2023, Boca Raton, FL: The Shore AC women's 40+ team gathers in their starting block for the start of the big race! Left to right: Suzanne La Burt (predicting the team's outcome), Karyn Baig and Leslie Nowicki.
Shore A.C. Cooks in Sunshine State 5K XC Race
It's often said, "If you can't stand the heat, get out of the kitchen!" Well, the tough Shore AC harriers who traveled to south Florida for a national race did the opposite. They stepped into the kitchen. Then, they proceeded to cook up a gourmand's repast of outstanding team and individual accomplishments in that early October heat and humidity. Find a comfy chair in your lanai and read all the salivating details here!
The runners who gathered at South County Regional Park on October 7 for the USATF Masters National 5 Kilometer Cross Country Meet felt perplexed. Why start the
races at 9:30 am (for women) and 10:15 am (for men), when the "real feel" temperature so late in the morning is already 90 degrees and heading higher? But the Race Director had his reasons, so we "ran with it".
The 9:30 am women's race featured a 40+ team from Shore Athletic Club that proved to be the fastest among all women's teams. 60-year-old phenom Suzanne La Burt led the charge with a tremendous time of 20:51. There was more that team pride motivating Suzanne in this race. She was also aiming to beat 60-64 age group foe Mary Cass for the 2023 Individual Grand Prix Championship. Cass stayed on Suzanne's tail throughout the race, but Suzanne held off her challenger with a classic La Burt surge in the final stretch. Mission accomplished for Suzanne: she is your 60-64 National Grand Prix Champion! Shore AC teammate Karyn Baig made her debut travel race a trip to remember. Tasked with staying ahead of Atlanta's top runner, she set a rapid pace in the steamy air. By the time she began her second of two loops around a hidden lake, Karyn had built a large lead and was told by the Shore AC team captain to take it easy. But Karyn kept hammering anyway! She finished seventh overall with a spectacular 22:15, good for third place in her 45-49 age group. The team still required a third finisher to qualify as a complete team. SAC veteran Leslie Nowicki rose to the occasion. Not only did she cross the finish line in that tropical hothouse, she shaved 3 minutes off of her time compared to a cross country race the week before. Brava, Leslie! Brava, team!!! They beat the Atlanta 40+ team for the win!
The ladies gave us something even bigger to celebrate. By doing the Boca Raton race, which was the final event of the 9-race 2023 USATF Masters National Grand Prix, they earned enough points to capture first place in the women's 40+ Grand Prix. This is huge! Fans may recall that, last year, Shore Athletic Club won the 2022 Grand Prix in the women's 50+ and men's 60+ categories. Winning another National Grand Prix this year affirms that Shore Athletic Club ranks among the best running clubs in the country!
Shore AC's Kitty Musante also took up the challenge to race in the tough conditions. A residency rule kept us from including her on the Shore AC women's 40+ team, so she ran "individually". Though the 67-year-old ran her slowest 5K race ever (27:01), this was Kitty's first race after being sidelined for 6 months by a pesky leg injury. Considering this 3-time Kona Ironman's grit and determination, you can bet she'll return soon to her accustomed high level of performance!
The runners who gathered at South County Regional Park on October 7 for the USATF Masters National 5 Kilometer Cross Country Meet felt perplexed. Why start the
races at 9:30 am (for women) and 10:15 am (for men), when the "real feel" temperature so late in the morning is already 90 degrees and heading higher? But the Race Director had his reasons, so we "ran with it".
