By Kim J. Harmon

 

There was at least one person who thought Caroline White could be the first female finisher at the 31st annual Rockin’ Rooster Run last Saturday … and it wasn’t Caroline White.

Still a novice with only three races under her belt, the 42-year-old White, a physical education instructor at the Fraser-Woods School in Newtown, crossed the finish line in 19:57 and out-paced Norma Grom of New Fairfield by a little over a minute.

“Some of the parents put the pressure on me to run,” said White, who ran the Polar Bear and Moonlight Madness races, “and one of the mothers thought I could place. But I wasn’t sure.”

White was the first female to cross the line, but she was quickly followed by Grom (21:06), Johanna Francis (21:45), Emily Svard (21:57) and nine-year-old Katherine Scott (22:03). White was almost four minutes behind Sergio Ribeiro of Waterbury, who – no surprise to anyone at Newtown Middle School – captured his third straight Rooster Run title.

“This inspires me to come back next year,” said White. “It’s a nice race, a good family feeling.”

A trifle slower than usual, Ribeiro crossed the finish line in 16:07 – having been pressured for a fair portion of the race by a collection of Newtown High School cross country and track runners. Five of the top seven runners were from Newtown High and fresh off the 2005 track and field season.

Charlie Baldour and Eric MacKnight provided Ribeiro with the best competition, crossing the finish line side-by-side in 17:02. Baldour and MacKnight stayed close to Ribeiro for a little while, but Ribeiro spread the gap after the first mile or so and then took it home from there.

“We just came out for a fun kind of race,” said Baldour, 16, “because track just ended. I ran it two years ago. It’s a nice course; the first mile is kind of easy, but the last mile up the hill is tough.”

Tim Milenkevich of Ansonia finished fourth at 17:36 while Matt Cole of Newtown finished fifth at 17:44.

The results –

1. Sergio Ribeiro, Waterbury, 16:07; 2. Charlie Baldour, Sandy Hook, 17:02; 3. Eric MacKnight, Newtown, 17:02; 4. Tim Milenkevich, Ansonia, 17:36; 5. Matt Cole, Newtown, 17:44; 6. Ryan Kraft, Newtown, 17:59; 7. Scott Nichols, Newtown, 18:19; 8. Tyler Kurjiakaa, Danbury, 18:25; 9. John Richers, New Milford, 18:36; 10. Kevin Donahue, Newtown, 19:02.

11. Zachary Shwartz, Newtown, 19:03; 12. Curt Davis, Sandy Hook, 19:35; 13. Bill Hunter, Fairfield, 19:47; 14. Scott Schwartz, Newtown, 19:53; 15. Caroline White, Bridgewater, 19:57; 16. Jordan Reed, Newtown, 20:14; 17. James Indelicato, Newtown, 20:28; 18. Frank LoPiccolo, Newtown, 20:57; 19. Steve Mortinger, Ridgefield, 20:58; 20. Norma Grom, New Fairfield, 21:06.

21. Benjamin Wallen, Newtown, 21:23; 22. Tom Hislop, Newtown, 21:32; 23. Johanna Francis, Newtown, 21:45; 24. William Stroever, Newtown, 21:46; 25. Glenn Walsh, Samdu Hook, 21:47; 26. Emily Svard, Newtown, 21:57; 27. Katherine Scott, Newtown, 22:03; 28. Gavin Scallon, Sandy Hook, 22:07; 29. Jack Zamary, Newtown, 22:20; 30. Peder Scott, Newtown, 22:26.

31. Dusty Tenny, Sandy Hook, 22:27; 32. Glen Nanavaty, Southbury, 22:29; 33. Evan Graves, Newtown, 22:33; 34. Paul Murphy, Newtown, 22:34; 35. Mark Alexander, Newtown, 22:41; 36. Michael Scarpa, Sandy Hook, 22:42; 37. Jacob Feinstein, Sandy Hook, 22:44; 38. Pieter Martino, Sandy Hook, 22:45; 39. Peter Walsh, Newtown, 22:46; 40. Holly Walczak, Newtown, 22:49.

41. David Strong, Newtown, 22:53; 42. Christopher Maurer, Sandy Hook, 23:03; 43. Scott Shpunt, Newtown, 23:04; 44. Brian Fagan, Sandy Hook, 23:08; 45. Christine Manfredonia, Sandy Hook, 23:09; 46. Lucille Rossi, Sandy Hook, 23:16; 47. Jeff Shpunt, Newtown, 23:22; 48. Barbara Donahue, Sandy Hook, 23:30; 49. Mara Scallon, Sandy Hook, 23:38; 50. Sarah MacKnight, Newtown, 23:40.

51. Steven Feinstein, Sandy Hook, 23:41; 52. Megan Reed, Monroe, 23:44; 53. Rob Cox, Newtown, 23:47; 54. Chuck Vietyaski, Danbury, 23:48; 55. Frank Lang, Seymour, 23:50; 56. Richard Wrage, Newtown, 23:52; 57. Michael Carrafiello, Newtown, 23:53; 58. Monica Roberto, Newtown, 23:53; 59. Madeline Keane, Newtown, 23:54; 60. Ruth Rowe, Sandy Hook, 23:56.

