A soaking wet day greeted intrepid racers in the Oak Bluffs Columbus Day 5k on Sunday. A total of 89 people lined up across from the police station on Lake Avenue near Ocean Park and took off along a course that circled around East Chop and ended in front of the Summercamp Hotel. Organizers had expected close to 200 people for the 27th incarnation of the late season run. However, pelting rain and cool temperatures limited the turnout to the serious and those willing to brave the elements.
Vineyarders comprised half of the top ten fastest scores for the day. For the second year in a row, Reann Steenkamp of Vineyard Haven came in first with a time of 19:38. In second place was Dan Feye of New York City (19:39) and Maureen Larkin of Walpole came in third place (22:19).
Other notable Vineyard runners within the top ten runners included Eliska Surygkova of Vineyard Haven (23:39), Sam Hoyt of Edgartown (24:07), Corrin Buchwald of Tisbury (24:13), and Jackson Wojnowski of Vineyard Haven (24:30).
The race benefits the Oak Bluffs 8th grade class trip. This is the third year that Eve Heyman of the Oak Bluffs school has helped organize the race to help students pay for the trip. Students will visit New York City, Philadelphia, and Gettysburg in June.
Grace O’Malley, an 8th grader volunteer at the finish line, said she is excited about the upcoming trip and the visit to Hershey Park, but after standing in the pouring rain for nearly two hours, she was more excited to go home and warm up after the race.
Results can be found at coolrunning.com.
Correction: A earlier version of this story incorrectly referred to Jackson Wojnowski as Jack.