The 9:30 am women's race featured a 40+ team from Shore Athletic Club that proved to be the fastest among all women's teams. 60-year-old phenom Suzanne La Burt led the charge with a tremendous time of 20:51. There was more that team pride motivating Suzanne in this race. She was also aiming to beat 60-64 age group foe Mary Cass for the 2023 Individual Grand Prix Championship. Cass stayed on Suzanne's tail throughout the race, but Suzanne held off her challenger with a classic La Burt surge in the final stretch. Mission accomplished for Suzanne: she is your 60-64 National Grand Prix Champion! Shore AC teammate Karyn Baig made her debut travel race a trip to remember. Tasked with staying ahead of Atlanta's top runner, she set a rapid pace in the steamy air. By the time she began her second of two loops around a hidden lake, Karyn had built a large lead and was told by the Shore AC team captain to take it easy. But Karyn kept hammering anyway! She finished seventh overall with a spectacular 22:15, good for third place in her 45-49 age group. The team still required a third finisher to qualify as a complete team. SAC veteran Leslie Nowicki rose to the occasion. Not only did she cross the finish line in that tropical hothouse, she shaved 3 minutes off of her time compared to a cross country race the week before. Brava, Leslie! Brava, team!!! They beat the Atlanta 40+ team for the win!
The ladies gave us something even bigger to celebrate. By doing the Boca Raton race, which was the final event of the 9-race 2023 USATF Masters National Grand Prix, they earned enough points to capture first place in the women's 40+ Grand Prix. This is huge! Fans may recall that, last year, Shore Athletic Club won the 2022 Grand Prix in the women's 50+ and men's 60+ categories. Winning another National Grand Prix this year affirms that Shore Athletic Club ranks among the best running clubs in the country!
Shore AC's Kitty Musante also took up the challenge to race in the tough conditions. A residency rule kept us from including her on the Shore AC women's 40+ team, so she ran "individually". Though the 67-year-old ran her slowest 5K race ever (27:01), this was Kitty's first race after being sidelined for 6 months by a pesky leg injury. Considering this 3-time Kona Ironman's grit and determination, you can bet she'll return soon to her accustomed high level of performance!
October 7, 2023, Boca Raton, FL: Shore AC's valiant 50+ men's team stands shoulder to shoulder at the starting line, ready to take on the Florida heat and humidity. Left to right: Kevin Dollard, Hal Leddy, Chris Rinaldi, Reno Stirrat, Scott Linnell and Jeff Conston.
As men gathered for their 10:15 am race start, members of the Shore AC men's 50+ team took a gut check. Were they ready to struggle through 3+ miles under a late-morning Florida sun for the sake of the team? After all, the goal was to earn points that would catapult the team onto the podium in the 2023 USATF Masters National Grand Prix. But, to earn those coveted points, 5 of the 6 guys would need to finish the race. Normally, there would be no such concern for a 5K race even in Florida heat. However, in this case, 4 team members felt uncertain due to injury or illness. Such is the bond they share that every man resolved to come through for the team.
Jeff Conston spearheaded the SAC men's 50+ team's attack. He mowed down the grass course with a whirling 18:49, good for second place in his 55-59 age group. Next down the finish chute for the team was its captain, Chris Rinaldi, in a scorching 20:11. Chris had questioned his ability to finish due to odd pains on one side of his body. Happily, the pain went away during the race. Speaking of happy, that description fit Kevin Dollard to a tee. Having learned the day before that his name was on the grandfather list for in-region runners, he celebrated his late addition to the team by spinning a fast 22:27. With three guys having crossed the finish line, the team needed only two more to complete the race in order to fulfill its objective. The three men still on the course each had reason to doubt. Hal Leddy was nursing a hamstring tweak and had only resumed running weeks ago after overcoming long COVID. Reno Stirrat had broken his pinky toe earlier in the week and, only two days before the race, had a heart monitor installed inside his chest. Scott Linnell had taken ill the day before and simply wanted to go back to bed and sleep. But there those three old grunts were on the course, soldiering onward. Hal finished up at 24:26, Reno at 25:47 and Scott at 26:31. The times were far slower than they are accustomed to running, but on this day it was all that they could muster from their depleted tanks. No matter! The Shore AC men's 50+ team had finished second. With the 90 points earned, they leapfrogged Greater Springfield to finish third in the 2023 National Grand Prix. WAY TO GO, TEAM!
October 7, 2023, Boca Raton, FL: Ready to rumble, the Shore AC men's 70+ team strike am imposing pose at the starting line. Left to right: Rob O'Rourke, Przemek Nowicki and Spider Rossiter.
