“Queens Athletes Win Masters Games.” (Press Release). Retrieved 2013-05-18. Archive Copy at Sri Chinmoy Marathon Team office, Queens, New York.

FOREST HILLS, NY,  - John Darrell, 60, Jamaica, completing for NY Pioneers, beat out Michael Fortunato, 40, Greenwich, NY competing for the Adirondack TC by 1 point to take the men’s division of the 85h Sri Chinmoy Masters Games. This annual track and field competition drew 200 athletes age 40 and over to victory Field, Forest Park, despite the heat wave that dominated the area.

The annual games are one of the only competitive venues in Queens for master’s athletes interested in sprints and short distance races; men and women compete by 5-year age categories. The day’s races included 100, 200, 400, 800, 3,000 (women) and 5,000 (men) meter events. There is also a one-mile race walk and a one-mile run.

Photo: Adarini. Rose Ruston, Sylvia Swartz and Pearl Auerbach - 'The Auerbach Sisters' - each took first place in their age group for the discus, at the Sri Chinmoy Masters Games 1993, held at Victory Field, Queens, NY.

John Darrell had twice in recent years come within a few points of earning the overall trophy and was determined to take it home at last. Having just turned 60, he had the advantage over many of his slightly older competitors in his new age category and took first in the 100, 200, and 400 meter and in the one mile run.

The women’s winner was Ranjana Ghose, 42, of the Sri Chinmoy Marathon Team,. Jamaica – by a mere three points over Lorraine Tucker, 46, of Hartsdale. This was Ranjana’s second attempt at this trophy. Ms. Ghose, a life-long athlete, has also won, 22 times, the women’s division of the SCMT’s annual international team-member only Sports Day, held in August.

Chris McKenzie, 61 (Great Neck, NY) – in her youth the world record holder in the 800 meters – had sat out the last two years of these games, recovering from arthroscopic surgery for her knees. Finally, when doctors told her there would be no more running in her life, she switched to the field events and courageously returned to competition, taking firs place in her age group for the shot-put (6.13 meters), discus (15.43 meters) and javelin (12.73 meters).

Claiming gold medals in all their age group events were the popular Auerbach sisters: Pearl Auerbach, 71, and rose Ruston, 77, of Jackson Heights and Sylvia Swartz, 81, of Forest Hills, The good-natured sisters – always ready to crack a joke – returned to athletics about five years ago. They were just back from picking up numerous medals at the National Senior Olympics and said the 120 degree heat down in Louisiana made Forest Hills seem pleasant!

The Sri Chinmoy Masters Games began in 1986 as a way to meet the growing interest in physical fitness by all ages of Americans. Light refreshments and food were served throughout the day, and, participants registered on site for any or all of the events, which include sprints, short distance races, high jump, long jump, javelin, discus and shot-put.

Randall’s Island Park took its first breath of spring as the Sri Chinmoy 50 Km & 50 Mile Kicked off our ultras for 1993.

 Mostly sunny skies and nearly mild conditions provided perfect running weather and a chance at good performances. Canadian geese and pheasants fluttered amongst the collection of tennis enthusiasts, gas airplane gliders, and winter-weary runners.

Japanese runner Nobuaki Koyago of New York City wasted no time in running a smooth, well paced 50 miles. After passing early leaders Bob Dion and Ed Finnigan, Koyago breezed to victory in 6:19:15. Burning and crashing at 29 miles, Dion regrouped and forged back into second, slipping past the steady Finnigan just minutes before finishing. Diane McNamara, although running uncontested by the other ladies, still looked strong throughout.

