Coffee Obsession Friday Night 5

Falmouth, MA, June 21, 2002

Summer Solstice Edition of Coffee O Five

by F.L.L.

Forty-four runners and nineteen walkers celebrated the Summer Solstice by participating in the Coffee-O-Five. The first day of summer proved to be perfect for running as many happy runners crossed the line with fast times this week. At least seven of this weeks runners and several walkers were participating for the first time.

It was one of the fastest womens field in quite a while as seven women finished in less then 38 minutes. Laura Hutchinson and Kip Morris set the fast early pace before they were overtaken by Jess Baker who raced home with a first place time of 33:10. It was a personal best five mile time for Ms. Baker and also the fastest womens time of 2002. Ms. Hutchinson held on for second place in 34:29. Nancy Correia and Erica Lasek-Nesselquis ran in together in just under 36 minutes. Last weeks winner, Lynn Holmgren, trotted home in fifth place.

Todd Kirkman led the field through three miles before tiring down the homestretch. His time of 33:09 was his best of the year and good enough for seventh place. Mike Norton used his strong finishing kick to nab first place. Derick Harris of West Hartford, CT. took third in 30:46. Frank Guido weathered the drive from South Dennis and took fourth in his Coffee-O debut.

Ken Blanc of Natick also toured the course for his first time and cracked 33 minutes in a seventh place finish. David Theal, a Falmouth running regular from long ago, was in town to take in his first Coffee-O-Five. Mike DiSpezio cracked 40 minutes for his first time. Even Fred Keller showed up this week after a long winter hibernation. Harold Ruschky, who used to pound the pavements of Falmouth over 30 years ago, was there as a spectator this week.

The Coffee-O-Five is a weekly five mile race. It starts and finishes at Town Hall Square in Falmouth at 5:30 on Fridays. There is no entry fee for this self-timed event. There is also a non competitive 2.4 mile walk. Next week there will be a large post race celebration in honor of the five year anniversary of the event.