By Kim J. Harmon

They came from far and wide (like Ohio, Virginia and London, England) as the second annual Newtown Road Race did what few dared dream — become bigger and even better than its marvelous debut in 2006.

Nearly 600 registered runners (up about 200 from a year ago) took to the five kilometer course that began and ended at Dickinson Memorial Park, with 487 finishing (up about 85 from a year ago) along with some 250 kids who participated in wave after wave after wave of the Praxair Kid’s Fun Run.

There were 15 runners from New York; three from New Jersey; two each from Massachusetts, Ohio (Canton) and Virginia (Williamsburg and Fairfax); and one each from Pennsylvania (Philadelphia), Rhode Island (Providence) and – ahem – the United Kingdom (Putney, London).

In the end, it was Matt Cullen of Danbury who was the first male finisher (at 16:48) and Sarah Muhlbradt of Piermont, New York, who was the first female finisher  (at 18:56) for the second year in a row.

“I’m a resident at Danbury Hospital,” said Cullen, 26, “and someone told me about this race. I thought it sounded good.”

Muhlbradt, 29, enjoyed another strong finish – improving on her time from a year ago – and credited a slightly altered course.

“I was anticipating that hill,” she said, “but the course was changed a bit and we were sort of catapulted to the finish line. It was a little surprising, but nice.”

Cullen coasted to a 34-second win over Phil Richey of Danbury, who came in 18 seconds ahead of Jordan Reed of Newtown, the top finisher in the Male 19 And Under division.

“It was a great course,” said Cullen, who plans on running in the upcoming King of the Hill race, “nice and shady. I wasn’t really thinking about time at all. I just wanted to feel good and be competitive.”

Muhlbradt finished just 10 seconds ahead of her nearest female competitor, Helen Merkie of Trumbull and about 45 seconds ahead of Sara Dickinson of Brookfield.

“I just wanted to get a sub 19,” said Muhlbradt, who will begin training for the half marathon coming up in a couple of weeks, “so I wasn’t really thinking about a place finish. But I finished four or five seconds better than last year, which was nice.”

Like some of her fellow competitors – who put a few more miles on the odometer while heading up, down, or over to Newtown – Muhlbradt got attracted to the Newtown Road Race last year because it was nice to get away.

“I usually race in New Jersey,” she said, “and this was a nice change of pace. There are races down by the shore, but I’d rather not fight that traffic.”

In just its second year, the Newtown Road Race grew by leaps and bounds and like Muhlbradt – or D. O’Brien from the United Kingdom – perhaps more and more runners will be attracted to the race in the years to come.

More than $34,000 was raised for the Newtown Youth & Family Services and brings the total to some $60,000 for the last two years.

Platt Systems (www.plattsys.com) was the official scorer for the event.

The results –

1. Matt Cullen 16:48, 2. Phil Richey 17:22, 3. Jordan Reed 17:40, 4. Ednaldo Oliviera 17:46, 5. Peter Lofink 18:10, 6. Alan Hagander 18:29, 7. Dave Dunleavy 18:33, 8. John Godin 18:43, 9. Andrew Morehouse 18:50, 10. Sarah Muhlbradt 18:56.

11. David Oelberg 18:58, 12. Wes Byerly 19:00, 13. Joe Whelan 19:05, 14. Helen Merkie 19:06, 15. Andrew Overbye 19:15, 16. Jonathan Zigman 19:24, 17. Mark Satran 19:31, 18. Paul Skrtich 19:32, 19. Sara Dickinson 19:41, 20. Greg Sholtes 19:43.

21. Dale Bajcer 19:45, 22. Cole McKeown 19:45, 23. Brandon Collins 19:52, 24. Tucker Grose 19:54, 25. Adam Schankman 19:55, 26. Eric Sinclair 19:56, 27. Jeffrey Cavaliere 20:07, 28. Jason DeLucia 20:08, 29. Jacob Burg 20:12, 30. Nikhil Menon 20:17.

31. Geraldo Ribeiro 20:24, 32. Edwin Cruz-Zeno 20:25, 33. Mark Gerace 20:31, 34. James Tebo 20:45, 35. Casey Tenney 20:49, 36. Brendan O’Rourke 20:52, 37. Chris McDonnell 20:57, 38. Matthew Ritchie 20:58, 39. James Madej 21:01, 40. Bruce Goulart 21:06.

