LYNN — In 2014, Lynn Woods Running Director Bill Mullen inquired about the use of an outdoor track to offer an alternative running experience for the large number of people who participated in the popular Woods running series.
Then-Parks and Recreation Director Lisa Nerich offered the Manning Field track, thereby allowing several weeks of somewhat unusual track events, such as a two-person relay in which each runner alternated 400 meters for a total of six miles, as well as a race called “The Devil Takes the Hindmost,” in which a large field runs around the 400-meter track and as each lap is completed, the last runner in the race has to withdraw. The last person to remain is declared the winner.
One of the events in this summer series was the “one hour” run. The performance is determined not by time (all competitors run the same time: one hour), but by distance measured in meters. This is a U.S.A Track and Field and International Amateur Athletic Federation (IAAF) recognized track event. The sport commonly referred to in the U.S. as track and field is known internationally as “athletics.”
Bill Rodgers, a renowned American marathoner, holds the American record in the “one hour,” established in Boston Aug. 9, 1977, when he ran 20,547 meters (12.76 miles) at a pace of 4:42/mile.
In many events, there are records recognized based on age groups. The “masters” age group records – starting at age 40 – are in increments of five, beginning with 40-44, 45-49, 50-54, and so forth.
“Steve Vaitomes, managing director of U.S.A Track and Field New England, informed us that many women in the Northeast can break these records. We spread the word and 14 women appeared, resulting in an American open (any age) record by Caterina Misuraca, of Gloucester, and the women’s 50-54 by Jennifer Rapaport, of Somerville,” said organizer Joe Abelon. “We, Lynn Parks and Recreation and U.S.A Track and Field New England, have been hosting the ‘one hour’ run since that memorable day in 2014. In 2019, John Barbour (65-69) called and informed us that he was not sure he could break the ‘hour’ record, but was confident he could break the 15,000-meter (9.3 miles) record. He asked if we could time that event. The following year, we included the 10-mile, as it is only 0.7 miles longer than the 15K.”
Lynn is the only city in the U.S. that offers athletes – on an annual basis – the opportunity to challenge American age-group records, according to Abelon.
“We use the internet to evaluate road-race performance to determine the potential to break records in these three events,” he said. “Over 95 percent of those we have invited have broken the American record in their age group. Since 2014, on the Manning Field track, 44 American age-group records have been set, 24 in the ‘one hour’ and 20 in the 15K/10 mile.”
Prior to Lynn’s involvement, most of the former records were established in the late 1970s and early 1980s, according to Abelon.
Earlier this month, during the 11th edition of Lynn’s “one hour,” five American age-group records were broken. Fiona Bayly, age 59 of New York, one of the nation’s elite master runners, broke three American LDR records on the Manning Field track. In the “one hour,” her 14,919 meters (9.27 miles) broke the former record of 14,743 meters (9.16 miles) by Kim Ionta, of Marshfield in 2019. Better yet, Bayly’s time of 1:00:24.9 in the 15,000 meters broke the previous record of 1:01:47 set by Tina Dowling, of Bolton in 2022. Bayly also bested Dowling in the 10-mile with a time of 1:04:48.8, clipping the former record of 1:06:17.7.
In 2024, Janet Voelpert (Shelton, Conn.) established American age-group records in the 15,000 meters and 10-mile through hot conditions. She returned this month with much more welcoming conditions and crushed her previous performance in both the 15,000 meters (1:22:14.9) and 10-mile (1:28:49.4).
Link to additional events and records: http://usatfldrrecords.org/
