LAWRENCE — Two extra miles in a downpour simply didn't appeal to Christie Fox.
The decision to compete at 3.1 miles, as opposed to five miles, was a winning one for the Methuen 30-year-old yesterday here at the 19th Sons of Italy Road Race.
"The pouring rain made the decision for me," said Fox, the first woman to cross the finish line at Veterans Memorial Stadium on an otherwise dreary Fourth of July morning. "I was debating which one to run. I was hoping to do well, just get out of the rain as quick as you can. It was nice that it was cool out, but by the end the shoes got pretty heavy. I'll take the sun over the rain anytime."
The four different overall winners — top man and woman in the 5K and 5-milers — brought home a modest champion's check for $100. On this windswept morning, it was hard-earned.
Fox crossed the Perry-Kent Track finish line in 20:21, 43 seconds ahead of runner-up Rebecca Connolly of Wilmington. Her strategy was simple.
"I knew I was the first woman, and I just didn't look back to see what might be coming," she joked.
Victory was a nice reward for the former Methuen High 800-meter specialist, who has been busy running over 20 races so far this summer.
"That's a good time for me," said Fox, who placed second in the 5-miler here a year ago. "I was just looking to run well, and I did. I don't have too many talents. I'm not crafty, but I can put one foot in front of the other."
Salem's, Christine Neal took third overall in 21:09.
On the men's side, another ex-Ranger track man, Kevin Alliette took the top spot, zooming home ... sort of ... in 16:28.
The former UMass Lowell standout, now 27, ran off the course about one-tenth of a mile before realizing his mistake.
"This says 3.2 miles," joked Alliette, pointing to his personal pedometer. Alliette, a teacher/coach at Methuen High, was fortunate to have a friend/protege chasing him in Jose Ortiz.
Not only did Ortiz help usher his former coach back on course, he also made sure that the runner who deserved the victory got it.
"When I got lost at the end, I went the wrong way on the track," said Alliette. "The guys behind me actually came out and I had to catch them. They were good about it. They didn't let me lose. We all kind of jogged it in."
Alliette, even with the mistake, wasn't really worried about running down Ortiz, who was one second behind at the line.
"Jose ran for Methuen High. I coached him a little bit. He can't outkick me," said Alliette, with a laugh.
Tewksbury's Dave DeChellis took third at 16:30 as the lead trio finished 85 seconds ahead of the nearest competition.
Ex-college stars top 5-miler
Former Boston University and University of Louisville distance standout Mark Fisher of Newton, Mass., decimated the five-mile field, cutting through the course in 24:40.
Fisher, who came up from Newton just to find a holiday race, was basically by himself with his nearest competition, Lawrence's Sean McCarthy, finishing over seven minutes later at 31:50.
"I knew I was in the lead the entire time and didn't hear anyone coming behind me, so it was pretty safe," said Fisher, 24.
"That was definitely a great time for me. It's my first race in a couple months. I've dealt with the rain before, so it wasn't too bad."
California native Erin Wyner, 26, held off the late charge from Atkinson's, Linda Jowett for the women's five-mile title.
Wyner, who did her college running for Humboldt State in Northern California, led just about every step, finishing in 34:10.
"I heard there were some hills, so I wanted to have some fun," said Wyner, who now makes her home in Medford. "There was somebody (Jowett) pretty close behind me, and I know she was closing in, but I had enough to hold her off."
Splashing around
The two races drew a combined 260 runners, 112 in the 5-miler and 148 in the 3.1-miler. Those numbers were way down from the pre-race expectations, obviously due to the weather.
"First time in 19 years that we've had rain," said race director John Mele. ...
Brother and sister John and Kate Ottaviani, the children of legendary Haverhill athlete/coach John Ottaviani, each won age division trophies in the 5-miler. ...
Atkinson's Linda Jowett was second overall in the 5-miler, while 16-year-old daughter Megan won the 18-and-under division in the 3.1-miler. ...
Former North Andover football/baseball standout Sean Devan, now 29, grabbed third in his age division in the 5-miler.
