The Boilermaker Road Race is back for the summer and starts this morning. Get the latest updates on weather, road closures and who will win this year’s race here:
What’s next for the Boilermaker? Here’s how to experience the Saranac brewery after-party
The famous Boilermakers post-race party started at 8 am this morning and will continue until noon today. While open only to race participants last year, the celebration has once again become open to the public. Runners, wheelchair racers and spectators are all welcome at the FX Matt/Saranac Brewery field at 811 Edward Street. The free event includes live music, Saranac beer, soft drinks and food.
Boilermaker 2022: Daniel Romanchuk of Champagne, Illinois wins Sitrin Wheelchair Race
Daniel Romanchuk, 23, of Champagne, Illinois, placed first overall in the Sitrin wheelchair race with a time of 31 minutes and 33 seconds, according to unofficial results. Hermin Garic, 32, a winner last year and a native of Utica, failed to retain his title but came second with a time of 35 minutes and 25 seconds.
Jenna Fesemyer, 25, also of Champagne, Illinois, placed first in the women’s division with a time of 43 minutes and 1 second. Philadelphia resident Emilia Perry, 29, followed with a time of 48 minutes and 18 seconds.
—Brandon Merlan
Boilermaker 2022: Kenya’s Rosemary Wanjiru wins women’s 15K division
Rosemary Wanjiru, 27, of Kenya, placed first in the Boilermakers women’s 15km division with a time of 48 minutes and 53 seconds, according to unofficial results. Veronicah Nyaru Wanjiru, 32, also from Kenya, was 21 seconds behind her with a time of 49 minutes and 14 seconds.
Rosemary Wanjiru will receive a “super bonus” of $10,000 after competing in one of two other Pro Series races, including the Lilac Bloomsday 12K in Spokane, Washington, and the Cherry Blossom 10 Miler in Washington, DC, as well as the Boilermaker.
— Noah Ram
Boilermaker 2022: Jemal Yimer Mekonnen from Ethiopia wins 15,000,000
Utica’s Boilermaker has a new winner in their 15k road race.
Jemal Yimer Mekonnen, 25, of Ethiopia, placed first overall with a time of 42 minutes and 38 seconds, race officials confirmed. Edwin Kimutai, 29, of Kenya, followed closely with a time of 42 minutes and 40 seconds, according to unofficial results.
— Noah Ram
On the starting line:Boilermaker 2022 kicks off on a cold morning
Boilermaker 15K: the runners prepare and leave
Runners hit the starting line at 8 a.m. Sunday in the Boilermakers 15k road race.
Batman and Robin and a few beers have joined their ranks – who will hopefully stay cool in the heat of battle. Costumed runners have long been a staple of the 9.3-mile race through the city of Utica.
The top riders were beginning to separate from the peloton as they approached the Utica Zoo just after 8:20 a.m. Sunday.
—Ed Harris, Noah Ram
Photo Gallery: Watch the Boilermaker Road Race unfold
Check out the photos throughout the Utica Boilermaker Road Race – from the start line to the finish:
Boilermaker 2022: Hennelly, Longo win 5K
The 2022 Boilermaker Road Race has its first winners. Michael Hennelly, 22, of Suffern, finished first overall in the Utica 5K National at 16 minutes and 4 seconds. Tricia Longo, 32, of Waterford, placed first in the women’s division with a time of 17 minutes and 49 seconds.
This is Longo and Hennelly’s first time running in the 5k race, and Longo’s first 5k, although she has run the 15k race before.
—Jon Rathbun
Boilermaker 2022: 5K, wheelchair racing to start
While the Boilermaker Road Race is best known for its 9.3-mile course, the first races to begin on Sunday will be the Utica National 5K Race at 7:15 a.m. and the Sitrin Wheelchair Race at 7:45 a.m.; the 15K road race starts at 8:00 am.
Last year Hermin Garic of Utica was the first Utica resident to win the Sitrin wheelchair race. Last April, he placed eighth overall in the wheelchair division of the Boston Marathon and said he was ready to defend his crown at this year’s Boilermaker.
“I haven’t missed one yet – knock on wood – since 2005,” Garic said at the time. “It’s my hometown race, I wouldn’t miss it for the world.”
Cara Sherman, 24, of Schenectady, won the 2021 5k race in just over 17 minutes. Bryce Millar, 24, of Chittenango, came second and first in the men’s division, clocking just under 18 minutes.
