A common theme at the 51st Annual Rooster Run 5K and 10K races, at Fairfield Hills on June 14, was motivation.

It was summed up by the first finishers of the 10K race; it featured a sprint to the finish line with Sandy Hook's Joey Conrod edging out Shelton's Billy Hunt by a stride, both logging official race times of 36:44. The top female in the 10K was Southbury's Heather Piccirillo, who completed the course in 45:20, and noted that the overall competitive spirit of the race as well as the the support of the community drove her to come out on top.

In the 10K, Arlington. Va. runner Ethan Kearns was third in 37:20, Newtown's Curtis Shaw came in fourth in 38:21, Norwalk's Max Triano was fifth in 38:25, Fairfield's Robert Blanchard sixth in 40:47, Bethany's Jesse Cala seventh in 42:19, Sandy Hook's Charlie Dunn eighth in 43:54, Southbury's Matthew Cappiello ninth in 44:38, and Sandy Hook's Paul Doolan tenth in a time of 45:06.

Alex Cole, of Watertown, was encouraged by his girl friend to participate and ended up winning the 5K in his first time competing on the Newtown course, crossing the line in 18:15. Top 5K female Kyriana Aiello, of Bethel (14th overall in a time of 22:01), credited Newtown's Natalie McLean (17th in 22:10) for her outcome.

"I would not have been able to do it without her," Aiello, 14, said of McLean, 17, whom she does not know but found to be a great race partner.

"We just kind of pushed each other," McLean said.

People who have never met find each other and forge brief yet very competitive and/or encouraging friendships in races as they share a bond and a few moments of competitive spirit.

"We just met in the last two meters of the race," Conrod said of Hunt, adding that he heard Hunt's footsteps on the last downhill portion of the course.

"I had the legs and I saw him in sight and just went for it," Hunt said of what led to an exciting finish.

Piccirillo said all of the runners around her made her run faster. "It's always nice having the community cheering you on," Piccirillo added. "Newtown has a really nice community."

Cole ran track throughout high school and for a year at the collegiate level. The 20 year old enjoyed not only cool race temperatures, around 60 degrees, but also the layout of the 5K course.

"It's nice because the last half mile is downhill," Cole said.

In the 5K New Milford's Dylan MacLean was second in 18:21, Beacon Falls' Camilo Barrera came in third in 18:48. Sandy Hook's Liam Kirkman was fourth in 19:48, Brookfield's Matthew Rosa came in fifth in 19:53, Newtown's Sergio Da Costa placed sixth in 19:55, Sandy Hook's Daniel Pond was seventh in 20:42, Watertown's Ray O'Connell took eighth, also in 20:42, Danbury's Alex Gardner was ninth in 21:11, and Beacon Falls' Pablo Barrera came in tenth in 21:27, narrowly edging Southbury's Christian Fappiano, who also clocked in at 21:27.

Also in the top 15 were Sandy Hook's Kris Kling in 12th with a time of 21:33, Danbury's Gary DeBrito 13th in 21:35, Aiello 14th, and Danbury's Manoel Leal 15th in 22:05.

Proceeds from the event benefit the Newtown Scholarship Association. The scholarship fund honors former director Lee Davidson and aids students with college expenses. The race was hosted by Newtown Parks and Recreation. Amy Mangold, the Parks and Rec director, said that the combined 364 5K and 10K runners, plus Little Chicks Dash participants represented an impressive turnout for the event.

"We are thrilled with the growth of this race. Getting the 10k certified attracted more 10k runners and the partnerships with our sponsors has been vital to the excitement for the race and connections with the community," said Mangold, adding that Dan Murtha and Chris Kling are both on the race committee and connect with so many parents and children to get them involved. "These are fantastic partnerships and help us to make the race a growing success."

5K division winners from Newtown/Sandy Hook: Female divisions — 13-19: McLean; 20-29: Tess Brantl 23:13; 50-59: Nancy Ruhs 26:52; 60-69: Nancy Linden 27:50; 70-89: Rita Kelley 56:27. Male divisions — 12 and under: Ezekiel Lopes 22:17; 13-19: Kirkman; 40-49: Russell Phillips 22:43; 50-59: Rob Hatcher 22:46.

10K division winners from Newtown/Sandy Hook: Female divisions — 13-19: Keeley Ferriter 49:08. Male divisions — 13-19: Dunn and 20-29: Shaw.

Go here for race results.

Sports Editor Andy Hutchison can be reached at andyh@thebee.com.