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Venable wins Arnold Mills race |
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Sunday, 06 July 2008 |
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By BRENDAN MCGAIR Sports writer CUMBERLAND – For most, winning two categories would qualify as a banner day.
For Cumberland native and St. Raphael alum Chris Magill, the bar is set much higher. That holds especially true when it’s Arnold Mills time.
Despite finishing first in his age bracket and becoming the initial Cumberland resident to break the tape, Magill’s quest to capture another Arnold Mills crown came up a hair short. Recent Bishop Hendricken graduate and Wyoming, R.I. native Bronson Venable won the 40th installment of the Fourth of July road race by two seconds over his closest competitor, Magill.
Venable’s time for the four-mile run was 20:35. He and Magill went back-and-forth for much of the way before young legs seized control at the tail end.
For Magill, a five-time Arnold Mills champion, this was the second straight July he finished in the runner-up position. Last year it was 18-year-old and Blackstone native Jeff Hill winning by six seconds (20:06-20:13).
Still, Magill was not disappointed with the end result. In fact Magill was pleased to learn that Venable will continue running at his alma mater in the fall, Iona College.
“It was a tough race with good competition. Bronson overtook me in the end, but overall I’m satisfied,” said Magill, who was participating in his 11th Arnold Mills. “I was leading going down Nate Whipple Highway, but Bronson was able to take it in toward the finish. He’s a Gael and I’m happy he’s going to the right school.”
Despite a persistent rain that only intensified as the runners lined up, a record turnout of 574 came out in what was truly a gathering of community solidarity.
“The rain didn’t keep anybody away,” said race director Tom Kenwood, who’s also the track coach at Cumberland High School.
“People love this race,” added Magill. “It is tradition and it seems likes the whole town of Cumberland is here.”
Magill believes the wet conditions benefited the runners’ cause. “The rain wasn’t bad and really didn’t affect the race, a good day for running. It’s much worse when it’s 90-plus degrees.”
The first women finisher was Nicole Radzik, who came in 22nd (23:41).
Attendance was no doubt boasted by the roughly 100 supporters who came out of the Patrick Holmes Memorial Fund. Holmes is the Cumberland High grad (2007) and former captain of the wrestling team who passed away last month in a motorcycle accident. Many who chose to run in Holmes’ memory wore t-shirts with his picture on them.
“A lot of kids in the school knew Patrick,” said Kenwood. “A lot of the wrestling parents and coaches are here.”
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Last Updated ( Wednesday, 09 July 2008 )
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