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Past champions dominated the seventh running of the Donnelly Dash in Fairfield Sunday. Bridgeport's Wantuil Souza, who won the event last year, successfully defended his title, outlegging Bethel's Greg Pelican in the final yards of the 3.5-mile race. His time of 20:22 was 20 seconds faster than last years and bested Pelican, who rode his bike from Bethel to the race, by three seconds.
Martha Merz, who won the race more than five years ago, showed she's still got the winning touch, clocking 22:04 to place sixth overall, almost a minute ahead of Fairfield Ludlowe track coach Amanda Parrish. Merz made the long drive down from Mystic, where her family recently moved when her husband was transferred to the Navys submarine base in New London. "I think we'll be there for at least four years, so I'll be back on the Connecticut race circuit," said Merz, who last weekend won the 45-49 age division at the Credit Union Cherry Blossom 10 miler in Washington, D.C., one of the most competitive races in the country.
The Donnelly Dash, which has existed under various names for almost 20 years, was renamed in memory of Tim and Kim Donnelly, runners who were killed in the robbery of their Fairfield jewelry store six years ago. Proceeds from the event are used to maintain a Bridgeport park named after them.
Complete results are posted on the Club Connecticut website.
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