PITTSFIELD, Mass. — Mayor Daniel Bianchi's team won the friendly Independence Day Road Race challenge.

 

The mayor was challenged by his election competition Linda Tyer to the team race to raise funds for the Pittsfield Parade Committee. Each candidate fields a team of six, three men and three women. The overall place of the top three from each team are added together. The losing team donates $100 to the parade committee and the other teams donate $50. 

 

Bianchi was the only candidate to respond to the challenge and fielded a team in which three runners from his team finished in the top ten. Kent Lemme finished in fourth with a time of 16:22; Nicholas Curelop finished in fifth with a time of 16:34' and Steven Foley finished in seventh with a time of 17:07. Combined those three finishers came in 16th place.

 

Tyer's top runner, Joshua Heath, finished in 46th place with a time of 19:29. Erin Sullivan finished in 404th place with a time of 25:01; and Christina Barrett finished in 492 place with a time of 25:59.

 

Rounding out Bianchi's team, Kim Gero finished in 116th place with a time of 21:09; Shiobbean Lemme finished in 250th place with a time of 23:12; and Kaylene Lemme finished in 270th place with a time of 22:54.

 

Tyer's other runners were Jim Wilusz, who finished in 605th place with a time of 26:25; Aimee Munday in 729th with a time of 28:31; and Amy Heath in 740th place with a time of 28:37.

 

Berkshire Medical Center puts on the annual Independence Day run.

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PITTSFIELD, Mass. — Mayor Daniel Bianchi accepted his election competitor Linda Tyer's Independence Day road race challenge and announced his team on Thursday.

 

The Tyer campaign is challenging the mayor for the corner office but also for a friendly road race competition. The "race within a race" is a fundraising effort with the teams donating to the Pittsfield Parade Committee.

 

Tyer said earlier this week that she thought it would be a fun way to support the parade before the election truly heats up.

 

Each candidate fields a team of six, three men and three women. The overall place of the top three from each team are added together. The losing team donates $100 to the parade committee and the other teams donate $50. 

 

On Thursday, Bianchi accepted the

challenge and announced his team - a team that will be tough to beat.

 

"Our team will be made up of Kent Lemme, Shiobbean Lemme, Kaylene Lemme, Kim Gero, Nick Curelop and Steven Foley," Bianchi wrote in an e-mail.

 

Kent Lemme was last year's overall winner and Kaylene Lemme was the top female finisher in the 20-29 age bracket. Foley and Curelop both have top 10 finishes under their belt. Foley who won his age bracket in 2013. Shiobbean Lemme and Kim Gero are both veteran runners with the ability to finish in the top of their bracket. 

 

Bianchi said, however, his team will not be wearing campaign gear during the race. 

 

"I am happy to field a team for the 4th of July Race. Out of respect for the Pittsfield Parade Committee - who have requested that politics stay out of the parade - our team will not be sporting Bianchi election gear. The Pittsfield Parade Committee does great work for our  city and I encourage people to donate to them," Bianchi wrote.

 

"The parade is one of my favorite days in Pittsfield. I have enjoyed going since I was a young child growing up in Pittsfield. My family and I continue to attend every year."

 

Tyer's campaign will be responding with their own runners - Amy Heath, Josh Heath, Christina Barrett, Aimee Mundy, Jim Wilusz and Erin Sullivan. Greg Herrman will be an alternate.

 

Eric Bassett and Craign Gaetani were both included in the challenge as they have taken out nomination papers for the corner office, but neither have so far voiced their intentions on the challenge.

 

The 5K - or 3.1 miles - race kicks off at 9:30 a.m. and runners take off from a half mile north of Wahconah Park. The runners travel up Wahconah Street onto North and to East Housatonic Street, turn around, and head back the same path to Wahconah Park. This year will mark the 30th annual race and the parade kicks off after the race - at 10 a.m.