Runners Pound Pavement In Brockton Road Race

By Lisa E. Crowley
BrocktonPost
BROCKTON—Nearing the finish line of the Brockton Firefighters Pipes and Drums Road Race, Hingham’s Chris Barry urged every ounce of power and speed from his 11-year-old body as he tried to catch Under 15 division leader Matt Moran but try as he might, Barry finished second—only 7 seconds behind winner Moran.
“It's maddening,” Barry said, shaking his head after the race and drinking water with his mother Lauren who came in second in the women’s division. (Pictured below with Bruins shirt with mom, Lauren at right)
Irritated, but undaunted, Chris Barry said he will only try harder to win the next race.
“Next time,” Barry said.
Barry, his mother and more than 150 racers, volunteers and spectators from nearby towns like East Bridgewater and Hingham or as far away as Lynn and Boston, congregated at Brockton Firefighter’s Keating Hall on Perkins Avenue for the 5th annual Brockton Firefighters Pipes and Drums Road Race held Sunday, June 26.
Ninety-one men, women and children competed in the 5K/3.1 mile road race around the streets of the Campello area of Brockton.
The first runner across the line was Chad Green who finished in 18 minutes, 12 seconds. (Pictured at right)
Placing first overall among women was Kristina Coriarty (pictured below with trophy) who finished in 19 minutes, 25 seconds and was the second runner to finish the race.
Following the race, runners, families and friends enjoyed a barbecue and mingled among the crowd, including Brockton’s Angel Otero and Kati Mack (Pictured left to right) who noticed the two families likely had the youngest spectators in the crowd.
Otero held his 1-month old son Daniel—number five for he and his wife Nicole.
Mack cradled 8-month-old Ilira as the pair talked about children, running and the need to cover the newborns' heads and skin from the sun that began to peek through the clouds after the race.
Mack ran the 3.1 mile race with sister-in-law Shannon Mack. Otero said he watched with his wife Nicole as their third child Mia ran the race in the under 15 girls division.
Otero said even if he didn’t have Daniel in his arms it would be very unlikely he would run next year’s Pipes and Drums race—or any other for that matter.
“I don’t even like to run to the ‘fridge,” Otero joked.