AVON, Aug. 13, 2023 — Avon’s Jack O’Donnell beat Hamden’s Elijah Espinal by nine seconds to win the seventh annual Ray Zacchara Memorial Road Race around Spring Pond at Fisher Meadows Complex on Sunday morning.
The top woman in the race was Emma Bradley of Florham Park, New Hampshire, who was third with a new women’s course record time of 20:34. Bradley broke the previous record of 21:53 set by Mareen Ek of Avon in 20:20.
The scholarship is in honor of Zacchera a long time Avon resident, who passed away in August 2007. He helped found the Avon Lions Club and served as its first president. He was a World War II veteran and an active member in VFW Post 3272. He also served on several town building committees. He served as town selectman and town police constable, but was known for his more recent activities such as being in charge of serving coffee at the Avon Health Center and giving away his homemade chocolates. He was affectionately known as “Ray, the Candy Man.”
2023 Ray Zacchara Memorial Road Race
At Avon
Overall results: Jack O’Donnell, Avon, 19:54.06 for 3.1 miles at Fisher Meadows, 2. Elijah Espinal, Hamden 20:05, 3. Emma Bradley, Florham Park, FL 20:34, 4. Kristin Ross, Merrimack, NH 22:23, 5. Viet Tran, Avon, 22:41, 6. Alexandra Salinsky, Coventry, 23:43, 7. Stephen Savino, Avon, 23:46, 8. Kathryn Hassig, Avon, 24:44, 9. Mason Ross, Merrimack NH 25:02, 10. Sean Fallon, Simsbury, 25:10
Top 10 women: Emma Bradley (third overall) 20:34, new course record. Old Mark set by Mareen Ek, Avon, 21:53 in 2020. 2. Kristin Ross (4th overall), Merrimack NH 22:23, 3. Alexandra Salinsky (6) Coventry, 23:43, 4. Kathryn Hassig (8) Avon, 24:44, 5. Jessica Dennis (11), Ellington 25:12, 6. Laila Goodman (12), Old Lyme, 25:40, 7. Jillian Wilczek (17), Colchester, 26:34, 8. Bonnie Loveland (18) 26:35, 9. Maeve Balavender (25), Canton, 27:35, 10. Lauren Devore (26), Stratford, 28:34
66 runners finished the race
Full race results
Previous Ray Zacchara race results
| Year: Overall winner |
Time |
Women’s champion |
Time |
| 2022: Christopher King, Cheshire |
21:25 |
5. Kasey Baker, Cheshire |
26:08 |
| 2021: Pat Dennen, Avon |
18:03 |
10. Anna Dubiel, Rocky Hill |
26:47 |
| 2020: Jack Martin, Avon |
17:21 |
14. Mareen Ek, Avon |
21:53 |
| 2019: Jack Ryan, Avon |
21:29 |
6. Debby Perry, Plantsville |
24:16 |
| 2018: Kevin Verge, Avon |
18:28 |
11. Violet Spooner, Sturbridge, MA |
26:24 |
| 2017: Zoltan Rigo, Berlin |
18:56 |
8. Michele Stefano, Val Halla NY |
25:18 |
Overall race results
2022
2021
2020
2019
2018
2017
