The Andover Firecracker 5K footrace on the Northern Rail Trail has enjoyed a history of great weather. Some years have been hot, but it has never really rained on the race itself.
This year, the law of averages caught up with us. The excitement started on Thursday night, when the parade and other outdoor activities on the Village Green were cancelled because of the weather forecast.
Calls and messages started coming in from our pre-registered runners, wondering if the race were going to be held. There was never any doubt we would have the race; runners are a hardy bunch, and the forecast was for scattered showers in the morning.
We didn’t want to let the people who trained specifically for this race down. The race has become quite a tradition for many families on the Fourth, coming from all over: New York, Pennsylvania, Massachusetts, Connecticut, Vermont, South Carolina, Maine, Ohio, Missouri, Utah, Arizona, and of course from all over New Hampshire. All told, we had 113 runners toe the line.
This year we introduced what I hope will be an annual tradition of a new t-Shirt designed by students at AE/MS. We held a contest in May for kids to design shirts, with the winners getting entry into the race, their t-shirt, and being the race starter.
We had three winners chosen, and their designs were combined into the final product. The winners were Wyatt Carleton, Maura Kelly, and Sophia Reynolds. Their winning designs were combined into an amazing t-shirt. The individual designs also served as our mile markers along the course.
The shirt was a big hit, and I was told on multiple occasions that people will register early to try to get next year’s shirt. Thank you to Jane Slayton and Mike Wiley at AE/MS for running the contest.
Shortly after 9 AM, Wyatt, Maura, and Sophia sent the runners on their way in a light rain. This year, the race was dominated by the 13 to 19 age group, with seven of the top 10 finishes.
Our overall winner was Michael Miano of Yonkers, New York in a time of 16:39. He was closely followed by Walker John from Boscawen (16:44) and Marc Roy of Northfield (16:50). All of them are in the 13 to 19 age group.
The women’s race was won by Kristie Schoffield of Loudon in a time of 20:17. Rounding out the top three women were Amy Makechnie of Andover (22:33) and Emily Miano of Camp Hill, Pennsylvania (22:38).
For complete race results, visit AndoverBeacon.com/Firecracker-5K-2014.
The Firecracker 5K footrace supports the Boy Scouts and Cub Scouts of Andover and has become a primary fund raiser for both groups. It couldn’t happen without help from many volunteers and the scouts themselves. Special thanks to the volunteers at registration for super-human efforts in registering more than half the race in 30 minutes: Amy Rheaume, Amy Makechnie, Robin Davis, and Kathy Bennett.
Thank you to the brave water station volunteers who stood in the rain and horseflies: Sarah Lester, Maryn Barrett, Mychal Reynolds, and Samantha Parkman. Thank you to the Boy Scouts for coming out to set up and take down the start/finish and mile markers, and to the scout leaders: Doug Bent, Jim Reed, and Chris Buswell for helping pull it all together on race day.
Category Summary
Overall Men Summary
Place Bib Name M/F City St Time Pace
===== ===== ========================= === =============== == ======== ========
1 38 Michael Miano m Yonkers NY 16:39 05:22
2 73 Walker John m Boscawen New Hampshire 16:44 05:24
3 64 Marc Roy m Northfield New Hampshire 16:50 05:25
Overall Women Summary
Place Bib Name M/F City St Time Pace
===== ===== ========================= === =============== == ======== ========
1 90 Kristie Schoffield f Loudon New Hampshire 20:17 06:32
2 30 Amy Makechnie f Andover New Hampshire 22:33 07:16
3 83 Emily Miano f Camp Hill PA 22:38 07:18
Girls 0 to 12
Place Bib Name M/F City St Time Pace
