Falmouth Runners Take Flag Day 5k

In a race that attracted participants from as far afield as Virginia, Florida, Missouri, and even Essex, England, two Falmouth residents held off the competition to win the men's and women's prizes in the second annual Falmouth Flag Day 5k Run.

Sunday morning saw a field of more than 270 residents and visitors line up outside the British Beer Company, some in it to win it, some more interested in a leisurely stroll along the water, on what turned out to be a perfect day for it.

Shortly thereafter, Geoff Nickerson of North Falmouth was breaking the tape at the finish line, completing the five-kilometer (just over three-mile) course in 17 minutes 46 seconds, holding off second-place finisher Brian Baker of Walden, New York, by nearly a minute.

Only a few minutes later, Martha Furtek of East Falmouth claimed the women's prize, beating out Cheryl Sullivan of Providence, Rhode Island, by about 45 seconds. It was also an improvement on Furtek's time from last year's inaugural race, which she won in 20 minutes 17 seconds.

Thanks to Furtek's prowess, the women's championship has yet to leave Falmouth, but Nickerson's efforts brought the men's prize home after last year's race was won by Pasadena, California native Charlie Marquardt.

Nine-year-old Caleb Gartner, also of Falmouth, took first in the boys' youth division, finishing with a lightning-fast pace of seven minutes 22 seconds per mile.

The race itself was also a success, attracting almost 30 more entrants than last year. Sponsored by the Cooperative Bank of Cape Cod and Cape Cod Sports Medicine, and supported by a wide array of local businesses, the Falmouth Flag Day 5k Run benefits the Falmouth Education Foundation.