Historic sweep for Canton runners
at Lobster Loop
By GERRY deSIMAS, JR.
Collinsville Press
CANTON, August 16 – Canton’s Lobster Loop road race has always been a small-town race filled with local residents running 3.1 miles on sunny August Sundays to raise money for the Canton Middle School’s PTO for the upcoming school year.
The 18th edition of the race featured two Canton residents winning the race in the same year for the first time.
In his last run before returning to Carnegie Mellon in Pittsburgh the next day, Nate Bussiere, 20, led from start to finish to become the first Canton man to win the race by 25 seconds over Avon’s John Drago. On the woman’s side, Mary-Lynn Currier, who moved to Canton with her family two years ago, won the race for the sixth straight time.
Over 430 runners participated in the race and health walk. “It’s become a real community event,” said race director Rena Gieseoman. “We couldn’t get this done without the volunteers from the community and the parents. It’s a huge endeavor.”
A chance to see life-long friends in the community brought Bussiere out to the race. “It’s hot and it’s early,” he said. “But it’s a fun race. You get to see all the folks and old friends you haven’t seen in a few years.”
Bussiere has been training this summer for his junior year at Carnegie Mellon, where he is majoring in chemical engineering. He runs on the school’s varsity track team as a middle distance runner, primarily in the 800 and 1,600 meters.
Bussiere was never really challenged, racing out to an early lead in the race and finishing with a time of 15:54.
He graduated from Canton High in 2007, where he played soccer and ran track. He finished third in Class S in the 800 and 1,600 meters in outdoor track in 2007, setting school records in both events at the State Open.
Currier is a world-class marathon runner, who raced in four U.S. Olympic team trials and three U.S. World Championship team trials in the marathon. But she has a soft spot in her heart for the Lobster Loop.
In recent years, she was a distance running coach for the Avon High track program and a paraprofessional in the Canton school system. “Many of the kids I worked with and coached come back to this race,” she said. “It’s good to see everyone and see the students I have worked with.”
She wasn’t really challenged in the race and finished 15th overall in the event in 18:34. After completing the race, she ran back onto the course to warm down and encourage other friends and runners. As a marathoner, it’s a short race. She was second in the Vermont Marathon in May and took second at the Cape Cod Marathon last fall, a race she won twice in the 1996 and 1997.
Running has been a stress release for Currier, who is looking for a job. Her last position teaching science, Math and chemistry at the Farmington Valley Academy, a Montessori school, was eliminated due to decreasing enrollment.
In the women’s age group results, Canton’s Kim Powell won the women’s 19-29 division in 19:09 with Canton’s Marjory Rockwell taking second. Bussiere’s mother, Nancy won the women’s 50-59 division with a strong time of 24:44. Avon’s Barbara Kream ran a strong 26:57 to win the women’s 60-69 division.
On the boys side, Canton’s Matthew Sullivan beat classmate Trey VandeBogart by four seconds in the boys 11 and under division. Canton’s Jon Cahill won the boys 12-14 division while Simsbury’s Tom Benneche won the boys 15-18 division by seven seconds in 17:05 over classmate Mike Leone.
Farmington’s Chris Chisholm, a former two-champion of this race, was fourth overall and won the men’s 40-49 division in 16:47. Canton’s Tom McMahon won the men’s 70-79 division in 30:10. Canton’s John Matthews was three seconds off the pace and took second in men’s 50-59 division with his time of 18:49. Bussiere’s father, Bruce, took third in 19:37.
