Ben Bruce Celebrates Family Day with a Convincing Win in Master’s 8K

By Clay Shaw
Photography by Clay Shaw and Karen Mitchell

Mechanicsville, VA, January 21, 2023, USATF Cross Country Championships—Ten minutes prior to the start of the men’s master 8K race at Pole Green Park, Ben Bruce was a proud dad watching sons Riley and Hudson compete in the kid’s fun run. Bruce, from Flagstaff, AZ and part of the well-known Hoka NAZ Elite team, won in 24.59.8. For editorial purposes, the master’s times were rounded up to the full second. Bruce later watched along with his sons as his wife Stephanie ran in the USATF open 10K; she finished thirteenth in 33:50.

Neal McDonaugh of Colorado Springs, CO and the Square State Striders, was second in 25:26. Christopher Pruitt of Sandy Spring, MD and the Colonial Road Runners, was third in 25:58. Adam Otstot of Williamsburg, VA was fourth in 26:34. Scott Burns of West Chester, PA was fifth in 26:40 and led the Greater Philadelphia Track Club to the 40-49 team championship. The Colonial Road Runners, with two runners in the top five, was second. The Blacksburg Striders were third.

Age group firsts were also earned. Jacques Sallberg of Pasadena, CA, won the 45-49 in 26:44; Ahrlin Bauman of Lake Oswego, OR earned the 50-54 award in 27:28; Michael Nahom of New Milford, CT was tops in the 55-59 age group. Nat Larson of Amherst, MA was tops in the 60-64 in 28:33 and David Westenberg of Wellesley, MA won the 65-69 age group in 31:27. Robert Qualls of Reno, NV won the 70-74 age group in 34:08. Gary Ostwald of Denver, CO won the 75-59 group in 38:05. Ed Bligh of Alpharetta, GA won the 80-84 group in 47:25. 173 finished the men’s master 8K.

Top Finishers

  1. 25:00 Benjamin Bruce, 40, Flagstaff, AZ
  2. 25:26 Neil McDonagh, 41, Colorado Springs, CO
  3. 25:58 Christopher Pruitt, 40, Sandy Springs, MD
  4. 26:34 Adam Otstot, 40, Williamsburg, VA
  5. 26:40 Scott Burns, 42, West Chester, PA
  6. 26:44 Jacques Sallberg, 48, Pasadena, CA
  7. 26:58 David Angell, 46, Blue Ridge, VA
  8. 27:08 Charlie Ban, 40, Washington, DC
  9. 2710 Jason Holroyd, 46, Wayne, PA
  10. 27:17 Michael Harlow, 41, Richmond, VA
  11. 27:28 Ahrlin Bauman, 50, Lake Oswego, OR
  12. 27:29 Michael Wardian, 48, Arlington, VA
  13. 27:29 Philippe Rolly, 50, McLean, VA
  14. 27:32 Matthew Wagoner, 45, New Cumberland, PA
  15. 27:40 Brock Butler, 45, West Chester, PA
  16. 27:54 Derek Reinhold, 43, Philadelphia, PA
  17. 28:01 Ryan Carroll, 40, Portsmouth, VA
  18. 28:03 Marc Jeulad, 43, Durham, NC
  19. 28:07 Tim Harte, 54, Coatesville, PA
  20. 28:07 Christopher Naimoli, 43, Philadelphia, PA
Don Morrison of Coatesville, PA just after the start of the USATF master men’s 8K.
Early action on lap one at Pole Green Park. Ben Bruce #435 of Flagstaff, AZ shares the lead with Christopher Pruitt #443, Michael Harlow #436, and Neil McDonagh #455 of the Square State Striders (yep, it’s Colorado).
Ben Bruce of Flagstaff, AZ runs alone through the brown fields of Pole Green Park, on his way to a convincing victory in the masters men’s 8K.
Charlie Ban of Washington, DC placed eighth overall in 27:08.
Michael Wardian #468 of Arlington, VA races with John Gagliardi #448 of West Chester, PA.
Greg Cauller of York, PA races for Pike Creek Valley RC in the USATF master men’s 8K.
Ben Bruce of Flagstaff, AZ wins the USATF master men’s 8K with gusto, in 25:00.
Ben Bruce of Flagstaff, AZ with second place Neil McDonagh of Colorado Springs, CO after the USATF master men’s 8K in Mechanicsville, VA.
Ahrlin Bauman of Lake Oswego, OR was eleventh and won the 50-54. Philippe Rolly #485 duels Michael Wardian #468 for top Virginia/DC area pride.
Matt Wagoner of New Cumberland, PA was 14th in the master men’s 8K in 27:32. Greater Philadelphia TC won the 40-49 team title with five men in the top sixteen.
Pete LoBianco of York, PA helped lead Pike Creek Running Club to a second place team finish in the 40-49.
Tim Schuler of Lititz, PA and the F & M Track Club, competes in the USATF master men’s 8K.
Robert Qualls of Reno, NV was tops 70-74 in 34:08.
Gene Dykes of the Greater Philadelphia TC runs 35:49, and is second behind Qualls in the 70-74 division.
David Anderson of York, PA represents the Greater Philadelphia TC in the USATF master men’s 8K.
Stephanie and Benjamin Bruce with their sons Riley and Hudson (Photo by Karen Mitchell)
Central PA runners Pete LoBianco (left), Matt Wagoner #473, and Greg Cauller #560 before the master men’s 8K.


Categories: Race Coverage

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