Top Two Runners are Decades Apart
Record field in attendance

Dracut, MA - Old warhorse and senior runner Tom Carroll threw a scare into young colt Artie Carew tonight. In the end, however, it was the young legs of Mr. Carew that prevailed as he won his third consecutive Lakeview 5K. Carew, who runs for the Dracut High School cross country and track teams, had to run a personal best in order to hold off the charging Carroll. In the end only 24 seconds and 36 years separated the two competitors. In the female division, Erica Labella of Tewksbury ran 21:54 for a new female course record and the women's title.

From left to right Elizabeth Waldman, Jim Hansen and Barry Pearson.

Tonight was bonus point night and a record 37 competitors toed the line on this relatively cool evening. All point totals were multiplied by a factor of 1.5. Medals were also awarded in four categories. The 19 and under category went to Tyngsboro High School cross country standout Anissa Vieira while Artie Carew captured the men's medal. The 20 to 39 division winners were Lowell's Bob Kearns and Tewksbury's Erica Labella. The over 40 award went to Dracut's Diane Geehan, who has won her division for three consecutive weeks, and Chelmsford's Tom Carroll, who is a three time New England masters' champion and Greater Lowell Road Runners Hall of Fame inductee.

Week Number Four - Handicap Night
Week number four will feature a computerized handicap night. All runners who have competed in at least one previous Lakeview race will be awarded a handicap based on a scratch time of 18:42. For example, the way it works is if your previous best time was 20:00 you would be awarded a handicap time of 1:18 (20:00 minus 18:42). If next week you run 20:00 your time will be adjust by your handicap to equal 18:42 (actual time minus handicap). The top ten finishers after factoring in the handicap will win a prize. If next week is your first week, you will not receive a handicap. When the times are computed everyone should be tied for first place, but we know that won't happen. All we can predict is that it will be interesting.

About the Series' Scoring
The Lakeview 5K Series uses a unique scoring system. Points are awarded based on a relative merit for a performance based on the fastest runner. The winner receives 1000 points and lesser points are awarded to each finisher based on time. Points are computed by dividing a runners' time into the time of the first place finisher then multiplying by 1000. Weekly results will be posted immediately after each race and on Cool Running. An awards ceremony will be held by 7:15 PM each week.