Where can you find athletes with eight decades of age separation competing in the same event? The 11th Annual Newtown Road Race & Newtown Prevention Council Kid's Run.plattsys.com.

Runners ranging in age from about 2 to nearly 82 participated in the races, which started and finished at Dickinson Park, on September 3. Teenagers, led by 5K race winner Christian Lestik, 17, claimed the top nine spots among nearly 400 finishers; Lestik, of Sandy Hook, came across the finish line in a time of 17:40.

The top female runner was Bethel's Alexandra Kaeslin, 23, who placed 17th in 20:11. Kayla Ondy, 12, was Newtown's fastest female and the second female overall, finishing in 28th with a time of 20:58.

Among the age category winners was 81-year-old Jim Bergeron, of Newtown (82 in January), who was the lone representative in the 80-and-older division.

Bergeron is not a lifelong runner, but said Dr Peter D Licht, of Licht & Holloway MDs, told him six years ago it would be nice if some older people came out to the road races. Bergeron took his advice and has run the Newtown Road Race multiple times. "As I get older I may try a few others, too," he said.

"It really feels great," Bergeron said of running. "I feel younger than when I started."

Bergeron finished the 5K in a time of 41:18. Although he's only been running for six years, he was active with weights and the treadmill prior to lacing up the running shoes.

Some of the youngest on hand were babies pushed in strollers, but The Kid's Run featured the newest runners with a 4-and-under heat, which included 2-year-olds.

From the serious runner to the families just doing something together, everybody experienced cool conditions with the temperature around 60 degrees.

"It was a great race," said Lestik, adding that he's accustomed to the course, which takes participants out of Dickinson Park up the hill on Elm Drive, over to Sugar Street, and eventually back to the park.

"I started out easy for the first mile and I picked it up the second and third, and pushed to the finish," Lestik added.

Connor McNerney, 17, of Sandy Hook, was second; the Immaculate High School runner finished in 18:08.

Jordan Klein, 17, of Newtown, was third in 18:12. "It was all about the cool weather - it was nice," said Klein, adding that motivation from friends also helped.

Finishing in fourth was Hopewell Junction, N.Y. resident William Estony, 17, who came across in 18:25. Sandy Hook's Joey Conrod, 18, was fifth in 18:32, followed by Newtown's Josh Bent, 16, in sixth in 18:32; Newtown's Joel Duval, 16, in seventh with a time of 18:33; Danbury's Sean Connolly, 16, who placed eighth in 18:34; and Sandy Hook's Ryan McNerney, 14, who was ninth in 18:38. Rounding out the top ten was Ridgefield's Tehri Gasparrini, 52, who came across in 18:55.

Kaeslin has run this race before, but not in a handful of years, since high school. "I pushed the first half. I felt it the whole race but I kept telling myself I could do it," Kaeslin said.

The drop in temperature after a mostly-hot summer was welcomed by the runners.

"I like the cold weather because you're not sweating and you're not losing your breath," Ondy said.

"It was fun to get up and do it on a beautiful day," said Sandy Hook's Regina Lovely, who competed along with her daughter, Brianna. Lovely, 46, was 50th overall, and took first in the female 40 to 49 age division, recording a time of 22:07.

Scudder Baggett, 27, said he trimmed about a minute and a half off his time and finished in 27:50. The weather and strong competition combined to push Baggett, he added. "I typically spot someone and try to use them as a pacer," Baggett said.

Sue and Luke Duval ran along with children Joel and Kyle, the latter of whom held back to help pace his mom.

"It was fun - it was a good time," Kyle said.

"The reason we like this one is because it's the flattest one," Sue added.

After starting out with an uphill climb, runners are treated to a level course the rest of the way.

"It was pretty flat, which helps," added Sandy Hook's Ally McCarthy, 12, who finished 37th in 21:16.

For Southbury's Kathy Davey, 53, an educator in Newtown, the best part about running this race is catching up with friends and acquaintances.

"That's what it's all about," said Davey, adding that she came across her son's teacher on the course.

Top division and top three Newtown/Sandy Hook division finishers are as follows:

Ondy won the female 13 and under category, and McCarthy was third in the group. Sandy Hook's Diana Kirkman, 16, was tops in the 14-19 group in 21:22. Newtown's Emily Ashbolt, 22, won the 20-29 bracket in 21:13, and Erin Begg placed third in the bracket in 21:13. Sandy Hook's Melissa Fattibene won the 30-39 group in 22:00.

It was a Newtown/Sandy Hook sweep in the 40-49 category as Lovely was followed by Leah Begg, 47, who finished in 24:12, and Jackie Zaniewski, 41, who finished in 24:38. Brewster, N.Y.'s Maria Schanbacher, 54, won the 50-59 grouping in 23:47, and Sandy Hook's Tracy Furrier, 53, was second in 24:54. Brookfield's Judith Pennington, 61, won the 60-69 category in 27:39; Sandy Hook's Pat Smith, 69, was next in 31:54; and Newtown's Laura Cooper, 62, was third in 35:34. Bristol's Dawn Werneck, 70, won the 70-79 group in a time of 27:57; Sandy Hook's Elizabeth Eaton, 73, was second in 41:17; and Newtown's Rita Kelley, 71, was third by clocking in with a time of 42:35.

Sandy Hook's DJ Bobowick, 13, won the male 13 and under group in 20:59; and Sandy Hook's Bobbie Accomand, 12, was second in 21:25. Connor McNerney and Klein were first and second in the 14-19 group. Danbury's Austin Burns, 20, won the 20-29 category in 19:55. Redding's James Patts, 37, was tops in the 30-39 division; Newtown's Luke Albrecht, 38, was second in 21:09; and Newtown's Patrick Mulcahey, 37, was third in 23:15.

Fairfield's Mark Evans, 40, was first in the 40-49 category, finishing in 20:28; Sandy Hook's Derek Bobowick, 42, was second in 20:31; and Sandy Hook's Rogelio Frutos, 49, was third in 20:35.

Gasparrini won the 50-59 grouping; Newtown's Jonathan Gamble, 52, was third in the grouping with a time of 22:54. Middlebury's Edward Drapp, 60, was tops in the 60-69 division; Sandy Hook's Evan Pitkoff, 60, was second in 23:58; and Sandy Hook's Aram Nahabedian, 65, was third in 24:53. Danbury's Kevin McGowan, 71, won the 70-79 bracket in 27:09; Sandy Hook's Bill Smith, 74, was third in 33:36.

For complete results of the race, which benefited Newtown Youth & Family Services, visit the Plattsys Timing webpage