41. Sean Kennedy 21:06, 42. Michael Matthews 21:07, 43. Brenton Scott 21:07, 44. Ryan Harris 21:08, 45. Steve White 21:17, 46. Michael Hallisey 21:21, 47. Skip Renzullo 21:33, 48. Steven Malary 21:34, 49. Matthew Parps 21:39, 50. Judd Baggett 21:39.

51. Aaron Gilman 21:40, 52. D. O’Brien 21:42, 53. Laura Nowacki 21:44, 54. Michael Taylor 21:45, 55. Mark Alexander 21:48, 56. Ian White 21:48, 57. Catherine Kost 21:51, 58. Kerrin Hage 21:56, 59. Tyler Rudolph 21:56, 60. Jake Feinstein 22:00.

61. John Kiselak 22:01, 62. Steven Conic 22:08, 63. Peder Scott 22:09, 64. Eric Ralston 22:13, 65. Glenn Walsh 22:18, 66. Jaime Shore 22:20, 67. Hugh Fullman 22:21, 68. Anthony Csizmadice 22:24, 69. Glenn Nanavaty 22:24, 70. Doug Magazu 22:25.

71. Drew Woods 22:29, 72. Brian Shea 22:32, 73. Steven Feinstein 22:34, 74. Billy Flynn 22:35, 75. Bryan Atherton 22:40, 76. Paul Forgione 22:41, 77. Laura Schechter 22:43, 78. Kristin Paradis 22:44, 79. Kristen Hammond 22:49, 80. John Boccuzzi, Jr. 22:50.

81. Rob Creamer 22:50, 82. Nicolas Hage 22:51, 83. Christine Walkley 23:00, 84. Steven Tramposch 23:01, 85. Matt Wall 23:06, 86. Ruth Rowe 23:07, 87. Michael Fitzsimons 23:09, 88. Ray Weitekamp 23:11, 89. Jorge Moreno 23:13, 90. Jerry Cavaliere 23:15.

91. Robert Murray 23:16, 92. Ryan Hallisey 23:18, 93. Eric Ralston Jr. 23:21, 94. Bill Muzzio 23:23, 95. Sheila Krasnickas 23:25, 96. Dan Holmes 23:26, 97. Kelly McPhee 23:27, 98. Tom Gillespie 23:28, 99. Erin Begg 23:33, 100. Bill Begg 23:33.

101. Graham Ingels 23:34, 102. Deirdre James 23:34, 103. James Meehan 23:37, 104. Tim Callander 23:46, 105. David Howard 23:48, 106. Darryl Gregory 23:53, 107. Dave Polaski 23:54, 108. Bruce Shuman 23:54, 109. Brittany Papaj 23:54, 110. Jack Weber 23:57.

111. Markus Michallik 23:57, 112. Kynan Reelick 23:58, 113. Jordan Gurench 23:59, 114. William Korth 24:00, 115. Harvey Strauss 24:02, 116. Brian Fagan 24:03, 117. Ed Redamonti 24:06, 118. Patrick Hallisey 24:07, 119. Patrick Richardson 24:12, 120. Bryan Spero 24:14.

121. Rob Lutz 24:16, 122. Natasha Kowatch 24:18, 123. Allison Washington 24:18, 124. Dylan McMichael 24:19, 125. David McMichael 24:20, 126. Bob Gay 24:21, 127. Michael Bodetti 24:23, 128. Jimmy Duncan 24:23, 129. Mark Chory 24:25, 130. George Yurchishin 24:26.

131. Pete Kipp 24:26, 132. Thomas Saadi 24:26, 133. Riina Sokk 24:27, 134. Marc Kenney 24:28, 135. Michael Hallisey 24:28, 136. Michael Casale 24:32, 137. Joey Whelan 24:33, 138. William Waite 24:34, 139. Baerbel Losacco 24:35, 140. Chris Perry 24:36.

141. Dave Stout 24:39, 142. Michael Porco 24:40, 143. Peter Ovendorf 24:42, 144. Leah Begg 24:42, 145. Bill Furrier 24:42, 146. Steve Samson 24:44, 147. Stacey Lloyd 24:45, 148. William Mccarthy 24:48, 149. Dan Sedore 24:50, 150. David Hoenicke 24:51.

