July 5, 2024 – Story and photos by Joshua Ross
With ideal running conditions on an ideal race course, Hingham native Mike Durkin was the first to cross the finish line out of almost 1,900 participants. Durkin won his second July 4th Road Race in a row. This year was extra memorable with some old rivals in the field.
“Feels awesome,” Durkin tells the Anchor after the race. “It was another perfect weather day and some old cross country rivals in the lead pack until about halfway. Whitman-Hanson used to be our main XC competition in the Patriot League so it’s run to race them again. It’s such a fun race and town to be a part of. I’ll see how long I can keep this streak going!”
Hingham XC was well represented in the top of the pack. Former runners Niko Gibson (’24), Sam Benham (’23) and Brendan Burm (’24) finished 10th, 11th and 13th respectively.
On the women’s side, Hingham resident Christina Campbell finished almost two and a half minutes ahead of her next closest competitor. Campbell, who first ran the race 20 years ago, is not stranger to the breaking the ribbon at the finish line.
“The Hingham 4th of July Road Race is always such a fun way to kick off the 4th,” said Campbell. “I ran it for the first time about 20 years ago and have run it sporadically since then. Since moving back home to Hingham, though, it has become more of a holiday tradition. I have won it a handful of times before but the best part is always the energy along the course, catching up with old friends, and of course reaching that giant American flag downtown! I’m looking forward to continuing to run it and hopefully having my kids join in the tradition in a few years.”
Congratulations to all the participants, spectators, sponsors, and organizers on another hugely successful race!
RACE PHOTOS
Overall Winner Hingham Kid Mike Durkin’s time was 22:27 for his second win. Women’s Overall Winner(WOW) Hingham Kid Christina Seremetis Campbell’s time this year was 26:42. 1883 participants finished. Christina is now the women’s all time Champ with five wins(’05, ’14, ’16, ’22, and ’24), besting regioanl champ, Scituate’s Holly Madden’s Overal Women’s four wins(’04, ’08’, ’10, ’11). The most wins ever crown remains with Hingham’s Leila Cunningham Walden, whose three Women’s Overall wins(’78, ’79, ’80), and 9 Age Group category wins, spanning 24 years, is unmatched today.