19th Sons of Italy Road Race
3.1-mile race
Men's overall — 1. Kevin Alliette, Methuen 16:28; 2. Jose Ortiz, Methuen 16:29; 3. Dave Dechellis, Tewksbury 16:30
Women's overall — 1. Christie Fox, Methuen 20:21; 2. Rebecca Connolly, Wilmington 21:04; 3. Christine Neal, Salem, N.H. 21:09
18-under division
Men — 1. Max O'Brien, North Andover 18:57; 2. Conor Westwater, North Andover 19:33; 3. Keegan Westwater, North Andover 20:14
Women — 1. Megan Jowett, Atkinson, N.H. 22:06; 2. Allison Quinlan, North Andover 28:20; 3. Olivia Dearman, Methuen 38:06
19-29
Men — 1. Jonathan Peters, Methuen 20:15; 2. Jeff Notaro, Methuen 22:15; 3. Daniel Larkin, Fitchburg 23:18
Women — 1. Marcie Butler, Methuen 26:07; 2. Carey Morin, Amesbury 26:55; 3. Danielle Brigham, North Andover 27:54
30-39
Men — 1. Jonathan Hudgins, Andover 19:38; 2. Mike Garvin, Cambridge 21:23; 3. Bobby Fillios, Clover Hill 23:04
Women — 1. Kerri Descheneaux, Methuen 21:15; 2. Lisa Pressins, Windham, N.H. 21:54; 3. Jennifer Cronin, New York, N.Y. 22:51
40-49
Men — 1. Jim Quadros, Lowell 17:08; 2. Michael Dechane, Danville, N.H. 19:45; 3. Michael Sheehan, Lowell 21:07
Women — 1. Kristina Jackson, North Andover 22:36; 2. Amy Quinlan, North Andover 23:19; 3. Mary Jo Keenan, Andover 24:36
50-59
Men — 1. Bruce Brown, Lowell 21:06; 2. Will Meredith, Methuen 21:40; 3. Rio Beaudoin, North Reading 26:31
Women — 1. Vicki Planty, Derry, N.H. 30:47; 2. Paula DiCicco, Newton, N.H., 35:48
60-69
Men — 1. Buddy Hubert, Melrose 22:36; 2. John Hurley, Dorchester 22:43; 3. Jim Batts, Andover 24:22
Women — 1. Dolly Lemoine, Salem, N.H. 29:50; 2. Brenda Cardogan, Lawrence 30:43; 3. Carol Carr, Maynard 32:45
70-over
Men — 1. Richard Ruggiero, Woburn 23:54; 2. Leo Connors, Windham, N.H. 29:58; 3. Joseph DiPrima, Salem, N.H. 31:05
Women — 1. Mary Harada, West Newbury 28:15
5-mile race
Men's overall — 1. Mike Fisher, Newton 24:40; 2. Sean McCarthy, Lawrence 31:50; 3. Jamie Escobar, Lowell 31:50
Women's overall — 1. Erin Wyner, Medford 34:10; 2. Linda Jowett, Atkinson, N.H. 34:20; 3. Amanda Reich, Boston 35:51
18-under division
Men — 1. Matt Guerrera, North Andover 46:40
19-29
Men — 1. Anthony Ellis, Salem, N.H. 33:42; 2. Paul Brown, Beverly 34:48; 3. Sean Devan, Lowell 36:08
Women — 1. Julie Hillner, Salem, N.H. 40:06; 2. Maryann Solomos, Flemington, N.J. 41:19; 3. Melissa Roukes, Lawrence 49:53
30-39
Men — 1. Jonathan Toto, Brookline 37:42; 2. Scott Robey, Methuen 39:52; 3. Chris Roche, North Andover 40:05
Women — 1. Kate Ottaviani, North Chelmsford 37:43; 2. Irene Park, Hudson, N.H. 39:17; 3. Sonya Kelley, Haverhill 41:51
40-49
Men — 1. John Ottaviani, Haverhill 33:16; 2. John Leuchter, Bradford 34:46; 3. Tom Burns, Andover 35:23
Women — 1. Virginia Ford, Billerica 38:30; 2. Pam Nixon, Methuen 41:46; 3. Molly Reid, Fitchburg 45:11
50-59
Men — 1. Albert Farris Jr., Belmont 32:31; 2. Kevin Smith, Haverhill 36:32; 3. Dennis Ryan, Topsfield 37:33
Women — 1. Janet Rose, Tewksbury 37:02; 2. Debra Corbett, Pelham, N.H. 43:49; 3. Marie Gorman, Wrentham 45:49
60-69
Men — 1. Leo St. Louis, Methuen 38:39; 2. Steve Kanaracus, Lowell 38:44; 3. Gary See, Salem, N.H. 38:51
Women — 1. Lue San Antonio, Derry, N.H. 52:13
70-over
Men — 1. Jim Lynch, Plaistow, N.H. 43:55; 2. Ram Satyaprasad, Burlington 45:24; 3. Richard O'Shaughnessy, Salem, N.H. 58:28
