Published November 29, 2018 with updates from the print edition

By MAUREEN DOHERTY

NORTH READING — Over 850 runners and walkers braved the bone-chilling cold on Thanksgiving morning to participate in the 10th edition of the North Reading Turkey Trot.

This year’s first male finisher and overall race winner was Sam Fazioli, 26, of Salem, N.H., who crossed the line in 16:19.10. It was his first time running this course.

THREE-PEATER Jackie Solimine (second from right) has won first place in the women’s division of the Turkey Trot in 2015, 2017 and 2018. She accepted the 2018 Frederick A. Keyes Memorial Award from Keyes’ family representatives Brendan Keyes and Fred Keyes (at left), Hornet HOF Committee President Craig Jamieson and Hornet HOF Race Co-Director Joe Davis. (Maureen Doherty Photo)

Winning the women’s race for the third time was Jackie Solimine, 24, of Haverhill in 18:33.8. She previously won the race in 2015 and 2017. Although neither overall winner lives in town they both have a connection to North Reading. Jackie is the daughter of Scot Solimine who was a member of the 1977 undefeated Hornet basketball team and Fazioli is her boyfriend. Both competed competitively at their respective colleges, Jackie at UMass Lowell and Sam at Northeastern. The sport also brought them together as they are both members of the same running club, he said.

Sponsored by the North Reading Hornets Hall of Fame Committee, the Turkey Trot is a true community event with entire families participating in physical fitness together and each school partaking in a friendly competition while striving to get the highest percentage of their student body to participate all while raising money for the town’s student athletes and physical education programs.

SAMUEL FAZIOLI, 26, was the first runner to cross the finish line in the 10th annual Turkey Trot 5K in 16:19.10.(Maureen Doherty Photo)

This year for the first time a 1.75K walk was also part of the race.

Proceeds from the Turkey Trot enable the HOF Committee to offer two $500 scholarships annually to one male and one female graduating senior who have been active in the track program at NRHS. The scholarship is given in memory of a popular former teacher at NRHS who was a strong supporter of the school’s athletic programs, the late Frederick A. Keyes. His family members participate in the race each year and also present the Frederick A. Keyes Memorial Award to the top male and top female finisher in the race each year.

Fazioli and Solimine were presented their plaques by North Reading HOF President Craig Jamieson. On hand to also offer their congratulations on behalf of the Keyes family were Fred Keyes and his nephew Brendan Keyes, the son and grandson, respectively, of the award’s namesake. Both runners also received a gift certificate for running shoes from race sponsor Marathon Sports.

Race funds are also donated by the HOF Committee to support the athletic teams at the high school and make improvements to school athletic facilities that are outside of the typical school budget. The elementary school challenge is now in its sixth year. The school with the highest participation rate in the race earns funds to purchase PE equipment for their school.

JILLIAN CORBETT, 10, at left, embodies the true spirit of the North Reading 5K Turkey Trot as she waits at the finish line to cheer on her little brother Joseph, 6, before he collapses into her arms. Jillian finished the race in 34:30 while Joseph finished a few minutes later in 36:50. They both attend the Little School. (Maureen Doherty Photo)

“It has been a decade of growing the event, developing community connections, and making contributions that benefit our students and athletic programs across the school district. Looking forward to next year and beyond,” said Race Co-Director Joe Davis at the award presentations after the event. Davis attended high school with Jackie’s dad. Considering the single-digit temperatures and biting wind, Davis was pleased that more than half of the over 1,500 pre-registrants participated.

Those interested in getting involved in helping to organize next year’s race can send an email to nrturkeytrot@gmail.com Davis said.

The link to the complete race results by North Shore Timing has been posted to the North Reading Transcript Facebook page.

Family challenge

The family challenge has proven to be quite popular. Each family is encouraged to form a team of four family members and each team is ranked by the combined times of those four runners. There were 33 family teams acknowledged in the race this year.

The Solimine family repeated as the winners of the family challenge with a combined time of 1:25:11.4, fueled by Jackie’s victory in the woman’s bracket of 18:33.8. Teammates Jenna (19:48.4), Julie (21:49.5) and Scot (24:59.7) Solimine contributed to their team’s speedy result and average time of 22:17.9.

Prizes were awarded to the top three family teams as well as the top three finishers in each age group, from 10 and under to 70-99. The top three finishers in each age group or family group were provided with gift certificates from a variety of local businesses.

The top 100 overall finishers and the top three finishers in each age category are included in today’s print edition of the Transcript. To view the complete results for the walk and the run go to https://www.northshoretiming.com/ and click on “race results” at the top of the page. In the drop down menu go to “North Reading 5K Turkey Trot 11-22-2018” to click on the links in four categories: Run Results, Age Groups, Family Teams and Walk Results.