For the second consecutive year, Will Benoit finished first overall, and Margot Appleton finished first among female racers at the 52nd annual Mattapoisett July 4 Road Race.
More importantly, a record number 1,354 competitors registered to run in a race that annually raises scholarship money for Old Rochester Regional High School students. On average, around $18,000 is raised annually, according to organizer Caty Fuerman.
“It’s a wonderful community event,” said Fuerman, who added that there are signs and T-shirts hanging all along side streets in support of the runners, as well as music being played at homes along the course to give participants a boost.
The July 4 sky was clear, and the temperature at Shipyard Park was perfect for runners.
Bill Tilden, the lead event organizer, said that this year marked a record number of participants. He noted that the breezy weather likely attracted more people, including 600 people to sign up one week before the race.
Tilden said the 4-mile course, rather than 5, makes it appealing for runners looking to get some training.
Benoit, a UMass Lowell student, brought his track friends from college, who challenged each other and ran well. Before the race, Tilden predicted that Benoit and his friends would run well and present a strong challenge to the local competition.
Benoit, 21, finished the 4 miles in 19:25.5, beating his record last year. Benoit’s friend Ethan Mashtare, 20, finished at 19:42.8, also beating out Benoit’s winning time from last year.
“I’m happy to keep up with him,” Mashtare, a resident of St. Albans, Vermont.
Appleton, 21, of Mattapoisett, ran in the United States Olympic trials before running the Mattapoisett race. She said she ran against professionals and hopes to try out again in four years.
“You definitely can’t do it forever,” she said, expressing her desire to keep on competing. “(Running in the Olympic trials) was a really good opportunity.”
Appleton said she has been running in the Mattapoisett July 4 Road Race since middle school. Her 22:19.7 winning time made it consecutive years for her as top female finisher. Appleton currently runs at the University of Virginia.
Anna Weirich came in second among all lady runners, 6.7 seconds behind Appleton with a 22:26.4 time. Weirich, who also has been running for several years, said that was her best time yet. The 20-year-old California resident says her mother has a summer home in Mattapoisett. Weirich said she likes to stop in at the annual race every year.
Finishing 13th overall, Margot Appleton was the first of four consecutive women crossing the finish line ahead of the next man. Marion’s Kimberly Dixon, 31, was third among women at 23:16.3 (chip time), and Olivia Mondo, 28, of Manchester, Connecticut, was fourth at 23:25.6.
Appleton’s 23-year-old brother David Appleton was sixth overall in 21:14.3.
Other local finishers in the top 25 were 29-year-old Tim Bolick of Marion (fourth overall in 20:52.3), 21-year-old Sean Brown of Acushnet (ninth overall in 21:43.8), 18-year-old Tyler Young of Marion (11th overall in 22:06.9), 20-year-old Ian Pereira of Fairhaven (17th overall in 23:46.6), 17-year-old Nicolas Huaco of Marion (21st overall in 24:09.8) and 20-year-old Charlie Jactiviez of Mattapoisett (24th overall in 24:33.3).
Mattapoisett Road Race
By Jeffrey D. Wagner
Top-3 Category Finishers
Female Open: 1. Margot Appleton, 21, Mattapoisett, 22:19.7; 2. Anna Weirich, Portola Valley, California, 22:26.4; 3. Kimberly Dixon, 31, Marion, 23:16.3.
Female 1-13: 1. N. Czerkowicz, 12, Mattapoisett, 31:05.1; 2. Zoe Papadakis, 13, Mattapoisett, 33:04.6; 3. Grace Lynch, 13, Franklin, 34:44.6.
Female 14-18: 1. Isabelle Mondo, 18, Mattapoisett, 25:52.1; 2. Madalena Morris, 16, New Bedford, 27:51.5; 3. Madalyn Duarte, 16, North Dartmouth, 28:48.0.
Female 19-29: 1. Olivia Mondo, 28, Manchester, Connecticut, 23:25.6; 2. Naomi Cass, 20, Westport, 24:47.6; 3. Mary Butler, 22, Mattapoisett, 25:22.9.
Female 30-39: 1. Erin Lohrenz, 35, Fairhaven, 25:36.1; 2. E. Carr, 38, Mattapoisett, 27:28.1; 3. Katherine Mello, 30, San Diego, California, 27:59.0.
Female 40-49: 1. Stephanie Moran, 41, Fairhaven, 26:47.3; 2. Lynn Vasconcelos, 49, Fairhaven, 27:52.4; 3. Susan Redsicker, 43, Mattapoisett, 28:44.1.
Female 50-59: 1. Julie Craig, 57, Mattapoisett, 28:00.2; 2. Stacy Cook, 59, Fairhaven, 29:13.5; 3. Alice Murphy, 59, Wellesley Hills, 30:00.8.
Female 60-69: 1. Mary Cass, 62, Westport, 26:16.2; 2. Stephany Hiller, 60, Portola Valley, California, 29:47.2; 3. Teresa Firth, 60, Fairhaven, 31:13.3.
Female 70-79: 1. Kathleen Richards, 71, Duxbury, 33:44.6; 2. Debra Gabriel, 71, Taunton, 36:08.8; 3. Jean Vieira, 70, Middleboro, 37:23.0.
Female 80-99: 1. Barbara Belanger, Fairhaven, 51:51.9.
Male Open: 1. Will Benoit, 21, Lowell, 19:25.5; 2. Ethan Mashtare, 20, Saint Albans, Vermont, 19:42.8; 3. Colin Rooney, 28, Manchester, Connecticut, 20:35.6.
Male 1-13: 1. William Lucy, 13, Mattapoisett, 26:29.9; 2. Thomas Lucy, 13, Mattapoisett, 28:56.3; 3. D. Shimala, 10, Fairhaven, 29:10.8.
Male 14-18: 1. Owen Martin, 16, Middlebury, Connecticut, 20:59.5; 2. Tyler Young, 18, Marion, 22:06.9; 3. Nicolas Huaco, 17, Marion, 24:09.8.
Male 19-29: 1. Tim Bolick, 29, Marion, 20:52.3; 2. David Appleton, 23, Mattapoisett, 21:14.3; 3. Rory Curran, 21, Nashua, New Hampshire, 21:22.1.
Male 30-39: 1. Matt Petrocci, 39, San Francisco, 24:07.3; 2. Andrew Beaudoin, 31, New York, 24:08.9; 3. Lee Greathouse, 36, Waltham, 24:34.5.
Male 40-49: 1. Douglas Hickey, 41, Arlington, Virginia, 22:15.8; 2. Jeff Read, 45, New Bedford, 24:18.1; 3. Jason Eddy, 44, East Bridgewater, 24:31.0.
Male 50-59: 1. Rob Zand, 54, New York, 23:51.3; 2. Greg Coughlan, 54, Salem, Oregon, 27:17.2; 3. Carson Biederman, 51, Jamaica Plain, 27:34.3.
Male 60-69: 1. David Kleinschmidt, 60, Acton, 27:51.9; 2. Pat Hartnett, 61, Hanover, New Hampshire, 28:56.2; 3. Goncalo Rego, 61, South Dartmouth, 28:59.5.
Male 70-79: 1. Paul Correia, 70, North Dartmouth, 33:40.6; 2. Peter Frates, 72, Wareham, 35:26.9; 3. Jeffrey Osuch, 74, Fairhaven, 37:48.9.
Male 80-99: 1. Maurice Bourque, 82, Lakeville, 46:17.5; 2. Frank Weibel, 84, Mashpee, 47:37.8; 3. John Paul Garber, 81, Mattapoisett, 58:52.2.
Data courtesy Presidential Timing