In the 50-km event, Jeff Spera won easily in 4:28:20, making comeback from an injury-plagued fall and winter. Antana Locs, the great multi-day specialist, has had to overcome a rare winter of almost no training due to mental and physical burnout form the multi-day wars. She cheerfully struggled to victory, but was never challenged by the rest of the women’s field. Although the filed was small, the jokes were fling and everyone seemed pleased with the early rites of spring.

report from Ultrarunning magazine, used with permission

Diane McNamara adds:

On March 27 I ventured to New York City seek my revenge. A month earlier New York – Central Park, to be precise – had gotten the better of me at the illustrious, but by now climatically infamous, 100 Km Championship. What had happened to me there was (on a much slower scale, of course) akin to what Ray Krolewicz said happened to him, namely, ‘My quads blew out.’ For me it happened at 21 miles, so by 50 I had packed it in, much to the relief of my three handlers, one of who was very pregnant, all of who were freezing.

So, what better way to feel exonerated from that calamitous day in the Park, then to get back in the saddle, and finish one in New York. Isn’t strange how we want to erase the stigma of a DNF by completing another race – any race, any distance – as soon as possible, I gambled that the Sri Chinmoy 50 would be a safe bet for a smoother ride. The Sris wouldn’t dream of designing a hilly course the likes of Central Park…the weather couldn’t possibly be so nasty. Well, they didn’t, and it wasn’t. In fact, the spring-like weather found most of us donning shorts for their seasonal debut with just a little hesitation. And the worst the weather had to offer was a sunburn.

The new course on Randall’s Island is gentle, interesting, and varied enough, for a one-mile loop. On the old course in Queens, the straightaways were longer, and the view across the infield better, so you could track your opponents throughout. The new course seemed more twisty, with a slightly domed field that blocks out the other side. Psychologically, the new course seemed shorter. The first section swings out along the mouth of the East River close to where tugboats and barges float by. The second leg crosses though several softball fields. I think one team played as long as I was running; by halfway, I envied them their portable aid station that served chicken, rice and beans, Latin music danced in the air all day. The final left of the loop follows under a high overpass, which looks like an aqueduct.

`The field was small and friendly. Bob Dion had, like me, come back to New York with a bone to pick. He said, ‘In the 100 Km I went out slow and died. ‘I’d rather go out fast and die; at least then I’d know what I did wrong.’ He didn’t exactly die here, but he sure went out fast. He led for several miles before skidding to a halt, but then came back for a strong final ten miles. Nobuaki Koyago displayed his artfully economical style throughout for the win.

For me this was an entirely conversational day. When racing, I always enjoy meeting new people whose names I know so well. About three hours into this race I was running along and chatting with Sutushti Land when we came up on another of the 500-km women. Sutushti introduced me to Antana Locs. ‘Antana Locs! I know you! I’ve admired your running for years.’ These are the joys of ultrarunning.

So I got my sweet revenge on New York. Beginning my last lap as I passed the start/finish, only one spectator was left, the same lap counter who had been anchored to his lawn chair all day. ‘That’s 49, Diane,’ he said with a grin.

‘Your don’t have to tell me, but, thanks anyway.’

 

Scanned Results

Szczesiul, Sahishnu. "Sri Chinmoy 100 Mile." Ultrarunning. July-August 1993.

Frank DeLeo topped a mostly Brooklyn contingent in perhaps the smallest 100-mile filed in years here in New York. DeLeo was pushed in the first 50 miles by Ron Johnston, an exercise therapist from Durham, New Hampshire. Johnston hung on to get second in 16:29:11. Photo: (l to r) Ron Johnston, Frank DeLeo and Luis Rios.

This was the first 100-miler ever held on Wards Island, part of the archipelago known as Manhattan. Unusually hot weather and humid skies forced runners to slow the pace in the early going. The race was a warm-up for the Seven Day Race which began the next day.

Ward's Island, New York, New York. May 1, 1993. 1.0 mile loop, flat, paved, certified (with 50-mi and 100-km splits).

