Runners leave the starting line at in the five-mile race in the fourth annual Rome Boulevard Road Race on Sunday in Attleboro. (Staff photo by Tom Maguire)
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Nearly 400 participated in the race, up from about 300 last year, to raise funds to offset Attleboro school sports user fees for students whose families cannot afford them.
Perhaps the largest and most notable presence was the Attleboro Bluefish Swim Club, with about 75 making the switch from swimsuit to running shorts for the Sunday races.
One member of the Bluefish is Beisel, now 16, who swam in the Beijing Olympics in August. Beisel came in fourth in the 400 meter individual medley and fifth in the 200 meter backstroke in Beijing.
Jen Nitso, Attleboro resident and mother of Bluefish team member and runner Hannah Nitso, a fifth grader at the Foxborough Regional Charter School, said that Beisel's Olympic appearances were "wonderful for the team. The kids got together to watch her on television and cheer for her together."
Dave Rapoza of Mansfield has a message and a photo for his wife Shelley at the finish line. (Staff photo by Tom Maguire)
Bluefish coach Chuck Batchelor also noted Beisel's inspiration: "I think the other kids are thinking, 'If she can do it, maybe I can do it, too.' "Beisel finished an inspirational 20th among women overall in the Rome Boulevard five- mile race.
Batchelor was rightfully with his team's turnout, standing out from the rest of the crowd in a sea of bright yellow T-shirts.
"We did it last year with about 50 or so runners," he said. "It makes sense for us (to do this) because we run as a component of our training, and of course to help raise funds for team sports here in Attleboro."
Attleboro teachers, through the Attleboro Education Association, were very much involved in organizing and participating in the races, with a large contingent of runners from Brennan Middle School, faculty and students alike. Attleboro High School Principal Jeffrey Newman was quite busy on the field, as was retired teacher Mark Ferruccio, among many others.
Jen Withers of Attleboro, a fourth grade teacher at Hill-Roberts Elementary School, won a second-place victory in the 5-mile race in the 19 to 29 age group. Withers, who is training for a half-marathon at the end of the month, enthusiastically noted, "Of course, I love supporting Attleboro and Attleboro schools!"
"Even with the current bad economy, we still have the same local sponsors, and their involvement is even greater this year," said race director James Hawkins, a math teacher at Attleboro High. "And this year student involvement has really grown: we have more students running and more students helping to organize the event. It's really about the community coming together for fun and helping to support school sports in Attleboro."
More than $9,000?
Although the total of funds raised was not available at press time, Hawkins stated, "We raised about $9,000 in each of the past two years, and we hope to add to that this year."
In addition to prizes for individual top three finishers, male and female, in each age group, several team prizes were given: $250 in cash to the top team of five adult runners from Attleboro, a party at Briggs corner Pizza for 35 people for the top team of five high school runners, and a new "Go the Distance" trophy donated by AHS track coach Martin Tighe for the top team of five students in grade 8 or younger. Mayor's Trophy Awards went to Kent Taylor and Sara Greene of Attleboro, who each received a $100 gift certificate to Eastern Mountain Sports at its new location, Patriot Place. An additional $500 was donated to the Rebeckha Whitefield Scholarship Fund in memory of the well-known student athlete from Attleboro who died in a car crash last May.
Runners in the five mile race run along Drummond Street in Attleboro. (Staff photo by Tom Maguire)
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