Looking back - 40 years ago

40 years ago: I raced 3 times in November 1981, closing out my senior year of cross country (XC) at Billerica High School.  The three races were “podium” finishes for me.  On 11/07/81 I took 2nd place (15:08) with Steve Perkins (Danvers) first in 14:58 at the State Coaches meet on the 3 mile course in Franklin Park.  Back in those days we raced on the south side of Circuit road.  We’d start down by the Shattuck Hospital and the first half-mile was all uphill, the next mile was on the sidewalk along Circuit drive. The finish changed a few times over my high school years but would generally be back down at the bottom of the bowl.   The following weekend (11/14/81) I managed to knock six seconds off my time taking a win in the State Class meet.

1 Dave Dunham          Billerica                       15:02
2 Shawn Coughlan      Brockton                      15:10
3 Curtis Splain             Attleboro                     15:26
4 Paul Partridge          Newton North              15:39
5 Tim Gannon             Beverly                        15:41
6 George Fulk              Newton North             15:45
7 Bob Sheehan            Cambridge R&L           15:48
8 Tom Carleo               Newton North             15:49
9 Helder Braz              Peabody                      15:52
10 Jose Rocha             New Bedford               15:59

Billerica High tri-Captains Bernie Brown, Jim Sullivan, Dave Dunham

 
On a cold day (11/21/81) on a very slick trip around the same course I slowed to 15:20 and took third in the Mass State Meet. Chris Gorman (Weymouth) won in 14:56 with Steve Perkins (Peabody) second in 15:16. BMHS teammate Mike Busnach took 42nd in 16:24 and on the girl’s side Billerica put two in the top 10 with Senior Kathy Norton (6th – 18:18) and Sophomore Dawn Hartnett (8th – 18:24).  Full Billerica boys’ results at the state meet: 103 Kevin Healy 17:20, 124 Scott McKinnon 17:46, and 128 Jim Sullivan 17:53, 135 Bernie Brown 18:11.  Due to “Proposition 2 1/2” there was no official State meet as funding had been cut.  This meet was put on thanks to Nike and a bunch of volunteers from the Mass Track & Field Officials Association.