Boston, MA – September 18, 2006 – The Wentworth Institute of Technology brought home the coveted Puddingstone Cup for the second year in a row this Saturday at the Mission Hill Road Race. The Cup is awarded to the area institution that turns out the most runners, walkers, and volunteers for the annual community event. The Wentworth Institute of Technology's 63 volunteers trumped Northeastern University's 46. Northeastern volunteers and runners outnumbered Wentworth participants in the early going, but that quickly changed when the hockey team and Coach R.J. Tolan, along with members of the basketball team with Coach Tom Devitt showed up. Andrew Jolley, one of Wentworth's volunteers, said "I thought Northeastern was going to win the cup until the basketball and hockey teams came walking up the hill. The Northeastern students were shocked. It was exciting." The over 40 participants from the athletic department energized the crowd and ensured Wentworth's victory over the much larger Northeastern.

The race itself was a difficult 5k that wound up and down Mission Hill. Members of Wentworth's hockey, basketball, and track teams ran in the race despite the unseasonably warm weather. David Tutor, the Student Initiatives Coordinator in Wentworth's Center for Community and Learning Partnerships said that, "I was very proud of Wentworth today. Running a race at 9 a.m. on a Saturday is never easy for college students. It was great to see all of the volunteers and athletes come out and support their community."

The event was hosted by the Mission Hill Neighborhood Housing Services, a local non-profit dedicated to community revitalization. This is the second year of the annual event since its recent revival. Mayor Thomas Menino handed out medals for winners in different age groups, and Councilmen Mike Ross and Jeffrey Sanchez awarded the Puddingstone Cup to the enthused Wentworth supporters.

The Mission Hill Road Race is both a community building event and a fundraiser for the idyllic Puddingstone Park. Puddingstone Park is located near the top of Mission Hill and provided the start and finish of the race. The park is named for the Roxbury Puddingstone that was quarried there throughout the 19th century, and was used to build the towers of the Mission Church that overlooks the Park. The money raised from the race will go to the preservation of one of Boston's most beautiful open spaces.