Massachusetts Accountant Wins

‘Race Lake’, A Cooperstown First

COOPERSTOWN – James Sullivan, an accountant from Chelmsford, Mass., who has run six marathons – including Boston’s – in the past eight weeks, crossed the finish line at 10.53.07 p.m. today, winning the first-ever Cooperstown marathon, “Race The Lake.”

His time was 2:54:34, and he finished a good mile ahead of the second finisher, Dierdre Dwyer, of Poughkeepsie (the family has a weekend home locally), who won the half-marathon in 1:29:44.

PHOTO GALLERY OF TODAY’S RACE

Cooperstown’s Andrew Rock, who also ran a half, was the third person over the line. Clark employee Tara Arnold was among the top 10 finishers.

“Some of the bigger marathons are not so well supported as this one,” said Sullivan, who praised the “beautiful views” throughout the 26.2-mile run. “It had some really hard hills around 13-14,” that stretch of East Lake Road, but otherwise the route was fairly level. The cool temperatures – the mid-50s – also made for ideal running weather, he said.

Dierdre’s sister, Siobhan, was not far behind her, but both girls were waiting with mom Joan for dad Terrence and brother Brian to cross the finish line. On Mother’s Day, “we challenged our brother,” said Siobhan, adding a little guiltily: “And hadn’t run in eight years.”

Sullivan, whose wife Colleen and baby daughter Cailin were there to cheer him on at the finish line, said his running career just kind of happened. He started with 5Ks, then 10Ks. “Once you do a half-marathon,” you have to do a marathon, he said.