THE 57th LAA Fourth of July 5K featured 341 runners including 14 from North Reading. (Emile Coumans Photo)
By STEPHEN MARTELLUCCI
LYNNFIELD — The annual Lynnfield Athletic Association 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 are 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.
Fourteen North Reading residents participated in the event. Luke Antolini was the first North Reading runner to finish as he came in 53rd place with a time of 23:53.
“It was my first time doing that race,” said Antolini, who has been living in North Reading for 13 years. “My sister-in-law and nephew live in Lynnfield and told me about the race since they have done it in the past. They also ran in it this year.”
Antolini had run in the Turkey Trot a couple of times in town and ran the Boston Marathon back in 2006. The 44-year old does roughly 80 miles a week on his Peloton and runs 12 to 15 miles a week on the treadmill.
“I actually signed up the night before and ran the race with my son Ben,” pointed out Antolini, who is a software developer.
NORTH READING’s Luke Antolini (left) and Ben Antolini were the top two runners from town in the Lynnfield Athletic Association’s July 4th 5K. (Courtesy Photo)
Antolini enjoyed the race and was surprised that he was the first North Reading racer to finish.
“I didn’t even know that,” he admitted. “I thought it was a great event and I’m proud to come in first from town. I am definitely going to be doing the race next year.”
His son, Ben, was the second North Reading resident to finish, as the 12-year-old was 86th with a time of 26:41.
Malka Travaglini was the first North Reading female to cross the finish line as the 39-year old had a time of 27.14 to place 98th.
In 134th place was Sebastian Masiello as the 65-year-old had a time of 28:52. He placed sixth overall in the 60 to 69 age group Placing seventh in that age group was 67-year old Jeff Stolz who had a time of 29:05 to place 138th overall.
Corey Connally (38) was 141st at 29:10 while Katelyn Connally (43) was right behind him in 142nd at 29:11
Liz Mitchell (39) had a time of 29:30 to come in 150th while Jule Slootbeek (40) was 151st at 29:31.
At 163rd was Kirsten Morrow as the 44-year old had a time of 30:01.
Liane Cook (46) was 168th in 30:13 while Kelli Strob (44) placed 238th at 32.44.
Coming in 310th was Mike Strob (42) who finished in 44:58. 73-year old Joe Spina had a time of 50:11 to place 324th as he came in seventh in the 70 to 79 age division.
