Halstead Property

Charlotte Felt
Executive Director of Sales, Darien & Rowayton
cfelt@halstead.com
(203) 656-6520

Edward E. Saunders
Executive Director of Operations Director of Sales, Darien
esaunders@halstead.com
(203) 656-6599

Nearly 500 Raise 35000 At 31st Darien Road Race

A New Fairfield man won the 31st Darien Road Race on a sunny, 80 degree Sunday, finishing in front of 13-year-old Alex Ostberg of Darien in the 10K run while a Greenwich woman finished first on the women’s side.

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The past weekend’s race featured 486 runners and hundreds of spectators for the race that started and finished at Pear Tree Point Beach. In the process, the event raised more than $35,000 for area charities.

The Grand Marshall of this year’s race was Darien First Selectman Dave Campbell, who gave a warm welcome to hundreds of runners, spectators and volunteers who turned out on a beautiful fall day. “Our town is delighted to have such a community-spirited event here in Darien,” Campbell said. “We welcome you on this 31st year and look forward to hosting the Darien Road Race for many years to come.”

Campbell was joined by fellow selectmen, Jerry Nielson, Jayme Stevenson and David Bayne.

Race director Hank Morgan, led the runners to the starting line where 315 runners started the 10K, a 6.2 mile course. Shortly after, 171 runners began the Loop, a 1.5 mile fun run.

The races benefit the Bennett Cancer Center at Stamford Hospital, the Whittingham Cancer Center at Norwalk Hospital, and the Community Fund of Darien. This year’s race raised more than $35,000 from sponsorships and individual donations from runners and spectators. Since its inception, the race has raised nearly $900,000 for cancer support and social service organizations that serve Darien and surrounding communities Darien.

The 2010 Darien Road Race was made possible by financial contributions of 16 sponsor organizations, including its major sponsor, Halstead Property. Other event sponsors included Atria Darien, Equinox, BMW of Darien, David Osherow DDS, Heights Pizza, David Lerner Assoc., Darien Lions Club; the Moore Center for Rehabilitation, Tibbetts, Keating & Butler Attorneys-at-Law, TD Wealth Management, Christine Hamilton-Hall DMD MD, The Little Gym, Lucy, Merrill Lynch, and Methodist Family Center Preschool.

Friends of the race who contributed in-kind services include The Darien Times and 96.7 The Coast, official media sponsors of the race; the Darien Boat Club, which provided the Big Tent; the Darien Lions Club, which provided beverage and food; and George McKnight of Fairbanks Photo, the official race photographer.

This year’s race committee included co-chairmen Mary Green and Barb Simms; race director Morgan, event manager Joan Hewson, activity booth director Laurie Anderson, volunteer director Suzanne Schintzius, media relations director Christie Stone, sponsor manager Sylvia Spitalnick, and representatives from The Community Fund of Darien, Lisa Stout and Kiki Karpen.

The Jim Fixx Award was presented to Martha Olson, the runner who raised the most donations. Olson’s donation of $1,120 also earned her the overall Top Fundraiser Award, and she was presented with the Grand Prize, a BMW Cruise bicycle, donated by BMW of Darien.

The Atria Awards were presented by Wendy Winnick, executive director of Atria, Darien’s senior assisted living community, to the oldest runner, Neil Knox, 90, and the youngest runner, Christopher Jaskiewicz, 4, both of Darien.

Finish time awards were presented to the fastest runners in both races.

In the 10K race, overall male winner was Geoff Nelson, 25, of New Fairfield, who finished in 34:17; second place went to Alex Ostberg, 13, Darien (36:08); third place went to Jan Sopko, 32, Stamford (36:49); fourth place Brad Wellington, 34, Darien (38:39); fifth place went to Ryan Kuhlman, 18, Darien (39:00).

On the women’s side, Meredith Kalish, 34, of Greenwich finished first in 41:47; second place went to Dana Conrad, 35, Norwalk, (44:44); third place went to Walker Vemarsh, 15, Westport (45:15); fourth place went to Jennie Hewitt, 39, Darien (45:44); fifth place went to Laura Haldane, 35, Darien (46:16).

In the 1.5 mile Loop, awards were presented to 1st through 5th place male and female winners. The 1st place female winner and winner overall was Sabrina Rautter, 13, of New Fairfield (9:57); and second through fifth place female winners, all from Darien, were Charlotte Harmon, 10 (12:04); Juliet Homes, 9 (12:48); Alex Iqbal, 16 (13:09) and Caroline Kapustynski, 17 (13:17).

The top five men were all from Darien: Jack Murray, 12 (10:58); Danny Ross, 13 (11:37); Jeb Rooney, 10 (11:44); Will Harmon, 9 (12:08); Griffin Ott, 10 (12:18) and Austin Rooney, 12 (12:36).

Wednesday, September 22, 2010