photo by Alec Troxell
On June 30, at the Tracksmith Twilight 5000m race, Evan Thornton-Sherman led the fast heat two-thirds through the race. Paul Arredondo (#233) moved up from fifth to first. He won in 14:03, followed by Eli Moskowitz (#183) in 14:05 and Jack Pinho (#273) in 14:05. Thornton-Sherman placed fourth in a new personal best time of 14:07. Erik Linden (#268) was fifth in 14:11.
CAMBRIDGE, Mass. – Evan Thornton-Sherman, from Waterford, keeps getting stronger and faster. On June 30, he traveled to the Boston area. He competed in the Tracksmith Twilight 5000m event at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology.
The Tracksmith series offers runners of diverse ages and abilities a summer opportunity to race on the outdoor oval. Athletes compete without club or school affiliation. The low-pressure environment promotes camaraderie and brings out the best in runners.
A 2022 St. Johnsbury Academy grad, Thornton-Sherman is a rising sophomore at the University of Maine. He competes for the Black Bears in cross country and track and field.
At the Twilight Meet, he ran in the fastest of eight heats, finishing in a new personal best time of 14:09. Thornton-Sherman placed fourth of 261 entries in the 11-1/2 lap race. Paul Arredondo, from Brighton, Mass., won the race in 14:03.
Thornton-Sherman’s next stop is Eugene, Oregon, for the USA Track and Field U20 Outdoor Championships. He plans to compete in the 1500m and the 5000m events. The meet is held July 6-9 at the University of Oregon’s historic Hayward Field.
Parker is State Champion Triathlete
LAKE DUNMORE – Former Sterling College student Lance Parker is the 2023 USA Triathlon Vermont state champion. Parker, 29, lives in Moretown. He earned the title by winning the Vermont Sun Sprint Triathlon on June 18. The event started with a 600-yard swim at Branbury Beach State Park, followed by a 14-mile bike leg and a 5k run.
Conditions were cool, rainy, and breezy. Most of the triathletes wore wet suits as they entered the chilly water. Parker was eighth of 43 men coming out of the water. His 11:21 swim leg compared to the top time of 10:33.
Parker made up the gap during the bike leg. He burned through the course in 35:57 to take the lead. His nearest competitor, Justin Hines, was now a minute and a half behind. Hines gained 13 seconds back on Parker in the final transition.
Parker’s lead was just under a quarter mile at the start of the run. Hines was determined. He averaged 5:44 per mile for the run leg – 25 seconds faster per mile than Parker. As the finish approached, Parker held on. He crossed the line six seconds ahead of Hines. Hines ran the final 5k leg in 17:46 to Parker’s 19:05. Parker won the triathlon in 1:08:39. Hines was second in 1:08:45.
Bears Ready for Runners
MIDDLESEX – Adventurous athletes head to Rumney Elementary School on Saturday, July 8, for the 44th Annual Bear Swamp Run. The infamous 5.7-mile course climbs 450 feet in the first three miles, then gradually descends along tree-lined dirt roads to the finish. After the race, runners who make it through “the swamp” can soak tired legs in a cool mountain stream.
Registration begins at 8 a.m. for a 9 a.m. start. Sponsored by Central Vermont Runners (CVR), the entry fee is $10 for day of race registration. Details are at cvrunners.org.
Bear Swamp is part of the 2023 CVR/Onion River Outdoors Race Series.
Race in the Granite Quarries
WEBSTERVILLE – If early registrations are an indicator, a big field is shaping up for the Barre Heritage 5k Trail Race on Saturday, July 29. Held at the Millstone Trails in the Barre Town Forest, the mostly single-track course through wooded terrain skirts the historic quarries.
Runners and walkers are encouraged to participate. Registration begins at 7:45 a.m. for a 9 a.m. start. The Barre Heritage Trail Race is part of the 2023 CVR/Onion River Outdoors Race Series.
Last year’s winner, Ben Taska, is already signed up to run. Taska knows the Millstone Trails well. He moved to Barre during the pandemic after spending several years in Woodbury and Craftsbury.
Day of race registration is $20. Discounts are available for early online registration. Race details are at cvrunners.org.
Caspian Challenge Registration Opens
GREENSBORO – The 12th Annual Caspian Lake Challenge is on Sunday, July 30. Participants can choose a 5k fun run/walk or a 6.8-mile “round the lake” loop. Both races start at the Tolman Corner ball field. Lake loopers begin at 8:30 a.m., with the start of the 5k race shortly after.
The lake loop is one-third paved roads and two-thirds dirt roads, with some hills mixed in. The 5k course is an out-and-back route on Lake Shore Road. The entry fee for teens and adults is $15. To encourage family fitness and fun, entry fees are waived for children ages seven to 13. Online registration at greensboroassociation.org is encouraged.
Sponsored by the Greensboro Association, race proceeds support the Greensboro Rail Trail Development Projects.
