World Class Professional Fields Announced for 2025 Boston 5K presented by Harvard Pilgrim Health Care and B.A.A. Invitational Mile

World Class Professional Fields Announced for 2025 Boston 5K presented by Harvard Pilgrim Health Care and B.A.A. Invitational Mile

Saturday, April 19 Racing Kicks off Patriots’ Day Weekend 

BOSTON – Global medalists, Boston champions, and U.S. stars are set to compete as part of the Boston 5K presented by Harvard Pilgrim Health Care and B.A.A. Invitational Mile on Saturday, April 19, kicking off Boston Marathon weekend with racing through Boston’s Back Bay. More than 100 professional athletes from around the globe will compete across the two events.  

“This year’s Boston 5K presented by Harvard Pilgrim Health Care and B.A.A. Invitational Mile will set the stage for a memorable weekend celebration of running, health, and fitness in the city,” said Jack Fleming, President and Chief Executive Officer of the B.A.A. “At the front of the field will be some of the fastest and most accomplished athletes across the Open, Wheelchair, and Para Athletics Divisions.” 

BOSTON 5K FIELD TO TACKLE NEW COURSE IN 2025 

On April 19, a field of more than 10,000 participants will take to a new race route for the Boston 5K presented by Harvard Pilgrim Health Care. Starting adjacent to Boston Public Garden, athletes will run out on Commonwealth Avenue towards Boston University before reversing direction, passing through Kenmore Square, running right on Hereford Street and left on Boylston Street, ultimately finishing at the Boston Marathon finish line. The 3.1-mile course is a flat and fast tour of Back Bay. 

That’s music to Charles Philibert-Thiboutot’s ears, as the Canadian champion from 2022 returns looking to earn his second Boston 5K crown. Three years ago, ‘CPT’ won in 13:35, sprinting to the line just ahead of a large pack of challengers. Joining him on the line this year is fellow Canadian Olympian Thomas Fafard. 

Biya Simbassa, the No.1-ranked road racer nationally, will try to extend the American winning streak to three. Simbassa ran a 2:06:53 marathon in 2024 and was 9^th at the USA 5K National Championship, showing his range of abilities. Also toeing the line are Kenya’s Amon Kemboi, best known for his 3:53.57 mile speed, and Eritrea’s Dawit Seare, fourth at the 2023 World Road Running Championships 5K. Josh Kalapos represents the hometown B.A.A. High Performance Team in the professional field. Britain’s Patrick Dever, the NCAA Champion at 10,000m in 2021, is also entered, while fellow countryman Henry McLuckie, fourth in the B.A.A. Invitational Mile last year, moves up in distance to run the Boston 5K this year. 

The fastest woman in the field, Ethiopia’s Medina Eisa (14:16.54 5000m best), will be chased by Norah Jeruto, the 2022 World Champion in the 3000m steeplechase from Kazakhstan, Lemlem Hailu, the 2022 World Indoor 3000m gold medalist from Ethiopia, and Tsigie Gebreselama, the 2023 World Cross Country silver medalist from Ethiopia. 

Top-ten finishers from a year ago return in Erika Kemp (fifth), Bethany Hasz (sixth), and Vanessa Fraser (eighth), all from the USA. Hasz is a member of the B.A.A. High Performance Team along with her sister, Megan, who is also competing. Taylor Roe comes off a win at the U.S. Half Marathon Championships in Atlanta. 

Reigning wheelchair division champions Marcel Hug and Eden Rainbow-Cooper return, hoping to replicate their 2024 Boston Marathon weekends which saw both win the 5K on Saturday and marathon on Monday. Joining them is two-time Boston Marathon winner Daniel Romanchuk. 

In the Para Athletics Divisions, 2024 Boston 5K winners El Amin Chentouf (T11/12/13 vision impairment), Atsbha Gebremeskel (T45-47 upper-limb impairment), and Marko Cheseto Lemtukei (T42-T44, T61-T64 lower-limb impairment) all return. Making his Boston debut will be 2024 Paralympic gold medalists Wajdi Boukhili (T12, marathon) and Aminullah Tissaoui (T38, 1500m). 

Kelly Bruno (T64) Tatsiana Khvitsko-Trimborn (T61), and Sayers Grooms (T72) are among the women’s entrants in the Para Athletics Divisions. 

The Boston 5K starts at 8:00 a.m. on Saturday, April 19. 

