Caumsett, New York, March 1. (from Mike Polansky) Michael Wardian of Arlington, Virginia, who set a race record in winning the 2008 edition of the Caumsett State Park 50 Kilometer Run, came back to Long Island this March 1 determined to break his own record of 2:55:05 and to challenge Josh Cox’s 50K national record of 2:47:17. Notwithstanding a determined effort that gave him a victory by more than ten full minutes in front of his nearest competitor, Michael’s 2:56:36 left him a tad short of his goal, but with renewed determination to attack the record again in 2010. Justin Fyffe of East Dummerston, Massachusetts was second and Ben Nephew of Mansfield MA scored in third place.
Kami Semick of Bend, Oregon , who was UltraRunning Magazine’s women’s ultrarunner of the year in 2008, set a new Caumsett women’s race record of 3:29:30 in winning the women’s division of the race, finishing comfortably in front of Jill Perry of Manilus, New York and Amanda Stickel of Stoutsville, Ohio, and beating all but six of the men.
Both Wardian and Semick qualified for a paid trip to the International Association of Ultrarunners World Trophy 50K Run in Gibraltar on October 31 by virtue of their Caumsett wins.
A total of 91 runners completed the 50K held on a 2.35-mile loop course in New York State’s Caumsett State Historic Park.
Men
1. Michael Wardian, 34, Arlington, VA 2:56:36
2. Justin Fyffe, 28, East Dummerston, VT 3:06:49
3. Ben Nephew, 33, Mansfield, MA 3:21:04
4. Mark Godale, 35, Aurora, OH 3:21:37
5. Daniel Verrington, 46, Bradford, MA 3:25:22
Women
1. Kami Semick, 42, Bend, OR 3:29:20!
2. Jill Perry, 38, Manilus, NY 3:41:21
3. Amanda Stickel, 26, Stoutsville, OH 3:46:30
4. Annette Bednosky, 42, Jefferson, NC 3:47:59
5. Connie Gardner, 45, Medina, OH 3:58:48