University of Washington Visiting Lecturer Gregory Crowther of Seattle dueled David Welsh of Mullica Hill, NJ for the first 11 laps of the course at Caumsett State Park on Sunday, March 4, before pulling away in the 12th and final lap to score a convincing triumph in the 2007 USA Track & Field 50 Kilometer Championship Run.
Crowther's 3 hour, 4 minute, 35 second finish broke Jason Saita's 2006 course record of 3:05:59 by over a full minute, with Welsh crossing the line in 3:07:06. Derek Dippon of Cedar, MN was third in 3:26:35. Top Masters finisher was 41-year-old Glen Redpath in 3:27:55.
Anna Fyodorova of Brooklyn, better known for her exploits as a triathlete, upset former United States Ultrarunner of the Year Connie Gardner of Medina OH to win the women's division of the Run. Fyodorova finished in 3:55:13, and the 43-year-old Gardner scored in 4:00:09. Francesca Conte of Charlottesville, VA was third in 4:02:49.
Among the determined finishers was Sherry Bellovin of North Massapequa, who scored as the 15th woman overall with a time of 6:43:27.
Congratulations to Vinny Croce of the host Greater Long Island Running Club, who once again did an outstanding job as the Race Director, ably assisted by a Committee that included Barry Aronowsky, Paul Cooper, Amy Goldstein, Carl Grossbard, Roger Loberto, Nick Palazzo and Bob Sherman. Oddly enough, the total number of 83 finishers was an exact match with the 2006 record total of 83 finishers.