Stellar International Field Highlights Largest-ever Vision 5K
Monday, June 8, 2009
By: Bryan Grillo

First Four Overall, and Seven of the Top Ten, Finishers either Blind or Visually Impaired

The Chestnut Hill campus of Boston College hosted more than 1,000 runners and walkers the largest field in the event’s history on a sparkling summer day for the eighth Annual Vision 5K Run and Walk. Notably, the first four overall, and seven out of the top ten finishers representing four countries were either blind or visually impaired.

2005 Champion Francis Thuo from Kenya took the lead at mile one and earned his second Vision 5K victory, posting a time of 16:36. Paralympian Noel Thatcher from London finished in 16:45, placing second. And two-time champion Moises Beristain Gutierrez (Mexico) and Vision 5K veteran Kurt Fiene (Elmhurst, IL) placed third (17:00) and fourth (17:16), respectively.

Ivonne Mosquera from Midland, MI took top honors in the women’s visually impaired division with a time of 21:51. Milton, Wisconsin’s Kelsey Strohm placed second in 22:27. And two-time champion Cheryl Hewitt from Cambridge finished third in 26:23.

Local runners dominated the women’s division. Brighton native Laura Smith was first overall with a time of 19:01. Newton’s Dorothy Zirkle placed second in 19:16. And current Boston College student Arielle Chernin finished third in 20:03.

In the men’s division, Cale Dubay from Durham, New Hampshire finished in 17:25, winning the 20 to 29 age group. And this year’s race welcomed a newcomer to the visually impaired division. Kokomo, Indiana’s Kory Kennedy finished sixth overall, taking home top honors in the 19 and under age group with a time of 17:57.

Congratulations to all the runners and walkers for participating in this year’s event. And thank you for raising funds in support of the programs at the Carroll Center for the Blind, MAB Community Services, National Braille Press and Perkins School for the Blind.

We look forward to seeing you in 2010!