Shore AC's remarkable success at Boca Raton extended to its men's 70+ team. Facing two top-notch teams in Boulder and Atlanta, we figured that third place was a foregone conclusion. But, as we learn time and again at these national races, the unexpected can happen. If you focus on completing your race, you just might benefit from those unexpected circumstances.
In this case, Atlanta Track Club's men's 70+ team suffered a double casualty. Both of their top runners were unable to finish the race. That gave Shore AC's team a window of opportunity. Team captain Spider Rossiter responded. He ripped a spectacular 23:49, finishing well ahead of Atlanta's first man. Przemek Nowicki notched a solid 30:11 despite leg muscle concerns, while 80-year-old Rob O'Rouke sailed home in 31:04 to complete team scoring. Both Przemek and Rob finished ahead of Atlanta's third man. That clinched a second-place finish for Shore AC with 20 points compared to Atlanta's 23 points. Bravo, gentlemen!
October 7, 2023, Boca Raton, FL: Mark Zamek launches his devastating kick en route to first place among men of age 60 and over. Photograph by Mike Scott.
As mentioned above, a residency rule prevented us from placing all Shore AC athletes on teams. Consequently, 60-year-old powerhouse Mark Zamek ran "individually". He made hay on his own! Mark destroyed the 60-and-over field with a dominant 18:12 performance. AND, this was Mark's first race since April! Now that he is healed up from nagging injuries, Mark has put the nation on notice: watch out at Tallahassee's Club XC Nationals on December 9!
Individual Accomplishments
In this section, we pay tribute to the outstanding Shore AC athletes who distinguish themselves in age groups and age grading. Unfortunately, the timing company had not yet posted age gradings at the time this article was written. You will see "xx.xx%" below as placeholders until age gradings are posted.
Get up and dance in your alligator shoes for these Shore AC runners who finished on the podium in their 5-year age groups at this USATF Masters National competition!
Flap those pink flamingo wings now for these Shore AC stalwarts who earned top 10 distinction in their respective 5-year age groups.
In this section, we pay tribute to the outstanding Shore AC athletes who distinguish themselves in age groups and age grading. Unfortunately, the timing company had not yet posted age gradings at the time this article was written. You will see "xx.xx%" below as placeholders until age gradings are posted.
Get up and dance in your alligator shoes for these Shore AC runners who finished on the podium in their 5-year age groups at this USATF Masters National competition!
- Karyn Baig 3rd F45-49 22:15 71.78%
- Jeffrey Conston 2nd M55-59 18:49 80.86%
- Suzanne La Burt 1st F60-64 20:51 88.71% <=== #2 age grading among women
- Mark Zamek 1st M60-64 18:12 87.13%
- Przemyslaw Nowicki 3rd M75-79 30:11 67.17%
Flap those pink flamingo wings now for these Shore AC stalwarts who earned top 10 distinction in their respective 5-year age groups.
- Christopher Rinaldi 7th M50-54 20:11 74.15%
- Leslie Nowicki 6th F60-64 30:15 61.14%
- Kitty Musante 4th F65-69 27:01 74.85%
- Kevin Dollard 9th M65-69 22:27 75.98%
- Harold Leddy 10th M65-69 24:26 69.82%
- Spider Rossiter 5th M70-74 23:49 74.14%
- Robert O'Rourke 4th M80-84 31:04 66.78%
October 6, 2023, Boca Raton, FL: The merry members of Shore Athletic Club enjoy a pre-race dinner together at the True Food Kitchen restaurant. Left to right: Karyn Baig, Team Mom De Dollard, Reno Stirrat, Hal Leddy, Scott Linnell, Caroline Conston, Spider Rossiter, Spider's son, Jeff Conston, Rob O'Rourke, Leslie Nowicki, Przemek Nowicki, Kevin Dollard and Chris Rinaldi -- who only looks three sheets to the wind :-)..
October 6, 2023, Boca Raton, FL: What better way to prepare for a race than to play in the ocean? Karyn Baig (left) and Suzanne La Burt (right) rinse the Northeast's autumn chill out of their bones in Florida's 85 degree seawater.
