June 22, 2008, 8:30 AM
Jennings Beach, Fairfield, Connecticut
June, 2008 "Race of the Month" -
Runners
World Magazine
International Field at Stratton Faxon Fairfield 1/2
Fairfield: This year’s Stratton Faxon Fairfield Half Marathon features top athletes from Kenya, Ethiopia, and the United States. Based on recent performances, the men’s race is expected to be a race between Kenyans Valentine Hudson Orare and Phillip Koech and Ethiopian Wellay Amare. Orare won last month’s Indianapolis ½ marathon. Koech finished a close second in last year’s race and won this year’s Philadelphia 10-Miler in a quick 46:23. Amare boasts a ½ marathon best of 1:01.
Kenya’s Caroline Chepkorir and Maria Busienei and Ethiopia’s Meseret Kotu and Sebleledet Mariam head the women’s field. Chepkorir recently finished 2nd in the Litchfield Hills Road Race. Busienei won last year’s Charleston (WV) Distance Run. Kotu won last week’s Middletown (NY) 10K. Mariam boast a ½ marathon best of 1:10. has represented Kenya in many international competitions. Brookfield’s Sarah Belles should be the top American woman.
Event Coordinator John Bysiewicz states, "This year’s race should be very exciting. With no clear-cut men’s or women’s favorite, the race is wide open."
A record crowd of nearly 3,500 runners (from over 35 states and six countries) are expected to participate in the event. The race was selected by Runner’s World as the race of the Month for June. For event information, visit fairfieldhalf.org or call (203) 481-5933. Stratton Faxon Law Firm, Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield, The Connecticut Post, Crystal Rock, News 12 Connecticut, Dunkin Donuts, The Boston Company, Santa Energy and 95.9 The FOX support the Fairfield Road Races. The Fairfield Firefighters have hosted the event from its inception.
----------------------
Stratton
Faxon Fairfield Road Races Selected by Runner’s World as the “Race
of the Month”
(Fairfield,
CT): Runner’s World has
selected the 28th annual Stratton Faxon Fairfield Road Races as the
“Race of the Month” in its June 2008 issue.
Steve Lobdell, race founder/director and retired Fire Captain,
states “We are flattered to be selected as the top race in June.
Runner’s World is the World’s leading running magazine and
to be recognized by it is an honor.”
Over 3,000 runners are expected to compete in the event to be
held on Sunday, June 22, at Fairfield’s Jennings Beach.
Featuring a half-marathon (13.1 miles), 5K (3.1 miles) and Kids
Fun Run, the event has been hosted by the Fairfield Firefighters since
its inception.
“We are
very excited about the Fairfield races and are proud to support an
event that gives back to the community,” said Michael Stratton,
partner of Stratton Faxon. Sponsoring
the race is part of Stratton Faxon's 10% philosophy. That is, that 10%
of case fees are set aside to support charitable causes that help
better the community or civil jury system.
Steve
Lobdell also commented “With all our sponsors’ generous support,
we can continue to put on a high-quality running event and raise even
more money for charity." The
Fairfield Road Races are a non-profit organization that, with the help
of its participants, has contributed nearly $1 million to non-profit
groups such as the Connecticut Burns Care Foundation's camp for
severely burned children and other local charities.
Race Director Lobdell states, "Without support from
corporate sponsors, our event could not continue to donate thousands
of dollars to these worthy causes."
For event
information, visit fairfieldhalf.org or call (203) 481-5933.
The Stratton Faxon Fairfield Road Races are presented by Anthem
Blue Cross & Blue Shield. The Connecticut Post, Crystal Rock
Bottled Water Company, 95.9 The FOX, News 12 Connecticut, Dunkin’
Donuts, The Boston Company, Iridian Asset Management, Santa Energy,
Seix Advisors, Chemtura, Wade’s Dairy and Turner Construction also
support the Fairfield Road Races.
