Funds From Third Annual Mashashimuet Park Friends and Family 5K Will Continue Additional Upgrades to Park's Grandstand

Sag Harbor residents and visitors can expect to see additional improvements made to the historic grandstand at Mashashimuet Park in the near future.

Just prior to the third annual Mashashimuet Park Friends and Family 5K at the park on Sunday morning, race organizers announced that phase two of the grandstand renovation will include a complete overhaul of the bathrooms underneath the stands, which will make them compliant with the Americans with Disabilities Act and open to the public.

One of the main reasons the local race was created three years ago was to help the privately owned park with costly upgrades. Race organizers decided to start with one of the most iconic pieces of the park, the grandstand, built in 1908, and by the second annual race last year those funds were put to good use. The stands were fully renovated from top to bottom, including a new roof and a complete paint job.

But more needs to be done, specifically to the grandstand, Mashashimuet Park Board President Rachel Dee said on Sunday afternoon.

“Looking through what we needed to do, and we have to piecemeal it because we have to raise the money for each new phase, updating the bathrooms, which were in use for many years up until recently, was a big one,” she said. “We now won’t have to have a porta-potty on that side of the park.”

Dee added that there are historic lockers underneath the grandstand that she is pretty positive might be able to be saved and a locker room may be able to come out of it so that the local school teams that use the fields regularly at the park have a safe space to change in and out of their uniforms and practice clothes.

“They’re so tiny but very solid little lockers that we’d love to have them in use if we can,” she said. “Some kids come to the park now and have to change in their cars. Historically, teams did use those lockers. I was at a reunion last year, and it may have been a 50-year reunion, where people talked about being able to change back there, so we’d love to bring that back if we could.”

As for the race itself, over 260 people crossed the finish line on Sunday, not quite the 275 or so from the year prior, but the continued hot and humid conditions may have played a role in that. Race organizers made sure to have safety precautions in place with plenty of water, not only drinkable but to cool off as well. A hose was used to cool down runners as they came down the final stretch toward the finish line, and kiddie pools were also filled and used by those following the race.

“People were hot, sweaty and thirsty, but I do think it’s always such a really positive and fun race and that’s what keeps the runners going,” Dee said. “The turnout was about the same as last year, but our sponsorship levels were higher this year, twice that of what we did last year, so we’re extremely happy in that sense.”

Gregory Orme, 22, of New York City was this year’s overall champion, crossing the finish line of the USATF-certified 3.1-mile race in 18:26.12, a 5:56 mile pace. Alistair Blee, 16, of New York City placed second overall in 19:07.88, Juan Felipe Torres, 15, of East Hampton placed third in 19:29.28, John Bonina, 25, of Brooklyn, placed fourth in 19:50.02, and Eric Perez, 25, of Montauk rounded out the top five in 19:57.78.

Fairfax Walker, 12, of Southampton was the first female to finish the race in 22:45.64. Jennifer DiSunno, 28, of Sag Harbor finished second among females in 23:28.18 and Catherine Stone, 33, also of Sag Harbor finished third among females in 24:01.40.

Full results can be found at elitefeats.com.

In addition to Dee, Nancy Benvent, John and Shelley Cottrell, Paul Gardner, Judy Lattanzio, Shawn Mitchell and Mimi Yardley make up the 5K committee, which thanked the local fire and police departments for their help and continued support.

The course continued to have runners and walkers pass a number of landmarks that were special to the park’s creator, Margaret Olivia Slocum Sage. Last year more music was added along the course, and that continued this year with Sag Harbor’s Community Band playing at the John Jermain Memorial Library, Nancy Remkus playing behind the First Presbyterian (Old Whalers’) Church of Sag Harbor, Deanna Locascio playing at the school, Born and Raised playing near the park’s monument, and Josh Brussell continuing to welcome everyone with some smooth tunes played at the grandstand.

“We have to specifically designate the race for these projects, and I think with our race only getting better each year, we’re learning as we go,” Dee said. “We’re getting feedback from everyone, not only the participants, but those working with the police and fire departments and everyone from all over the community. It’s a team effort and we’re excited for the year ahead.”