AVON, May 19 — Two days. Two road races in Avon. Over 350 runners hitting the pavement.
Kristin, left, and Andrew Webster of Avon enjoy running in Sunday’s Avon Road Race.
Avon’s Marc Robaczynski pulled away from Farmington’s Chris Chisholm to win the ninth annual Avon Road Race on Sunday morning at the Pine Grove School.
Twenty-four hours earlier, Canton’s Tim Jarka outlasted Avon’s Jeff Molson to win the Rolling Hills 5K for the second straight year at St. Matthew’s Lutheran Church.
The more established Avon Road Race, which benefits the Avon Parent/Teachers Organization (PTO), attracted over 300 runners – the second largest field in the race’s history.
On a cool, overcast morning, Robaczynski set a new course record on the 3.1 mile course with a time of 16:10.2, snapping the old record of 16:18 set by Avon’s John Drago in 2010. Chisholm, who won the race in 2007, was second with a time of 16:37.
New Hartford’s Lincoln Champagne (318) in Sunday’s Avon Road Race with his daughter Sydney (317) and her friend Brianna.
The women’s race was easily won by Avon’s Marisa Jones, who tied the course record of 18:10, beating six-time Avon Road Race winner Mary-Lynn Currier, who finished second in 19:07.12. Currier set the course record of 18:10 when she won the race in its initial running in 2005.
Avon’s Bill Thramann, the two-time defending champion, was fourth in 18:14 while Avon’s Dickson Suit rounded out the top five with his time of 18:35, beating Farmington’s Andrew Schimann by less than a second.
A few dozen kids participated in a Fun Run after the main race at Pine Grove School near the new playground.
On Saturday, Jarka won the second running of the Rolling Hills 5K for the second straight year in 21:24, beating his winning time from a year ago of 21:54. Canton’s Greg Schroeder was third in 21:55 while Tara Molson was the first woman in the race, finishing with a time of 23:49. There were 54 runners in the race.
9th annual Avon Road Race results
2nd annual Rolling Hills 5K results
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