Inaugural Turkey Trot Helps Runners Work Up Thanksgiving Appetite

By Andy Hutchison

The inaugural Turkey Trot, a 5K (3.1-mile) run, along with a 1.36-mile walk, drew several hundred men, women, boys, and girls — who, on Thanksgiving morning, worked up their appetites for turkey and stuffing.

Participants started near Hawley Elementary School on Church Hill Road, turned left onto The Boulevard, left onto Schoolhouse Hill Road, and really felt as if they were earning the right to pile on a big piece of whipped cream-topped pumpkin pie upon exerting plenty of energy to race up the steep hill to Main Street before working their way to the finish line at the middle school on Queen Street.

“It was actually very challenging. That was as tough a hill as you’ll face in a 5K,” said Newtown’s Bill Begg, no stranger to 3.1-mile road races. He ran the Turkey Trot along with his daughter and Newtown High cross country team member Erin Begg, who admitted the hill wasn’t easy but took the steep climb in stride. “It challenged you,” said the younger Begg, adding that the race reminded her of a typical cross country school course.

The first to cross the finish line was Newtown’s own Kevin Hoyt, followed by fellow home-towner Zack Schwartz. The top female finisher was Easton’s Meredith Anand.

Hoyt, 20, completed the course in a time of 16:01 (a mile pace of 5:09). “It’s a good race to run,” said Hoyt, a runner on the Keene, N.H.-based Keene State College’s cross country team.

Schwartz, 22, was a close second in a time of 16:08. Luke Maher, 19, of Patterson, NY, was third in 16:31, Daniel Selsky, 24, of Miami, Fla., was fourth in 18:18, Evan Reseska, 17, of Holliston, Mass, was fifth in 18:22, and Anand was sixth overall in a time of 18:42.

Cool but dry temperatures made for pretty good running conditions for the 7:45 am start, several of the runners said. The race drew out-of-towners visiting for the holiday, permanent residents, and a mix of serious and not-so-serious athletes.

Newtown running enthusiasts John Godin, Mike Beaudry, and Mike Hornby organized the Turkey Trot — an event they hope to continue for years to come. Proceeds from the Trot benefit the Cyrenius H. Booth Library. Godin, who is on the Board of Library Trustees, said they anticipated about 500 participants. Godin was pleasantly surprised with close to double that turnout, saying that 900-plus runners and walker came out for the first Turkey Trot. There were 18 states represented in pre-race day registration alone, Godin said.

“We were ecstatic over the participation,” said Godin, adding that there was plenty of volunteer support from community members.

Leigh Morrissey and Allison Smith, 2003 Newtown High graduates, ran the race together. “We’re quite competitive against each other,” Smith said.

“It’s a lot of fun — except when I lose,” Morrissey added with a laugh.

Of course, everyone was a winner here considering the participants were rewarded with Turkey Day dinner.

Divisional winners are as follows (Newtown/Sandy Hook residents unless specified):

Female 13 and under: Hannah Schwartz, 13, 24:31. Female 14 to 18: Erin Begg, 16, 21:32. Female 19 to 39: Meredith Anand, 32, Easton, 18:42. Female 40 to 59: Ellen Kvinta-Palmisano, 41, Redding, 23:08. Female 60 and older: Christine D’Eramo, 62, 26:24. Male 13 and under: Michael Bodie, 13, Brookfield, 20:28. Male 14 to 18: Evan Reseska, 17, Holliston Mass, 18:22. Male 19 to 39: Kevin Hoyt, 20, 16:01. Male 40 to 59: Kevin Crowell, 43, Bethel, 18:53. Male 60 and older: Bruce Goulart, 60, 22:40.

Visit www.plattsys.com for complete race results.