'I still feel her': Runners race in 5K to remember Longmeadow teen killed in crash

In Fridays race dedicated to Longmeadow High School runner Katarina Kat Boskovic, who died in a car crash weeks before her high school graduation, it was her friend Shea Hamel, critically injured in the same crash, who emerged as one of the winners.

[Kat] would always kick at the end of the race, Hamel said reminiscing about the runs she went on with her friend Kat. She always pushed me to kick at the end of the race because she knew that was the moment where it counted most.

Hamel and more than 650 participants ran in Longmeadows Run Like Kat 5K race on Friday morning. The event raised over $30,000 for the Kat Boskovic Memorial Fund established through the Community Foundation of Western Massachusetts shortly after Kats passing.

A light drizzle complemented the tear-filled eyes of most participants on Friday morning. The runners, decorated in purple and navy blue Kats favorite colors, shared laughs and cries as they spoke about the Longmeadow communitys spark of joy thats gone but most certainly not forgotten.

In my mind, were running with Kat. Even though shes not physically here I still feel her beside me every day, Hamel said as tears welled up in her eyes.

Katarina 'Kat' Bosokovic is shown here in an undated photo. She died in a car crash in Longmeadow on May 6, 2022. Her classmate has been charged with manslaughter.Read More: After deadly crash, Longmeadow miracle girl Shea Hamel finds her footing

Kat and Hamel were both passengers of the 2010 Acura that collided with a tree on a curve of Green Willow Drive in Longmeadow on May 7. The crash claimed Kats life weeks before she would graduate from Longmeadow High School and prepare to depart for McGill University in Quebec to study to become a doctor like her parents.

The crash left Hamel with serious critical injuries. She teetered on the edge of death and paralysis.

Shea Hamel at the 'Run Like Kat' 5K race in Longmeadow. Critically injured in the same crash that killed her friend Kat, Hamel went on to place first in the women's race.

Doctors were unsure if Hamel would ever walk again much less run. However, the Longmeadow teenager beat the odds and has since revitalized her track and cross-country career at Westfield State University.

Some of Kats other teammates came to participate in Fridays race. The runners shared bittersweet expressions, enthused to see familiar faces and friends they havent seen since their June graduation, but saddened by the loss of who many described as a beautiful spirit with a bright personality.Read More: Obituary remembers Katarina Boskovic as passionate runner and superb student as Longmeadow mourns high school seniors loss

I remember wed go on three-mile runs and Shea would always have her speaker and ask what song we wanted to play. Kat would always say Safe and Sound, Erin Vasu said, thinking back to their cross-country practices. She would always go jump up and touch a tree during our runs. Im definitely going to go out there and do that today for her.

Before the participants gathered at the starting line, the crowd gathered around Kats father, Dr. Svjetlan Boskovic, as he shared a few words before the race dedicated in memory of his daughter commenced.

Dr. Boskovic joked about how he was never a fan of running himself.

Many times in the beginning, when Kat went for a run, I would tell her Hey, kid, I get it. You dont need to run. Ill buy you a car, Boskovic said to a crowd of laughs and cries.Read More: Kat Boskovic, killed in crash, wanted to be a doctor like her parents

The doctor said he and his family recently moved to Longmeadow six years ago. Not knowing a single soul in the neighborhood, Boskovic was proud to see the number of lives his daughter was able to touch before her passing.

Im sure shell be very proud to see you all and Im sure that shes with us today, Boskovic said.

Kats father took to walking the circuit of the 5K race. Prior to his walk, he led the opening countdown for runners readying for their 5K sprint through the Longmeadow neighborhood facing the high school. Moments before the runners took off, a small crack in the clouds revealed a glimpse of a bright blue sky hovering over the race.

Many runners took notice and pointed toward the sky. One runner said: Look, Kat is watching.

Hamel ended up taking first in the womens race with a time of 19:55 for what she called the most emotional finish in her cross-country career.

It was great running through the neighborhood we used to run in all the time, an exhausted Hamel said moments after crossing the finish line. I felt like she was really there with us.

Bob Warchol and Mike Cass were two lead organizers for the Run Like Kat 5K marathon. Each has their own memory of Kat that drove them to help organize the marathon months after her death.

Casss son Aiden was Kats boyfriend. Before the two began dating, Cass said he was blessed to watch the young woman mature into a positive influence for her community and flourish as a successful student-athlete with plans of attending college to become a doctor like her parents.

Theres a phrase that I love that goes something like: Rather than curse the darkness, light a candle. And for me I feel like Kat would do more than light her candle, she would light others, Cass said. Thats just the energy and love she had for everyone that she knew.Read More: Officials confirm death of Longmeadow teen Katarina Boskovic, beloved LHS senior and outstanding student-athlete

Warchol said Kat was the best friend of his daughter, Helena. Kat often tagged along with his family on ski trips, vacations and other family activities. Kats passing left a lasting impact on his family, feeling as if they just lost a member of their direct family.

In the coming months, were going to put together a board for the Kat Memorial Fund to help us get a plan in place of how were going to spend what we raised to better impact the entire community, Warchol said. We want the money to go to things that would have Kats stamp of approval on it. Things like scholarships and other positive events programs in the community that would be reflective of her spirit and her kindness.Read More: Longmeadow teen arraigned in fatal crash that killed classmate Katarina Boskovic 20

'Run Like Kat" 5K race in Longmeadow