HOLYOKE — It was a photo finish in the 43rd annual St. Patrick’s Road Race Saturday. John Busque and South Hadley’s Zach Hine were neck and neck as they sprinted to the finish line at 10 kilometers.
They ran side by side up until the last four miles. Busque pulled away coming downhill by the Soldier’s home and Holyoke High School, but Hine caught him on the Beech Street hill. They made the turn down the finishing stretch together, and Hine kicked into a sprint. Busque, from Manchester, Conn., caught him with 50 meters left and won the race in 30 minutes, 37 seconds, one second better than Hine, who now racing out of Littleton, Colo.
“I made my move a little too early and didn’t have anything to respond. He ran a great race,” Hine said. “When it comes down to kick, you give it all you have.”
Hine was ran the Houston Marathon in January where he was eighth overall and the third American across the line. He ran in Holyoke for the first time since placing third in 2013. Hine won the race in 2012 and has participated in the race “six or seven times,” he said. Hine’s next scheduled race is Grandma’s Half Marathon in Duluth, Minn., in June.
“Coming back from a marathon is always tough,” Hine said. “This is a good, low-key race. I just wanted to see where I was at.”
Nearly 7,000 runners braved the elements and took part in the long-standing tradition in Holyoke with him. Runners from throughout the Commonwealth and beyond take part in the race.
The temperature hovered in the 30s and the wind chill factor made it seem even colder.
“It was very windy, but the crowd helped a lot,’’ Belchertown’s Paul McCloskey said. “It was nice that the sun was out.’’
McCloskey accomplished his goal of finishing under 50 minutes. The 32-year-old placed 67th in 39:11.
“This race is very well run and it’s just awesome,’’ McCloskey said. “After a race like this, it’s good to go out and have a beer.’’
The best finish from a local women’s runner was by Northampton’s Jenna Gigliotti, who took third in the women’s division with a time of 38:22.
Apryl Sabadosa of Westfield was the woman’s winner in 36:37. Jessie Cardin of Sutton was runner-up in 37:38.
Joseph Werenski of South Hadley finished 38th. He covered the course in 37:34. Meriza Werenski, better known for her swimming excellence, was tied for 117th overall in 41:13.
In addition to the main race, there was a 2-mile walk and a children’s fun run.
No records fell in the 10K. The course records set two years ago by Mourad Marofit of Morocco and Etalemahu Habtewold of Ethiopia still stand.
Among the more colorful runners was a fireman dressed in full gear carrying an American flag. He drew loud cheers from the crowd that jammed the route.
Kyle Grabowski contributed to this report.