25/10/2025
Over 200 runners and walkers participate in Halloween 5K
By GEORGE AUSTIN
SOMERSET - Runners, walkers, teachers, students and many other people participated in the Somerset Berkley Education Foundation Halloween 5K today.
Many of the runners wore costumes while others just dressed in their running gear.
There were 209 runners and walkers that completed the 3.1-mile course for an event that is a major fundraiser for the Foundation that provides grants to enhance education in schools in Somerset and Berkley.
The overall male winner in the race was Adrian Ramirez who covered the course that is mostly run along Riverside Avenue in 18:24.2.
"It was awesome," Ramirez said of the race. "It was my second time doing it. It's always a great time running this race. I always like going to these local races."
Ramirez, who is one of the owners of the Fiesta Mexican restaurant in town, ran the race in a tequila bottle costume. He said the costume was loose enough to allow him to run fast. Ramirez said he was "powered by tequila" and "sponsored by Fiesta."
The overall female winner in the race was Cami Crook who had a time of 21:26.5. Crook is a former State Champion field hockey player at Somerset Berkley Regional High School who went on to play for Providence College. Her mother, SBRHS field hockey team coach Jen Crook, has always had her players do a lot of running.
Brynn Reis took first place in the division for females who are 12 years old and under with a time of 23:55.3. In the male category for that age division, Myles Correia came in first place with a time of 23:24.7.
In the division for females who are 13 to 18 years old, Corina Caso came in first place with a time of 23:00.6. In the male category for that age division, Nathan Gagne finished in first place, coming across the finish line in 19 minutes and 54 seconds.
In the female category for runners who are 19 to 29 years old, Abigail Cadorette was in first place with a time of 26:46.9. In the male division for that age group, Ryan Cardozo took first place with a time of 20:07.7.
In the division for females who are 30 to 39 years old, Shannon Orton came in first place with a time of 29:19.1. In the male division for that age group, John Amarantes finished in first place, coming across the finish line in 19:33.2.
In the category for females who are 40 to 49 years old, Sara Bagge took first place with a time of 25:03.6. In the male division for that age group, Steve Bradham took first place with a time of 20:22.6.
In the category for females who are 50 to 59 years old, Jen Crook won first place with a time of 27 minutes and nine seconds. In the male category for that age division, Alexander Martin finished in first place with a time of 28:18.6.
In the category for females between the ages of 60 to 69 years old, Lisa Paskowski took first place with a time of 29:33.3. In the male category for that age group, Kenneth Arruda finished in first place with a time of 24:32.7.
In the category for females who are 70 years old and older, Connie Morris was the first place finisher with a time of 48:56.5. In the male category for that age division, Michael Dunn was the winner with a time of 22:32.7.
The Somerset Middle School cross country team won the team award in the middle school division.
The Somerset Berkley Regional High School field hockey team won the team award for the high school division.
Awards were also given out for the best costumes. Cali Rezendes won the award for best child costume. Aime Rose won best adult costume. Grace Tweedie, who was dressed as Winifred Sanderson from the "Hocus Pocus" movie, won for best female teen costume. Keelen Tavares-Cowen won best male teen costume. The family costume award went to the Dalton and Willis families.
Gift certificates to different restaurants and coffee shops were given out to the winners in the race and costume contest.
