Good weather and many helping hands again contributed to making the Trinity 5k Road Race a success in many ways. Participation was up and considerable money was raised for charity. Besides this, twenty five dozen perogies; two hundred bagels; a hundred bananas and apples; and nearly 300 bottles of COLD water were consumed as well as some 15 gallons. As always, both runners and helpers enjoyed the day. This year's race was highlighted by excellent winning times and a generally faster field, especially in the women's bracket.
127 runners finished the 5k run, up 10% from 2002's 115 finishers. In addition, the1k Kid's Fun Run attracted 14 entries ranging in age from 2 1/2 to 12. This year 3 people entered the Health Walk, and completed the walk5k course with the runners. Eleven registered entrants were unable to compete or did not finish the 5k. This brought the total registered participants to 138 for the 5k, and 153 overall, one of our better years and evidence that the T5k is on a growth path again as the quality of the event is communicated.
After expenses, over $3000 was raised for our charity, the Children Of Chornobyl Relief Fund, an excellent result and among our most successful years financially. This money, combined with the entusiatic participants and helpers, continued to support the'T5k's' reputation as a top-shelf local event and a very nice 'small race'.
Once again, credit for this event's success goes to the many helpers on race day and as well as before and after it. Holy Trinity's 'veteran' crew showcased their know how by executing the many activities smoothly. As in 2002, this year's run had a few surprises for the team that were handled with great aplomb and little visibility to the participants. The run was well organized and executed for the competitors, a fact that the T5k crew takes great pride in. Once more, many positive comments from both runners and helpers were received.
For the third of the seven year's, this year's overall winner was Sergio Ribeiro, 33, of Danbury, who also won in 2002 and in 1998 when he set the current course record of 14:58. This year Sergio completed the 3.1 mile 'out and back' course, which loops around our church cemetery on Shepard Ave., in 15 minutes and 18 seconds, his second fastest time on this course and also the second fastest time ever run here. Sergio comfortably outran second place finisher Ken Scott, also of Danbury who finished in 16:20. The third place finisher was Toao Pacau of Danbury in 16:55..
The women's overall winner was Alissa Nelson of Danbury who ran a terrific 19:27 and finished in a virtual dead heat for 12th place overall with Will Jurkowski of NewFairfield who was also timed in 19:27. Their battle to the finish line was one of the best finishes in the history of the T5k and both participants received the admiration of the crowd for a job well done. Alissa's time was the second best ever for a women on our course, beaten only by Lauri Bartnicki's blazing 18:06 set in the first year of our race.
Second and third place women were Donna Henning of New Milford, who took first place in the 50-54 women's bracket and finished 21st overall in a very strong time of 20:59. Right behind her was Pam Quist winner in the 30-34 bracket, of New Preston, in a great time of 21:02. Both of these times would have been good enough to win in other years at the T5k. Even fourth place finisher Laura Schechter of Danbury's 21:12, 25th overall, may have been an overall winning time overall in other years.
The youngest 5k male runner was Adam Toobin, 10, from Sherman. He completed the 3.1 miles in 26:40 and placed 76th overall. Brooke Farraro, 8. was the youngest women's finisher in 33:46, good for 114th place. The oldest finisher was again Robert Kostka of Brookfield who is 76 years old. Robert completed the course in 40:35.
This year there were no Holy Trinity parishioners who actually ran the 5k. For various personal reasons they were unable to participate directly but many lent a helping hand as usual. In our extended family Jim Zeleniak's goddaughter Katya, now 30 months old, completed the 5k course in 27:38 an improvement over last year's 29:11. Katya rode in a baby buggy pushed by her parents Dr. Darryl and Karen Zeleniak who again came from Maine to participate in this year's run. Katya was again judged ineligible for an age-group award because she did not actually run the course but her mom captured the third place trophy in the women's 45-49 category, notable because she pushed Katya in her buggy all the way.
