There is something about the Mattapoisett Fourth of July Road Race that year after year attracts scores of runners.
Perhaps it is the scenic course that starts and finishes at Shipyard Park near the Town Wharf that brings so many to the event. Maybe it’s the fundraising that provides scholarships for Old Rochester Regional High School senior athlete runners – scholarships that will be worth roughly $14,000 this year. Or maybe it’s the challenge of an actual 5-mile race, not the typical 5K race that seems to be the norm these days.
Whatever the reason, runners young and old turned out in high numbers this year to run through the quaint Mattapoisett village center and loop around the historic Ned’s Point Lighthouse, the traditional route of the annual road race now in its 46th year.
ORR alumnus Jason Eddy, 36, of East Bridgewater, took first place in the men’s division with a time of 26:50. Second place went to Taylor Days-Merill, 22, Fairhaven, with a time of 27:26, and third place went to Dan McSolla, 19, of Bridgewater at 27:36.
For the women’s division, first place was Kim Bolick, 23, Marion, finishing at 31:14, second place winner was Meg Hughes, 14, Rochester, at 31:37, and third place winner was Megan O’Brien, 21, Palos Heights, Illinois, coming in at 31:56.
See all the final race results by visiting http://my.racewire.com/results/32548.
By Jean Perry