While the Wissahickon Wanderers took their lumps in the team competition of the USATF off road series in 2008, Helen Cheung and Jeff Hayes are poised to win individual honors in the competition.
The series consists of seven races throughout the year. With the final race results to be tabulated, Helen is in FIRST PLACE in the open women’s competition and Jeff is in FIRST PLACE in the master’s men’s competition. Overall, the Wanderers are in fifth place out of six teams. These results are deceiving because the Wanderers are not far behind the elite Greater Philadelphia Track Club, which is in fourth place.
Taking direction from president-elect Barack Obama, the Wanderers like to spread the wealth with Wanderer stalwarts Bob Reynolds, Fred Kenney as well as Jeff competing for the crack Greater Philadelphia Track Club. Otherwise, the Wanderers would be further up in the charts.
The seven races which make up the off road series are the Ugly Mudder 7.25 miler in the winter, the Tyler Trail 10k, Triple Crown 10k and Wissahickon Trail Classic 10k in the spring, Half Wit Half Marathon, Radnor Red 5k, Delaware State Open XC championship in the fall. The Philadelphia Catholic League cross country championship event was cancelled from the series.
The Rosemont Running Club won the team competition. The result for each runner in the competition is computed based on time, gender and age. The formula used is known only by USATF race statistician, the legendary Norm Green. For individual race results, go to mausatf.org.
A big thanks to Polly Jansen and Chris Verry for organizing the Wanderers’ effort. Laura Fanelli and Sharon Schmidt-Mongrain put in some stellar performances in the competition. Other stars were Jim Millar, Tammy Leigh Dement, Noah Shusterman, Doug Dubrosky, Rich Greifer, The Great One, and Randy Clever.
Great job everybody!!
