Road race winds through Rochester

Matthew Bernat
Aug 10, 2013
Runners leave the starting line at the Rochester Road Race held Saturday. BY MATTHEW BERNAT
Middleboro's Andy Sukeforth wins the race. BY MATTHEW BERNAT
From left, Ben Bungert, Hannah Vieira, Abby Hiller, and David Friedman rest at the finish line in matching shirts. BY MATTHEW BERNAT
The Dacosta brothers wait to cheer for their grandfather who ran the race. BY MATTHEW BERNAT
Rochester's Meg Hughes, age 11, in the home stretch. Meg was the first female to finish the race. BY MATTHEW BERNAT
Scott Muller, an event co-organizer, waits to start the race. BY MATTHEW BERNAT
The Hughes siblings, from left, Kate, Harrison, and Meg raced together. BY MATTHEW BERNAT
Participants race down Route 105. BY MATTHEW BERNAT

An 11-year-old was the first female finisher, hundreds had fun, and an area food pantry is now flush with food and funds.

The 8th annual Rochester Road Race, sponsored by Covanta SEMASS Energy and Costello Dismantling Co., was held Saturday Aug. 10. The race is an official 5K and co-organizer Scott Muller described the 3.1-mile course as flat, fast, and shaded.

Muller and four friends, all avid runners and Rochester residents, started the event after realizing the town lacked a road race. Kevin Cassidy Chuck Kantner, Jeff Perry, and Travis Van Hall organize the race each year with Muller.

“We looked around and saw that Marion had a race, Mattapoisett had a race, why shouldn’t we have one?” Muller said.

Organizing that first run was difficult, but the event has become a tradition since then. The town has been instrumental in helping the race go smoothly, even going so far as to paint the start line on Dexter Lane.

“The town has been really excellent,” Muller said. “We’ve had zero trouble putting the race together. We have a great relationship with [Rochester officials.]”

Racers pay an entry fee and are encouraged to bring canned goods to donate to Damien’s Place Food Pantry in Wareham. Throughout the years, Muller said about $30,000 has been raised and 50,000 pounds of food have been donated.

The race began at 9 a.m. on Dexter Lane and ended in front of the Congregational Church. JB’s Road Race Management of Acushnet timed the racers.

The first person across the finish line was Andy Sukeforth, 21, of Middleboro. This wasn’t Sukeforth’s first tri-town win. In June, Sukeforth won the Marion Village 5K.

Meg Hughes, of Rochester, won the woman’s division. Hughes, age 11, ran the race with her 8-year-old brother Harrison and her sister Kate. After the race spectators offered congratulations and took photos with Meg. For Meg, an avid runner, the Rochester race was one of many she participates in each year.

Large trophies were awarded to the top winners. Medals were given to other finishers. Refreshments and plenty of water were available for runners at the end of the race.

Muller said as the event has grown more and more parents and children have attended or raced.

“It’s just a great event for families,” he said.

Complete race results will be posted on www.jbrace.com later today.

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