26th running 

of Deary 

Road Race 

attracts 

large field

By Ron P. Coderre

Glarius Rop, who was originally from Kenya and currently lives in W. Springfield, Mass., and local favorite Will Sanders of Wethersfield waged a two-man battle for the top spot in the 26th running of the Deary Road Race, which benefits Day Kimball Healthcare.  The race attracted nearly 300 runners.

The two leaders, running over the TAC certified 5-mile course like a pair of gazelles, ran away from the field and separated from the pack early on in the competition.  Racing through the center of Putnam at the top of Pomfret Street hill, the pair was so far ahead of the rest of the field they appeared to be a blur running through the Antique City.

It was at this point in the competition that Rop made his move and separated himself from Sanders.  As the pair approached the Providence and Worcester Railroad trestle and turned up South Main St. Rop extended his lead and was in command the remaining 2.5 miles to the finish line at J.D. Coopers Restaurant.

Rop broke the tape in a time of 25:13 slightly more than a minute off the course record, which is 24:11.  Sanders was almost a full minute behind the winner in 26:10.  The third-place finisher was Nicholas Migani of Higganum with a time of 27:21.  The first Putnam finisher was Scott Deslongchamps, who finished 11th overall at 31:53.

“I enjoyed the race but I thought there weren’t enough hills.  It’s a very good course that suited me well.  I’m familiar with Will Sanders and know he’s a good runner.  I’m pleased I made the trip from Springfield, which is only one hour away,” Rop told WINY Radio.  

Day Kimball Healthcare reports that approximately $75,000 was raised between the race, walk and bicycle event.

The 2015 edition of the Race also featured a number of individual races within the large field of runners.  The first race involved the top two runners; the next competition featured a bunch of quality runners, while the third grouping included the women’s competition.  And then there was everyone else.

A well conditioned Jackie Baumgartner was the first woman to cross the finish line, posting a time of 31:38.  The North Branford runner was 10th overall.  She was trailed by a well known local entrant Linda Spooner, who waged a valiant effort but was unable to maintain the pace set by Baumgartner.  Spooner who finished 12th overall had a time of 31:56.  The third woman finisher was Ariel Beccia of Rutland, Mass., in a time of 32:01.  Woodstock runner Kate Boshka, the soon-to-be freshman at Woodstock Academy, finished in fourth place among the female runners and easily captured the 13-to-17 age group in a time of 34:13.

Age group winners were Lance Magnuson (M) and Ruth Kneier (F) 70 and over; John Folsom (M) and Rebecca Stockdale-Wooley (F) 60-69; Jeff Low (M) and Sandy Navarro (F) 50-59; Michael Stadolnik (M) and Linda Spooner (F) 40-49; Rop and Baumgartner 30-39; Sanders and Beccia 18-29; Joseph Santese III (M) and Kate Boshka (F) 13-17; Colin Smith (M) and Stella DiPoppo (F) 2-12.

Running Shorts: Deary family member Breton Bonnette from Philadelphia finished fifth… Linda Spooner’s family was out in force to root her on.  They occupied the patio at Victoria Station…Traffic control along the entire race seemed better organized this year, especially in the center of downtown Putnam where Russ Dexter was manning the post…The Deary family was well represented by Tim Deary, Mackenzie Deary, Jerre, Kasey and Robin Fillmore, Gene Michael Deary Jr. and Sr., Shawn Deary… John Seaward of Pomfret finished 24th.  He’s a former tennis standout at Merrimack College…Atty. Jeff Low of Pomfret finished 32nd and won his age group competition… Vance Carter of Danielson, who is credited with forming the Killingly Athletic Hall of Fame finished 38th…Former world class runner and former Putnam resident Rebecca Stockdale-Wooley proved she can still run, finishing 39th…Day Kimball pediatrician Marc Cerrone finished 55th…Brad Rabitor owner of Connecticut National Golf Course had a good run with a time of 40:59…The popular John Folsom of Pomfret Center captured his age group 60-69 as did Pomfret resident Sandy Navarro who won the 50-59 competition…Jim Guillot, owner of The Crossings Restaurant, finished a respectable 115th…Former Putnam resident and current assistant football coach at MIT, Nick Perron and his wife Jessica finished 122nd and 124th respectively…Willimantic Selectman Michael Paulhus enjoyed the race…Dr. Ellen Delpapa, a UMass Medical physician and Pomfret resident, flashed over the finish line in 47:42.  Her husband Steve Delpapa finished 173rd…Kai Goto led a team of Rite Aide runners in the event…Stella DiPoppo (age 12) and Colin Smith (age 11) won the 2-12 age group.  Both youngsters are from Brooklyn…Sen. Mae Flexer of Danielson who ran for office in November, ran for pleasure and did well, finishing 192nd… The courageous Christine Southam, 74, was the last runner to cross the line.  As she ran through downtown Putnam she said, “I think I’m last.”…And a final note, nice to see former running great Jim Gothreau acting as the race director following some medical issues over the winter.