Eric Lonergan wins the return of the Little Compton Scenic Winter Road Race; Mimi Fallon takes Women’s Title. 

By Jon Alden

Everything Westport

January 5, 2008

 

Eric Lonergan of North Kingston, a 22 year-old graduate of RIC where he ran, won the Little Compton Scenic Winter Road Race in a time of 25:09. Glen Guillemette, 48, of Narragansett took second with a time of 25:36. Michael Tammaro, 34, of Kingston was third with 28:04.

 

The weather was mild for this time of year, around 40 degrees and sunny, to the delight of many runners who shed mittens and tops as they ran. The field was 269 strong, with 243 finishing the 4.8 mile run. See the course.

 

Dan Murphy, 49, finished first among the 25 Little Compton runners with an 11th place finish at 30:14. 

 

22 runners from Westport competed with Noah McGarr, 18, the top finisher at 21st overall with a time of 31:48.

 

Mimi Fallon, 42, of Walpole, MA overcame two younger women’s groups to take a strong first at 28:28, and was fifth overall in the race. Ms. Fallon is pictured below (left) receiving her cash prize and other good stuff!

 

There was a smoking gun! The historic Brownell House, home to the Little Compton Village Improvement Society, was the backdrop for the over 250 competitors aged 14 to 85 as they checked their watches and leapt out of the starting gate at the crack of the starter’s pistol. The smoke from the pistol can be seen in the photo below.

 

 

 

Little Compton Scenic Winter Road Race at 4.8 miles was officially sanctioned by ASATF - no strollers, baby joggers or dogs could compete. The start and finish was at the Wilbur and McMahon School, The Commons, Little Compton. Proceeds benefited Little Compton Education Foundation and students of the Wilbur and McMahon School. www.lceducationfoundation.org.

 

All runners received t-shirts, and cash prizes were awarded to the top three men and women. The top three in each category got some neat stuff too!

Some of the best warm soups and chowders from some of the best restaurants in the area were available to all runners at the finish of the race. There were also drinks, apples, bananas and bagels to replace all those calories burnt in pursuit of the prize!

 

Jane Gavin (far left) of Little Compton took a moment between bites of her soup to smile her approval and contemplate her finish at this year’s race.

 

“The Little Compton Scenic Winter Road Race returned after taking a few years hiatus,” Matt Alder (yellow shirt), one of the organizers explained. Matt worked closely with Meredith Nelson (at the laptop) of Organization Plus, the official timekeeper of this event. “We are excited to be teaming up with Meredith & Ray Nelson from Organization Plus Road Race Management Services to offer this classic winter road race once again,” Matt said.

 

The folks at Organization Plus did a fabulous job in officially recording and reporting times and finishes of all the runners who completed the course. Pat Angilly was the number caller and Gerri Nelson was the time recorder. They worked with three others to keep the runners in line as they entered the finish chute. Three youngsters ran the completed time sheets one by one into the Wilbur McMahon School where Meredith Nelson entered them into a laptop. Times and runners’ numbers were carefully coordinated to insure accurate placement results.  The 4.8 mile course was measured by Ray Nelson.

 

There were many faces to the race at the finish line: Determination, elation, pride, and just plain tired! But no face held the look of Joe Pascale (far left) of North Providence as he crossed the finish line one month shy of 85, the oldest runner to compete and finish! Jocelyn Kearns (far right) from Portsmouth was youngest at 14. She finished 86th with a time of 37:58.

 

But all the runners competing were winners as proceeds benefited the students of Wilbur & McMahon School.

 

View race results now!

 

View the photo album now - 101 photos    |   Dial-up speed   |   Broadband/DSL speed   |

 

Contact: organizationplus@cox.net for what you need to get ready for your next race!

 

 

   

                                      Click on images to enlarge

Bottom row: The look of joy at finishing the race in good time!

 

 

The Top Three Finishers – Men and Women

 

Congratulations Eric Lonergan (25:09 - 5:15 pace)
and Mimi Fallon (28:28 - 5:56 pace)

Men and women's 1st place overall winners!

 

 

 

Second Place Overall finishers

Glen Guillemette (25:36 - 5:20 Pace)
and Paula Klepadlo (28:54 -  6:02 Pace)

 

 

 

Third Place Overall finishers

Michael Tammaro (28:04 - 5:51 Pace)
and Claire Gadrow (30:41 - 6:24 Pace)

 

 

 

 

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