Avramenko Wins Second Annual Beacon of Hope 5K in Montauk

It may not have been the picture-perfect morning that was experienced for the inaugural Beacon of Hope 5K last year — with showers making their way out of the area at the start of the second annual race on Saturday morning in Montauk, but it didn’t deter over 240 people from crossing the finish line of the event that supports a pair of important East End organizations in The Coalition for Women’s Cancers at Southampton Hospital and Lucia’s Angels.

Sergey Avramenko, 38, a Belarus native who calls Hampton Bays home this summer, and who has certainly made a name for himself over the past year or so by winning many of the road races across the East End, added to his resume by winning the 3.1-mile race in 16:01.4, a mile pace of 5:10. That was 30 seconds faster than last year’s champion Claudio Telles, 45, who returned to defend his title but ultimately took second place behind Avramenko, crossing the finish line in 16:18.3. Telles is a New York City resident, but knows the Montauk Lighthouse, which serves as the very scenic backdrop of the race, as well as anyone, having been part of the team that helped restore it over the past year or so.

Seth Bender, 42, of New York City, placed third overall in 17:27.3, Danny Teteo, 58, of Armonk, New York, finished fourth in 18:06.7 and Montauk’s own Dan Glickberg, 40, rounded out the top five finishers, crossing the finish line in 18:59.4.

Lara Jacobs, 23, of New York City, was this year’s female champion, finishing in 19:58.4. Domenica De Gabriel, 44, of Corona, Queens, came in not too long after Jacobs in 20:03.4. Emily Kenyon, 33, of Montauk finished third in 21:21, Julie Lauck, 48, also of Montauk, finished fourth in 23:15.6 and Alexandria DiGiacomo, 25, of East Quogue, finished fifth among women in 24:13.3.

Full results can be found at runsignup.com.

The Coalition for Women’s Cancers at Stony Brook Southampton Hospital and Lucia’s Angels, nonprofits dedicated to supporting women living on the East End battling breast, ovarian, cervical and uterine cancers, want to honor people who have given back to those communities each year. Stacy Quarty, president of Lucia’s Angels, said those people may not be doctors every year, but this year’s honoree just so happened to be one once again.

Dr. Louis Avvento is a hematologist and oncologist with New York Cancer and Blood Specialists and, due to his continued support of both the Coalition for Women’s Cancers and Lucia’s Angels, Quarty said he was very deserving of the honor. Not only was Avvento there for Susie Roden, the president of the Coalition for Women’s Cancers, when she went through her third case of breast cancer in 2021, he’s been there for everyone on the East End, Quarty said, and is very much a participating doctor in the fight against cancer.

“Even if it’s a new patient, he takes extra special care of them and is so compassionate,” she said.

Quarty, a Water Mill resident, explained that when a friend was diagnosed with stage-four lung cancer and ultimately decided against undergoing chemotherapy, Avvento was still there for her to offer any other support she needed.

“He stays up-to-date with all of the latest treatments,” Quarty added. “There is always some new information out on the horizon about cancer and treatments and Dr. Avvento is always learning about all of them. He’s really up on all of it and he’s bringing the best he can to all of the patients on the East End.”