The Watuppa Trail Races have seen their share of speedy performances throughout the event’s first decade. The second decade kicked off with a familiar feel as 23-year-old Nathaniel Tokarsky delivered the finest performance of his young ultrarunning career at the 11th annual event on Saturday, May 10, at Watuppa Reservation in Fall River, Mass.

Tokarsky, an Ohio native and resident of Newport, R.I., has enjoyed success during his previous three ultras, including a sixth-place finish in his ultra debut at the Summer Sasquatch Trail Runs 50K in Ohio in 2021, and a runner-up finish at the On the Dam Trail 34-miler in Pennsylvania in 2024. Watuppa presents an opportunity for runners to go fast, with its 10K loop course and rolling hills offering friendly footing throughout, save for a few brief technical spots. Much of the loop consists of gravel roads, jeep roads and utility line trails that offer plenty of opportunity to stretch the legs and pick up the pace. Tokarsky took full advantage.

After going out fast and running the first of his five loops of the course with a runner in the 10K race, Tokarsky ran solo for the remaining four loops and closed out the victory in 3:46:13. His performance was the third-fastest in course history, trailing only Michael Pulli’s course record of 3:44:12 from 2019 and Will Swenson’s 3:44:55 effort from 2018.

Alexander Burke, 29, of Newton Highlands, Mass., ran comfortably in second place throughout the race and finished there in 4:12:18. Dwight Waugh, 34, of Taunton, Mass., spent the entire day in the top five and gradually worked his way up to a third-place finish in 4:22:01. Waugh fended off 51-year-old Chris Loftus of Hudson, Mass., who was a close fourth in 4:23:43. Matthew Montano, 37, of New Bedford, Mass., rounded out the top five in 4:35:55.

The female course record of 3:59:11 set by Becca Pizzi in 2023 was unthreatened, but a close race played out early among the field for the first few loops with Julianna Couglin, Aleida Castillo-Gage and Jen Huber separated by less than 2 minutes after 20K. Couglin began to build a lead during loop three, and the 31-year-old from Falmouth, Mass., went on to earn the victory in 5:02:04. Castillo-Gage, 51, of Leominster, Mass., finished second in 5:26:47, followed by Huber, 48, of Middletown, R.I., in third place in 5:23:08. Rebecca Laliberte, 37, of South Dartmouth, Mass., finished fourth in 5:40:10.

Of the 33 runners who started the race, 31 ultimately finished within 8 1/2 hours.

Zhu, Moran Sizzle in 30K Victories

Cory Zhu wasted no time taking control of the 30K race. Zhu, 28, of Brighton, Mass., dashed from the starting line and immediately began gaining distance on the remainder of the field. Soon, the rest of the pack was out of sight as Zhu continued to pull away. Behind him, Stephanie Moran, 42, of Fairhaven, Mass., and Joshua Musonera, 30, of Chestnut Hill, Mass., raced within a few strides of each other.

Zhu led by more than 7 minutes by the end of the first of three loops of the course. Moran and Musonera closed out loop one together, but Musonera withdrew from the race while Moran continued. She would remain in second place for the remainder of the race, and her position was never threatened.

Zhu ultimately earned the victory in 2:18:01, which was the fourth-fastest time in course history. Mead Binhammer’s course record of 2:12:21 from 2022 was not threatened. Warren Angell (2:12:56 in 2019) and John Friedman (2:17:45 in 20230) are the only other runners to have gone faster than Zhu.

Moran finished second overall and first in the female field in 2:39:08. Her performance was the second-fastest by a female in course history behind Tricia Blanck’s record of 2:35:52 from 2018.

Keith Ostapow, 43, of Somerset, Mass., and Angel Aparicio, 51, of Revere, Mass., rounded out the male podium in 2:45:39 and 3:04:06, respectively. Lynn Poyant, 62, of New Bedford, Mass., was the female runner-up in 3:06:14, followed by Jamie Simmons, 48, of Acushnet, Mass., in 3:16:51.

Of the 20 runners who started the 30K, 17 finished within 4 1/2 hours.

Bailotti Completes 10K Three-Peat

Ademir Bailotti continued his dominance of the Watuppa 10K. The 39-year-old from Fall River, Mass., once again made quick work of his local trails and won the race for the third year in a row. After setting a course record in 2023 with his 38:05 victory, Bailotti won the 2024 race in 39:00. This year, he won in 40:05 and enjoyed a comfortable 5-minute cushion on the field. Michael Norton, 55, of East Falmouth, Mass., was second in 45:09, and 54-year-old Chris Bauernfiend of Jamaica Plain, Mass., rounded out the male podium in 51:04.

In the female field, 50-year-old Lauren Kilmer of Sharon, Mass., earned the win in 51:33 while placing fourth overall. She was joined on the podium by Gizele Pacanha, 36, of Fall River, Mass., and Susan Medeiros, 41, of Somerset, Mass. Pacanha was the runner-up for the second straight year, finishing in 56:49, while Medeiros was third in 57:59.

Fifty-two runners completed the 10K within 2 hours.