18th annual Lobster Loop Road Race
At Canton
Top finishers: 1. Nate Bussiere, Canton, 15:54 for 3.1 miles (5K); 2. John Drago, Avon, 16:19, 3. Spencer Sass, Litchfield, 16:30, 4. Chris Chisholm, Farmington, 16:47; 5. Tom Benneche, SImsbury, 17:05; 6. Mike Leone, Simsbury, 17:12; 7. Karl Schilling, Canton, 17:14; 8. Dan Kalamaides, Simsbury, 17:24; 9. Sean Callahan 17:30; 10. Kevin Kurnat 17:47
Top women: 1. Mary Lynn Currier, Canton, 18:34 (15th overall); 2. Kim Powell, Canton, 19:09 (28th overall); 3. Sabrina Olsen, Thomaston, 19:44 (34th overall); 4. Jessica Soja, Thomaston, 20:15 (43rd overall); 5. Desiree Piette. Granby, 20:19 (44th overall)
Age group results
Girls 11 and under: 1. Joan Makowski, West Hartland, 25:00; 2. Nicole Demers, Avon, 28:08; 3. Cameron McCauley, Canton, 28:59
Girls 12-14: 1. Sabrina Olsen, Thomaston, 19:41; 2. Becky Perugini, Thomaston, 22:03; 3. Leigh Fitzgerald, Canton 24:44
Girls 15-18: 1. Jessica Soja, Thomaston, 20:10, 2. Desiree Piette, Granby 20:15; 3. Kylie Brasel, Simsbury 22:55
Women 19-29: 1. Kim Powell, Canton, 19:09, 2. Marjory Rockwell, Canton, 23:34; 3. Tabitha Rosen, Avon, 23:58
Women 30-39: 1. Erin O’Brien, Winsted, 25:03, 2. Miah Dreger, Barkhamsted, 25:41; 3. Diane Ellsworth, Unionville, 27:55
Women 40-49: 1. Mary Lynn Currier, Canton, 18:34; 2. Kathryn Fludquist, Terryville, 22:06; 3. Marcey Sass, Litchfield, 22:23
Women 50-59: 1. Nancy Bussiere, Canton, 24:44; 2. Carolyn Reading, Glastonbury, 26:56; 3. Amy Bansak, Burlington 28:35
Women 60-69: 1. Barbara Kream, Avon 26:57; 2. Phyllis McMahon, Canton, 42:35
Boys 11 and under: 1. Matthew Sullivan, Canton, 23:40; 2. Trey VandeBogart, Canton, 23:44; 3. Reilly Curtis, Avon 25:58
Boys 12-14: 1. Jonathan Cahill, Canton, 18:59; 2. Jackson Morrow, Harwinton, 19:44; 3. Forrest Bly, Southington, 22:45
Boys 15-18: 1. Tom Benneche, Simsbury, 17:05; 2. Mike Leone, Simsbury, 17:12; 3. Daniel Kalamarides, Simsbury, 17:24
Men 19-29: 1. Nate Bussiere, Canton, 15:54; 2. John Drago, Avon, 16:19; 3. Spencer Sass, Litchfield, 16:30
Men 30-39: 1. Joshua Adams, New Hartford, 17:48; 2. Mark deKanter, Simsbury, 19:35; 3. Gary Klinzmann, Unionville, 22:30
Men 40-49: 1. Chris Chisholm, Farmington, 16:47; 2. Thomas Ksiazkiewicz, Canton, 18:40; 3. Joel Lehman, Avon, 19:02
Men 50-59: 1. Ron Kirschbaum, Suffield, 18:46; 2. John Matthews, Canton, 18:49; 3. Bruce Bussiere, Canton, 19:37
Men 60-69: 1. Bob Dacey, Vernon, 20:53; 2. David Mirkin, Avon, 21:27; 3. David Condit, Avon, 21:38
Men 70-79: 1. Tom McMahon, Canton, 30:10; 2. Alphonese Labieniec, East Hartford, 35:47
Men 80-plus: 1. Edward Regner, Torrington, 39:00
Race winners
2009: Nate Bussiere, Canton, 15:54
2008: Marc Robaczynski, New Hartford, 15:32
2007: Marc Robaczynski, New Hartford, 15:40
2006: Jeff Niedeck, Canaan, 16:47
2005: Richard Hunter, Barkhamsted, 15:55
2004: Marc Robaczynski, New Hartford, 15:54
2003: Marc Robaczynski, New Hartford, 15:50
2002: Chris Chisholm, Farmington, 15:53
2001: Chris Chisholm, Farmington, 15:41
2000: Liam Revell, Norfolk, 15:54
1999: Robert Dwyer, Winsted, 15:57
1998: Robert Dwyer, Winsted, 16:05
1997: Marc Robaczynski, Glastonbury, 15:27**
1996: Marc Robaczynski, Glastonbury, 15:56
1995: unavailable
1994: Kevin Piegon, Windsor, 15:55
1993: L.J. Briggs, Winsted, 15:41
1992: Steve Powers, 15:58
**Race record
Women’s champions
2009: Mary Lynn Currier, Canton, 18:34
2008: Mary Lynn Currier, Canton, 18:47
2007: Mary Lynn Currier, Unionville, 18:44
2006: Mary Lynn Currier, Unionville, 18:41
2005: Mary Lynn Currier, Unionville, 18:35
2004: Mary Lynn Currier, Unionville, 18:05
2003: Shannon Hovey, West Granby, 18:07
2002: Kate Padden, New Hartford, 17:29**
2001: Sue Mantie, Pleasant Valley, 19:20
2000: Sue Mantie, Pleasant Valley, 19:13
1999: Kate Petricone, Colebrook, 18:12
1998: Sue Mantie, Pleasant Valley, 19:06
1997: Sherri Christoff, Middletown, 18:12
1996: Wendy Ouellette, 19:03
1995: unavailable
1994: Sherry Christoff, Meriden, 17:56
1993: Catherine Lyons, 19:37
1992: Gail Case