151. Monica Roberto 24:53, 152. Eric Myhill 24:53, 153. Keith Chech 24:54, 154. Dan Paradis 24:55, 155. Stephen Randolph 25:01, 156. John Eurell 25:03, 157. James Ribman 25:06, 158. Jeff Woodard 25:09, 159. Andrea Jones 25:10, 160. David Zschunke 25:12.

161. Greg Kabasakalian 25:14, 162. Robert Knapp 25:17, 163. Julie Manfredi 25:26, 164. Ray Acunto 25:27, 165. Sarah Burke 25:29, 166. Cary Jerris 25:30, 167. Nicholas Cagganello 25:31, 168. Shawna King 25:31, 169. David Burke 25:32, 170. Craig Morrison 25:32.

171. Badreddine Ahtchi 25:34, 172. Martin Burg 25:35, 173. Lori Thomas 25:38, 174. Adam Hayden 25:38, 175. Dennis Davey 25:38, 176. Rebecha Sullivan 25:40, 177. Holly Walczak 25:40, 178. Evan Hillman 25:42, 179. Michael Pojodzienski 25:43, 180. Robert Murray 25:44.

181. Jennifer Putnam 25:44, 182. Adam Bakue 25:46, 183. John Belles 25:46, 184. Peter Jenny 25:47, 185. Michael Baker 25:49, 186. Mark Kirkham 25:50, 187. Joe Simons 25:51, 188. Anastasia Batzer 25:54, 189. Krys Russo 25:56, 190. James Pelisson 25:57.

191. Daniel Riddle 25:57, 192. Nancy Sedensky 25:58, 193. Aidan Pelisson 25:58, 194. Don Ramsey 26:00, 195. Jorge Londono 26:02, 196. Josephine Simku 26:06, 197. Robert Elsfon 26:07, 198. Catherine Narducci 26:09, 199. Debra Sullivan 26:13, 200. Bob Black 26:14.

201. Megan Gagnon 26:22, 202. Bill Lucas 26:26, 203. Jennifer Sheehan 26:26, 204. Dan George 26:31, 205. Dan Brennan 26:31, 206. Tim Echeverria 26:32, 207. Colin Reilly 26:34, 208. Alec Beauchemin 26:35, 209. Brian Koonz 26:36, 210. Roger Behling 26:37.

211. James Wilson 26:38, 212. Dan Sailer 26:42, 213. David Hallisey 26:42, 214. Stephen Walsh 26:43, 215. Richard Gerry 26:43, 216. Stephanie Miles 26:45, 217. Victoria Beauchemin 26:45, 218. Diane Martin 26:46, 219. Magaly Macaluso 26:46, 220. Marie McManus 26:51.

221. Timothy Theriault 26:52, 222. Alice Walsh 26:52, 223. L. Kmittossler 26:53, 224. Victoria Tod 26:53, 225. Bill Sullivan 26:54, 226. Martin Folan 26:55, 227. Cristiane Hernodez 27:01, 228. Shannon Beardshey 27:02, 229. Nick Lafky 27:02, 230. Meghan Wond 27:02.

231. Kerri Zaramba 27:03, 232. Dan Shea Sr 27:06, 233. Ken McCann 27:08, 234. Kelly Conte 27:08, 235. Lisa Antous 27:09, 236. Diane Van Der Kroef 27:15, 237. Sean Sedore 27:15, 238. Jason Lamorte 27:16, 239. Christopher Rovelli 27:17, 240. Kelsey Reelick 27:19.

241. Mary Simons 27:20, 242. Kiernan Villeneuve 27:20, 243. Sara Alesi 27:20, 244. Emily Crnic 27:20, 245. Lizzie Laregina 27:21, 246. Caitlin Anderson 27:21, 247. Jennifer Simons 27:21, 248. Laura Hickey 27:21, 249. Louis Pillion 27:24, 250. Colleen Thornberg 27:24.

251. Kelley Sullivan 27:24, 252. Mandi Poseno 27:25, 253. Lauren Meyer 27:25, 254. Kellyanne Brophy 27:25, 255. Sarah Attanasio 27:25, 256. Laetitia Debrantes 27:26, 257. Caleigh Boyle 27:27, 258. Ally Modzelewski 27:27, 259. Alex Wologodzan 27:32, 260. Mary Gaudet-Wilson 27:32.

261. Bob Morehouse 27:34, 262. Lisa Riebe 27:34, 263. Jen Kipp 27:35, 264. Mo Kerins 27:37, 265. Neil Menor 27:37, 266. Tracy Van Buskirk 27:41, 267. Sean Fahey 27:43, 268. Catherine Summ 27:43, 269. Nick Cortina 27:45, 270. Annmarie Lohan 27:45.

