Runners Put In Full Effort In Half Marathon

By Andy Hutchison

Racing with high-level runners from Ethiopia, Kenya, and — among other locations — various parts of the United States, Newtown’s athletes put their best feet forward … and did so again, and again, for 13.1 miles on Sunday morning.

Kevin Hoyt was Newtown’s fastest finisher in the 32nd annual Fairfield Half Marathon, sponsored by Stratton Faxon and hosted by the Fairfield Firefighters to benefit numerous charities.

Hoyt, 22, finished in a time of 1:15.22, good for 14th overall among 3,521 finishers of the hilly course that started and finished at Jennings Beach. The race was won by Tesfaye Girma, 29, who edged out fellow Ethiopian Ketema Nigusse, 31; their times were 1:05.37 and 1:05.38.

Despite the ultra-impressive finish (Hoyt averaged a 5:46 mile), the former Newtown High School distance running standout said he wasn’t completely satisfied with his performance because he wasn’t feeling at his best on Sunday.

“It was definitely a rolling course which I kind of like,” said Hoyt, referring to the hills that make the race a little more challenging than some half marathons.

“The hills at Fairfield certainly make it more challenging,” said fellow Newtowner Emily Ashbolt, a 2012 graduate, who previously ran a Cheshire half, which she described as “flat as a pancake,” with her dad. Ashbolt said that making it through the hilly course was very satisfying. “Finishing a half marathon, you have such a great sense of accomplishment, and at this past one, this feeling was only heightened by the support I had there,” said Ashbolt, adding that family and friends were on hand to cheer for Ashbolt and other recent NHS grads who ran together.

Newtown’s Katie Rose Crevier ran her second half marathon. “I thought it was a pretty challenging course — there were a few hills that seemed like they would never end. The heat didn’t make it easier, but they had plenty of water and Gatorade, and some sprinkler stations to run through, and some residents along the course gave their children garden hoses to spray the runners with, too,” Crevier said. “It was also a really beautiful course, running through Fairfield and ending right on the beach. And all the runners and spectators were very supportive of everyone. That attitude made it fun.”

Newtown had several finishers who broke, or came very close to breaking, the two-hour mark. Sandy Hook’s Thomas Kelly, 47, cracked the top 100 with a 91st-place finish in a time of 1:30.05, good for seventh in the 45–49 age division. Jeff Fetchick, also 47 and from Sandy Hook, finished in 1:36.47. Sandy Hook’s Mara Scallon, 18, came across the finish line in 1:38.43. Scallon was fourth in the 14–19 age division.

Brian Conroy, 23, finished in 1:39.23. Chris McDonnell, 49, of Sandy Hook, completed the run in 1:40.46. Laura Nowacki, 47, of Sandy Hook, finished in 1:44.10, and was ninth in her age division.

Russell Phillips, 30, of Sandy Hook, came across in a time of 1:47.25. Lai Sun, 48, finished in 1:46.42. Jerry Rotante, 46, wrapped up the race in 1:47.29. Thomas Conroy, 53, finished in 1:50.53. Katie Burns, 17, completed the run in 1:51.57. Keith Manca, 39, finished in 1:51.40. Lisa Manca, 30, finished in 1:52.42. Damien Regan, 36, came across the finish line in 1:53.11. Sandy Hook’s Timothy Berry, 45, completed the course in 1:53.58. Ashbolt finished in 1:54.22.

Sandy Hook’s Cynthia Degirolamo, 45, finished in 1:55.13. Leah Begg, 43, finished in 1:55.19. Erin Begg, 19, completed the race in 1:55.36. Sandy Hook’s Karen Alexander, 46, completed the run in 1:57.35. Cory Benson, 55, finished in 1:57.31, good for seventh in his age category.

Grzegorz Haba, 30, finished in 1:57.52. Jennifer Sheehan, 34, completed the half in 1:59.46. Liam Brumaghim, 17, finished in 2:00.14. Bill Begg, 48, completed the race in 2:00.24.