Runners prepare at the start line
As the sun has barely risen, the Boilermakers 15K runners are already at the start line on Culver Avenue in Utica.
For some, like Donna and Marty Torto of Binghamton, this is their first Boilermaker. Others, like Marie Galbin and Laura Walker of the Albany area, are in their ninth race and counting.
“We have a broken system,” Galbin said. “Eat, drink, run and don’t die.”
— Ed Harris
Big shoes to fill that Boilermaker
While a 9.3 mile run through Utica is a big feat for anyone, Lorenzo Beronilla may have the biggest feet of them all. The Saugerties resident and actor known for winning the ‘Top Chef Amateurs’ cooking competition will wear a set of 24-inch ‘feet’ to represent an individual’s carbon footprint during the 15k run.
“People don’t realize how much of an impact your individual carbon footprint, everyone’s collective carbon footprint, has on climate change,” Beronilla said.
This will be Beronilla’s first race, but he is an avid runner and former professional tennis player, he said. He will represent NYS Clean Heat, a program run by the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority.
— Noah Ram
Race start times and locations
The Boilermaker’s 9.3-mile 15K starts at Culver Avenue near Beechgrove Place. The 3.1-mile 5K starts at the Burrstone Road Bridge near York Street, and the wheelchair starts at the same location as the 15K. All races end at the FX Matt/Saranac Brewery. Here are the departure times:
- 7:15 a.m.: Utica National 5K Run
- 7:45 a.m.: Sitrin wheelchair race
- 8 a.m.: 15 km road race
- 8 a.m. to 12 p.m.: Saranac Post Race Party
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Time
The National Weather Service’s latest forecast for Binghamton shows cool temperatures in the low 50s overnight, with clear skies and a high of 79 on Sunday. What if you run the 15K? Stay warm before the start of the race in the cooler hours of the morning and take advantage of shade and water points on hot, sunny days, advise runners and race officials.
Road closures and where to look
The 15-mile course closes to traffic at 5:30 a.m. Sunday, with some portions closing even earlier, Utica police said. Here are the roads that will be closed:
- 15K start line road closures (5:30 a.m.):
- Route 5S westbound at the Culver Avenue ramp
- Avenue Dwyer
- Beechgrove Gilbert Place to Florence Street
- Culver Avenue north of Bleecker Street
- Road closures on the 5K start line (5:30 a.m.):
- Routes 12/8/5 to Burrstone Road (all entrances and exits)
- Burrstone Road from Sunset Avenue to Old Burrstone Road
- Finish line closures (2am):
- Court Street from Schuyler to Fay Street
- Varick Street
- Columbia Street from Varick to Schuyler Street
- Whitesboro Street from Lafayette to Schuyler Street
- Lafayette Street west of Varick Street
Some intersections will remain open and police will assist with crossings. Here are the roads whose intersections with the route will remain open to cross-traffic until 6:30 a.m.:
- Welshbush Road
- Albany Street
- sherman walk
- Oneida Street
- Rue Genesee
- Avenue Campbell (until 6:45 a.m.)
For those watching the race, some of the best spots include FT Proctor Park, Overlook Point at Roscoe Conkling Park and Donovan Stadium.
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Shuttle service
5K runners can park at the ConMed building at the intersection of Chenango and French roads and take the shuttle to the start line between 6 a.m. and 6:45 a.m. The shuttle service for the 15K will run from 5:30 a.m. to 7 a.m. and will pick up runners on Court and State streets near the finish line and on Whitesboro Street behind the post-race party at FX Matt/Saranac Brewery.
public safety
To stay safe on race day, Utica Police advised the following:
- Weapons and fireworks are prohibited at all venues on race day
- Avoid bringing bags, backpacks, coolers, packages or parcels – all luggage is subject to search by police or security before entering the site; for runners, these can be transported in a clear plastic bag via the race baggage truck
- Drones and unmanned aircraft are prohibited at all venues on race day
- Due to a heavy canine presence at Boilermaker sites, Utica police have requested that dogs not be brought to the post-race party
Post-race party
The famous Boilermakers post-race party is back and open to the public this year. Located on the grounds of the FX Matt/Saranac Brewery at 811 Edward Street, it will start at 8 a.m. to accommodate 5k runners and continue until noon. The free event includes live music, Saranac beer and soft drinks, food and more.
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