SALISBURY / LEICESTER — In a 13.1-mile road race around Lake Dunmore and Fern Lake this past Sunday morning, Philip Lynch of Saranac, N.Y., broke away from Connor McCormick of Dover, Mass., at the two-mile point to go on to win the final event in the Vermont Sun Run and Triathlon Series of races.
Lynch’s winning time for the Vermont Sun Half Marathon was 1:25:36. He was followed by McCormick in 1:28:47. The top female finisher was Grace Kennedy of Williston. She outran Caitlin Hollister of Waterbury, 1:45:56 to 1:47:48.
Vermont Sun also held a 10K and 5K run race at the same time at Branbury State Park on Lake Dunmore. Nearly 100 people, in total, took part in the day’s races.
The record high temperature for the date was broken as the high reached 88 degrees on Sunday. Race organizers said the athletes didn’t seem too bothered by the heat as 90 percent of the course is shaded and they finished right on the lake where they could jump in to cool off. They also had plenty of refreshments to reward their hard work.
Top local finishers included Laura Turner of Middlebury who was second overall in the 10K in 51:27. Middlebury’s Jason Grant was the best male in the 10K at 57:29.
Kim Kurak of Middlebury was 10th overall in the 5K with a 32:45 time.
Middlebury’s Gavin Noble had the best local Half Marathon time with his 7th place overall finish in 1:49:53.
The race’s primary beneficiary was the Middlebury Union Middle School cross country team. Many of their athletes and parents staffed the aid stations along the course. Local sponsors of the event included the Addison Independent, Middlebury Inn, National Bank of Middlebury, JP Cararra and Sons, and Frog Hollow Bikes.
Complete results can be found online at tinyurl.com/ydc5kzay.