Empire State Games Qualifier
Prospect Park
June 4, 2005
By JP Partland
Ian and Keith lined up for the start of the Empire State
Games qualifier with 45 some-odd hearty souls. Amazing how 60-degree
rain scares people off an easy course. With a field this size,
attacking is probably going to pay off at some point. Easier for the
strong guys, harder for everyone else. I went to the hill to watch,
coach, give splits, watter bottles, whatever. Eloy and Valentina
later joined me there.
The first attack took the race. Inson Wood attacked from the
line. On the second lap, he was joined by seven others. Someone was
really throwing down; a few laps later, they were six, then five,
then four. They quickly got a two minute lead, which eventually went
up to 2:13. The field, at times led by Keith early, bided their time.
When it was down to three with something like five laps to
go, I was sure the break would get caught before the bell. And a
concerted chase brought the lead down to 53 seconds with four laps
remaining. And the break looked bad. Rob Lattanzi tried to cross.
A few others chased him, and a group remained behind, with Ian firmly
in the middle of it.
With one lap remaining, Lattanzi couldn't get close than 21
seconds, and it went up to probabl 40 at the line. THere were a few
finishing another half minute behind him, another group a minute
behind that, and Ian fmishing solo in 18th place. Best race I've
seen from him thusfar. Great finish in a race of attrition. True
to harman form, he was muddy and tired and I think both a bit blown
and happy.
JP
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