===== ===== ========================= === =============== == ======== ========
1 7 Jordan Busch f New London New Hampshire 25:11 08:07
2 3 Sophia Reynolds f Andover New Hampshire 26:23 08:30
3 79 Annilia Sjostzdt f Scituate Massachusetts 27:10 08:45
Women 13 to 19
Place Bib Name M/F City St Time Pace
===== ===== ========================= === =============== == ======== ========
1 90 Kristie Schoffield f Loudon New Hampshire 20:17 06:32
2 62 Kaja Hartwell f Hyde Park Massachusetts 23:28 07:34
3 84 Brooke Ellis f Andover New Hampshire 26:00 08:23
Women 20 to 29
Place Bib Name M/F City St Time Pace
===== ===== ========================= === =============== == ======== ========
1 83 Emily Miano f Camp Hill PA 22:38 07:18
2 16 Sarah Ferguson f Amston CT 22:52 07:22
3 21 Alyssa Krause f Northfield New Hampshire 23:08 07:27
Women 30 – 39
Place Bib Name M/F City St Time Pace
===== ===== ========================= === =============== == ======== ========
1 30 Amy Makechnie f Andover New Hampshire 22:33 07:16
2 102 Danielle Clay f Loudon New Hampshire 24:00 07:44
3 24 Aime Macdonald f Somerville Massachusetts 25:00 08:03
Women 40 – 49
Place Bib Name M/F City St Time Pace
===== ===== ========================= === =============== == ======== ========
1 67 Colleen Roy f Northfield New Hampshire 23:34 07:36
2 43 Deborah Parkman f Andover N.H New Hampshire 23:56 07:43
3 36 Wendy McLeod f Andover New Hampshire 25:14 08:08
Women 50 – 59
Place Bib Name M/F City St Time Pace
===== ===== ========================= === =============== == ======== ========
1 26 Linda Magoon f Tilton New Hampshire 25:54 08:21
2 19 Patricia Halpin f Sunapee New Hampshire 32:13 10:23
3 71 Donna Chimento f Bow New Hampshire 36:24 11:44
Women 60 and Over
Place Bib Name M/F City St Time Pace
===== ===== ========================= === =============== == ======== ========
1 56 Ann Davis f Wilmot New Hampshire 40:16 12:59
Boys 0 to 12
Place Bib Name M/F City St Time Pace
===== ===== ========================= === =============== == ======== ========
1 104 Luke Tkaczyk m Northwood New Hampshire 20:57 06:45
2 47 David Reynolds m Andover New Hampshire 21:45 07:00
3 46 Matthew Reynolds m Andover New Hampshire 23:04 07:26
Men 13 to 19
Place Bib Name M/F City St Time Pace
===== ===== ========================= === =============== == ======== ========
1 38 Michael Miano m Yonkers NY 16:39 05:22
2 73 Walker John m Boscawen New Hampshire 16:44 05:24
3 64 Marc Roy m Northfield New Hampshire 16:50 05:25
Men 20 to 29
Place Bib Name M/F City St Time Pace
===== ===== ========================= === =============== == ======== ========
1 65 Matt Roy m Northfield New Hampshire 18:40 06:01
2 15 Matt Ferguson m Amston CT 20:24 06:34
3 17 Daniel Fletcher m Madbury New Hampshire 25:08 08:06
Men 30 – 39
Place Bib Name M/F City St Time Pace
===== ===== ========================= === =============== == ======== ========
1 45 Harvey Pine m Andover New Hampshire 23:54 07:42
2 34 William McGowan m Arlington Massachusetts 24:37 07:56
Men 40 – 49
Place Bib Name M/F City St Time Pace
===== ===== ========================= === =============== == ======== ========
1 20 John Judkins m Franklin New Hampshire 20:58 06:45
2 97 David Dix m Franklin New Hampshire 21:50 07:02
3 86 Daniel Moore m Andover New Hampshire 24:06 07:46
Men 50 – 59
Place Bib Name M/F City St Time Pace
===== ===== ========================= === =============== == ======== ========
1 88 George Clemence m Amherst New Hampshire 22:20 07:12
2 70 Michael Clark m Bow New Hampshire 22:30 07:15
3 37 Stephen Miano m Yonkers NY 22:39 07:18
Men 60 and Over
Place Bib Name M/F City St Time Pace
===== ===== ========================= === =============== == ======== ========
1 12 Michael Cryans m Hanover New Hampshire 20:42 06:40
2 57 Marc Davis m Wilmot New Hampshire 23:50 07:41
3 106 Bill Radzelovage m Andover New Hampshire 28:16 09:07