RETURNING CHAMPION COMBER LEADS B.A.A. INVITATIONAL MILE 

Casey Comber won the 2024 B.A.A. Invitational Mile thanks to a last lap kick in 4:07.31, and now looks to become the first man to win back-to-back years since Olympic medalist Nick Willis did so in 2013/2014. Luke Houser, the recently crowned 2025 World Indoor Championships bronze medalist at 1500m and two-time NCAA Indoor Mile champion, will try to play spoiler and win in his first race on the roads in Boston. 

Also toeing the line with Boston ties are B.A.A. High Performance Team member Isaac Basten, as well as Boston University’s Foster Malleck, who was third at the NCAA Indoor Championships mile in March.  

Japan’s Nozomi Tanaka, a prolific racer across the track and roads, makes her B.A.A. Invitational Mile debut and will go up against Micaela Degenero, fourth a year ago and the 2022 NCAA Indoor mile champion. From the Atlanta Track Club is Laurie Barton, a 4:27 miler.

Canadian Olympians Erin Teschuk and Julie-Anne Staehli and Kenya’s Dorcas Ewoi, a 1:58.19 800m runner, round out the international talent. 

In addition to the professionals, student-athletes from each of the eight cities and towns that make up the Boston Marathon route will compete in a Scholastic Mile and Middle School 1K. The B.A.A. Invitational Mile will begin at 11:00 a.m. at the Boston Marathon Finish Line on Saturday, April 19. 

Boston 5K presented by Harvard Pilgrim Health Care Professional Fields 

WOMEN’S FIELD	COUNTRY	5,000m PB
Medina Eisa	ETH	14:16.54 (London, 2023)
Tsigie Gebreselama	ETH	14:18.76 (Eugene, 2024)
Lemlen Hailu	ETH	14:34.53 (Paris, 2023)
Grace Loibach	KEN	14:42.63 (Paris, 2023)
Laura Galvan	MEX	14:43.94 (Budapest, 2023)NR
Gela Hambese	ETH	14:47.74 (Doha, 2024)
Vanessa Fraser	USA	14:48.51i (Boston, 2020)
Norah Jeruto	KAZ	14:51.73 (Berlin, 2019)
Lemlem Nibret	ETH	14:56.00 (Montesson, 2023)
Bethany Hasz	USA	15:05.80 (Los Angeles, 2024)
Emily Lipari	USA	15:07.22 (San Juan Capistrano, 2022)
Erika Kemp	USA	15:10.10 (Boston, 2021)
Taylor Roe	USA	15:15.01i (Boston, 2024)
Hannah Steelman	USA	15:19.69 (Portland, 2024)
Dominique Scott	RSA	15:20.84i (Boston, 2020)
Gracelyn Larkin	CAN	15:21.68i (Boston, 2025)
Charlotte Prouse	CAN	15:26.01 (Boston, 2018)
Roisin Flanagan	IRL	15:26.32 (Walnut, 2023)
Eilish Flanagan	IRL	15:33.37i (Boston, 2023)
Megan Hasz	USA	15:33.48 (Lost Angeles, 2023)
Cleo Boyd	CAN	15:44.14 (Raleigh, 2024)
Alexandra Lucki	CAN	15:49.82 (Los Angeles)
Lilly Tuck	CAN	15:53.76 (Philadelphia, 2024)
Katie Kellner	USA	15:56.42 (Guelph, 2014)
Rachel Hyland	USA	16:06.42i (Boston 2021)
Erin Gregoire	USA	16:19.31 (NYC, 2025)
Ryann Helmers	USA	16:21.99 (Charlottesville, 2023)
Stevie Lawrence-Wrist	GBR	17:18.70 (Allendale, 2021)

MEN’S FIELD	COUNTRY	5,000m PB
Patrick Dever	GBR	13:04.05i (Boston, 2024)
Thomas Fafard	CAN	13:05.07 (Bruxelles, 2024)
Amon Kemboi	KEN	13:06.30i (Boston, 2024)
Dawit Seare	ERI	13:07.77 (Wien, 2024)
Charles Philibert-Thiboutot	CAN	13:12.76 (San Juan Capistrano, 2022)
Sam Parsons	GER	13:12.78i (Boston, 2023) NR
Biya Simbassa	USA	13:19.12 (San Juan Capistrano, 2021)
Reid Buchanan	USA	13:27.03 (Los Angeles, 2023)
John Gay	CAN	13:29.82 (Birmingham, 2022)
Andrew Alexander	CAN	13:29.91i (Boston, 2023)
Jean Simon Desgagnes	CAN	13:33.38 (Azusa, 2024)
Henry McLuckie	GBR	13:36.26 (Walnut,2023)
Mitchell Ubene	CAN	13:36.71 (Langley, 2022)
Connor Black	CAN	13:38.09 (Langley, 2022)
Afewerki Zeru	USA	13:44.58 (Walnut, 2022)
Nicholas Bannon	CAN	13:45.56 (Langley, 2022)
Joey Berriatua	USA	13:49.16 (Sn Juan, Capistrano, 2020)
Oisín Ó Gailín	IRL	13:49.61i (Boston, 2023)
Max Turek	CAN	13:50.37i (Boston, 2022)
Mitchell Dervin	USA	13:57.58i (Boston, 2024)
Ben Connor	GBR	14:08.11 (Boston, 2014)
Ben Garner	USA	14:09.16 (Azusa, 2024)
Brian Harvey	USA	14:13.93 (Princeton, 2012)
Colin Cernik	USA	14:14.52 (Boston, 2024)
Daniel Johanning	CRI	14:16.79 (Azusa, 2024)
Josh Kalapos	USA	14:21.04 (NYC, 2024)
Aaron Willingham	USA	14:22.39 (Boston, 2024)

