1982 Freedom Trail Road Race (8 miles)

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This was the forerunner of the rest, the first of Boston's inner- city road races (with a brief visit to Cambridge) spawned by the mid '70s boom. It's The Freedom Trail, an 8-mile run over a course that meanders past Charlestown's Bunker Hill Monument, the Back Bay's Eliot Lounge, the State House, the Old North Church, to the finish line at Waterfront Park.

In a history that began on Oct. 2, 1977, when Bill Rodgers beat Jerome Drayton, it's endured well under the organization of the Greater Boston TC and a montage of financial backers. With an honor roll of winners including Rodgers, Randy Thomas, Alberto Salazar, Greg Meyer, Rod Dixon, Kim Merritt, Joan Benoit, Dia Elliman, Lorraine Moeller and Ann Audain, it's already a part of road-racing lore.

The race went with prize money in 1981, offering $28,000 as a part of the Association of Road Racing circuit, which was created out of dissatisfaction with the archaic rules of amateurism in the sport. In its 6th edition yesterday morning - the first of a three-year arrangement with Saucony - there was a total purse of $5500 and a field of 3500.

Joining the impressive list of past winners on a pleasantly cool morning were irrepressible George Malley, whose comeback from the uncertainties of a persistent foot problem was culminated by an American record (1:01:42) half marathon [...] two weeks ago in Philadelphia, and Boston College woman's cross- country coach Judi St. Hillaire, who beat marathon world record-holder Allison Roe in the same race.

Malley, a Penn State graduate who has settled into the Greater Boston area, busted away from Thom Hunt of Eugene, Ore., shortly after they passed the first mile marker in 4:33 and headed into Charlestown. Malley ran alone for the final six miles, finishing in 37:16, worth $2000. Hunt (38:04, $1500)) outkicked Dan Schlesinger (38:05, $1000) for second.

"It was a race for maybe a mile and a half," said Hunt, who won Boston's Shamrock Classic in his only previous area road race appearance in March. "After that, it was a good race for second. I knew George was in great shape, but I also knew he was running a lot of races and I was hoping he'd be a little tired. He didn't look tired today."

St. Hillaire's race was strictly a solo performance. Her 43:42 time (worth $1000) was comfortably ahead of runnerup Janice Cataldo. "I didn't see any other women the whole run and I ended up running a little faster than I expected to," said St. Hillaire.

Joe Concannon Globe Staff. Boston Globe
Copyright Boston Globe Newspaper Oct 4, 1982

1. 37:16 George Malley
2. 38:04 Thom Hunt
3. 38:05 Dan Schlesinger
4. 38:16 Gary Romesser
5. 38:30 Duane Gaston
6. 38:30 Guy Stearns
7. 38:31 Max Cullum
8. 38:32 David Walters
9. 38:39 Doug Sweazey
10. 38:48 Don Norman
11. 38:55 Mark Kimball
12. 39:02 Wally Collins
13. 39:31 Reno Stirrat
15. 39:39 Dean Kimball
16. 39:40 Larry Barthow
17. 39:41 Shemy Shabag
18. 39:44 Dennis Simonaltis
19. 39:44 Jose Solorzano
20. 39:49 Chuck Miers

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• 1982
• Freedom Trail
• Road
• Race
• George Malley
• malmo
• Thom Hunt
• Greater Boston