RIPTON — Sunny skies and cool temperatures brought out a huge crowd for the 27th annual Ripton Ridge Run. Nearly 240 people participated in the 10.4K and 5K runs and the 5K Fun Walk on Sunday, Oct. 12. After the race, the wonderful weather allowed lunch, awards ceremony and raffle to be held outside on the grounds of the Ripton School.
The overall winners of the two men’s races were Middlebury father-son duo Keith and Nick Wilkerson. Keith won the 10.4K with a time of 41:33.4 while son Nick pulled the fastest time on the 5K course at 19:46.0. In the women’s races, Meg Meyer of New Haven set the pace on the 5K, coming in at 23:27.8. Katherine Nasvik, who hails from Hailey, Idaho, won the 10.4K.
Second and third places in the men’s 10K went to Terence Allard of North Creek, N.Y., at 43:03.1 and Middlebury’s Benjamin Bruno at 43:45.7. Mary Stewart of Stowe (a Ripton Elementary graduate) came in second for the women’s 10K with a time of 53:23.1 followed by former Ripton resident Emily Millard at 55:18.6.
In the 5K, local teenagers took second and third in both the men’s and women’s races. Maisie Newbury from Weybridge finished in 24:44.9 to place second in the women’s race with Ailey Bosworth of Middlebury less than a second behind her at 24:45.3. In the men’s division, two Ripton boys took the honors. Sebastian Durante came in second at 20.24.0 with Jack Christner exactly one second later.
The Ripton Ridge Run is a fundraiser for the Ripton Elementary School put on by Friends of the Ripton School. Ripton residents turned out in force to make sure the race was a success. From volunteers making cupcakes and chili or folding T-shirts to the Ripton Volunteer Fire Department helping with traffic control, the Ridge Run is a testament to the support Ripton has for its school and schoolchildren.
The top five finishers in each event, listed with their town of residence, age and time, are as follows:
Men’s 5K
1. Nick Wilkerson, Middlebury, 15, 19:46.0; 2. Sebastian Durante, Ripton, 16, 20:24.0; 3. Jack Christner, Ripton, 12, 21:24.0; 4. Caelan L’Hommedieu, North Creek, N.Y., 18, 21:32.0; 5. Tom Hussey, Ripton, 14, 21:37.0.
Women’s 5K
1. Meg Meyer, New Haven, 48, 23:27.8; 2. Maisie Newbury, Weybridge, 13, 24:44.9; 3. Ailey Bosworth, Middlebury, 13, 24:45.3; 4. Mary-Ann Eastman, Middlebury, 13, 24:46.2; 5. Lori Hennessey, Hinesburg, 50, 24:50.8.
Men’s 10.4K
1. Keith Wilkerson, Middlebury, 44, 41:33.4; 2. Terence Allard, North Creek, N.Y., 17, 43:03.1; 3. Benjamin Bruno, Middlebury, 30, 43:45.7; 4. Joe Frost, Swanton, 38, 46:49.3; 5. Cade Christner, Ripton, 14, 47:02.2.
Women’s 10.4 K
1. Katherine Nasvik, Hailey, Idaho, 44, 53:22.4; 2. Mary Stewart, Stowe, 27, 53:23.1; 3. Emily Millard, Middlebury, 33, 55:18.6; 4. Madelyn Herzog, Watertown, Mass., 23, 57:17.4; 5. Dot Helling, Montpelier, 64, 58:01.4.
Complete results are available at www.riptonridgerun.org.