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Westporter Excels in Half Marathon

Runners from Kenya, various cities across the United States and throughout Fairfield County laced up their running shoes and took to the streets of Fairfield for the 28th Annual Fairfield Half Marathon on Sunday morning. Hosted by the Fairfield Firefighters, proceeds from the Stratton Faxon Road Races, which include a 5K race and fun run, benefit the Connecticut Burns Care Foundation.

Nearly 2,000 die-hard runners completed the course which went along the beach, over Interstate 95, through Greenfield Hill, back under I-95 and back to the starting point at Jennings Beach. Kenyan Phillip Koech, 21, won the 13.1-mile run in a time of 1:03:44 (averaging a 4:52 mile).

The race-time temperature was in the low-70s and overcast skies, not to mention drinking water and sprinkler stations set up along the course helped keep the runners keep as cool as possible in the humid conditions.

Westport's Tom Harding, 42, was 10th overall (and first in the men's 40-44-year-old category) with a time of 1:17:22. Easton's Brian Colonnese, 21, was 18th (1:20:52). Fairfielder Jim Gilmore, 40 cracked the top 50 finishers in a time of 1:25:42, good for 41st. Other top Fairfielders were (place, name, age, time): 63. Meghan Peterson, 25, 1:29:07; 68. Wes Spivey, 28, 1:29:29; 73. Victor Hamilton, 29, 1:30:06; 74. Sam Parton, 16, 1:30:10; 79. Anthony Kelly, 44, 1:30:53; 80. Thomas Harding, 53, 1:30:56.

Peterson was tops among women ages 20-29. Southport's Joseph Vonehr, 55, placed second in the men's 55-59 grouping (1:34:16). Stephanie Kelly, 40, of Southport, was third among women 40-44 (1:38:21).

Sacred Heart University alums and Fairfield residents Mike Hannon and Kelly Reagan ran the race and noticed the support residents provided. Hannon said residents stood at the end of driveways, cheering the runners on as they progressed on the course. Reagan, who is a teacher and track coach at Tomlinson Middle School, said she saw some familiar faces along the way. "I saw a lot of my students on my way," she said.

This was the first time Reagan ran 13-plus miles, but she's already considering doing a full marathon sometime. "This was a test for me to see if I want to do the training for it," she said.

Both Reagan and Hannon said they will consider running a marathon.
Fairfielder Gabe Stuart ran the Fairfield Half for the second time, but, since he recently had his third child, trained far less than he would have liked to if time allowed.

"I don't think I've ever wanted anything to end more," Stuart said of the grueling 13-plus miles (which included some tough hills). "I would recommend training."

Martha Murphy, a teacher at Riverfield School, and Leslie Ford, a teacher at Dwight School, cooled off together after completing the race. "It was a bit humid but overall it was pretty good," Murphy said.

Out-of-town visitors were primarily from Fairfield County, but included some from such cities as Nashville, Tenn., Boston and Arlington, Texas. Monroe siblings Alison and Pat Boyd ran the race. Alison Boyd had just completed the San Diego Marathon three weeks ago and Pat Boyd is planning to run a marathon someday soon. Many participants used the half marathon as a stepping stone toward running a full marathon.

Participants ranged in age from teenagers to those into their 70s. There were obviously strong runners, many of whom seemed full of energy as they crossed the finish line (some of whom used every last bit of energy to get there). One finisher even did a cartwheel as she crossed the line.

"The exciting part is seeing them come in and seeing the different kinds of people that are running the half marathon," said Mookie Gomola, a Fairfield Ludlowe High School student and one of many volunteers who passed out water and removed the timing devises from runner's shoes after they came in.

Many out-of-towners commended those involved for putting on such a well-run race and showed their appreciation for the water stops and volunteers.

Some of the finishers took advantage of massages just beyond the finish line as well as cups of water, yogurt, bagels and fruit served under tents on the beach.