=================================
July 12, 2007 Press Release
International Field at 2007 Stratton Faxon Fairfield 1/2
Fairfield: This year’s Stratton Faxon Fairfield Half Marathon features top athletes from Kenya, Ethiopia, Russia and the United States. Based on recent performances, the men’s race is expected to be a duel between Kenyans Isaac Arusei, Benson Cheruiyot and David Langat. Arusei came in second in last year’s race. Cheruiyot recently finished 2nd in the Broad St. (Philadelphia) 10-mile Race in 45:19 (under 4:32 per mile). Langat has run the fastest ½ Marathon in the field (60:47). The Kenyan contingent will be challenged by a group of Ethiopian runners including Mohammed Awol, Genna Tufa and Derisa Denyboba. Awol finished 2nd in the prestigious Bolder Boulder 10K in 2005. Tuffa won this year’s Virginia Beach Marathon and Denyboba boasts a 63 minute ½ Marathon best. Also expected to finish in the top 10 are Kenya’s Paul Rugut and Timothy Psitet and Ethiopia’s Retta Feyissa and Belay Teka.
Kenya’s Mercy Cheburet and Ethiopia’s Yimenashu Taye head the women’s field. Cheburet has a ½ Marathon best of 1:13. Taye has run very well this spring and has represented Ethiopia in many international competitions. Russia’s Larisa Mikhaylova and Ethiopia’s Aziza Aliyu should also finish near the top. Mikhaylova won last year’s Mystic Country Marathon and finished 2nd in the 2006 Danbury ½ Marathon. Aliyu won last year’s Midnight Run in New York City. Connecticut’s Mary Lynn Currier, the last American winner in the Fairfield ½ (2000), and Massachusetts’ Barbara McManus should also finish near the top.
Event Coordinator John Bysiewicz states, "This year’s race should be very exciting. With no clear-cut men’s or women’s favorite, the race is wide open this year."
Nearly 3,000 runners (from nearly 30 states and six countries) will participate in the event. For event information, visit fairfieldhalf.org or call (203) 481-5933. Stratton Faxon Law Firm, Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield, The Connecticut Post, Crystal Rock, UBS, News 12 Connecticut, Dunkin Donuts, The Boston Company, and 95.9 The FOX support the Fairfield Road Races. The Fairfield Firefighters have hosted the event from its inception.
==========================
Largest field ever expected at 2007 Stratton Faxon Fairfield Road Races
Fairfield: Organizers of the 27th Annual Stratton Faxon Fairfield Road Races are expecting the largest crowd in the history of the race. The event will be held at 8:30 a.m. on Sunday, June 24, at Fairfield's Jennings Beach. There are already nearly 1,700 runners registered for the race and organizers expect the event to attract over 3,000 participants. Over 2,300 runners are expected to run in the half-marathon (13.1 miles), and nearly 700 runners are expected to run the 5-kilometer (3.1 miles) race. The 1K Kids run should have nearly 100 participants. Hosted from its inception by the Fairfield Firefighters, the event’s Title Sponsor is Stratton Faxon Law Firm.
"Participation in both the half-marathon and 5K races are on a record pace this year, and we expect to have over 3,000 participants for the first time," said Race Director Steve Lobdell.
The half-marathon will again be run entirely in Fairfield. For a course map, please visit fairfieldhalf.org. The very flat 5K race course also remains the same, starting and finishing at Jennings Beach. The 5K will start approximately 10 minutes after the half-marathon begins.
The Fairfield Road Races are a non-profit organization that has contributed over $500,000 to non-profit groups such as the Connecticut Burns Care Foundation's camp for severely burned children and other local charities. Last year's event raised nearly $100,000 for various local charities. Race Director Lobdell states, "Without support from corporate sponsors, our event could not continue to donate thousands of dollars to these worthy causes."
For event information, visit fairfieldhalf.org or call (203) 481-5933. Stratton Faxon Law Firm, Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield, The Connecticut Post, Crystal Rock, UBS, News 12 Connecticut, Dunkin Donuts, The Boston Company, and 95.9 The FOX support the Fairfield Road Races.