THE 57th LAA Fourth of July 5K featured 341 runners including 187 from Lynnfield. (Emile Coumans Photo)

By STEPHEN MARTELLUCCI

LYNNFIELD — The annual Lynnfield Athletic Association’s July 4th 5K (3.1 miles) Road Race took place on a hot, partly cloudy day with 341 runners competing. This was the 57th edition of the event that was canceled due to Covid back in 2020 and 2021.

“It was a fantastic day,” said Lynnfield Athletic Association member Jen Goguen. “The 341 runners is the most we have had since before Covid.”

Due to the renovations taking place at town hall, the start/finish line was moved slightly, otherwise, the route was basically the same.

The men’s winner this year was an out-of-stater as Redding, Connecticut resident James Nogueira had a time of 17:42. The 22-year old won the race by five seconds as Lynnfield’s Angelo DeLuca came in second at 17:47.

DeLuca, 19, graduated from Lynnfield High last year.

Three other Lynnfield residents placed in the top 10 overall. Shea McCarthy, who just finished his junior year at Lynnfield High, was fourth at 18:26. McCarthy, a member of the LHS tennis team, is 17-years-old.

Ian O’Leary, 37, placed 7th at 18:42. William Flannigan, 50, came in 10th at 18:55.

Lynnfield runners also captured 14th, 15th and 16th place.

Scott Fitzemeyer, 39, was 14th at 19:22 while Dylan Nguyen, 16, was 15th at 19:26. Bryan Mallett, 22, captured 15th at 19:35.

The first female to cross the finish line was Kate Farrell as the 29-year-old had a winning time of 18:48. The Windham, New Hampshire resident was 8th overall. Farrell beat Shana Frank by seven seconds as the 39-year old from Weston had a time of 18:55. Frank ended up in 9th place overall.

Coming in 3rd in the women’s division was 19-year old Emma Casey as the Medford resident had a time of 20-44 to capture 21st overall.

The best time for a Lynnfield High female student was Maeve Wertz who had a time of 26:59 to come in 91st overall as she tied her older sister and recent LHS graduate, Viola Wertz.

The best time by a Lynnfield female resident at that 15-19 age group was Mia Daley who had a time of 22:47 to place 41st.

Nogueira and Farrell both received $25 gift cards from Nike along with a trophy. McCarthy and Maeve Wertz, who had the top times for Lynnfield High students, also received trophies.

The top three finishers in each age group all took home medals.

Lynnfield residents made up 53 percent of the runners as there were 187 local competitors.

“We are looking forward to next year’s race,” said Goguen, who also wanted to thank the sponsors: Wakefield Cooperative Bank, Moynihan Lumber, The YMCA Metro North, Danielle Ventre Littlefield Real Estate, Salem Five Bank, Supino Insurance Agency, A Healthy Lynnfield, Market Street, Wellpoint, North Shore Bank, DSH-Dermatology and Skin Health andCDS-Law Office of Colonna, Doyle and Simeola.