61. Jack Weber, Newtown, 23:57; 62. Anne Martino, Sandy Hook, 24:00; 63. Steve Martino, Sandy Hook, 24:01; 64. Joe Kearney, Newtown, 24:02; 65. Margaret Ashey, Newtown, 24:04; 66. Gregory Scallon, Sandy Hook, 24:08; 67. Steve Dehty, Sandy Hook, 24:10; 68. Rocco Guerrera, Waterbury, 24:25; 69. Karen MacNight, Newtown, 24:28; 70. Josette Ritzinger, Newtown, 24:31.

71. Arang Cistulli, Sandy Hook, 24:34; 72. Leah Begg, Newtown, 24:52; 73. Bill Begg, Newtown, 24:52; 74. Mark Ashbolt, Newtown, 24:53; 75. Darcy Fiscella, Newtown, 24:53; 76. Shelley Northrup, Sandy Hook, 24:55; 77. Frederic Child, Newtown, 25:04; 78. Alice Walsh, Newtown, 25:04; 79. Janet Zamary, Newtown, 25:09; 80. Dan Quinn, Newtown, 25:15.

81. Loanne Morris, Newtown, 25:20; 82. Tom Gould, Sandy Hook, 25:23; 83. Ken Sullivan, Newtown, 25:26; 84. Kristina Hislop, Newtown, 25:29; 85. Christal Preszler, Newtown, 25:31; 86. Catherine Kost, Sandy Hook, 25:31; 87. Brian Murphy, Newtown, 25:34; 88. Linda Garvey, Bethel, 25:35; 89. Jennifer Russell, Bethel, 25:44; 90. Glenn Mishuck, Sandy Hook, 25:45.

91. Sabina Webb, Sandy Hook, 25:46; 92. Jerry Shpunt, Newtown, 25:54; 93. Tracy Van Buskirk, Newtown, 25:59; 94. Nancy Sedensky, Newtown, 26:16; 95. Daniel Dittmar, Sandy Hook, 26:17; 96. Mark Ashey, Newtown, 26:34; 97. Lisa Leifels, Newtown, 26:35; 98. Edward Simonovich, Newtown, 26:46; 99. James Maguire, Sandy Hook, 26:48; 100. Deborah Vallerie, Newtown, 26:52.

101. Peter Van Bustivd, Newtown, 26:59; 102. Jessie Meyer, Bridgeport, 27:00; 103. Christopher Meyer, Bridgeport, 27:00; 104. John Peterson, Bridgeport, 27:00; 105. Fred Rubino, New Milford, 27:10; 106. James Sullivan, Newtown, 27:12; 107. David Tracy Jr., Waterbury, 27:14; 108. Karl Eilers, Danbury, 27:14; 109. Erin Reding, Darien, 27:15; 110. Scott Glaser, Lawton, OK, 27:16.

111. Catherine Sunem, Newtown, 27:19; 112. Yong Jin Serock, Newtown, 27:20; 113. Mark Boland, Newtown, 27:35; 114. Sydney Polke, Southbury, 27:35; 115. Brady Eggleston, Newtown, 27:39; 116. Peggy Boivard, Southbury, 27:41; 117. David Francis, Newtown, 27:41; 118. Bill Furrier, Sandy Hook, 27:45; 119. Kate Eggleston, Newtown, 27:49; 120. Madison Ghent, Sandy Hook, 27:55.

121. Unknown 27:56; 122. Anne Francis, Newtown, 28:03; 123. Elizabeth Helmig, Newtown, 28:06; 124. Laura Helmig, Newtown, 28:06; 125. Tim Helmig, Newtown, 28:07; 126. Jillian Thompson, Newtown, 28:08; 127. Casey Tenney, Sandy Hook, 28:10; 128. Barbara McCloskey, Sandy Hook, 28:15; 129. Jorge Londorio, Newtown, 28:18; 130. Steven Soucar, Sandy Hook, 28:23.

131. Jeanette Manfredonia, Sandy Hook, 28:24; 132. Robert Manfredonia, Sandy Hook, 28:24; 133. Linda Polke, Southbury, 28:35; 134. Stephen Ashbolt, Newtown, 28:36; 135. Karen O’Connell, Newtown, 28:37; 136. Leslie Trudell, Newtown, 28:37; 137. Susan Kaminski, Danbury, 28:41; 138. Laura Mead, Danbury, 28:49; 139. Granville Read, Newtown, 28:55; 140. Paul Schriever, Sandy Hook, 29:02.

141. Stacey Lavelle, Sandy Hook, 29:06; 142. Megan LaCava, Southbury, 29:07; 143. Paula Woodhouse, Sandy Hook, 29:09; 144. Kirsten Mawdsley, Sandy Hook, 29:11; 145. Tara Fiscella, Newtown, 29:15; 146. Annette Barbour, Newtown, 29:18; 147. Tess Kneisel, Newtown, 29:25; 148. Ken Donahue, Sandy Hook, 29:35; 149. Alexandra Scarpa, Sandy Hook, 29:36; 150. Linda Mastroianni, Bethel, 29:37.

