July 30, 2012
New Haven runners take top two spots in Eaccarino Memorial 9-miler
Runners compete in the Lightfoot Running Club’s 14th annual Ian James Eaccarino Memorial 9-miler
at Calf Pasture Beach in Norwalk on Saturday. Photo: Contributed Photo / CT
Runners compete in the Lightfoot Running Club’s 14th annual Ian James Eaccarino
Memorial 9-miler at Calf Pasture Beach in Norwalk on Saturday.
Photo: Contributed Photo / CT
NORWALK — There was plenty of competition at the 14th annual Ian James Eaccarino Memorial 9-mile race on Saturday at Calf Pasture Beach in Norwalk as 164 runners officially crossed the finish line.
At the head of the pack were a pair of runners from New Haven as 20-year-old Colin Lu clocked in at 59 minutes and five seconds to place first and 31-year-old Joe Lauer finished a close second, just four seconds behind him.
Geoffroy Allimant, 39, came in third in 59:26 and was the top finisher from Norwalk. Julie Heaphy, 30, of Norwalk, was fourth overall–and first among females–in 59:50.
The 9-miler–the fourth competition this summer in the Lightfoot Running Club’s six-race series–was dedicated to Eaccarino, who died in 1996 from an accidental drug overdose. His mother, Ginger Katz, has been a member of the Lightfoot Running Club for over 30 years and co-founded The Courage to Speak Foundation, which is based in Norwalk and empowers youth to be drug-free.
Mark Thompson, 49, of Mamaroneck, N.Y. rounded out the top five in the race by finishing in 1:02.57 and was ahead of a strong pack of Norwalk runners. Finishers eight through 13 were all from Norwalk as Lucas Finco, 33, came in eighth in 1:05.36 and was followed by 28-year-old Ellie Downs in 1:05.52, 41-year-old Greg Elkias in 1:06.15, 32-year-old Morten Kristiansen in 1:06.30, 35-year-old Javier Hernandez in 1:06.40 and 46-year-old Adam Norris in 1:07.15.
In total, 10 Norwalk runners placed in the top 20 as Michael Rozea, 29, came in 16th in 1:08.32 and Emilio Moreno, 33, finished 19th in 1:09.03.
A few local runners came in first in various age groups as Kelly Russo, 17, finished first in the 15- to 19-year-old female group in 1:20.41 and Ellie Downs, 28, was first in the 20- to 29-year-old female group in 1:05.52.
The next race in the Lightfoot Running Club series is the 11-miler, scheduled for Aug. 18 at Silvermine Elementary School in Norwalk.
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