SPORTS: 22nd Annual Groton Road Race
With perfect weather this past Sunday, Groton welcomed
approximately 2,000 runners to the 22nd annual Groton Road Race, an event that has become one of New England's premier races. The race features certified 5K and 10K courses over bucolic country roads and includes races for children, runners out for a casual run and those trying to set personnel bests.
Many wore Boston Strong T Shirts. Over 1,000 runners participated in 5K (3.1 miles), 508 completed the 10K (6.2 miles) with hundreds more participating in the 2K and Tots Trot which began at the Groton-Dunstable Middle School track.
In the 5K, 23 year old Sean Duncan from Gardner finished first in 16:02 and second at 33:29 in the 10K.
Nice to be young and use the 3.1 race for a warm up! Last year's double winner in both races, Mark Mayhall, finished second behind Duncan (16:28) in the 5K and ninth (38:08) in the 10K.
The 5K course record is 14:52 for the men and 17:38 for the women.
The women's 5K winner was Lunenburg's Taryn Sleger who finished in 18:07, 11th overall, while Katie Moulton of Providence, R.I., (38:15) took honors in the women's 10K.
Peter Omae Ayieni was the overall 10K winner (32.48). Local runner Dave Dixon (Pepperell ) finished 12th overall in the 10K. The first Groton residents to cross the finish line were Jim Malloy (42:02), William Gerath (42:23), and Daniel MacDonald (42:38), 30, 32 and 34 respectively.
10K -Locals in top 100
39. Daniel Gill, Dunstable, 42:54; 45. Bob Hill, Groton, 43:46; 49. 50. 51. Chris Ellsasser, Groton, 44:51. 56. Michael Thompson, Dunstable, 45:28; 59. Sheila Devereaux, Groton, 45:45; 46:05; 65. Peter Schulz, Groton, 46:14; 67. Richard Callahan, Dunstable, 46:04; 69. Bob Zanelli, Groton, 46:28; 72. Jeff Box, Groton, 46:27; 75. Karen Odell, Groton, 46:52. 76. Sean Gaines, Groton, 46:32; 77, Richard Bagley,Groton, 46:54; 86.Mike Derse, Groton, 47:36; 88.Jason Shamberger, Groton, 47:51; 93.Michael Vandermillen,48:00.
5K -Locals in top 75
6. Harry Maloy, Groton, 17:05; 19. Andrei Safontchik, Groton, 19:37; 20. Emmet Clifford, Dunstable, 19:39; 31. Joshua Upton, Groton, 21:00; 33. Nick Hadland, Groton, 21:07; 38. Mukhtar Amiry, Groton,21:30; 40. 44. Nathaniel Cabot, Groton, 21:42; 45. Riley Patten, Groton, 21:43; 49. Shawn Lynch, Pepperell, 21:58; 51. Hamed Hamzehdeost, Groton, 22:10; 52. Meghan Smith, Groton, 22:11; 53. Brandon Lund, Pepperell, 22:13; 55. Matthew Werner, Groton, 22:15; 61. Mikey Beal, Groton, 22:47; 62. Rick Harding, Dunstable, 22:49; 63. Kim Sheffield, Groton, 22:49; 70. Adam Scott, Groton, 23:03;72.Jean Perrissin-Fabert, Groton, 23:08; 74. Nina Vogelsang, Pepperell, 23:11.
