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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Retired Eye Doctor Killed by Fallen Tree in Lenox

Staff ReportsiBerkshires
LENOX, Mass. — A Pittsfield man was apparently killed by a falling tree on Saturday afternoon near Kennedy Park. 
 
Dr. Bruce Evenchik, 78, was found on the trail near the parking area by passing hikers and pronounced dead at the scene by emergency responders. 
 
According to Sgt. Michael Smith, police and Lenox Ambulance were dispatched to the Kennedy Park entrance on Aspinwall Road at about 1:20 p.m. when the hikers reported a man down with a tree on him.
 
The weather on Saturday day was dangerous with many trees down throughout the county as a Nor'easter washed over the region. The police had just cleared from a call where a tree had fallen on a parked car on Sunset Avenue. The vehicle was unoccupied and no injuries were reported at that scene.
 
Evenchik's identity was initially withheld until family members were notified. He was a retired ophthalmologist who had practiced at the Berkshire Eye Center.
 
The police were assisted by firefighters, Lenox Ambulance, the Department of Public Works, and the State Police Detective Unit assigned by the Berkshire County District Attorney's Office.
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