 

WOMEN’S WHEELCHAIR FIELD	COUNTRY
Hannah Babalola	NGR
Christie Dawes	AUS
Patricia Eachus	SUI
Eden Rainbow-Cooper	GBR
Michelle Wheeler	USA
MEN’S WHEELCHAIR FIELD	COUNTRY
Hermin Garic	USA
Marcel Hug	SUI
Jetze Plat	NED
Daniel Romanchuk	USA
Geert Schipper	NED
Brian Siemann	USA
Johnboy Smith	GBR
David Weir	GBR
Sho Watanabe	JPN

 

WOMEN’S PARA ATHLETICS DIVISION	COUNTRY	CLASSIFICATION
Tatsiana Khvitsko-Trimborn	USA	T61
Kelly  Bruno	USA	T64
Sayers Grooms	USA	T72

Massachusetts and Regional Partners Issue First-in-the-Nation Competitive Transmission Solicitation to Unlock Affordable Electricity in New England

 Massachusetts and Regional Partners Issue First-in-the-Nation Competitive Transmission Solicitation to Unlock Affordable Electricity in New England  

Grid operator ISO New England issued the RFP under a new regional process for identifying transmission investment needed to meet New England’s future needs 

This procurement will unlock new affordable electricity to help power New England  

BOSTON – Massachusetts officials celebrated New England’s first competitive Request for Proposals (RFP) for longer-term transmission investments issued yesterday by ISO New England Inc. (ISO-NE), a long-time goal of the New England states. This RFP will address long-standing constraints on the New England power system and integrate new, affordable, onshore wind resources in the coming years. The process was developed by and for the New England states after years of collaboration with ISO-NE and regional stakeholders. This partnership enables the states to request that ISO-NE pursue transmission investment under a state-driven process that is grounded in the evaluation of broad regional benefits and consumer interests.   

“This nation-leading transmission procurement will unlock affordable electricity for Massachusetts residents and businesses at a critical time,” said Governor Maura Healey. “This milestone represents what can happen when we work together – innovative and cost-effective solutions to our region’s most pressing energy challenges. We are grateful to our partner states and ISO New England for taking this important step forward toward regional energy independence.” 

“New England is a region that leads,” said Lieutenant Governor Kim Driscoll. “Through partnership and a commitment to our shared long-term goals, we are able to get more done and deliver for our communities. Through this RFP, we’ll be able to power our growing regional economy and ensure we have a strong, reliable grid.” 

“When we took office, we made a commitment to partner with our neighbor states. We’re grateful to see those relationships deliver such a meaningful investment in our region’s grid,” said Massachusetts Energy and Environmental Affairs Secretary Rebecca Tepper. “Affordable electricity has been stuck behind inadequate transmission in Maine when it could flow freely to power communities across our region. Transmission is the key to lowering costs and strengthening reliability.” 

“We are moving from study to solicitation,” said Jason Marshall, Massachusetts Deputy Secretary for Federal and Regional Energy Affairs. “This is a positive chapter in New England energy collaboration that is many years in the making. This procurement seeks to unlock locally sourced and abundant onshore wind resources while addressing long-standing bottlenecks on the region’s electric grid. While there are many steps left in this process, the issuance of this competitive procurement is a milestone for our region and for the partnership between the states and ISO New England.” 

Historically, New England has lacked a mechanism to enable ISO-NE to procure transmission at the states’ request to meet the region’s needs decades into the future. In 2020, the New England states, through the New England States Committee on Electricity (NESCOE), called for reforms to ISO-NE’s transmission planning rules to allow it to conduct more comprehensive, longer-term transmission planning studies and, at the New England states’ request, issue a competitive transmission solicitation.  

