Chris Volante and Patricia Hillery claim victory at the Attleboro Run For Humanity
Nashau NH's Chris Volante bided his time and overcame Esposito and the other 168 competitors to win easily in 15:30

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Posted Tuesday, 25 March, 2003

Date: March 22, 2003
Robert E. Rose

When Joe Esposito thundered off the line at the start of yesterday's Run for Humanity 5K at the LaSallette Shrine in Attleboro, it looked as if the Mansfield resident's decimate-early- and-often strategy would pay off again. On this day, however, it would actually be Esposito who would be battered into submission as Nashau NH's Chris Volante bided his time and overcame Esposito and the other 168 competitors to win easily in 15:30. Ireland's Patricia Hillery took the lead from the start and claimed the woman's crown in 18:20.

Esposito has used the quick hit approach to win numerous area road races in the past two years and a minute into the race, he had a ten yard lead. Quietly trailing in his wake was Volante, attired in his blue B.A.A. club singlet, with a confident, serene demeanor. A few strides later, Esposito shot a glance to the rear to see a suddenly approaching Volante. Three minutes into the race, they were running abreast. Esposito gamely continued to fire on all thrusters but the pace was quickly becoming more than he could handle. "That's the fastest I have ever been out there, 4:40," Esposito commented on the time at the first mile mark. "That's the first speed work of the year .. literally."

The swift initial mile was faster than Volante had intended as prior to the race he was planning a five minute pace. "I felt pretty good to get off there and do that," Volante said. "I wouldn't mind 4:50 but at two miles it was 9:44. It was actually good to have someone out there pushing it rather than to dictate the whole race which could happen. It's one way or the other. Usually you're out there in no man's land or you're getting destroyed by guys taking it out really hard." The race was decided shortly after the first mile as Volante eventually extended his lead to over fifty yards. He looked so comfortable during the race that as he made the turn onto O'Neill Blvd in the second mile, it was hard to detect if he was actually breathing. "I felt pretty good at two miles and hung on through the third. I just wanted to run 15:30; get a solid start for the spring."

A snafu near the finish caused Manville RI's Glenn Jones, who had moved up to second place, and Esposito, who was in third, to go off course. Jones recovered for fifth place but Esposito did not officially complete the race.

Hillery's strong start in the women's race caused some incredulity among some of her trailing competitors. "She went out smoking; she was gone from the beginning," marveled North Attleboro's Jacquie Cavallaro. "She went out at least a five and a half minute first mile." Cavallaro was tucked in behind Hillery with third place finisher Debbie Kopecky of Virginia Beach, Va. and both were expecting the leader to come back to the pack. "I thought she was going to die," said Kopecky. "I thought she was a rabbit and was going to die," chimed in Cavallaro.

Hillery's pace was no illusion as her strong running credentials will attest. "I was a runner in Ireland, my father was my coach; I came to PC on a running scholarship," the Greenville, RI resident said in her lilting Irish brogue. "I graduated in '89, quit running, had three kids and just started back about a year and a half ago. So I enjoyed getting back. I'm running 18:20/18:30. I would like to break 18 this year but other than that I'm having a blast running."

It soon became evident to Cavallaro, who placed fourth, and Kopecky that the long awaited return of Hillery would not materialize. "We went out way too fast, hit one mile at six; which was quick," Cavallaro said. "Yellow shorts (second place finisher Yvonne Libano) was ahead of me and I tried to keep up with her. But I never saw her (Hillery). Never any competition at all for me."

"I went to the lead right from the beginning," Hillery said. "Nobody else came up to run with me. I would have liked if someone had come up to run beside me. I was running with some men but most of the time I was by myself. It was a lovely course, beautiful day. I was pleased with the results."

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