RIPTON — Over 175 runners and walkers participated in this year’s Ripton Ridge Run on Sunday, Oct. 7. It was an ideal autumn day to be outside and proof that residents of this state are as active and community-driven as ever. Family and friends ran or walked together and shared in some healthy and light-hearted competition.
The MUHS varsity girls’ soccer team showed up in full force. Most players competed in the 10K run and some on the injured list were able to add their support at a water stop. “I could hear them cheering as I approached from 100 yards away,” said Coach Wendy Leeds who helped organize their involvement in the race.
For the second year in a row, Jack Christner of Middlebury won the Men’s 5K race. He came in at 18:08. Lance Bergmans from Ferrisburgh was seconds behind with a time of 18:14. Elvis McIntosh of Middlebury finished third at 20:36. Erin Robinson of Ripton was the first place finisher for the women’s division, and she came in with a time of 21:51. Sabrina Petri of East Middlebury, and Amanda Bodette of New Haven tied for second with a time of 23:31.
In the 10K, Morgan Pearlman of Middlebury won with a time of 39:37. The second place finisher, Peter Schneider of Cornwall, came in with a time of 43:00, and Tony Bates of Salisbury finished in 44:18. Tony has been consistently running — and most years winning — the Ridge Run since its debut in 1988. First place finisher in the women’s division was Celina Fuller of Salisbury at 47:42. Second place went to Camille Malhotra of Middlebury with a time of 49:58. And third place finisher Alison Caruana of West Babylon, N.Y., finished with a time of 51:28.
The Friends of the Ripton School  put on the Ripton Ridge Run every year as a fundraiser to benefit the Ripton Elementary School. The generosity of local businesses and the efforts of nearly 50 volunteers go into making this annual celebration of Ripton and its school such a success. The date for next year’s event has been set for Sunday, Oct. 13, 2019.
Complete results can be found online here.