In May 2024, with broad support from regional stakeholders, ISO-NE submitted a proposal to the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) to implement this new regional transmission procurement process.  In July 2024, FERC approved the new rules and, in December 2024, NESCOE sent a formal request to ISO-NE to develop an RFP for issuance this year. 

The RFP targets a key area of future need identified in ISO-NE’s 2050 Transmission Study—seeking transmission solutions to strengthen the connection between northern and southern New England and unlock additional affordable generation resources located in Maine. The deadline for bids by qualified transmission project sponsors is September 30, 2025. ISO-NE will evaluate the bids submitted, in consultation with the New England states, and expects to select a preferred solution by September 2026. A strong preference will be given to bids with an in-service date by 2035. The New England states have agreed to share in the costs of these transmission investments, following an analysis by ISO New England comparing project costs with reliability benefits and cost savings that the upgraded transmission would provide to the region.  

“This solicitation is a key step toward bringing more affordable and reliable electricity generation online as part of Governor Lamont’s all-of-the-above strategy to address energy affordability,” said Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection Commissioner Katie S. Dykes. “By working together to upgrade New England’s power grid, we will deliver more affordable and cleaner electricity to Connecticut and New England as a whole and improve grid reliability by diversifying our generation mix.” 

"As Maine seeks to unlock more affordable, reliable power generated in our own backyard, regional coordination and long-term transmission planning have never been more critical," said Dan Burgess, Director of the Maine Governor's Energy Office. "This solicitation is an important and first of its kind step in that effort as we seek common sense solutions in New England that reduce costs while maximizing the flow of energy across our state and region."  

“Today’s initiation of a regional transmission procurement is an important milestone for Maine and the region that will enable the integration of new renewable resources in Maine and strengthen the regional grid,” said Philip L. Bartlett II, Chair of the Maine Public Utilities Commission. “Long-term regional planning and the selection of this project scope have demonstrated the important role of Maine-based resources in securing a reliable, affordable and clean energy future for the region.” 

發展商Thomas O’Brien改變主意 波士頓市長候選人再降回3人

波士頓市長吳弭 (Michelle Wu)。 (檔案照片，周菊子攝)

              (Boston Orange 綜合編譯) 波士頓市長選舉前幾天才出現有4人參選局面，3月的最後一天結束前，又立刻降回3人。發展商Thomas O’Brien眼見這天在位市長吳弭 (Michelle Wu) 在東波士頓獲得3 名在位州市議員背書支持，聽從好友分析建議，決定退出參選行列。

Josh Kraft今年2月出席梁忠孝堂春宴。(檔案照片，周菊子攝)

              這是個令許多人意外的大迴轉。只不過是上個星期才傳出來的，現年61歲的著名地產發展商Thomas N. O’Brien打算跳入波士頓市長選戰，和新英格蘭愛國者隊東主之子Josh Kraft一起角逐市長大位，然後就一個週末，O’Brien改變主意了。

Thomas O'Brien圖片來自推特 (X)。

              O’Brien在一份聲明中表示，”我認真考慮過參選波士頓市長，因為我深愛這個城市，也總是找有意義的方式來服務”，”但是和他認識，信任和景仰的許多人談過之後，他決定現在不邁向政壇，但會繼續他在HYM投資集團的工作，過他的波士頓慈善圈、公民生活”。

              O’Brien曾經是波士頓重建局領導，也是波士頓是最為人熟知的發展商，創辦了HYM投資集團，促成一些波士頓市最大型和最複雜的發展計畫，例如布萊頓區(Brighton)的Boston Landing，以及在波士頓-劍橋-尚莫維爾線的北點校園 (NorthPoint campus)。這家公司也已獲批准，在薩福克丘陵(Suffolk Downs) 橫跨東波士頓-瑞維爾 (Revere)線的錢跑馬場上蓋1000戶單位。

              O’brien說，他要繼續促使波士頓更可負擔，也期望和吳弭市長及其政府等人合作，朝向達成目標邁進。

              和O’Brien討論過參選波士頓市長一事的人透露，O’Brien原本打算把參選重點放在移民、住宅，以及和波士頓未來有關的議題上。

              如果O’Brien參選，他將對Josh Kraft形成嚴峻挑戰，因為他們倆人都和已經開始懷疑吳弭市長的企業圈關係密切，而波士頓市長選舉的方式是，只有在9月初選中獲得最高票的2人，能夠進入11月的大選。

              對波士頓商業房地產界的很多人來說，O’Brien探詢參選波士頓市長可能性的行為，很讓人迷惑，因為在發展商和其他業界人士強烈批評吳弭市長時，O’Brien在吳弭政府有關房地產的新聞稿中，一直是支持的聲音。

