Over The Bridge Races In Hampton Bays Celebrate Their 10th Year

The Over The Bridge 10K and 5K races — one of the more popular local races, thanks, in large part, to the course that includes going over Ponquogue Bridge — enjoyed its 10th year on Saturday, September 18.

This year’s race, sponsored by the Hampton Bays Lions Club, was conducted in honor of Frank Butz, a club member who is credited with starting the race in 2011. Butz was there on Saturday, greeting every runner that crossed the finish line, which was set on the grass field behind Hampton Bays Middle School.

“It’s been a great run,” Butz said of the race. How about 10 more years? “Oh, at least. Maybe more. Hopefully more.”

Last year’s race was, of course, canceled due to the COVID-19 pandemic, which disturbed what had been a steady incline of runners since the inception of the race. At one point, well over 500 runners were traveling to Hampton Bays to compete in the late summer races.

Well over 300 runners competed in this year’s race, which may seem low compared to previous years, but seems to be the going rate for local races making their return to in-person competition after having to take a year off. Butz expects those numbers to creep back up in the following years.

“All COVID dependent,” he remarked. “We had approximately 350 participants to the event today and it was another success, thanks to the Town of Southampton, the police department, the parks department, you name it. Everyone came through for us. We had a lot of great sponsors and all of the monies will be put to good use.”

As they have in the past, funds raised from the event by the Lions Club will go to sponsoring six seeing eye dogs through the Smithtown Guide Dog Foundation. Three of those six dogs go to returning war veterans, with another three going to three local residents in need. A number of other charitable organizations that benefit from the race include the Dominican Sisters, which helps families in need, local churches, St. Rosalie’s Food Pantry of Hampton Bays, Hampton Bays Little League, local Boy Scouts and Girl Scouts and Maureen’s Haven, which provides shelter and support to the homeless on the East End. The race also provides scholarships for students in the Hampton Bays and Westhampton Beach school districts.

Sergey Avramenko has been making the rounds in the local racing circuit this summer, having won the Race For Hope and Ellen’s Run, both in Southampton. Both of those were 5Ks, but Avramenko doubled down on Saturday and won the 10K in 34:56.86. The 36-year-old who currently lives in Southampton but admittedly moves all over the country as a rideshare driver, said he would have liked to have finished with a 10-second faster mile pace. He finished with a 5:37 pace.

Avramenko, who plans on running in the Hamptons Half Marathon next month, explained there were a number of factors in his time being slightly slower than he would have liked, such as a change to the start of the race course, at least to the one he found online, and there being no pace car or cyclist and some traffic on the roads.

“Don’t get me wrong, I don’t want to complain, but I’m just saying, if people asked me what I could add or how to improve I would add those points,” he said. “They did a good job organizing, it’s a good event, everybody is enjoying, but if they asked for my feedback everyone would benefit.”

Ethan Goldman, 31, of Rocky Point, placed second behind Avramenko in the 6.2-mile race in 36:04.40. Miguel Morastitla, 43, of Southampton finished third in 40:05.88, followed by the female champion of the 10K, Deanna Devon, 38, of Rocky Point, who is a teacher and coach in the Hampton Bays School District. She finished in 46:01.47. Becca Aronoff, 26, of Hampton Bays placed second among females in 49:41.99 and Angela Kim, 43, of Manorville finished in 50:41.39.

Jack Stevens, 32, of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, beat out Hampton Bays resident Luca Villano, 17, to win the 5K. Stevens crossed the finish line in 20:10.71, about nine seconds ahead of Villano, who is the top runner for the Hampton Bays boys varsity cross country team. Charlie Patek, 13, also of Hampton Bays finished third in 21:30.97. Julie Tucker, 51, of Hampton Bays, was the first woman to cross the finish line of the 5K in 24:40.01. A pair of Hampton Bays varsity girls cross country runners, Adriana Bella Tapfer and Sofia Galavan, were the next two females to cross. The 13-year-olds finished in 24:53.38 and 24:59.39, respectively.

All results can be found at elitefeats.com.