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Africans Dominate Fairfield Half Marathon

FAIRFIELD, Conn. — High heat and humidity didn’t stop more than 4,500 runners from taking over Fairfield’s streets Sunday morning. The Stratton Faxon Fairfield Half Marathon started and ended at Jennings Beach, and more than 3,400 runners finished the 13.1-mile race.

The top four finishers all hailed from Ethiopia. Kumsa Adugna placed first in 1:04:40, followed by Ketema Nigusse 15 seconds later, then countrymen Worku Beyi (1:06:14) and Genna Tufa (1:08:11). The first Fairfield County runner was also the top U.S. finisher, Ridgefield’s Lucas Meyer, who placed fifth in 1:09:52.

Meyer said his first run in Fairifeld felt “a little bit” like a homecoming. “My parents are here, my sister’s here, a bunch of friends are here,” he said.

On the ladies side, African runners also dominated the field, taking three of the top four spots. Morocco’s Malika Mejdoub took first in 1:18:06, narrowly beating Tertza Dengersa of Turkey (1:18:11). Salome Kosgei of Kenya placed third in 1:18:56, followed by Ethiopia’s Serkalem Abrha. The top U.S. finisher was Shannon McHale of West Simsbury, Conn., who came in fifth with a time of 1:23:49.

Stamford’s Caitlin Stote was the top Fairfield County finisher on the women’s side, placing ninth. The 19-year-old was the top female runner in her age group (13-19) with a time of 1:29:58. Fairfield’s Alexis Hoadley, 17, placed third in the same group at 1:40:19.

Other Fairfield County age group winners include Westport’s Deirde O'Farrelly, who won the 50-54 bracket  with a time of 1:44:10, Trumbull’s Matt Klein, who took the men’s 13-19 in 1:13:43, and Westport’s Tom Harding, the men’s 45-49 winner at 1:21:03. Full results are available at the Fairfield Half Marathon’s website.

Did you run in the Fairfield Half Marathon? Tell us how you did in the comments below.

 

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