              房地產發展商倚賴市政府內的關係來經營生意，而HYM在Boston proper有幾個大型發展計畫已經獲得批准，但還未動工。其中一個是在位於洛士百利 (Roxbury)的波士頓警察局總部對面，約7.7公頃的市有土地上。

              O’Brien的退選，讓億萬富翁，也是新英格蘭愛國者隊東主Robert Kraft的第3個兒子Josh Kraft，成為吳弭市長尋求連任的最主要競爭者。

              吳弭市長預定這週六的下午2點，在南端 (South End)波士頓藝術中心的天幕 (Cyclorama) 正式展開競選連任活動。

              吳弭市長的競選發言人Julia Leja在週一晚發出的一份聲明中說，”吳市長相信，在我們城市的未來上，每個人都有他的角色。很高興看到O’Brien先生計畫以其他方式來為城市盡力”。

              吳弭市長從3月初出席有關公安及移民法執行的國會聽證凱旋而歸後，得到的支持力度大增。吳弭在發表市情咨文時，重申她對波士頓的看法，還挑釁的把波士頓市定位為對抗川普政府的領導，甚至在上了全國性電視節目，喜劇中心的”每日秀”時，也贏來全美關注。

              在2月初至3月21日的競選財報中，Josh Kraft募得56萬7千元。捐款人滿市知名的企業高管，富裕個人，都捐了可以捐出的最高額1千元，其中包括媒體大亨繼承人Shari Redstone，Wayfair執行長Niraj Shah，賽默菲世爾科技 (Thermo Fisher Scientific Inc.)執行長Marc Casper等。吳弭市長的競選財庫則有180萬元現金在手。

                           目前已表態參選波士頓市長的還有去年5月遞表的北端(North End) 餐廳東主Jorge Mendoza-Iturralde。

新英格蘭台灣商會保齡球賽蔡高進組奪冠 陳奕如贏女子最高分

新英格蘭大波士頓台灣商會舉辦保齡球賽。

              (Boston Orange) 新英格蘭大波士頓台灣商會 (TCCNE) 2025年3月開年動起來，繼16日舉行本年度首次理事會後，30日在摩頓市 (Malden)的”鎮線豪華道 (Town Line Luxury Lanes)”舉辦保齡球賽，接下來4月份，將一連串有3場活動。

             

波士頓僑教中心主任高家富為新英格蘭台商會保齡球賽開球。

新英格蘭大波士頓台灣商會會長王志維和副會長蔡高進、彭聲翔和理事們於3月16日在勒星頓鎮風水餐廳舉行本年度首次理事會，底定了2025上半年的活動，包括3月30日辦保齡球賽，4月一連3場講座，先是4月6日下午由彭聲翔和高名震分享創業經驗，再在4月13日晚上，邀台灣外貿協會講師楊富翔，以線上形式，教人如何用領英 (LinkedIn)開發國際高價值客戶，4月28日舉辦稅務及退休管理講座，5月份計畫擺2個攤位，支援「牛頓臺灣日」。

新英格蘭大波士頓台灣商會會長王志維(右)頒發女組最高分獎給陳奕如。

              3月30日的保齡球賽，共有8隊參賽。波士頓僑教中心主任高家富為比賽開球後，8隊輪流上場，各顯身手，激戰一上午。

              比賽結果，個人賽的男子最高分由Willy Yen以480分奪冠，女子最高分由波克萊臺灣商會會長陳奕如以309分拿下。另有林思妤獲得最佳精神獎。

              團體組的冠亞季軍，依序為總分1119的蔡高進和Ralph Chiang， Willy Yen組，總分994的陳奕如，Ian和BT，以及總分843的王志維、Alice Wu和高名震。

              新英格蘭大波士頓台灣商會會長王志維表示，跨入新年度，該會將加強與波克萊臺灣商會合作，積極為新英格蘭地區台商尋覓、整理資源，提供交流機會，歡迎有意創業者加入，擴大商會陣容。容。 (所有圖片蔡高進提供)

新英格蘭大波士頓台灣商會會長王志維(右)頒發男子最高分獎給Willy Yeh。

蔡高進(左二)這組贏得新英格蘭大波士頓台灣商會2025保齡球賽冠軍。

陳奕如(右二)這組贏得新英格蘭大波士頓台灣商會2025保齡球賽亞軍。

王志維(左二)這組贏得新英格蘭大波士頓台灣商會2025保齡球賽季軍。

林思妤(右)獲頒最佳精神獎。

臺商會會長王志維(左四)，副會長彭聲翔(左一)，秘書長高名震(前)等人合影。