1. Frank DeLeo, 40, NY     (7:00:39, 8:58:15)          15:49:30

2. Ron Johnston, 40, NH   (7:05:19, 9:38:28)          16:29:11

3. Luis Rios, 45, NY         (8:12:39, 10:55:03)          20:54:46

4. John Kenul, 49, NY       (9:48:26, 12:40:36)          22:37:24

6 starters

"Cherns, Cunningham Top Field at Sri Chinmoy Seven-Day." Ultrarunning. July - August 1993.

Warm sunny weather greeted a field of 19 runners in the sixth annual Sri Chinmoy Seven Day Race. This was the first short multi-day held on the new one-mile loop at Wards Island Park, just a stone’s throw from Manhattan. Last year the Ultra Trio inaugurated the course, races lasting go-as-you-please for 19 days. This year’s Seven had returning race record holders Charlie Eidel and Suprabha Beckjord as part of a slightly older group. Carl Stelman from Red Hook, N.Y., and Ed Fishman from Hawaii, both multi-day novices, led the over-60 set, which also included trail runner Dan Baglione. For the ladies, local phenomenon Ruth Greher and the great Barbara McLeod from Canada were on hand, hoping to catch breezes from the swifter Dipali Cunningham and the five-time winner Beckjord.

The heat of the first day did not hamper the game plan of local favorite Trishul Cherns, the transplanted Canadian who is a fixture at nearly every ultra race in the area. Cherns, claiming the Seven was just a training run for the monster 2,700 t be held in the fall, will never back down if he’s in good shape. He knocked off an easy 103 miles the first day, keeping clear of Charlie’s 90 and the surprising fitness of Baltimore’s Bruce Holtman. Suprabha and Barbara got out quickly for the ladies, but Dipali Cunningham was running the smoothest of all.

Day Two is when the race starts to separate. This time, the women hung close to the top men. Trishul began to establish a solid lead with his sleep deprivation tactics. Charlie had decided to give chase, but then his knees and feet started to betray him. Faced with five and a half more days of the same, he turned in the towel and bade a quiet goodbye. A lackluster winter of training can ground any high hopes of survival. Training is easily remembered by the body and lungs; fitness can be the elusive linchpin to a multi-day spiral. Men’s second place was secured by Bob Evinger, a position he never relinquished thereafter.

Suprabha has been in the multi-day wars for a long time. She has developed into one of he world’s best at distances that scare the average ultrarunnner. In this race she was faced with the challenge from the other women as well as the men. Barbara McLeod, who has never done very well in warmer weather, showed great staying power and closed within ten miles of he lead. Dipali, the speedster from Australia, has been developing her skills at the longer races. Her experience and skill, plus a very consistent training program of high mileage and fast-paced runs, paid off. By four days, It was apparent Dipali’s speed would triumph over Suprabha’s steely determination. With thirteen hours left to the race, Dipali finally overtook the champion, who lay drained with fatigue in her tent.

In the men’s race, Cherns easily withstood any challenge from Bob Evinger. By Day Four the lead was nearly 30 miles and Trishul was almost impossible to catch. Meanwhile, the trail runners Fishman and Baglione were finding life past 30 hours almost appealing, and Carl Stelman was having a great time, shin splints and all. Most of the runners were having a good time, sharing stories and making new friends with comrades and helpers alike. One of he favorite hangouts was the medical tent, where a good footbath and fresh taping was an evening ritual and he road junkies’ luxury.

In the middle of he afternoon on Day Four, Bruce’s life was shaken back to reality, as he learned of his mother’s passing. Everyone’s heart went out to Bruce, as he hurriedly paced and left. It was as if we had lost a family member, too. Such is the life at a multi-day. Your surrogate family of runners and helpers often becomes so close-knit that the ‘real world’ seems just a dream. Doing a multi-day is not just about running and totaling as many miles as your body can produce. It’s more of a chance to become aware of your own quiet self as the hours and days pass. For 168 hours, you place yourself in a vulnerable position of accepting whatever comes, and allowing your own best feelings to arise from within. Seeing your name on the scoreboard every mile reinforces the notion that it really is a dream – ‘How could I have done so much/so little?’ ‘Where have the seven days gone?’ Whether one does well or poorly is not really the bottom line. As Ed Fishman, the oldest rookie (69) we’ve had in a while, said during the race, ‘It’s all a game, so I’m trying to have fun and not be. a party pooper,. Once again a HURT man set the record straight.

