Boilermaker 5K M40-44: Derocco Takes the Title in the Humidity

• Patrick Derocco (1st, 22:31) won the M40-44 field by 21 seconds at a 7:15/mi clip — the clearest margin at the top of a competitive 163-man field.
• Top-five spread: just 36 seconds — Derocco through Clarence Laparr (5th, 23:07) packed tightly despite 75°F heat and 90% humidity.
• Locals on the podium: Chris Bradbury (3rd, 22:59) and William Gibson (4th, 23:04) are both from Clayville, NY — separated by just 5 seconds.
• Hilal Hamad (9th, 24:24) represented the hometown of Utica, finishing as the top local runner in the field.

Patrick Derocco made the trip from Leesburg, VA worth every mile. The 41-year-old crossed in 22:31 — a 7:15/mi average — and was never seriously threatened at the front. David Gould (2nd, 22:52) gave chase from Santa Cruz, CA, closing to within 21 seconds, but Derocco's lead held firm through the finish line on a morning that made every second feel earned.

The real drama unfolded just behind the podium. Bradbury and Gibson — both from Clayville, NY — ran what amounted to a hometown duel for third and fourth, finishing in 22:59 and 23:04 respectively. Clarence Laparr (5th, 23:07) stayed within three seconds of Gibson, keeping the pressure on to the very end. That 36-second window from first to fifth, in 90% humidity, speaks to how hard this group pushed.

The middle of the field showed some separation after the top ten. Ethan Bair (6th, 23:26) and Kevin Keefe (7th, 23:39) pulled clear of Pete Gelardi (8th, 23:48), while a notable gap opened between Gelardi and Hilal Hamad (9th, 24:24). Brett McGuire rounded out the top ten in 24:35. Then came a meaningful break before William Elchert (11th, 25:57) led a cluster of finishers — Degroat, Holtslag, Gearwar, Malecki, Bostic, and Damato — through the 26-minute range, with three men (Morris, Bromley, and Noble) arriving within a single second of each other at 27:04–27:05 to close out the listed finishers.