Sharon's Conforto Races to First Place Finish in Father Bullock Road Race

As Sharon's Dave Conforto and Canton's Eric Greenspan lined up at the Father Bullock Ninth Annual Run, Walk and Shuffle Race Sunday, there was no need for any introductions or holding on to pre-race secrets.

'We train with other," said Conforto, 34. "I knew he had run yesterday."

Greenspan ran in the Walpole Village Race Saturday, finishing in fourth place in 16:23 there, which would have worn the Father Bullock Race.

In Sunday's race, Conforto sprinted away from Greenspan, finishing in a time of 16:30 to 18:20, almost a two minute faster.

"I took off after the first quarter of a mile, " said Conforto.

Greenspan was chased by the first female across the finish line, Bellingham's Helen Dinan, who was third overall in 18:37.

It turn out Dinan was just getting warm-up when the race ended.

"I've been training for marathons," she said.." This was a about a minute above my personal best, but I needed to get some speed work in."

Cambridge's Simeon Kinsley was fourth in 19:03, followed by Canton's Drew Kemalian, 19:09, and a trio of talented young runners, Sullivan Gassman, 19:12, Grant Fawcett, 19:30 and Steve Kessler, 19:41.

East Walpole's Brian Gay broke up the Sharon runners with a 19:41, ninth place finish. Sharon's Bryron Tollefson was 10th in 19:50.

Beth McCombs was first female across the finish line in 19th place in 21:38.

There were 191 finishers in the race. for the complete results, go to Father Bullock Road Race on coolrunning.com. Both the 5K race, there was short kids' race where the runners were given ribbons and a popiscle.