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Over 1000 runners and walkers from 66 towns from age 11 months old to 92 years young gathered on Sunday, May 21 for the 27th annual running of the Needham Youth Track Club’s Great Bear Run at Pollard School.
Dan Vassallo of Peabody repeated his 2016 win in the 5K run in 15:24 while Katrina Vassallo won for the women in 19:07. 11-year-old Zander Laidlaw of Needham won the 1 Mile in 5:57 with Emily McCann of Needham tops for the women in 6:40. 92-year-old Sylvia Feiner of Scarsdale, NY finished her first Great Bear Run 5K in 1:45.01. Karen Lein took time to run her 24th Great Bear Run before her wedding shower later that day. She holds 11 race records.
The event raised funds for Prostate Cancer Research. Over 700 children competed in a 26.2 meter mini-marathon for tots 0-3, 100 meter for age 4-5, 200 meter for age 6, 400 meter for age 7-12, and 1 Mile and 5K runs. The Club sponsors a summer program for children age 3 ½ - 14. Information is available at www.needhamtrack.org
Needham Children Heat Winners
400 Meters – Age 7 – Emma Stewart, 1:36.5, Lila Reidy, 1:36.8, Sylvia Kim, 1:40.0, Grace Flanagan, 1:37.9, Jack McDonnell, 1:34.9, Olver Scheper, 1:30.4, Gavin Berardi, 1:31.6, Blake Carr, 1:22.0. Age 8 - Caitlin Berardi, 1:32.7, Sarah Porras, 1:32.8, Izzy Marino, 1:29.7, Nate Sykora, 1:21.7. Age 9 – Delia Rauch, 1:27.6, Ella Gravin, 1:31.3, Age 10 – Isaac Doron, 1:15.0, Age 12 –Roan Smith 1:15.9
200 Meters – Age 6 – Emma Sullivan, 46.1, Elise Parlik, 44.7, Kate Sullivan, 49.1, Emily Allen, 45.2, Teddy Leto, 44.9, Hudson Selae, 39.5
Needham Age Group Winners
5K – Age 8 and under – Mari Laidlow, 26:46, Oliver Scheper. Age 11 – Kiley Wiliams, 23:47. Age 12 – Christine Mittaz, 23:00, Jack Burns, 21:46. Age 13-14 – Connor McNaughton, 20:01. Age 15-19 – David Muir 17:38. Age 40-44 – Lynn Burns, 21:52, Harry Stants, 16:15. Age 45-49 – Elle Nugent 21:46. Age 50-54 – MaryBeth Mittaz, 22:47, John Cullen, 18:48. Age 60-64 – Monica Staley, 23:14. Age 65-69 – Margaret Wermer, 30:50. Age 80-84 – Anthony Cellucci, 49:15
1 Mile Run – Age 5 and under – Louisa Woolard, 8:18, Graham Martin, 8:49. Age 7 – Reece Biegeleisen, 7:49, Declan Moore, 7:05. Age 8 – Marisa Williams, 7:52, JB Leto, 7:04. Age 9 – Delia Rauch, 7:19. Age 10 – Chris Garreau, 6:47, Age 11 – Zander Laidlaw, 5:57. Age 12 – Maylin Carr 6:43, Roan Smith 6:51. Age 13-14 – Kate O’Brien 7:21, Jack Snelling, 6:51. Age 40-49 – Emily McCann, 6:40, Jeremy Sharrard, 6:07. Age 50-59 Jim Murray, 7:58. Age 60-69 Elitga Pastra-Landis, 11:52
