Providence man wins local marathon

PROVIDENCE, R.I. (WPRI) - Two New Englanders were tops at the Cox Rhode Races Marathon on Sunday in Providence. Patrick Moulton of Providence was the men's winner with a time of 2:28:26 and Sarah Bourne of Brookline, Mass. finished first in the women's division with a time of 2:53:44.

Moulton earned the victory by a slim 11 second margin over Jeffrey Wadecki of Ledyard, Conn. Thomas O'Grady of Latham, N.Y. finished in third for the men.

"I was fortunate that the guy in front just came back," Moulton said of the finish. "And once he started to come back, the adrenaline just started to flow. I caught him right a 25 miles, and then I just tried to hold it together the best I could."

Bourne topped her nearest competitor, Amelia Landberg of Boston, by 43 seconds. Bridget McCarthy of Brooklyn, N.Y. finished in third place for the women.

"It's great. I'm thrilled!" Bourne said after the race. "It's 10 minutes faster than my previous best time. I was just trying to break 3 hours, and I did, so I'm happy."

The next closest Rhode Island finisher was Sidney Griffin of Barrington who finished 16th in the men's division with a time of 2:49:45.

In the half marathon, which was contested simultaneously on a separate course, Eric Lonergan of North Providence finished first in a time of 1:09:12. He was followed by Kyle Sousa of Taunton and Paul Noone of Worcester.

For the women's division, Kassandra Spitler of Newport took the title with a time of 1:20:32 followed by Jodie Conway of Framingham, Mass. and Laura Brustolon of Mystic, Conn.