Student Athletes to Compete in Annual Cochary High School Mile

It'll be a big weekend for runners in Falmouth. 

Not only will Sunday mark the kick off of the annual Falmouth Road Race, but two events at the student level are set to take place Saturday: The Cochary High School Mile and the Falmouth Mile. 

The Cochary High School Mile is set to take place on Saturday, Aug. 10 at 7 p.m. at the Falmouth High School Track. 

The event was renamed in 2012 in honor of Tommy Cochary, a Falmouth runner who was killed in a drunk driving accident in 1990. Race organizers have implemented a selection process this year to invite top athletes who embodied the values of the race and who have set examples of making smart choices. Twenty student athletes will take part in the event. 

The Cochary family plans to provide the winning female and male runners each with a $2,500 grant to improve or implement change at their school in athletics or wellness. The schools, along with the donors, will be able to choose from such options as athletic equipment, team uniforms or afternoon wellness activities, according to race organizers. All athletes chosen to participate in the event will be outfitted in shoes, shorts, and shirts by New Balance. The athletes will have the opportunity to warm-up and cool-down with some of the elite athletes competing in the Falmouth Mile. 

Contenders in the boy’s mile include Michael O'Donnell of Methuen, who achieved his personal best of 4:14.87 at the New Balance Indoor Nationals in 2013, and who has also volunteered at the New England Baptist hospital for the best two years. 

Garrett O'Toole of Weston, who achieved his personal best (4:12.12) at the Adidas Grand Prix meet in 2013, will also take part. When he’s not training, O'Toole volunteers at Open Table soup kitchen. 

Other runners include Andrew Doherty of Taunton, Owen Gosner of Wrentham, Ian Robertson of Medfield, Sean Robertson of Medfield, Mike Schlichting of Newton, Christian Stafford of Pembroke and Michael Wyman of Marion.

Contenders in the girls' mile include Julie McConville of Hingham, who has a personal best of 5:01.92 achieved at the Division 3 indoor state meet this year; she gives back to her community by volunteering as a coach at the Fireboltz Track Club for young children on the South Shore. 

Among her challengers will be Christine Davis of Acton, Catalina Dominick of Danvers, Liz Holmes of Foxboro, Ashley Monahan of Springfield, Julie Richer of Whitinsville, Megan Ratcliffe of Carlisle, Abby Seaberg of Plainville, and Stella Worters of Charlton.