Runners turn up the mileage at Manning

LYNN – Despite rainy conditions at the start, runners turned out for a Meet of Miles at Manning Field on Monday.The meet, part of the inaugural adult summer track series, consisted of three events: a half-mile (two laps around the track), a mile (four laps) and a two-mile (eight laps).?I think we dodged a bullet,” adult track race director Bill Mullen said. “We avoided thunder and lightning. We still had it. There was a little bit of rain. I wish and hope more people come out. It?s a great facility. Lisa Nerich (of Parks and Recreation) has been very supportive of it.”One of the runners who showed up – and ran all three races – was North Shore Striders running club president Michael Pelletier of Salem.?I probably ran the half-mile too fast,” Pelletier said, “and then the mile, the first quarter too fast. By the time of the two-mile, I knew I needed to slow down, so I did.”It was Pelletier?s first time running on Manning Field, which he called “beautiful.” He learned of the event when Joe Abelon, who assisted with the meet, gave him a call and asked him to look at the adult track website. Everyone in the Striders then received an email about the event. Pelletier said several people planned on coming, but the rain deterred them.Runners passed the opposite sets of bleachers and the football uprights. They started and finished near the bleachers on the far side of the field.As runners crossed the finish line, volunteer Pam Wilson of Lynn clicked their times. She was also responsible for the start and finish lines.?It?s not bad,” said Wilson, who works at Union Hospital. “I?m glad I don?t have responsibility for the laps.”By the end of the meet, three races were in the books and the rain had gone away (although it returned later in the evening).?Whatever the reason, road runners and trail runners are a little reluctant to get on the track,” Mullen said. “We need to convince them it?s not a bad thing.”At least one of the runners at Manning last night was already convinced: Pelletier, who trains with the Striders on the Beverly High track on Wednesday nights.?I like running on the track,” he said. “It?s different. Most of us run on the roads.”Monday?s meet proved that even on a rainy night, there were runners intrigued enough to come out for a track event or three.The top three finishers for each event in Monday?s meet are as follows:Half-mile: Jakub Matczynski, Beverly, 2:31.7, first; Bill Marsh, Lynn, 2:31.9, second; Jeff Rockwood, Salem, 2:37.7, third; mile: Andrew Hartman, Lynn, 5:53.6, first; Alexandra Kay, Melrose, 6:25.2, second; Lai-Sahn Hackett, Peabody, 6:25.8, third; two-mile, Kyle Blouin, Winchendon, 10:50.0, first; Sean Kay, Melrose, 12:38.9, second; Aidan Kay, Melrose, 14:26.1, third.Friday?s scheduled women?s USATF-NE one-hour run at Manning Field has been changed to a men?s and women?s one-hour run.Abelon said that in the original event, he had been hopeful for a national record to be set at various age levels, but one of the potential competitors could not make it due to commitments. The open event in its place will start on Friday at 8 p.m.?It?s a wonderful opportunity to run under the lights,” Abelon said. “It?s nice and comfortable the later we run. It?s cooler.”