NECC holds annual Campus Classic 5k

The 5k racers cross the start line.
The 5k racers cross the start line. Photo courtesy of NECC Newsroom
On May 3, NECC hosted their 2nd annual Campus Classic 5k on Haverhill campus at 10 a.m. with a Fun Run for children starting at 9 a.m.

Walkers and runners were welcome, and 189 of them participated in the race, including NECC president Lane Glenn who placed 16th out of 83 male runners, with a time of 22:15.
Different running groups like Merrimack Valley Striders and North Shore Striders were also present at the race, representing their team.

Members of the NECC community were also encouraged to represent the school while running the race.

Overall first place winner for the Campus Classic 5k was Jon Fiva, age 35, from Cambridge with a time of 17:01. Second place winner was Larry Fowle, age 31, with a time of 17:30. In third place was Connor Hayden, age 26, from Bradford with a time of 19:28. And following closely behind him was 11 year old Sean Kay from melrose with a time of 19:50.

First place in overall female winners was Kirsten Kortz, age 35, of Somerville with a time of 21:20. Second place was Nancy Corsaro, age 55, from Methuen with a time of 21:50. Third place was Laura Seddon, age 29, from Amesbury with a time of 22:27. And in fourth was Kristina Richard, age 22, from Peabody, with a time of 23:01.

Alan Segermain, age 59, from the Merrimack Valley Striders said the race was on “A beautiful day, a nice course, a nice field.”

He said the people racing, the volunteers, and the crowd were all “friendly and inviting,” and he enjoyed running the 5k with his fellow striders.

Segermain’s time was 28:27 and was placed 40th out of 83 male participants.
This was Segermain’s and the Merrimack Valley Striders’ second time coming to the Campus Classic.

Segermain said that Merrimack Valley Striders have more than 20 runners.
He said about 6 of them met in Methuen before the 5k and rode to the campus on bikes to warm up before the race.

Some runners even ran to the campus to prepare for the 5k. “We get here by running or riding,” Segermain said.

Dave Leonard, age 61, another Merrimack Valley Strider said that he came back this year to make up for the year before, where during the race he had fallen over a speed bump.

Leonard said his goal was to “run the race upright,” this year, and he succeeded. Leonard’s finished in 55th place out of 83 male runners with a time of 32:36.

Chuck McAllister, age 38, placed 49 out of 83 with a time of 31:24. McAllister ran 23 miles before coming to the Campus Classic 5k and participating in the race. He said “I went the long way,” to get the Haverhill campus. He said he is preparing for a 50 mile race that is coming up. He said the 23 miles was great, but the 5k was horrible.