The following announcement was provided by Gray Matter Marketing, producers of the BankNewport 10 Miler.
On Sunday Morning, the streets of Newport from Ocean Drive to Bellevue Avenue were filled with the sound of more than 2,300 pairs of running shoes pounding the pavement for the 2019 BankNewport 10 Miler. Despite fog shrouding the early parts of the racecourse, runners from near and far enjoyed a running tour of Newport, culminating in a finish line celebration inside of Fort Adams. The BankNewport 10 Miler is produced by Gray Matter Marketing, and this year’s event raised more than $20,000 for its charitable partners, including the Boys and Girls Club of Newport County and the Fort Adams Trust.
Stephen Paddock, from Glastonbury, Connecticut, broke the finishers tape in 54 minutes and 5 seconds. “This was my first year running this race. It was really scenic, despite the fog,” Paddock said. “I zone out during the race usually, so I drove the course on Saturday so I could really enjoy the views as well.”
Paddock took off from the start and didn’t relinquish his lead until the end. “It’s good mental training, and I was happy with my result,” he says. “I was trying to get the course record, but I didn’t quite get it.” Paddock was only 29 seconds off of setting the course record.
Adrian Massie and Billy Martin, both from Newport, Rhode Island, finished in second and third respectively.
Sandy Spitler from Newport, Rhode Island was the top female finisher, with a time of 1 hour and 17 seconds. Her speedy pace earned her the course record, beating the previous record set by Amanda Nurse in 2015 by 5 seconds.
“It never gets old running around out there,” says Spitler, who moved back to Rhode Island this year after a few years in California. “The 10 mile distance is still a bit of a sprint, but it’s a really fun distance.”
Spitler also won last year’s Amica Newport Marathon, also setting that course record, with a blazing fast time of 2 hours, 59 minutes and 51 seconds.
Kat Morrissey, from East Longmeadow, Massachusetts was the second-place female, followed by Caroline Reiser from Greenville, North Carolina.
Morrissey’s second place finish on Sunday keeps her in the lead for the overall New England 10 Miler series title, which consists of three road races — the Portland 10 Miler, held in Maine and which she won in April, the BankNewport 10 Miler in June and the Vermont 10 Miler in Stowe, Vermont in November.
Photo Gallery – Photo Credit Clancy Creative/BankNewport 10 Miler
Following the race, BankNewport 10 Miler finishers enjoyed a finish line festival featuring local craft brewery Ragged Island. In addition to title sponsor BankNewport, the event was sponsored by Run Newport, Fitzpatrick Team of ReMax Newport, NPT HealthWorks, Blount Fine Foods, Girls on the Run Rhode Island, Hippeas USA, Polar Seltzer, Renewal by Andersen of Rhode Island, Nature’s Path Organic Foods and the University of Rhode Island.
All finishers received a custom-designed antique silver-colored finisher’s medal with transparent blue features and an ocean scene. In addition, every runner received a custom-designed BankNewport 10 Miler shirt and reusable backpack. Age-group award finishers received a commemorative mug, featuring the event date, course map and logo.
The BankNewport 10 Miler is a part of the New England 10 Miler series. The third and final stop of the series will take place in Stowe, Vermont on November 3rd, 2019 at the Vermont 10 Miler.
A date for the 2020 BankNewport 10 Miler will be officially announced soon.
For more information, including results and a link to images, visit www.banknewport10miler.com