James Quattlebaum Tops Nearly 900-Runner Field in Shelter Island 10K

With over 1,500 runners crossing the finish line of the Shelter Island 10K and 5K races, and over 1,800 who registered, it’s safe to say that one of the biggest races in the region is back.

After a two-year hiatus due to the pandemic, participation has slowly, but surely, been increasing ever since the race returned in 2021. A year before the shutdown in 2019, the race, for its 40th anniversary, had more than 1,600 people compete.

Mary Ellen Adipietro, who has been the director for the past 24 years, said the beautiful weather, which featured a strong sun with temperatures reaching nearly 80 degrees — a little toasty for most runners — was a welcoming sign, at least for the many spectators who came out to line the course.

“Of course, the weather couldn’t have been more beautiful,” Adipietro said. “It was a great day and everyone had a very nice time.”

It helped that a number of elite runners came out to compete as well.

James Quattlebaum, 28, of Greenville, South Carolina, won this year’s 10K, the 45th annual “Sapphire” race, in 29:42.43, a mile pace of 4:47. He finished well ahead of the rest of the pack, reaching Fiske Field and finishing the final stretch all by himself. Christopher Alfond, 26, of Arundel, Maine, finished second in 30:17.50.

Although quite fast, Simon Ndirangu’s 2012 course record of 28:37 still remains intact. Last year’s champions, Yenew Alamirew Getahun and Fantu Zewude Jifar, did not return.

“It was good. It’s a nice, scenic course,” said Quattlebaum, who ran the race for the first time. “Rolling hills, but not too bad. I kind of got away from people, so I was running by myself. That makes the hills a little harder. No terrible hills, but definitely rollers, and like I said, when you’re running by yourself, you’re not really getting pushed up it, so it’s more mentally challenging.”

East Hampton’s Ryan Fowkes, 23, got on the podium by finishing third overall in 30:39.28. Coen Roberts, 22, also from Greenville, South Carolina, and friends with the champion, finished fourth in 31:14.99. Jordan Daniel, 30, of Westhampton, had won the 10K in its two years back from hiatus in 2021 and 2022. He rounded out the top five in 32:06.74. Ben Tuttle, 31, of Eastport finished sixth in 32:11.68.

Quattlebaum said the initial pack of four runners ran together, pretty fast, he said, for the first two miles or so. He and another runner broke away from that pack a little, then two and a half miles in, he took the lead and continued to build upon it throughout the rest of the 6.2-mile race.

Quattlebaum said he recently qualified for three Olympic Trials, two marathons and one steeplechase. He last ran on Long Island in October in the Cow Harbor 10K, in which he placed fifth. Thanks to some generous travel funding from the race organizers, Quattlebaum and his fiancée, Jamie Connelly, who also ran the 10K, made a nice weekend out of it.

Though not strangers to Long Island, Quattlebaum’s roommate his freshman year at High Point University in North Carolina was Shoreham-Wading River High School graduate Ryan Udvadia.

“So I knew a little bit of Long Island, and have had some friends from New York,” he said. “Being out here once or twice before, I knew what it was like. It’s nice being out on the island.”

Shelter Island’s own, Jason and Joshua Green, came in one in front of the other. Jason crossed the finish line in 32:27.49 to place seventh, while Joshua crossed in 32:47.16 to place eighth. Carter Babcock, 32, of New York City finished ninth in 33:45.02 and Tim Rossi, 32, also of New York City, finished 10th in 34:20.94.

The women’s 10K race had an exciting photo finish. Angie Rafter, 24, of Vernon, Connecticut, surpassed Amelework Bosho, 37, of Washington, D.C., and Ethiopia just feet from the finish line. Bosho collapsed just feet after crossing the finish line, but in a good sign of sportsmanship, Rafter came back to help her competitor up. Rafter could not be found following the race for an interview.

Erin Gregoire, 27, of New York City finished third among women in 35:34.60. Marta Mekonen, 33, of Silver Spring, Maryland, finished fourth in 37:06.34 and Leigh Anne Sharek, 35, of Brooklyn came in right after her in 37:27.77.

Peter Hawkins, 60, of Malverne repeated as champion of the wheelchair 10K in 37:16.19, in what was a four-person field this year. Norbert Holowat, 26, of Williston Park placed second in 37:46.48, Michael Larose, 33, of Bay Shore placed third in 41:21.78 and Shelter Island’s own William Lehr finished fourth in 42:44.62.

Leland Davies, 23, of East Brunswick, New Jersey won the 5K in 17:55.84. August Anderson, 30, of Riverhead was the women’s champion of the 3.1-mile race in 22:36.71.

For full results, go to elitefeats.com.

The race continued to raise funds for local charities, such as East End Hospice, Timothy Hill Children’s Ranch and the Shelter Island 10K Community Fund. Over the years, the event has raised close to $1 million.

The nonprofit Shelter Island 10K Community Fund is dedicated to creating positive awareness through running and health. Its mission is to provide funds to local youth, adults and seniors through education and services. Along with the Shelter Island Community Fund, the organization hopes to inspire and support others by assisting local charities through philanthropy.

Adipietro said this year’s race was dedicated to Christian Napolitano, who was a longtime volunteer and supporter of the race. On the night of April 25, Napolitano was hit by a car on Route 25 in Southold Town. Nearly two weeks later on May 10, he died of his injuries.