151. Elizabeth Bogdanoff, Newtown, 29:38; 152. Lauren DiMartino, Newtown, 29:38; 153. Maggie Kennedy, Newtown, 29:49; 154. Alanna Fridfertig, Sandy Hook, 29:49; 155. Jennifer Kennedy, Newtown, 29:50; 156. Bruce Walczak, Newtown, 29:56; 157. Joan Manfredonia, Southbury, 30:00; 158. Cate Brainard, Bethel, 30:03; 159. Joanna Wollman, Newtown, 30:27; 160. Joan Plavnicky, Newtown, 30:30.

161. Sarah Roman, Newtown, 30:31; 162. William Holman, Newtown, 30:34; 163. Devin Riley, Newtown, 30:38; 164. Lori Ruefenacht, Sandy Hook, 30:53; 165. Carl Sylvester, Shelton, 30:55; 166. Alex Thomson, New Fairfield, 30:58; 167. Patrick Milano, Sandy Hook, 30:58; 168. Tyler Ruefenacht, Sandy Hook, 31:09; 169. Alexandra Kennedy, Newtown, 31:10; 170. Emily Metz, Danbury, 31:33.

171. Daniel Kennedy, Newtown, 31:35; 172. Will Rodgers, Newtown, 31:36; 173. Jeffrey Schutz, Sherman, 32:15; 174. Laura Schutz, Sherman, 32:15; 175. Laura Fridfertig, Sandy Hook, 32:24; 176. Zachary Polke, Southbury, 32:33; 177. Thomas Milano, Sandy Hook, 32:35; 178. Lori Hamula, Newtown, 32:48; 179. Mary Hamula, Newtown, 32:49; 180. Lisa Paynter, Sandy Hook, 33:09.

181. Robert Rocco, New Fairfield, 33:11; 182. Margaret O’Callahan, New Fairfield, 33:11; 183. Brittany Soucar, Sandy Hook, 33:23; 184. Mary Joe Rossi, Sandy Hook, 33:34; 185. Melanie Curtis, Sandy Hook, 33:34; 186. Cory Furrier, Sandy Hook, 33:37; 187. Tracy Furneu, Sandy Hook, 34:35; 188. Richard Tyrseck, Danbury, 34:48; 189. Denise Soucar, Sandy Hook, 35:22; 190. Jodi Mitchell, Southbury, 36:35.

191. Charlene Calandro, Sandy Hook, 37:49; 192. Jamie Calandro, Sandy Hook, 37:49; 193. Jenna Calandro, Sandy Hook, 37:50; 194. Janet Hovious, Sandy Hook, 38:02; 195. Dale Glaser, Sterling, VA, 38:21; 196. Robert Kostka, Brookfield, 39:07; 197. Rachel Graves, Newtown, 39:11; 198. Liz Raftery, Newtown, 39:11; 199. Sandra Bent, Newtown, 39:18; 200. Melissa Goldman, New Haven, 39:40.

201. Ashley Soucar, Sandy Hook, 40:34; 202. Kristen Campbell, Newtown, 40:40; 203. Lillia McEnaney, Newtown , 40:41; 204. Joseph McEnaney, Newtown, 40:41; 205. Jean Ann Heise, Newtown, 41:07; 206. Ryan Murphy, Newtown, 41:17; 207. Melissa Murphy, Newtown, 41:17; 208. Laurel Butler, Newtown, 41:28; 209. Annmaire Deweese, Sandy Hook, 41:29; 210. Joanne Shpunt, Newtown, 41:30.

211. Lynn Fowler, Newtown, 41:35; 212. Cynthia Dunn, Newtown, 41:35; 213. Lucy Handley, Newtown, 43:13; 214. Elizabeth Matthei, Newtown, 43:14; 215. Karen Gordon, Sandy Hook, 43:26; 216. Laura Feinstein, Sandy Hook, 43:35; 217. Becky Virgalla, Newtown, 43:35; 218. Christine Grabowski, Newtown, 44:00; 219. Tiernan Keane, Newtown, 44:20; 220. Joanne Keane, Newtown, 44:20.

221. Darla Kraft, Sandy Hook, 44:23; 222. Bob Kraft, Sandy Hook, 44:23; 223. Unknown 44:28; 224. Janet Swanson, Danbury, 44:53; 225. Lori McNerney, Newtown, 44:54; 226. Michael Cloonan, Newtown, 45:42; 227. Peter Cloonan, Newtown, 45:43; 228. Emily Thermes, Newtown, 45:59; 229. Jennifer Thermes, Newtown, 46:15; 230. Shane Powers, Newtown, 46:32.

231. Steve Powers, Newtown, 46:33, 232. Deborah Osborne, Sandy Hook, 47:20; 233. Jade Finlayson, Sandy Hook, 47:29; 234. Keegan Finlayson, Fairfield, 47:30; 235. Grace McEnaney, Newtown, 48:47; 236. Unknown 48:50; 237. Barbara Phillips, Newtown, 51:48; 238. Lilla Dean, Newtown, 51:50; 239. Art Phillips, Newtown, 51:51.

Timing was handled by Greystone Electronics.