From his early days as a youth runner to his time as a high school standout and eventually an open competitor, Bronson Venable has experienced his share of success.
But nothing quite like this.
Now 35, the former Bishop Hendricken star seems to have tapped into a fountain of youth. Capping off what’s been a banner year filled with personal bests and top finishes against Rhode Island’s finest, Venable added another highlight on Sunday morning with a win at the always-competitive Run4Kerri road race.
Under clear skies and a hot sun, Venable pulled away from a small lead pack with less than a mile and a half to go, claiming the overall title in a swift 19 minutes, 9 seconds for the four-mile course. La Salle alum Joseph dos Reis finished second in 19:23.
“I couldn’t imagine I’d be running like this,” said Venable, reflecting on a running career that spans nearly 30 years. “I did a workout on Wednesday—half-mile repeats—and my last one was 2:11. I couldn’t even dream of running 2:11 period when I was in high school. I don’t know, it’s like a newfound life. I’ve just been feeling good. I’m kind of locked in, and I’m taking pride in myself. There’s always competition to beat myself. I’m just enjoying every moment.”
On the women’s side, former URI standout Courtney Hawkins made it two straight with a wire-to-wire victory, clocking 23:31. She was followed by Bethany Steiner of Millis (23:39) and soon-to-be Coventry freshman Molly Richardson (23:48), who rounded out the top three.
“At the end I had Bethany coming up on me and was able to get a good sprint at the end,” Hawkins said. “Most of the time, I was working with a pack of guys and the sun was starting to get to me around mile three and but then at the end I got a little energy back and was able to get the win.”
Venable was up front with a small group of runners at the beginning, a pack that included dos Reis, Westerly’s Keith McAteer (third, 19:31), DJ Principe (fourth, 19:48), Jonas Hampton (fifth, 20:06) and Will Sanders (sixth, 20:29). As he’s done nearly every year, Sanders claimed the bonus money awarded to the race leaders at both the first and second mile markers.
Shortly after, Venable took control, pushing the pace as the course wound through residential streets and up the challenging incline near mile three, which he passed in just under 14:50.
“Will made a surge for the mile and then again for the two-mile money,” Venable said. “To be honest, in my head I was like, ‘I just got to get some money,’ so I made a surge and went for the third mile. I made a break at like 2.7, 2.76 maybe, and got to the top of the hill and looked back—no one was there.”
“I honestly felt good most of the way and was able to check out and relax all the way in from that hill,” he added.
Like Hawkins and Steiner, the young Richardson also averaged under six-minute pace for the out-and-back course. The 14-year-old, last year’s state junior high cross-country champion, is looking ahead to her first high school XC season.
“My goal is I want to try and place high this year at the high school level,” she said. “I’m really excited to race.”
