Run the Chop Challenge
Martha's Vineyard Times File Photo
They’re off! The gentleman with the long grey beard in the center of the picture is Jim Austin, the surest bet in the bunch to win in his age/gender group.
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P.J. Martinez, 29, of Washington D.C. was the first to reach the finish line of the annual five-mile Murdick's Fudge Run the Chop Challenge, Sunday. His winning time was 29:23.81, exactly one minute faster than the second place finisher, Jake McCauley, 17, of Darien, Conn., but nowhere near last year's torrid pace of 25:49 by Kevin Collins of Manlius, N.Y.
Three hundred twenty-two runners, ten more than last year, completed the run on a warm Sunday morning under clear skies.
Following Martinez and McCauley in the top ten were (3) Steve Faluotiro, 42, of Falmouth in 30:25.28; (4) Paul Vertefeuille, 46, of Vineyard Haven in 30:41.10; (5) Scott Bosworth, 45, of Edgartown in 31:15.88; (6) Michael Coe, 15, of Darien, Conn., in 32:06,58; (7) Andrea Costella, 31, of New York City, the first woman, in 32:33.96; (8) Alfred Woods, 50, of Arlington, Va., in 32:28.67; (9) Andrew Newlin, 31, of New York City, in 32:33. 96; (10) Will Ryan, 25, of Baltimore, Md., 33:28,69.
Trailing Andrea Costella, the top ten women runners were 20: Maureen Larkin, 46, of Walpole in 35:15.97.
24: Kristin Simonsen, 35, of Southport, Conn. In 35:43,15.
25: Rebecca Trachsel, 35, of Winchester in 35:36.79.
32: Adele Xu, 17, of Edgartown, 36:47,21.
34: Jane Walshe, 39, of Edgartown, 37:11.84.
39: Liz Martinez, 29, of Washington D.C., 37:40.82.
43: Donna Miller Rostant, 50, of Reston, Va. 38:24.35.
46 Karen Durant, 59, of Newburyport, 38:27.56.
50: Lorna McPhee, 32, of Charlestown, 38:44,54.
The annual race is a fundraiser for Big Brothers Big Sisters.
