by John Osborn ·
Friday, July 12, 2024
Orion and Canis Major. (Courtesy photo)
It wasn’t the best of days to run a challenging 5-mile race in the hills of Harvard, but more than 211 runners—42 from Harvard—gathered at the Bromfield School last Thursday morning to compete in the annual Great Harvard 4th of July Road Race in spite of humidity and heat that gave the race the feel of a visit to the tropical wing of a greenhouse.
The winner was Max Kronauer of Cambridge, with a time of 27 minutes, 26 seconds. The top female runner was Dianna Bell of Southborough, who finished 13th in 32:34.
Harvard’s top male finisher was last year’s race winner Nick Rindenello, who finished third this year with a time of 29:03. Harvard’s top female finisher was rising Bromfield senior Emma Squire, who finished 40th with a time of 36:40.
Orion and Canis Major. (Courtesy photo)
Kronauer is a 2012 Bromfield graduate, a former co-captain of the varsity cross-country team as well as of the indoor and outdoor track teams. “It’s my first summer back in Massachusetts,” said Kronauer, an architect, who recently moved to Cambridge from San Francisco. “I’ve always wanted to do this race; I’ve just never been around to do it.”
Kronauer said that while he had done lots of training on the hills of San Francisco, the Harvard race, with its heat and humidity was “different.”
“I’ve done the [Have a] Jesse Day [5K] race a couple times, so I was used to the first part of the course,” he said. “I don’t think I’ve run up West Bare Hill since high school, so that was just like a little bit of a rude awakening.”
There was no shortage of runners for the 1-mile Fun Run that got underway a half-hour later. Eighty-three racers of all ages—most under 18—lined up at the Bromfield School entrance for the start. Kyran O’Leary of Harvard was the first to cross the finish line with a time of 6:36. The first place female runner was Lillian Gregoire of North Chelmsford with a time of 7:11, who placed third overall. Close behind was Jamie Fitek of Harvard with a time of 7:19.
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Luna Magnuson approaches the finish line with her dad, Ryan Magnuson, on her heels.
Racers were treated to mandarin oranges, bananas, chips, and other snacks contributed by Jasonics Security Corp. Winners took home gallons, half-gallons, and quarts of Carlson Orchards cider purchased by the race organizers.
Chief organizer of this year’s races was Will Kemeza, but Mike and Lynn Thornton, organizers of past races, directed Thursday’s events. James O’Leary, another Bromfield graduate, was master of ceremonies and DJ, providing music and words of encouragement to racers as they made their final dashes to the finish line. Jason Bui of New England Timing kept track of the results, all of which can be found at https://my.raceresult.com/296449/results#2_50D290. See summary below.
The Great Harvard 4th of July Road Race is organized each year by The Harvard Road Race Association, in partnership with the Harvard Conservation Trust. The organization donates race proceeds to high school sports teams, the Council on Aging, and local charities such as Loaves & Fishes food pantry. On hand for this year’s race were police, members of the Harvard Ambulance Service, and the Harvard Lions Club, who provided race monitors along the 5- and 1.07-mile courses.