By Kathy Brown.
Before sunrise on Sunday, October 25, 2020, Haddam Killingworth Youth & Family Services volunteers gathered to help set up an in-person road race in the time of COVID: the HKYFS 27th annual Pumpkin Run. Many races in Connecticut this year were changed to virtual races, but HKYFS and JB Sports did a great job of complying with all of the rules to make this in-person race COVID-safe.
There were two start times and within those two start times, the runners were staggered as well, with groups of three runners leaving from the start every 10 seconds. The chip that is in each runner’s bib gives the start and end times when the runners cross the mat. The times from both races were combined for the final standing.
Unlike in past years, this year’s 5K took place beginning and ending on the Haddam Killingworth High School track. The runners went through the parking lot and on to Little City Road, before returning to the high school track.
This year’s race was managed by JB Sports. John Bysiewicz (the JB in JB Sports) was manning the microphone and managing the runners. Haddam Ambulance was on-site in case of an emergency, and volunteers made individual grab-and-go bags for each runner, which included water and snacks. Volunteers were also scattered along the course to direct runners.
At the 8:00 a.m. start time there were many more costumed runners than the later start time, including a bumblebee, Pacman along with the ghosts chasing him, a clown, a piece of pizza, and more.
The first runner to cross the finish line in the first race was Mike Waterbury, age 30, who is currently a Branford resident, but grew up here, and graduated HKHS in 2008. The first woman in that race was Gabrielle White, age 14.
Twelve children ages 2 to 9 participated in the Kids Fun Run which took place on the HKHS track at noon.
For all race times, please go to the jbsports.com website. Below are some of the race times according to that website:
Top 5 Overall
1. William Sanders 15:35
2. Michael Waterbury 17:01
3. Christopher Foster 17:19
4. Kevin Goldstein 17:37
5. Matt Billington 18:05
Top 3 Female Overall
1. Sybil Sanders 18:23
2. Gabrielle White* 19:54
3. Katie Esposito 20:38
Top 3 Females age 1-12
1. Grace Mitchell* 22:48
2. Charlotte Behnke* 24:09
3. Olivia Jackson 24:27
Top 3 Females age 13-19
1. Lena Nowaczek 24:15
2. Cameryn Hickey 24:55
3. Brigitte Battistoni* 26:31
Top 3 Females age 70-79
1. Claudia O’Connell 31:57
2. Janit Romayko 33:59
Top 3 Males age 1-12
1. Tash Frusztajer 25:02
2. Lucas Packtor* 29:45
3. Liam Tietjen 30:42
Top 3 Males age 13-19
1. Julen Lujambio 18:13
2. Jack Ouellette 19:50
3. Carter Hayash 20:02
Top 3 Males age 70-79
1. Mark Turkington 29:24
2. Way Hedding 30:25
3. Wayne Hapgood 42:33
*denotes Haddam/Killingworth residents
Photos by Kathy Brown.
