AMONG THOSE who ran and organized the 3rd Annual Colleen Kelly 5k on Saturday were members of the McDermott and Kelly family (pictured).
MELROSE—It was the perfect day for a race on Saturday, April 18 when nearly 300 runners took part in the Third Annual Colleen Kelly 5K at the Melrose Commons.
The race honors Colleen Kelly who was only 21 years old when she tragically lost her life the week before Christmas in 2012 while crossing Route 9 near Framingham State University where she was a senior. She is survived by her mother and father Kathleen and Dennis, her brother Tim, and her sister Caitlin. Colleen’s family and friends along with the Melrose community banded together on what would have been Colleen’s 24th birthday.
This year’s event will benefits the Colleen Kelly permanent scholarship fund at Melrose High School and the Melrose Humane Society.
Dan Grimm of Beverly won the event with a time of 16:05. But right on his heels, just one second back, was Melrose High School sophomore Kevin Wheelock. Melrose youth was well represented with a 6th and 7th place finishes for Sean Flanagan and Joe Brach.
Many volunteers from Melrose High School, including members of the Melrose Marching Band, played at the final water stop as runners and walkers passed by. Over 30 students from Framingham State University participated this year. Alderman Donald Conn was one of the individuals that won in his age category for this race. In a touching tribute, a group of students from Framingham State University where Colleen studied ran and walked in Colleen’s memory.
Top 10 finishers
2015 Colleen Kelly 5K
Dan Grimm 23 M Beverly MA 16:05
Kevin Wheelock 16 M Melrose MA 16:06
Wes Meserve 25 M Merrimac MA 17:28
Michael Sikkema 46 M Melrose MA 18:26
Steve Rosenthal 29 M Stoneham MA 19:12
Biliana Mihaylova 25 F Medford MA 19:22
Sean Flanagan 16 M Melrose MA 19:43
Joseph Brach 17 M Melrose MA 20:25
Jeff Peterson 28 M Brookline MA 20:25
Charles Nersinger 36 M Melrose MA 20:55
