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Andreas Markakis wasn't surprised when he found himself being challenged entering the last mile of Saturday's April Fool's Race for DARE. He was taken aback that 13-year-old Daniel Schumacher was the one pushing him.
Markakis, 38, pulled away in the last mile of the race at Easton's Samuel Staples Elementary School to win in 17:39. Schumacher, of Naugatuck, took second in 17:57.
"I really had to max out in the last mile,'' Markakis said. "It was a pretty hilly race. In the last mile, I had a little bit more power and that helped me pull away."
Markakis is visiting the area from Crete, the island near Greece. His father owns Captain's Pizza in Fairfield. He ran with a friend, George Howard-Heretakis, of Austin, Tex., who finished seventh. "This is a really good 5K,'' he said. "It's not my best distance, but it's for a good cause and it's well-organized. It's just for fun."
Erin Begg, 16, of Newtown won the women's race in 21:00. She was 16th overall. Kristen Mazzeo of Easton was the second woman, and Karen Newman of Old Greenwich took third.
There were 299 finishers in the race, which is part of the Fairfield County Progressive Marathon Series. Competitors were greeted with nice running conditions after a torturous winter, with pleasant skies and chilly but comfortable spring weather.
Proceeds benefit the Easton DARE program. The 12th annual race was sponsored by the Easton PBA, Bagel King, Music Mania Disc Jockeys and Road ID. Complete results are available on the Hi-tek Racing website. Check back with TheDailyEaston.com for more pictures from the race.
Did you run Saturday's 5K? How did you do? Start the discussion below!
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