Thrilling Races at Masters 10 Km Championships at the James Joyce Ramble

Sunday, April 29^th was a beautiful day for a race in Dedham MA, with cloudy skies and temperatures in the 50’s. Masters Athletes responded with fast times and thrilling competition.
OVERALL MEN Connecticut’s Mario Vazquez, who won the overall competition here in 2023 went up against Nicholas Kipruto, from Colorado Springs, who finished second in the Masters 1 Mile Championships Tuesday evening. Kipruto showed that he could handle the 10K as well as the mile, winning in 31:26. Vazquez finished 25 seconds later, followed by Greater Boston’s Ryan Irwin, in 42:05. WOMEN Jessica Minty sped to a 37:17 win. She enjoyed a 39 second advantage over her Battle Road TC teammate, Jennifer Lutz. Brett Ely, of Rhode Island, was just a single second behind in third.
AGE GRADING The age grading Performance Level Percentage PLP indicates how a runner’s time compares to the fastest possible time run by an athlete of that age.  The higher the percentage, the better the performance. WOMEN New York City’s Fiona Bayly, 58, earned age grading Gold, with a PLP of 94.68 from her 39:06. Suzanne La Burt, 62, who runs for New Jersey’s Shore AC, ran 41:37 for her 93.67 and second place. New Hampshire’s Perry Shoemaker, 54, finished third with her 92.46% from 38:09. MEN Nat Larson, 63, Amherst MA, returned ot the top of the age grading podium. His 36:23 earned a 91.72 PHP. Vazquez, 47, finished second with a 91.2; that gave him two important silver medals. John Barbour, 72, also from Greater Boston, earned bronze with 89.47% from 40:51.
AGE DIVISION MEN 40-44 Kipruto 45-49 Vazquez 50-54 David Dechellis 36:15 55-59 Gregory Putnam 35:30 60-64 Larson 65-69 Kevin Glenn 40:48 70-74 Barbour 75-79 Don Morrison 46:02 80-84 Gary Patton 49:52 85-89 George Gilder 1:11:34.WOMEN 40-44 Minty 45-49 Ely 50-54 Shoemaker 55-59 Bayly 60-64 La Burt 65-69 Lesley Hinz 46:27 70-74 Margery Bellisle 53:27 75-79 Jessica Wheeler 54:41 85-89 Barbara Belanger 1:25:49.

TEAMS

Despite the best efforts of teams from other parts of the country, USATF-New England teams were mostly able to defend the home turf. New Jersey’s Shore AC was able to win M70+, M80+, and W50+. The other divisions were won by New England teams: M40+ Tracksmith Boston Hares M50+ Central Mass Striders M60+ Greater Springfield Harriers W40+ Battle Road TC W60+ Liberty AC.

Next up on the Masters National Grand Prix is the Masters 4 Mile Championships in Peoria IL on June 6, 2026.

Submitted by Paul Carlin