Mattapoisett coast inspires road race
Nov 17, 2018
Melissa Zawadzki and Bethany Kaczmarczyk ran the Mattapoisett Veterans 5k with a younger runner. Photo by: Grace Ballenger
Ethan Horowitz, 7, participated in the Mattapoisett Veterans 5k. Photo by: Grace Ballenger
Jennifer Czapiga manages a smile as the nears the end of the Mattapoisett Veterans 5k.
Gloria Croteau nears the end of the Mattapoisett Veterans 5k. Photo by: Grace Ballenger
5k winner Fernando Silviera of Pawtucket with Geoffrey Smith, race organizer.
Melissa Amlaw, who took second place overall for the women’s category in the Mattapoisett Veterans 5k, poses with Geoffrey Smith.
Photo by: Grace Ballenger
MATTAPOISETT— On Saturday runners of all ages gathered for the Mattapoisett 10 miler and Veterans 5k. The race followed a scenic route around Ned’s point before looping around the wharf and ending at Munro park.
In fact, it was the route that inspired the race, organizer Geoffrey Smith said.
“I run around here and take photos, and people always say ‘I want to run there!,’” Smith said. So he decided to organize a race in his hometown, and held the first race by the same name last year.
“I’m a two time Boston Marathon Champion and an Olympian, so I’ve got the credentials,” Smith added.
104 racers competed in the 5k. Fernando Silviera of Pawtucket Rhode Island had the fastest time for the 5k, competing it in 19:28. Julie Craig of Mattapoisett may have had a home course advantage, so to speak, as she finished first in the women’s category of the 5k with a time of 21:00.
For the 10 mile race Matthew Germain of Spencer finished first out of 160 racers with a time of 1:04:44. Rebecca Cotungo of Dartmouth finished first in the women’s category with a time of 1:09:48.
There was no youth category in the races. Additional information about racers and times can be found on RaceWire.
