WESTWOOD, Mass. – The 50-mile race at the TARC 100 presented runners with a unique challenge on Saturday, Oct. 8, at Hale Reservation.

By starting the race in the early afternoon, runners would have to cover most of the second 25-mile loop after dark.

Nine runners toed the starting line; four finished. Davis Cutter got it done first.

The lead pack went out fast, with Brian Rusiecki of South Deerfield, Mass., cruising to a 12-minute lead after the first 10 miles. Rusiecki still held a large lead upon completion of the first loop when he dropped from the race. That opened the door for two others, Cutter and Jim Rollins of Moultonborough, N.H., who had tried to keep pace with Rusiecki during the early miles. Rollins began to fade midway through the first loop. Cutter, however, remained consistent and the 23-year-old resident of Needham, Mass., continued to make good time on technical trail as darkness fell. Ultimately, Cutter reached the finish line first in 10:23:15.

Benjamin Ray was an hour behind. The 38-year-old resident of Boston, Mass., was steady from the start to the end and finished second overall in 11:23:32. Rollins finished third in 11:43:00.

Marie Gryszowka of Spencer, Mass., was the lone female to finish and fourth overall. The 32-year-old ran most of the final 25 miles by the glow of her headlamp, pushed through the night and finished in 17:32:00. Phoebe Matthews of Cambridge, Mass., had been the first female and fourth overall early in the race, but she dropped after 19 miles.

RESULTS

TARC 100 – 50-MILE RACE

Place, Name, Age, City, State, Time

1 Davis Cutter, 23; Needham, MA; 10:23:15

2 Benjamin Ray, 38; Boston, MA; 11:23:32

3 Jim Rollins, 48; Moultonborough, NH; 11:43:00

4 Marie Gryszowka, 32; Spencer, MA; 17:32:00