Liberty AC weekend race results: October 25, 2025

The 2025 USATF-New England road grand prix series concluded in grand style on Sunday, at the mouth of the Merrimack River up in Newburyport MA.  Conditions were chilly at the start but clear throughout with not too much wind interference, excellent overall running conditions.  More than 1400 completed a course that included stretches along Maudslay State Park and the Artichoke River, with the last mile on a wooded rail trail.


Liberty started/finished 17 athletes across all age groups with fine team & individual results:


Open (39-under): Catherine Xie, 1:36:55; Rachel Steely, 1:45:07; Ashley Robbins, 1:46:38.

Masters (40-49): Vicky Shen, 1:43:55; Jennifer Stewart, 1:46:24; Kara Brown, 1:52:20; Maria Rojas Duran*, 2:23:43.

Seniors (50-59):  Pauline Entin, 1:37:37; Veronique Vanderhorst, 1:38:31; Jennifer Hood-DeGreinier, 1:49:04**, Kelly Chiu, 2:06:05.

Veterans (60-69): Mary Cass, 1:37:03; Lauren Leslie*, 1:41:40; Jackie Shakar*, 1:44:00; Viki Bok, 1:51:26; Joanne Hill, 1:56:52; Dru Pratt-Otto, 2:07:53.

*Maria, Lauren and Jackie are 2025 USATF-NE Ironrunners for having completed all six races in the GP series – congratulations!!   **Jennifer’s 1st Liberty race -- welcome (always good to have more Jennifers)!

Other notes: Much gratitude, as always, to Maria for getting the tent to the race and set up – it is never an easy task but such a valuable one . . . Congrats to Jackie for winning the 65-69 age group; Pauline and Veronique went 4-5 in the 55-59s, Mary and Lauren 2-3 in the 60-64s.  (Keep an eye out for a piece [we think] in the forthcoming New England Runner issue on the remarkable 60-64 competition this year between Mary and Greater Lowell’s Trish Bourne) . . . The Jennifer-named-Stewart helped pace the Robbins-named-Ashley to a 10-minute PR . . . and finally: once again, whether your name is near the top of a list or not, your presence was huge, as Liberty’s ‘per capita’ participation has to be at or at least near the top of all USATF-NE clubs.

Now a look at team results:

Open (all ages, top 5 combined times):  Liberty 7th/13 (8:11:46, 1:38:22 average) – Catherine Xie, Mary Cass, Pauline Entin, Veronique Vanderhorst, Lauren Leslie

Masters (40+, top 5): Liberty 6th/12 (8:18:26, 1:39:42 ave.) – M. Cass, P. Entin, V. Vanderhorst, L. Leslie, Vicky Shen

Seniors (50+, top 3): Liberty 2nd/12 (4:53:11, 1:37:44 ave.) – M. Cass, P. Entin, V. Vanderhorst

Veterans (60+, top 3): Liberty 1st/6 (5:02:43, 1:40:55 ave.) – M. Cass, L. Leslie, J. Shakar

https://results.raceroster.com/v3/events/dutbkx7e2epftx4x/race/245903?filter_search=

Overall end-of-series results are still being compiled, but a glance at team standings after 5 races suggests:

  • Open: Liberty was in 8th of 18 with 32 points, 1 behind GLRR – may move up as LAC finished 2 places in front of GLRR yesterday.

  • Masters: Liberty 5th of 15 with 33 points, should hold that vis-a-vis GLRR & Tracksmith.

  • Seniors: Liberty 2nd of 12 with 35, should hold v. BEN (32) which placed 1st at the half.

  • Veterans: Need you ask? Liberty 1st of 6 with 29, GLRR a solid 2nd at 25.

Among individuals, Lauren, Mary & Viki were 2-3-6 in the 60-64 division; Jackie 1st in 65-69s and will win that group (you go Jackie!) while Anne Shreffler stood 4th and should still finish high despite having to miss Newburyport; also, Marge Bellisle was tied for 2nd among 70-74s.

And no, that wasn’t all . . . across the country in the wilds of the McDowell Mountains of Arizona (northeast of Phoenix but practically speaking in the middle of nowhere), Joan Butterton took on the same Javelina Jackass 31K Trail Race that Caitlin Sweeney did last year . . . Joan’s 4:37:48 was good for 5th in her age group and top 1/3 among both women and women/men combined.  Well done Joan!

Liberty AC