Moove Out, It's Cow Harbor!

Race of the Year MOOve Out, It’s Cow Harbor! Photos courtesy of Island Photo n the early ’80s the Cambridge Sports Sonoma took us out this year but no more Union’s proverbial clubhouse was waiting, because Cow Harbor, as the kids abuzz with news that the Great Cow say…no, as the kids text these days: is THE Harbor 10K was offering a few New BOMB! England clubs transportation $ to the Our team’s only regret was not being able I Big Event on Long Island; hence, sever- to stay an extra day for the Cow Harbor Day al of us piled into a van and…hello, Northport. Parade, when bovine floats and marching Arriving at dusk, I remember Northport as a bands take over the streets. There are rides, quaint village perched right above a pic- arts & crafts, food and entertainment, kayak turesque harbor. and boat races along with live music. Which The following day we stood waiting for begs the question, “Where does the name the start on Laurel Avenue. My ersatz coach at ‘Cow Harbor’ come from. It seems that the time, Henry Finch, cautioned: “Follow me Northport was once known as Great Cow for the first mile. It’s kind of downhill and Harbor. From what locals told us, during the there’s a lot of really fast guys here. There’s a revolutionary war the British were in control hill in the second mile, so you don’t want to of the area for a stretch of time and built a get sucked into going out too fast.” Finch flew stockade that included cattle to feed the through the first mile in 4:45 with yours truly English troops…voila, Cow Harbor. in tow. The next memory is turning right on The ‘idea’ for the race arrived in 1977 with James Street and looking straight up “Widow the advent of the Northport Running Club, the Hill.” creation of five local running zealots. John “Coach” was fired after the race, but the ‘Rak’ Rakucewicz was the driving force event itself was world-class right up to and behind the race and the club’s first president— including the staggering post-race party at albeit for a tenure of only two months as the Scudder Beach. The Greater Cow Harbor 10K, wheels of his brainchild began to spin ever now in its 33rd year, is past due as NER’s faster. That September’s inaugural event drew “Race of the Year” owing to our procrastina- 1,002 finishers. Word got out about the cir- There’s one in every crowd. tion in getting back to the epic. Vacation in cuitous, hilly course with spectacular views of 30 New England Runner, January/February 2010 Long Island Sound. The roller-coaster route ended with a downhill finish that emptied onto Main St. among throngs of spectators. The awards and post-race social were top- notch. Within three years a total of 2,515 finishers crossed the finish line in front of the Northport Hardware Company. In the days of paper applications, the first 3,000 were accepted for the 1981 race as a ‘cap’ was put in place to con- tain the field. This held until 1985 when start coordinator John Pitfick implemented a staggered start. When Pitfick passed away, the major improvement he’d supplied to the race was officially coined, “The John Pitfick Great Cow Harbor Staggered Start.” The race soon became a victim of its own success. With expanding fields and the increased time pressures of his own business, Cow Harbor creator, director and manager Rakucewicz reluctantly stepped out of the spotlight. The race wasn’t run in 1986 but was back on in 1987 through the efforts of an orga- nizing committee (The Great Cow Harbor 10- Kilometer Run, Inc.) the Northport RC and the Northport American Legion Post 694. The race has been held every year since except in 2001 The Bay State’s Nate Jenkins (2) ran 29:44 in 2008 to place 3rd. following the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks (Northport is only 40 miles from Ground Zero). the ’94 race but struggled on the James St. Hill prolific performer with two wins in 2003 and In 1991, eventual three-time champion Jeff and was passed first by Omoro, then Ann 2007, a second to Hall in 2006 and another sec- Jacobs ran a course record 28:44 for men and Hare (32:58) and Laura Mykytok (33:16) to ond in 2009. three years later Kenya’s Jane Omoro set the place an uncharacteristic fourth in 33:50. The The main beneficiary of the race is Long women’s standard of 32:33. Lynn Jennings led men’s race that year saw Khalid Khannouchi Island Special Olympics but many other local winning by 3-seconds in 28:47 over Kenya’s causes also benefit, notes Event Coordinator Steve Nyamu with Jacobs third. Omoro’s Rich Boziwick, who serves on the Racing record stands today and Jacob’s record sur- Committee with Bill Fleming, Harvey vived Khannouchi (by 3-seconds) along with Sussman, Ron Mataza, Fritzi Gros-Daillon and Todd Williams, Steve Spence, Budd Coates outside consultant Jerry Wood. This year and Rod DeHaven (among others), to last 16 Boziwick’s son, Matt, brought about a partner- years until Ryan Hall visited Northport in 2006 ship with Soles4Souls, a nonprofit organiza- and clocked 28:22. In addition to the first place tion that collects ‘gently-used’ footwear to dis- prize of $1.5K, Hall picked up another $5K for tribute to the poor and victims of natural dis- the course record (donat- asters. A total of 750 ed by title sponsor Capital Race Facts pairs of shoes were col- One Bank). lected. In addition, the The race’s toughest race shaded green in challenge came in 2004 in Cow Harbor CR Progression 2009 with the recycling the wake of Hurricane Men of glass, plastic and Ivan when waterlogged Jeff Jacobs 28:44 1991 metal objects. This year timing equipment failed Ryan Hall 28:22 2006 also saw the addition of to record half the field. a 2K Fun Run/Walk that Nothing, however, can Women drew over a thousand stop this juggernaught for Diane Rodgers 33:15 1985 participants and started long. A record field of Jane Omoro 32:33 1994 after the last wave of 10K 4,453 runners crossed the Prize Purse runners went off. finish line this year with When the huffing Walpole, NH’s Heidi Top 10 M & F Top 3 Masters M & F and puffing is over, a Westerling placing second $1,500 $500 huge party by the harbor to Minnesota’s Katie $1,000 $300 ensues with plenty of McGregor in the women’s $900 $100 giveaways and live race. Westerling isn’t the $800 Top M & F Senior music. We could contin- only regional elite to have $700 ue to ‘milk’ this story, done well here in the $100 but seeing is believing, recent past. In 2008, $600 so if you’ve got an Lowell, MA roadster Nate $500 opportunity to make it Jenkins pulled in third at $400 out to ‘Cow Harbor’ Team USA Minnesota runner Jason Lehmkuhle has 29:44, six seconds ahead $300 come September, don’t certainly been Cow Harbor’s most prolific of MN’s Jason Lehm- $200 procrastinate! performer over the past decade. kuhle—the race’s most —Bob Fitzgerald New England Runner, January/February 2010 31.

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