Schools

Woonsocket Teachers Guild Wins Silver In Greenway Challenge

Annual race enjoyed largest participation in its 12-year history.

 

The 2012 UniBank Blackstone River Valley Greenway Challenge was the largest in its 12-year history — with 457 athletes and 87 teams running, paddling, and biking a seven-leg, 44.5 mile course through the Blackstone River Valley National Heritage Corridor in Rhode Island and Massachusetts.

Prior to this year, said Barbara Dixon, event coordinator, the largest number of teams was 82.

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The race began at 9 a.m. at Diamond Hill Park in Cumberland, RI. The course included three running segments — trail (1.5 miles), street (5 miles), and cross country (4 miles); two biking segments — mountain (5 miles) and street (22 miles); and two paddle segments (3 miles and 4 miles). The final athletes crossed the finish line at River Bend Farm in the Blackstone River and Canal Heritage State Park in Uxbridge, Mass. at 7:03 p.m.

The official results of 2012 UniBank Blackstone River Valley Greenway Challenge Adventure Race are:

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  • Championship Division (Pure thrill of victory):

Defending their 2011 Championship title and taking first place with the best overall time of 3:49:23 was team Great Canadian from Sutton, MA; Captain Dave Mingori, Astrid Trahan, Mark Trahan, Alex White and Alice McKeon.

Second Place Silver medal winners and returning for the 12th year was the Woonsocket Teachers Guild team, with a time of 4:01:24 Captain Kevin Plouffe, Mike Lemay, Dan Gagnon, Richard Forget, Chris Gazzola and Corey Brunelle. The Bronze Medal winners, a new entry team from Hopedale, MA, and complete the course in 4:08:32 was team “Do Not Resuscitate”, Captain Rick Nelson with team Members Doug and Mary Guertin.

  • Corporate Cup (Teams of co-workers from the same company or organization):

A field of 13 teams entered this division and First Place was awarded to Millbury Federal Credit Union with a finishing time of 4:35:17, Captain John Piscitelli, team members Sandra Piscitelli, Kelly Lizotte, Tom Robert, Emily Gaudet, Paul Crimlisk, John Chase, William Kerrissey & John Barron.

Silver Medals were awarded to returning 2011 Silver medalist from RI Dept of Transportation, Captain Michael DeRotto, Jeff Martins, Sean Raymond, David Amalfitano, Ivan McTaggart & Steven Kut completed the course in 4:35:57.

Third place Bronze medals were awarded to the Greenway Challenges title Sponsor’s team “UniBank:, competing for the 12th year, Captain John Czebota and team members Steve Anderson, Jim Quitadamo, Jon Goozey, Nick Bertone, Dan Donahue, Joanne Griego and Gary Rice completed the course in 4:45:21.

  • All-Women Teams (Teams of all female competitors):

Returning 2011 Women’s Champions was the RI Department of Environmental Management’s team “RI DEM Ladies” Captain Kate McPhearson, Marisa Desautel, Heidi Travers, Andre Madeiro, Marcella Recher, Ann Battersby and Jane Sawyers, completing in 4:51:16.

Second Place went to the returning Victorious Secrets from Worcester, MA, Captain Shirley (Cote) Shepardson, Patricia Lambert, Sharon Foster, Christina Berry, Joan Clifford and Angela Smith in 5:09:28.

Third place went to Liberty Chicks, from Liberty Mutual in Hopkinton, MA, Captain Amanda (Young) Normandeau, Jean Rineer, Angela DiDomenico, Jacqueline Ibbitson, Jessica Zent and Melissa Hurley with a time of 5:23:02.

  • Ironman (One male athlete with a support person):

Josh Flannagan, from Cohasset, MA returned to defend his 2011 Ironman title and claimed the 2012 title in 4:05;44, also third overall time, with support person Justin Dreary.

Second place silver medals went to Ironman John McCarthy from Ludlow, MA and Crystal Popko completing in 4:33:31.

The Bronze medal went to Cumberland, RI’s Ironman David Fagnant & Tim Finocchio finishing in 4:34:51.

  • Ironwoman (One female athlete with support person):

Previously competing on a team, this year Kara Trottier, from Douglas, MA. with her support person, Donna St. Louis, entered the Ironwoman division and took first place with a time of 6:02:31.

The silver medal went to Diane Legere, from West Boylston, MA with her support person Joan Recore, with a finishing time of 7:03:40.

  • The Masters (Senior athletes aged 50 years or older):

Returning division Champions “Fairlawn & Friends” from Whitinsville, MA, Captain Henry Lane, Greg Ebbeling, Jeff Smith, Cary VandenAkker & Don Vescio completed the course in 4:29:14 to retain the 2012 title.

Silver Medals were won by Team Hawaiian from Chepachet, RI, Captain Paul Brais, David Schachte, Ray Martin, Wayne Mallory, Bert Brais, and Paul Russell with a finishing time of 4:34:56.

Bronze medals went to EcoTarium’s TVFR from Worcester, MA Team captain Joe Hamm, Bruce Ackman, Jeff Hattem, Hirashi Morimoto, Daniel Devin, John Parker & Ray Lussier with a finishing time of 4:49:19.

  • Recreational (Teams of up to nine members; men, women, or youth aged 16 or older):

A returning team for many years, claiming the First Place title in the Recreational Division for 2012, from Mendon, MA was the “Tri Valley Front Runners” in 4:16:03 with Team Captain Rich Victor, Glen Miller, Aaron Milne, Brendon Cairney, Jlia Caruso & Jason Stock.

Silver Medals went to returning 2011 second place division title team “Gang Green” from Shrewsbury, MA. Team Captain Chris Marques, with team members Dan Marques, Mark Hamilton, Thomas Connor, Rob Barter, Bob Branscombe and Mike Garcia completed the course in 4:17:21.

Bronze Medals went to the “Late Comers” from South Grafton, MA, team Captain Pete Schotaus, Garrett Ott, Steven Segenchuck and Trent Kopopman completed the course in 4:21:24. 

A complete list of race results for all participating teams and individuals will be posted on the Greenway Challenge website at http://www.greenwaychallenge.org.


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