It was a record-setting day in the master's division competition, as a pair of first-time participants took home titles in Sunday's 15K Utica Boilermaker Road Race.
Steve Boyd, 44, earned the men's title and Edith Masai, 41, ran away with the women's title, shattering the previous record by more than a minute.
With high humidity and head winds, the two runners said they were a bit disappointed with their overall times, but were certainly pleased with the results.
“It wasn't great, but it worked,” Boyd said after the race.
“I'm happy because even this time was not so good,” Masai said. “So I'm happy with it.”
Masai finished in 50:40, obliterating Elena Fidatof's 2002 master's record of 52:01. She was nearly five minutes ahead of her nearest rival, Albina Gallyamova of Russia, who placed second.
Two-time defending champion Firaya Sultanova, also from Russia, finished third.
Not only was Sunday the first Boilermaker for Masai, it was also the first race she's ever run in the United States. The Kenyan native made it one to remember.
She broke away early from her fellow Masters racers. With 800 meters to go, Masai found herself in a pack of seven women, including Catherine Ndereba and overall women's winner Ashu Rabo Kasim.
She finished within a second of both, barely removed from the open division title.
For a first showing, Masai was pleased and says she looks forward to her next opportunity to race here.
“It's very great for me because it's my first time,” Masai said. “So I'm happy.”
In the men's master's, it was a two-man race.
Boyd and Paul Mwangi were neck and neck heading into the golf course hill at mile 4, a crucial spot on the course. Mwangi hit the hill first, but it was Boyd who was the first to leave it. Mwangi pushed, but he never caught up with Boyd.
“He got up the hill before me, and whoever gets over the hill first always wins,” Mwangi said.
Mwangi, a Kenyan native who lives in Westchester, was disappointed with his final time. The veteran runner was well prepared, but conceded after the race that perhaps he was a bit too prepared.
“I think I overtrained,” Mwangi said. “I was supposed to slow down before the race.”
He runs 10 miles a day to condition his legs for big races. Typically, runners lighten their training regimen in the day leading up to an event.
But Mwangi ran 10 miles only a few days ago and said that it might have slowed him.
“I think it took a toll out of me,” he said.
Boyd finished in 48:48, just under a minute ahead of his competitor.
For Boyd, the Boilermaker was the last of the major North American road races he had yet to enter.
The Kingston, Ontario, native said that running a 15K in the middle of July “wasn't too appealing” weather-wise - it has yet to reach over 70 degrees in his hometown - but in the end, the draw was too much to ignore.
“It was fantastic,” Boyd said. “Amazing event.”
No bonuses are given to record breakers in the master's division like they are to open division record breakers, but both Boyd and Masai did take home $1,500 for their first-place finishes.
Prize money was given out to the top five finishers. Money winners in the men's master's divison included Boyd, Mwangi ($1,000), Gideon Mutisya ($500), James Derick ($300), and Henry Scollard ($200).
The womens' money winners were Gallyamova, Sultanova, Zinaid Semenova, Elizabeth Primrose, and Barbara McManus.
Masai won $2,000 for her third-place finish in the women's open race. She did not receive a prize for the master's race becuase there are no duplicate awards for winners in two divisions.