Back at the front: Trishul cruised to victory with 534, third highest total in race history. He definitely has the makeup and experience to challenge the 2,700-miler. I think the shorter mileage requirements of this up=coming two-month race will help him limit injuries and conserve energy. Trishul has now won a five-, a six-, and s seen-day race in his long ultra career. Bob Evinger, second overall with 515, set a PR by 75 miles at six days with 450, and showed a smooth style and cool demeanor throughout. Carl Stelman led the sexagenarian charge in this race with his first multi-day of 369. He could easily have and 70 more miles if it were not for painful shin splints. Ed Fishman and Chanakhya Jakovic had solid efforts, as did Simahin Pierce and Dan Baglione.

For the ladies, Dipali has risen to the ranks of he best women still doing multi-days. Her 501 miles, though not a record, was seemingly done quite easily. She merits attention in any future ultra she enters. Suprabha, although relegated to a rare second place, still deserves out appreciation. Remember, you can’t win them all, and she is thinking ahead to two months on the road in the 2,700.

Barbara McLeod set personal bests at six and seven days, breaking many Canadian and North American age-group makers. Ruth Greher set a personal best by 80 miles and will probably be filling up the age-group record books for years to come.

It is not easy to stage multi-day events, particularly in the middle of the Big Apple. But with runners like these nineteen warriors, the task is easier and very worthwhile. Good luck to anyone who runs an ultra. We’ll see you in September!

New York, N.Y. 1-mile loop, plat, paved certified (with 24- and 48-hour and six-day splits).

Scanned Results

http://uk.srichinmoyraces.org/2013-self-transcendence-meadows-race-series

The first Self-Transcendence race organised by Sri Chinmoy A.C.

Weather - Mixed!. We had sun, hail, wind, rain with a noticeable drop in the temperature. The overall race was won by junior Nick Barwick of Abingdon A.C. The first lady was vet Gwyneth Hueter (Oxford City).

Nice to see the regulars and some first time runners. Our next race is in 2 weeks time on the 27th May.

Results

[csv border=1 padding=5],Name,Club,1 mile,2 mile,3 Mile,Category
1,Nick Wiltshire,Abingdon,6.12,12.30,18.21,J
2,Nick Barwick,Abingdon,6.12,12.31,18.32,V40
3,Matt Pickles,U/A,6.18,12.41,18.59,SM
4,Julian Moore,Abingdon,6.24,12.52,19.13,V40
5,Alan Roberts,Vale of Aylesbury,6.24,12.59,19.37,V40
6,Paul Skip,U/A,6.28,13.26,20.00,V40
7,Peter Stepney,Abingdon,6.46,13.48,20.54,V50
8,James Wigmore,Abingdon,7.02,14.09,21.09,V50
9,Gwyneth Hueter,Oxford City,7.33,14.58,22.36,VW
10,Julia Wiblin,Abingdon,7.46,15.50,23.29,W
11,Hannah Gibbs,St Clare,7.48,15.55,23.42,JG
12,Andrew Garner,Abingdon,8.04,16.17,24.38,V50
13,Helen Farr,St Clare,8.23,16.56,25.17,W
14,Maddi Bonham Jones,St Clare,8.30,17.21,26.04,W
15,Helen Smith,Abingdon,8.34,17.28,26.14,W
16,Graham Pickup,Bicester,8.41,17.22,26.42,V50
17,Mercedes Tomic,St Clare,8.52,18.04,26.43,JG
18,Anna Kryshchenko,St Clare,8.54,18.04,27.25,JG
19,Emma Moore,Abingdon,11.48,23.37,35.23,VW[/csv]

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