ALL IN THE FAMILY
Sixty-three years ago on a cinder track in Oxford, England, running changed forever. That windy afternoon, a junior doctor named Roger Bannister became the first man to run a mile in less than four minutes. Excited spectators lined the track, clapping and cheering, drowning out the announcement of Bannister’s time with their noise.
3:59.4.
Six decades later and more than 3,000 miles away, as the sun set over the rows of pine trees around the Emerson Track in Concord, MA, another throng of spectators congregated for a night at the races - the 2017 Adrian Martinez Classic. Named after a standout local runner who passed away from sudden cardiac arrest at a young age, the Classic is one of the premier twilight meets in the Northeast. What sets it apart from many of the region’s other offerings is the upper bounds of its competition. While it attracts local runners as competitors and spectators alike, it is unique in its ability to draw top-tier talent, including All-Americans, Olympians, and NCAA champions while retaining a small-town and family feel.
The evening began quietly, with a series of scholastic miles and races for the children of Concord and its surrounding towns. However, as the shadows lengthened, the action on the track began to heat up, first with a series of mile races for the local elite, and then the professional races that drew the majority of the crowd. Eager to test their speed on a calm summer night, a number of Tracksmith employees took to the track for the miles.
CEO and founder Matt Taylor opened the evening in the master’s mile, running his first track race in several years and clocking a negative split for third place. Next, the open women’s mile saw a fierce showdown between Eryn Wheeler of the Heartbreakers and former Syracuse 800 runner and Tracksmith designer, Molly Malone. Wheeler and Malone quickly opened a large gap on the rest of the pack which they maintained as they battled to the finish. Wheeler proved to have the better kick, however, and bested Malone in the final hundred meters, 5:03 to 5:06. Last before the elite races, Art Director Rafa Oliveira tackled the mile fresh off some downtime after the London Marathon. With only a little speed work in his legs, Oliveira ran most of the race in no man’s land, but left it all on the track for a fourth-place finish.
As the elite runners began to warm up, a palpable energy filled the air. The crowd’s enthusiasm soon began to seep onto the track, and a number of excellent performances followed: new meet records were established in both the men’s and women’s 800, with three athletes in each race dipping under the previous marks.
The men’s and women’s 3000 - a new event for 2017 - also produced a swath of impressive results, with 16 competitors in the men’s race dipping under 8:00, led by New Balance Boston’s Kemoy Campbell. On the women’s side, Olympian Marielle Hall dominated the race, winning by 5 seconds with an 8:55, making her the only woman to break 9:00. Rosa Moriello, Tracksmith’s Customer Experience Lead, ran a gutsy race and finished an impressive 5th in the elite field with a 9:06.53, a thirteen second PR.
As dusk fell and the lights came on, spectators surged onto the track for the premier event of the evening, the Adro Miles. This year’s field included Olympians, All-Americans, NCAA champs and a member of the world record-setting DMR. With pacers instructed to take the fields through in 2:12 for the women and 1:56 for the men, fast times were sure to follow.
With fans lining the track out to lane 3 and the lights burning bright overhead, the men and women chased the same magic that carried Bannister to his monumental finish so many years ago. Screaming teenagers drowned out coaches calling splits to their athletes as they came through 800 meters below meet record pace. With 400 to go, it became clear that the evening was going to end with something special when David Torrence and Nicole Tully pushed the pace in their respective races. As both kicked hard to the line to take home the title, the air pulsed with a special energy that only a truly thrilling race can provide.
As the winners accepted their prizes and the meet ended, many of the runners turned to the crowd to exchange high fives with children, pose for pictures, and sign autographs. The fans, delighted to see their idols in their backyard, lingered until the lights shut off, soaking in the atmosphere and making the most of their time with their family, friends, and the athletes. The casual and friendly air felt almost as if a big family had been united after a long time apart.
Until next year, then. We’ll see you under the pines.
