Drew Best is, for all intents and purposes, one of the founding fathers of the MRC Running Project.  In 2007, Drew founded Case Mountain Racing which has now become the MRC Running Project.  Drew’s drive to inspire and develop a running community has been the inspiration for our team since its inception.

Best is having the finest year of his running career in 2010 as he opened the season with an eighth place finish at the USATF-New England 10 Mile Championships in Amherst, Mass. with a time of 53:08 and followed that performance up with another eighth place finish at the Holyoke Saint Patrick’s Day Road Race in a time of 32:21.

Best has numerous victories to his name over the years  highlighted by a victory at the 2009 Providence Marathon.  Best is also the defending champion of the Finally Spring 5k! and was the runner-up at the Spring Street Mile.  In 2008, Best finished 24th at the Manchester Road Race in a time of 24:10 and followed that with a 23rd place finish in 2009 in 24:01.

During his younger days, Drew was the CCC East XC Champion as a senior  at Manchester High School as well as a top 30 finisher at the CT State Open his senior year.  From high school, Drew went on to be a standout cross country runner at Saint Michael’s College in Vermont where he was an NCAA Division II National Qualifier his senior season.  Best earned his Bachelor’s Degree in Biology from St. Michael’s and went on to earn his Master’s from Quinnipiac University.

A native of Manchester, Drew currently resides in Leverett, Mass. and is a Biology teacher.  He once wrestled a bear with his bare hands.

2010 Results:
1st Place – Lake Wyola Rd Race, Shutesbury MA, 4.8 miles: 25:21
3rd Place – Mt. Toby Trail Run (14 Mile Mountain Run): 1:30:56
8th Place– 2010 USATF-NE 10-mile championships
8th Place– 2010 Holyoke Saint Patrick’s Day Road Race
14th Place – 2010 USATF-NE 10k Championship – Bridge of Flowers Race – 33:27

2010 Race Plans
–Providence Half Marathon
–Cave Hill Classic (Leverett, Ma)
–Iron Horse 10k (Simsbury, Ma)
–Stowe 8-Miler, USATF-NE 8 mile champs
–Bridge of Flowers, USATF-NE 10k champs
–New Haven Road Race, USATF 20k Natl Champs
–Hartford Half Marathon
–Manchester Road Race

2009 Results:
11/26/2009 – Manchester Road Race (4.748 miles) – 24:01 (23rd place)
10/25/2009 – Ray Crothers Memorial 5k – 15:59 (First Place!)
10/18/2009 – 5k for Farmland, Hadley, Mass. – 15:58 (First Place!)
10/04/2009 – Covered Bridges 10k, Conway, Mass.  - 35:01 (First Place!)
09/07/2009 – Spring Street Mile – 4:24 (Second Place)
03/21/2009 – Finally Spring “5k”! – 18:56 (First Place!)