271. Daniel Gaita 27:47, 272. Timothy McMahon 27:55, 273. Leanne Harris 27:58, 274. Philip Coughlin 27:59, 275. John Giambruno 28:05, 276. Keith Bigham 28:07, 277. Annette Tibolla 28:12, 278. Peggy Bovaird 28:18, 279. Tor Salbu 28:19, 280. Philip Clark 28:20.

281. Joseph D’Agostino 28:20, 282. Lilly Rodriguez 28:24, 283. Sue Gladwin 28:24, 284. Arianna Papaj 28:25, 285. Zachary Orourke 28:26, 286. Tim Beem 28:27, 287. Courtney Lundgren 28:28, 288. Maureen Shea 28:31, 289. Billy Begg 28:32, 290. Stacey Deering 28:33.

291. Tracy Furrier 28:34, 292. Kate Forgione 28:35, 293. Lou Forgione 28:35, 294. Zoe Haddick 28:36, 295. Carlos Rodriguez 28:43, 296. Francois Debanton 28:43, 297. Christina Cumberton 28:44, 298. Denise Hallisey 28:46, 299. Barbara Erkan 28:52, 300. Joe Musco 28:54.

301. Taylor Byerly 28:56, 302. Jim Solomon 28:56, 303. Beth Davis 28:57, 304. David Tortora 29:00, 305. Brady Eggleston 29:01, 306. Dale Anderson 29:01, 307. John Powell 29:02, 308. Bob Barrett 29:10, 309. Zoe Eggleston 29:10, 310. Chris Kurtz 29:11.

311. Jason Howel 29:15, 312. Heidi Brisson 29:17, 313. Joseph Kirk 29:21, 314. Danielle Norris 29:23, 315. Jenna Legros 29:23, 316. Matt Roche 29:34, 317. Debbie LeClaire 29:43, 318. Colleen Budzinski 29:48, 319. Kelley Lametto 29:49, 320. Heidi Riddle 29:54.

321. Dana Hall 29:58, 322. Christopher Fallon 29:58, 323. Cassie Fallon 29:58, 324. Barbara Kiselak 30:02, 325. Anthony Bodetti 30:05, 326. Erin Reelick 30:05, 327. Bonnie Lundblad 30:08, 328. Dylan Berger 30:08, 329. Eric Poupon 30:11, 330. Barrett True 30:12.

331. Adam Weber 30:16, 332. Lauren D’Amico 30:17, 333. Julie Weber 30:18, 334. Thomas Fahey 30:21, 335. Giacomo Masone 30:23, 336. Chandler Gotschlich 30:23, 337. Joel Segalman 30:25, 338. Sagrario Biondi 30:25, 339. Denise Tramposch 30:28, 340. Matt O’Meara 30:29.

341. Richard Rastelli 30:31, 342. Kenneth Nawyn 30:34, 343. Aimee Alexander 30:34, 344. Karen Alexander 30:35, 345. Meghan Pojodzienski 30:37, 346. Sarah Globenfelt 30:37, 347. Kenneth Goddard 30:42, 348. Janet Simons 30:44, 349. Emily Marron 30:45, 350. Kim Weber 30:47.

351. Forest Speed 30:49, 352. Mary Principe 30:50, 353. Allie Indelicato 30:53, 354. Jim Indelicato 30:54, 355. Mike Tuccio 30:55, 356. Jill Kieffer 30:58, 357. Lauren Elliott 31:03, 358. Robert Elliott 31:04, 359. Sharon Gaynor 31:13, 360. Kate Perchuk 31:17.

361. Alison Satran 31:22, 362. Becky O’Rourke 31:23, 363. Kelly Pinckney 31:25, 364. Kathy Gartek 31:26, 365. Tom Sherman 31:30, 366. Karen Lajoie 31:48, 367. Lisa Nern 31:51, 368. Vincent Lenczewski 31:54, 369. Judith Galletti 31:56, 370. Ana Paula Machado 31:58.

371. Patty Sullivan 32:00, 372. Lynn Valant 32:11, 373. Dorothy Perretti 32:13, 374. Kayla O’Leary 32:29, 375. Sean O’Leary 32:30, 376. Sarah Mawdsley 32:40, 377. Kirsten Mawdsley 32:40, 378. Brenna Creamer 32:45, 379. Kevin Lenczewski 32:46, 380. Mary Alice Putnam 32:51.

