NEWBURYPORT — For Merrimac’s Emma Bianculli, everything felt different this year.
For the first time, when she stepped to the starting line of the Yankee Homecoming 10-mile Road Race, her daughter — 2-year-old Margot — was waiting for her at the finish line.
“I had my daughter there, and I am way faster since she arrived,” said Bianculli. “After motherhood, I’ve become such a much better runner. It’s been an amazing outlet. All of my times have gone down, my 5K, 10K and marathon times. Everything is better. It feels good and I feel like I’m a good role model by continuing to do something I love. And I love seeing her and my husband at the finish line.”
That post-motherhood speed was on full display on Tuesday, when she flew to the 10-mile title at the 66th Annual Yankee Homecoming Road Race in 1:01:17, more than three minutes better than the female runner-up. It was her first Yankee Homecoming win.
“I’m so excited,” said Bianculli (Marchant), a former Pentucket Regional track athlete (class of 2014). “This race is so much fun. You just run with some of the nicest people out there. I just love coming here so much.
“I always go out way too fast, because it’s downhill the first couple miles. So it gets a little lonely. I run here all the time, so I was just trying to focus in and listen to the crowd. They kept telling me I was the first female, so I used that as motivation.”
Dowsett repeats
Steve Dowsett never takes a victory for granted.
Not anymore. Not as 40-years-old approaches.
“I’m 38-years-old, so I don’t know how many of these I have left in me,” he said with a laugh. “It doesn’t get any easier, and there’s pressure. So I enjoy each one of these.”
The longtime Newburyport resident was in fine form on Tuesday, repeating as 5K champion in 16:12, just ahead of Methuen’s Devin Allen (16:16).
“It wasn’t hot, but it was very humid,” said Dowsett. “My plan was to go out there an go for the win again. For a while people were hanging in there. But then I found everyone sitting behind me after about a half mile. I didn’t know if I had a speed kick, so I just had to keep running my race. It was super cool to win again, because wins are getting fewer and far between.”
Newburyport’s Gagnon, Lucey take titles
Her results may have read that she was from Durham, North Carolina — since she ran college track at Duke — but Lucy Gagnon was quick to point out that she’s Newburyport through and through.
So taking home a Yankee Homecoming title was something very special for the women’s 5K champion (19:32).
“I’m really pumped,” said the 2020 Newburyport High graduate. “Growing up in Newburyport, I run this race almost every year, so to be at the front and have everyone cheering for me is a real rush. I started running this race in eighth grade, and I try every year to get back. I won it once, I’m not sure what year, but you never know who is going to compete. I love running with the guys. I was pacing with them, and I tried to pick a guy in front of me and stay with him. When I could see the finish line, I knew I had it. I just went for it.”
Fellow 2020 Newburyport High alum John Lucey ruled the men’s 10-mile, winning in 51:46.
“Super pumped,” he said. “The whole town is out, everyone is cheering. It’s amazing competition, and it wasn’t super hot. It was a bucket list item for me to win this, so it’s great. It’s the first time I’ve won it, and I heard a lot of friends cheering my name, which helps a lot on those tough hills. It’s great to win, and to do it in front of the home crowd.”