More than 600 Participate in Steel Rail Races

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PITTSFIELD, Mass. -- Matthew Ferraro was the first runner across the finish line at the MountainOne Steel Rail Marathon.
 
Ferraro clocked a time of 2 hours, 41 minutes flat on the Ashuwilticook Rail Trail course.
 
He finished a little more than five minutes ahead of runner-up Nick Reid (2:46:15).
 
Simone Veale won the race's women's division in a time of 3:18:42. She beat out Jill Hussain, who covered the course in 3:27:23.
 
The fastest marathoner on Sunday was Stephen Gulley, a hand cyclist, who clocked a time of 2:15:03.
 
The 26.2-mile circuit was covered by 150 finishers ranging in age from 18 (William Hanley in 14th place) to 72 (Ric Nudell, who finished in 6:04:47).
 
The day also featured a half-marathon and an 8-kilometer race.
 
Mark Rabasco won the half-marathon in 1:18:41, edging Vincent Gauthier (1:22:38).
 
Kat Morrissey placed third overall in 1:23:43 and first among women in the half-marathon, which had 213 finishers.
 
Abigail Chaloux was the fastest woman in the 8K, crossing the finish line in 35:52, six seconds ahead of Caroline Kessler; the two women were ninth and 10th, respectively, overall in a field of 171 finishers.
 
Peter Hale had the fastest 8K time, 27:42. Erik Kessler was second in 30:32.
 
More than 600 people registered for Sunday's races, a record for the Berkshire Running Foundation event. Runners from 24 different states signed up to run.
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Police Suspect No Foul Play on DOA at Wahconah Park

By Brittany PolitoiBerkshires Staff

PITTSFIELD, Mass. — The Pittsfield Police Department suspects no foul play in the death of an individual found on Wahconah Park's property on Monday. 

Police Lt. Cheryl Callahan confirmed that a person was dead on arrival when police were called to 105 Wahconah St. around 5:30 p.m. on Monday, July 6. 

"The party was identified, and there is no foul play. The medical examiner's office did accept the body," she reported on Tuesday when contacted by iBerkshires. 

Police were unable to specify where on the property the body was found and did not identify the person. Behind the ballpark and parking lot is a park and swampy area. 

An investigation is not planned unless evidence pointing to foul play is discovered; that information would come from the detective bureau. 

This is not the first time a deceased person has been found on the property. 

Three years ago, human remains were found near the swampy area behind the park by a city employee who was cutting brush. The remains were later identified as 43-year-old Luis Lopez-Lopez. 

The Wahconah Park grandstand is currently being demolished following its condemnation in 2022, and the site is not currently in active use while the city plans for a $15 million rebuild. 

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