GLOUCESTER — There are a few certainties in Gloucester every summer. There's Fiesta, crowded beaches, and Layce Alves winning road races held on Cape Ann.
After Thursday's 34th annual Magnolia 5K Road Race, Alves notched her fourth Cape Ann road race title this summer with a personal-best time of 19:00 on the course. This summer Alves has also won Rockport's Father's Day Road Race and the Fiesta 5K in June along with the Seacoast 7 Road Race in July. Alves was also the top female local finisher in the Run Gloucester! 7-mile Road Race last month, she was fifth in a female division that was loaded with talent including several professionals. Thursday's win was her second straight Magnolia 5k Road Race championship.
Alves, 30, who has been running for 10 years, believes that she is just now reaching her full potential.
"I was told when I started to run 10 years ago that it takes 10 years to peek in this sport," Alves said. "And it's turned out to be true in my case. I have just gotten better every year. This summer has been great for me."
In the sweltering heat and humidity that hit the area on Thursday, Alves was in control from start to finish. The Rockport native jumped out to an early lead and just extended it to the finish. The second-place finisher, 15-year-old Sarah Keiran of Rowley (20:33), finished 1:33 behind Alves. Beverly's Heidi Cronin finished third (23:52) while Gloucester's Meg Sawyer was fourth (24:00)
"It was really hot out there but surprisingly I felt really good," Alves said. "I felt like I was in control from start to finish."
In the men's division it was 23-year-old Peabody resident Tom Davis who ran away with the crown, finishing with a time of 15:50, 46 seconds ahead of second-place finisher Mark Mayall of Maynard (16:34). North Attleboro's Gregory Payne finished third with a time of 16:43; Glouceter's Matt Curran was the top local finisher with a time of 17:32, good for sixth place. Curran and Alves were the top two local finishers in the Run Gloucester! Road Race in August.
Davis also felt good in the heat, especially considering the fact that he ran 20 miles in a workout earlier in the day.
"It was a tough race course, much tougher than I thought," Davis said. "I ran 20 miles earlier today so my plan was to give it all that I had left."
Davis, who is the head track and field coach at Westford Academy and former collegiate runner at Cornell and the University of Richmond, stuck with the pack for the first mile before making his move in mile No. 2. The Newton North High School graduate made his move in the second mile, distancing himself from the pack and allowing himself to cruise to the finish line.
"It felt good crossing the finish line," Davis said. "But I have ran about 120 miles this week so I'm tired."
Davis frequents Gloucester road races as this was his third this summer. The Peabody resident turned in a sixth-place finish last month at the Run Gloucester! Road Race. He also competed and fared well in the Seacoast 7 Road race in July.
"I love running in Gloucester," Davis said. "There are so many interesting and challenging race courses here. They keep me coming back."
