The Great Bonac 10K and 5K races, an annual fixture in Springs that the late Howard Lebwith began in 1977, but which have not been held since 2019, are again to be contested Monday, with the Springs Firehouse on Fort Pond Boulevard serving as the races’ staging area.
Sharon McCobb, president of the Old Montauk Athletic Club, whose scholarship fund benefits from the net proceeds, along with the Springs Fire Department, said Tuesday that “we’d rather avoid day-of-race registration.” Those who want to preregister can do so online by searching “Great Bonac Footraces” at elitefeats.com The entry fee is $30.
People can walk or run the courses.
The 10K is to begin near the firehouse at 9 a.m., the 5K is to begin at 9:20.
In 2019, Kal Lewis, a Shelter Islander who now runs the mile at Iowa, was the 5K’s winner, topping a field of 164 finishers in 16 minutes and 24.2 seconds. Barbara Gubbins, 59 at the time, won the 10K in 41:27.0.
The 5K field usually includes a number of competitors from East Hampton High School’s girls and boys cross-country teams. “I know that the girls team is coming,” McCobb said. “For the boys it’s optional.”
The East Hampton girls’ first meet is to be with Half Hollow Hills West at Sunken Meadow State Park in Kings Park on Sept. 13. The boys are to debut versus their Hills West peers at the high school on Saturday, Sept. 17.
