Words by Jim Dandeneau, Pics by Scott Mason Photo

Matt Pelletier, 35, of West Greenwich, RI, won his unprecedented 5th Blessing of the Fleet 10 mile road race in Narragansett, RI in dominating fashion finishing in 50:01, his fastest time ever on this oceanside course. Pelletier, a health and physical education teacher, gradually pulled away from defending champion Sam Alexander around the 5.7 mile mark cruising unchallenged to the finish.

“I felt very strong out there…the weather has never been better in all the years I’ve run here,” noted Pelletier. “I had a dream the other day that Brian (Doyle) the second place finisher, and Sam left me in the dust at the 1 mile mark and I struggled home in 57 minutes. I’m glad that did not come true. I’ve been running about 115 miles a week and I recently did 20×400, finishing the last repeats in 62 seconds which left me with alot of confidence. I’m planning on running the Run 4 Kerri next weekend, the Bobby Doyle 5 mile race the week after and getting married the week after that.”

***UPDATE***

From Jim: Unofficial splits from press vehicle: 4:57, 10:08, 15:07, 20:12, 25:12, 30:15, 35:09, 40:08, 45:02, 50:01. Yes. fastest time since course record (49:44 by Roland Lavallee in 2005). Former Providence College All American and Irish Olympian Marie Davenport (McMahon), who will turn 40 in January, repeated, (after stopping twice due to stomach issues) in the women’s race.