381. Tracy Qian 32:55, 382. John Principi 33:01, 383. Steve Powers 33:07, 384. Shane Powers 33:07, 385. Steven Debiase 33:14, 386. Carley Ferris 33:15, 387. Jennifer Lyon 33:16, 388. Sandra Bradtmuller 33:18, 389. Eric Ovendorf 33:19, 390. Leah Fogelman 33:25.

391. Cooper Teed 33:25, 392. Elizabeth Teed 33:26, 393. Molly Begg 33:33, 394. Monica Roberts 33:43, 395. Hayden Savoia 33:46, 396. Carolyn Bates 33:50, 397. Laurie Gerry 33:52, 398. Brian Cascone 33:52, 399. M. Fletcher 33:53, 400. Laura Brophy 33:54.

401. Meghan Dubois 33:57, 402. Michelle Frank 33:58, 403. Dawn Battaglino 34:04, 404. Alexandra Lenczewski 34:06, 405. Stephen Rahr 34:07, 406. Tommy Rahr 34:13, 407. William Holman 34:19, 408. Jessie Principi 34:20, 409. Tracy Mirrione 34:25, 410. Margaret Kenning 34:31.

411. Beckie Ferris 34:32, 412. Eamon Kenning 34:33, 413. Jeff Beekman 34:33, 414. Erin Gaita 34:42, 415. Mary O’Meara 34:42, 416. Jeff Johnson 35:22, 417. Harry Robinson 35:23, 418. Emily Cass 35:24, 419. Diane Marques 35:24, 420. Karla Johnson 35:42.

421. Laura Howard 35:48, 422. Stephanie Perretti 35:56, 423. Carl Savoia 35:56, 424. Teresa Tortora 36:06, 425. Marilyn Barrett 36:30, 426. Eliza Eggleston 36:50, 427. Sherri Baggett 36:52, 428. Evelyn Fahey 36:55, 429. Tinamarie Craven 37:08, 430. Greg Brown 37:08.

431. Tara Kortze 37:19, 432. Michele Melillo 37:19, 433. Kimberly Gavin-Anderson 37:31, 434. Kimberly Adis 37:31, 435. Janice Brown 37:34, 436. Elaine Lundquist 37:37, 437. Tracey Smith 37:37, 438. Taylor Smith 37:38, 439. Jennifer Westphalen 37:39, 440. Mark Boughton 37:57.

441. Jim Roodhuyzen 38:05, 442. Hannah Schmidt 38:10, 443. Tim Schmidt 38:11, 444. Bruce Terry 38:12, 445. Johnny Kerins 38:13, 446. Cali Nathanson 38:14, 447. Suzanne Letsu 38:14, 448. Sean Johnson 38:19, 449. Jack Duncan 38:20, 450. Jennifer Sokol 38:37.

451. Amelia Schwartz 39:13, 452. Nancy Gilbert 39:14, 453. Owen Rahr 39:21, 454. Sarah Roman 39:21, 455. Howard Wagner 39:23, 456. Vanita Wagner 39:26, 457. Shane Silverman 39:32, 458. Lisa Berger 39:44, 459. Julia Shuman 39:59, 460. Laura Terry 40:24.

461. Anita Wooten 41:30, 462. Cheryl Teri 41:44, 463. Janet Flanasan 41:44, 464. Camden Fowler 42:04, 465. Darren McGuire 42:30, 466. Stephanie Nikishin 45:01, 467. Igor Nikishin 45:01, 468. Kelly Walker 45:48, 469. Faith Walker 45:49, 470. Gloria Folan 46:13.

471. Christine Foster 46:31, 472. Tara Foster 46:31, 473. Brian Kerins 46:58, 474. Kathyrn Kerins 47:14, 475. Joan McManus 48:18, 476. Christine Avery-Calalmese 48:28, 477. Lynn Fowler 48:59, 478. Anne Solomon 50:11, 479. Pat Calalmese 51:12, 480. Robin Kulp 51:47.

481. Linda Stott 52:29, 482. Marianne Grenier 52:56, 483. Mary Anders 55:55, 484. Unknown 56:03, 485. Paul Murphy 56:03, 486. Mary Anders 56:09, 487. William Anders 56:11.