On The Run with John Stifler: Ringing in the new year at the Sawmill River 10K

Joni Beauvais crosses the finish line at Wednesday’s Sawmill River 10K Race in Montague.

Joni Beauvais crosses the finish line at Wednesday’s Sawmill River 10K Race in Montague. PHOTO BY JOHN STIFLER

Donna Utakis crosses the finish line at Wednesday’s Sawmill River 10K Race in Montague.

Donna Utakis crosses the finish line at Wednesday’s Sawmill River 10K Race in Montague. PHOTO BY JOHN STIFLER

Published: 01-03-2025 3:25 PM

An eccentric teacher who was the inspiration for the Robin Williams character in the movie “Dead Poets’ Society,” Sam Pickering writes essays that are as edgy as Williams’ acting. Long before the era of NIL and transfer portals, Sam wrote that the commercialization and politics of bigtime sports had caused him to lose interest in all athletic competition except local road races.

He would love the Sawmill River 10K Run. Held on New Year’s Day on Montague’s serene back roads, the race epitomizes community sports events. This year’s winners were two 27-year-olds with local ties, former Amherst High School cross-country star Owen Wright and former Smith College track and cross-country standout Frances Duncan.

Conditions were ideal: temperatures in the low 40s, sky overcast, wind negligible, no rain. Running on a day like this, you don’t overheat, you don’t get hypothermia, you don’t fight wind or glaring sun; you just run, usually well.

Nobody ran faster than Wright. Now training as a professional cyclist in Lakewood, Colorado, he wasted no time seizing the lead. Crossing the bridge at the Bookmill, he enjoyed a brief challenge from Montague’s Michael Keebler, 36, but neither Keebler nor anyone else could match Wright’s pace. His finishing time of 32 minutes, 34 seconds was within half a minute of the course record.

The battle was for second. At two miles, Keebler trailed Wright by 100 yards and Jake Barnett, 39, of Whately trailed Keebler by the same distance, but in the third mile Barnett moved ahead to finish in 33:52 while Keebler clocked a time of 34:38. Mohawk Trail coach Mark Rabasco, 30, took fourth in 37:32, followed by Amherst High School coach Chris Gould, 59, who finished fifth overall and won the men’s senior division (ages 50-59) in 39:36. First in the masters group (40-49) was Toby Briggs, 43, in 43:27.

Amherst coach Elena Betke-Brunswick, 40, was part of a strong women’s field that took a little longer to sort itself out. In the first half mile she, Duncan, Bonnie Lathrop, 33, of Amherst and Marcy Cabanas, 43, of Greenfield all looked like possible winners, but after a mile it was clearly Duncan’s day. Comfortable in shorts, tank top and an expression confirming that the whole thing was an excellent New Year’s party, she breezed through the course in 40:20.

Cabanas took second in 41:31, winning the masters division and finishing 15 seconds ahead of Lathrop, who won the 30-39-years age group. Betke-Brunswick placed fourth in 42:22. Laure van den Broeck Raffensperger of Leyden, 47, was fifth in 44:05. First senior was Jennifer Schimmel, 51, of Deerfield (47:49); first over 60 was Debra Hevey, 66, of Chicopee (51:40).

In a familiar pattern, the largest age-group was of men aged 60 and up, who accounted for 20 of the 104 finishers – and of whom seven are over 70. They became hardcore runners during the running boom years of the late ’70s, and they’re still at it. First here was 66-year-old Steve Power of Bernardston, whose training includes swimming, trail running, rowing and mountain biking. He ran impressively to a 42:16 finish.

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Youngest finisher and first in the female under-18 division was Cairo Harrell, 16, of Northampton (1:00:12). First (and only) male in that age group was Philipp Tischloder, 17 (1:04:08).

The race was blessed by the appearance of Hiram Cruz and Angel Robles of Springfield. Angel, 21, who has a disability that prevents him from running, rides in a wheelchair pushed by Hiram, 47, in the style originated by the popular duo of Dick and Rick Hoyt. The duo finished in 50:18. “Nice course!” said Hiram. They expect to compete in this year’s Boston Marathon.

The other vehicle in the race was a stroller pushed by Joni Beauvais, 40, of Wilbraham, with Cole, 3, and Dani, 9 months, riding in the seats. They finished in 56:39. Joni’s husband, Brian, finished in 49:20, paced by sons Seth, 5, and Owen, 8, riding their bicycles. Family fitness exemplified.

For Donna Utakis of Amherst, the race was a welcome return to the running she enjoyed for years before breaking her knee 18 months ago. Utakis, 56, competed in ultramarathons. She broke the knee – “Cracked it right in half!” – while serving as support crew for another ultrarunner. Physical therapy has helped, but a real comeback wasn’t manifesting itself.

“Then I was out for a run on Sunday,” she said, “and something clicked. I don’t have the speed yet, but the form has come back.” She finished with a huge smile in 1 hour and 35 seconds.

John Stifler has taught writing and economics at UMass and has written extensively for running magazines and newspapers. He can be reached at jstifler@umass.edu