Circuit Director Dave Dunham and Circuit Winner Paul Low

The 11th New England Mountain Circuit concluded this weekend with the 6th and final event.  

• Final Series Standings

Paul Low easily dominated the Circuit, with only one 2nd place marring an otherwise perfect total in the best 5 of 6 scoring.   Circuit Director Dave Dunham was an easy second, and easier Master's win as well, while Rob Smith edged David Audet for third place, 418 to 415 points, after being just a few places apart at every event.

Dawn Heinrich and Donna Smyth took 1-2 for the women, even as both are Masters, with Kate Naples in third overall.

These 6 overall winners split $1,000 in prize money put up by La Sportiva GoLite.  

Dave Dunham Reports:

The 2006 La Sportiva GoLite USATF NE mountain running circuit wrapped up today at the summit of Mount Ascutney in Windsor Vermont.   55 runners gathered from five states for the 3.8 mile grind.   The course had an average grade of 11% with extended sections of 19%.   The weather was typical for New England in July: temperatures reached the low 80's and the humidity was over 90%.

La Sportiva GoLite team member Paul Low handily took the win by over five minutes.   Low continued through the chute and completed the trail run to the true summit of Ascutney.   Low's time of 29:39 ties Dave Dunham for the fifth fastest time on the mountain.   Abby Woods was the women's champion in 41:37, taking the win by a little over a minute.   Dawn Heinrich and Donna Smyth had a close fight in the women's 40-49 age group taking second and third overall in 42:54 and 43:02 respectively.   Their times rank ninth and tenth fastest (all-time) for women 40-49.   Dave Audet, who ran over 150 races last year, took top honors for the men in the 40-49 age group.   He finished in fourth place overall with a time of 35:14.   Bob Dion of Readsboro, VT was the top 50-59 finisher taking 11th overall in 38:05.   Dion led the charge of six 50-59 runners in the top 20.   The 50-59 men was the largest age group with 17 finishers.   Dion's time was the fourth fastest ever run for a 50-59 man.   Corrine Gaugler was the top 50-59 woman, taking 8th in 55:12.   Marcia Masland was the top 60+ woman running a new course record of 53:03.   The top 60-69 man was Peter Orni in 27th overall with a time of 45:35.   His time was the fourth fastest ever run in the 60-69 age group.   Richard Snyder, Tewksbury MA, was the top 70+ runner in 1:00:24.   Halley Heinrich was the top finisher under 19 with a 51:07.   Snyder (70) and Heinrich (13) were on either end of the age spectrum.

My (Dave Dunham) run of 33:42 was the sixth fastest for the 40-49 age group.   I ran the race at 7:00 AM as my race directing duties would make it impossible to compete and do the timing/scoring.

Much thanks to everyone who pitched in to help out with anything that needed doing.   Special thanks to Cathy Dunham for helping this race happen, and to the Vermont State Parks department for allowing us to have the race (and assisting with setup and the waterstop).

Jim Shimberg adds,

	"Mountain Goat" winners

Triple H conditions existed today (heat humidity hazy and horrendous hills averaging 12 % grade) at Mt Ascutney Vermont, for the final La Sportiva GoLite USATF New England Mountain Circuit event.  As expected, La Sportiva athlete Paul Low won the overall title for the men, and Dawn Heinrich won the overall series for the women.  Over 20 people completed all 6 races and earned "mountain goat" status and a special T-shirt from GoLite.   Runners braved the muggy conditions and wound their way up a paved road to the summit of Mt Ascutney, at 3450 feet in elevation, and most folks hiked or ran the remaining 0.7 miles to the actual summit and fire towers.  The views were limited but the New England scenery and farmlands below were still visible.  GoLite and La Sportiva provided prizes and financial support for the series;  overall circuit winners chose GoLite jackets or La Sportiva shoes for winning their age groups.