NORTH ADAMS, MASS.— The Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts (MCLA) Student Government Association's (SGA) 45th annual Sam Gomez Road Race will again be a hybrid event this year, with an interactive virtual race that will be run from March 24 th through March 31 and the in-person event will be held on April 1. 

 

This year's race will benefit Tapestry of North Adams. 

 

Through the event, the SGA has raised over $30,000 for Berkshire-based organizations for almost 20 years. 

 

Runners can register at mcla.edu/samgomez. Community members can also donate to beneficiaries as well. 

 

The April 1 race kicks off at 11 a.m. Check-in time will be from 9:30 a.m.- 10:45 a.m. on the second floor of the MCLA Campus Center in the Achievement Lounge.

 

Virtual runners can complete their run any time between March 24 and March 31. Runners will be emailed a link to submit their virtual time through our partner organization, the Berkshire Running Center. 

 

Runners are asked to post a photo on social media using #SamGomez2023 and tag @MCLAStudentGovernment. 

 

Runners who register will receive a race T-shirt and medal.

 

As of Feb. 21 this year's race sponsors are Becks Printing Company, Inc., Countryside Landscape Services, Donovan O'Connor, Dodig LLP, Gajda, Arnold, & McConnell, PC, H.A. George Fuel Corporation,

Monarch Realty, Inc, RK Miles, Walmart, and The Williamstown Motel.

 

Sam Gomez was a professor at MCLA (then North Adams State College) and founded the school's cross-country team. Coach Gomez believed in the importance of the relationship between the local community and MCLA. 

 

In honor of Coach Gomez and his legacy of giving back to the Berkshire community, each year SGA selects a Berkshire County charity to receive the proceeds from the race bearing Coach Gomez's name.