BPAC 6-Hour Distance Classic

Buffalo, NY Road Loop April 17, 2005

The 25^th anniversary of ultrarunning in Buffalo was celebrated in beautiful weather in Buffalo’s Olmstead-designed Delaware Park. Although the temperature crept up into the low sixties, there was a cooling breeze on about two-thirds of the 1.77 mile road loop around the golf course. It was a day enjoyed by both runners and volunteers.

The ultimate winner, Ryne Melcher of Waterloo, Ontario, took the lead and completed each of the first three loops in 11 minutes, leaving the competition far behind. Ed Housel of Rochester, NY, was running in second place and after one hour only five minutes behind the leader. However, in the second hour Melcher extended the gap between him and Housel to about 14 minutes. After three hours the gap had grown to 17 minutes. After four hours Housel began to falter and Mark Bomhower of Kitchener, Ontario moved into second place behind Melcher. Housel decided to stop with 16 minutes remaining, and his pursuer Gary Hilliard of Sierra Madre, California, moved into third place behind Bomhower.

The women’s winner, Patricia Sommers, of Kitchener, Ontario, started strongly and quickly established a commanding lead of 16 minutes at the end of the first hour over the second woman, Lori Bauza, of Fredonia, NY. Sommers widened the lead to about 30 minutes at the end of thee hours and ended up winning with a 4.5 mile lead over the second place finisher.

The overall field displayed strong staying power. Twenty seven runners out of 33 starters completed distances in excess of the marathon, and the top three finishers completed over 40 miles, with the winner completing 46 miles.

Next year’s edition of the BPAC 6-Hour Distance Classic will again be in April but under a new race director. Yours truly is turning the duties over to his replacement after directing this race and its 50 mile predecessor for about 15 years.

Carl Pegels, RD

BPAC 6-HOUR DISTANCE CLASSIC

First Race in Western New York Ultra Series [www.wny-ultra.org]

Buffalo, New York

April 17, 2005

Road Loop Final Results	Miles	Marathon Time
1 Melcher, Ryne 26, ON	46.03	2:57
2 Bomhower, Mark 47, ON	42.49	3:35
3 Hilliard, Gary 45, CA	40.10	3:52
4 Gehl, Ronald 57, ON	38.95	3:46
Housel, Edward 46	38.95	3:14
6 Ferrari, Scott 47, PA	37.18	4:05
Rusin, Robert 47	37.18	4:06
Heij, Andrew 24, ON	37.18	3:47
9 Malinin, Mike 37, CA	36.29	4:04
10 Sommers, Patricia 51, ON	35.40	4:06
Perry, Tom 59	35.40	4:23
Hooker, Brian 25	35.40	4:06
13 Rogers, Cliff 46, ME	34.31	4:21
14 Sitler, Richard 66, PA	33.63	4:45
15 Bauza, Lori 47	31.86	4:27
16 Carlin, Hubert 65	31.27	4:58
17 Cheng, Paula 25, ON	30.09	4:43
Hillery, Peggy 44	30.09	5:08
19 Erickson, Barry 62	29.93	5:08
20 Tyson, Emily 26, ON	28.32	5:08
Packard, Joseph 41	28.32	5:05
Burns, Tom 38	28.32	5:08
Geer, Willis 57	28.32	4:48
24 Brooks, Linda 44	28.00	5:37
25 Quirk, John 54	27.30	5:39
26 Wolniewicz, Michelle 47	26.55	5:44
Rice, Andrew 39	26.55	4:01
28 Frank, Norm 73	22.24	-
29 Walker, Gordon 70	21.24	-
30 Kamela, Ed 45	15.93	-
31 Baker, Roxanne 41	14.16	-
Burns, Fat 52	14.16	-
33 Hassell, Paul 58	12.39	-