|
MYSTIC, Conn. – More than 450 people laced up their sneakers on Saturday, October 17 and participated in Mystic Aquarium & Institute for Exploration’s third annual Penguin Run/Walk, raising 50 percent more than the amount raised last year for penguin research and conservation.
 The event consisted of a 5k run on a trail, field and road course, two-mile walk and ¼-mile kids’ race. The top three runners in each of eight age divisions for males and females received a ceramic tile, donated by Get Fired Up of Westerly, R.I., featuring artwork created by the penguins with their feet. The top fundraising team, the Colchester Youth Center of Colchester, Conn., received a meet-and-greet with a penguin and will be recognized on a plaque at the aquarium.
Brookfield, Conn., resident Shannon Pugliese, 15, was presented with a special penguin trophy in recognition of her campaign to raise money to help the penguins. A major sponsor of the event and the top fundraiser, Pugliese has raised more than $3,000 to date by collecting money from friends and family, then moving on to local businesses.
The winning middle school cross-country teams – the Thomas Edison Magnet Middle School Girls Team of Meriden and Pawcatuck Middle School Boys team – received an engraved trophy that will be passed to next year’s winning team. Each of the members on the middle school winning teams also got to meet a penguin up close.
The money raised from the event will go toward the aquarium’s African penguin research and conservation efforts. Over the past eight years, the world’s African penguin population has declined by 42 percent.
SNERRO timed the race. The top three runners in each age division were:
Males 13 and under
1. Joey Stiger, Pawcatuck, CT 20:52
2. Aiden Colasanto, Southington, CT 25:40
3. Ricky Baribault, Meriden, CT 25:45
Males 14-19
1. Douglas Chapman, Uncasville, CT 22:27
2. Alex Byer-Alcorace, Naugatuck, CT 23:12
3. Derek Marotta, Oxford, CT 27:14
Males 20-29
1. Jeffrey Wadecki, Ledyard, CT 16:52 (overall race winner)
2. Casey Neistat, New London, CT 18:40
3. Gerald Brooks, Groton, CT 21:09
4. Christopher Colgan, Willington, CT 21:11
Males 30-39
1. Dan Campbell, Oakdale, CT 19:40
2. Ryan Gieleghem, Norwich, CT 19:42
3. Harold Haugeto, Gales Ferry, CT 20:00
Males 40-49
1. John Pajer, Leicester, MA 18:20
2. Michael Fusaro, Norwich, CT 20:49
3. Thomas Olendorf, Mystic, CT 21:18
Males 50-59
1. Tim Kane, Preston, CT 19:09
2. Wayne Jolley, Brooklyn, CT 20:51
3. John Brown, Oakdale, CT 22:01
Males 60-69
1. Tim Smith, Norwich, CT 20:34
2. Robert Aby, Northfield, MN 22:24
3. Way Hedding, Niantic, CT 22:33
Males 70+
1. Clem McGrath, Colchester, CT 27:04
2. Tom Sullivan, Ledyard, CT 33:29
3. Colburn Graves, Pawcatuck, CT 46:27
Females 13 and under
1. Jennifer Pager, Leicester, MA 24:29
2. Brook Stoodley, Ledyard, CT 24:33
3. Michelle Pajer, Leicester, MA 25:55
Females 14-19
1. Samantha Pajer, Leicester, MA 25:18
2. Chelsea Goodwin, Higganum, CT 38:50
3. Jackie Barr, Colchester, CT 44:141.
Females 20-29
1. Rachel Harrington, Mystic, CT 21:44 (top female finisher)
2. Vanessa Schumacher, Manchester, CT 25:53
3. Joanna Grater, New York, NY 27:26
4. Vanessa Teter, New Haven, CT 28:06
Females 30-39
1. Annette Barbay, Uncasville, CT 21:53
2. Beth Landry, Waterford, CT 26:22
3. Carol Myers, New London, CT 27:06
Females 40-49
1. Lori Looney, Uncasville, CT 25:17
2. Janet Holtz, East Lyme, CT 26:01
3. Nancy Davis, Griswold, CT 27:23
Females 50-59
1. Diane Kodama, North Stonington, CT 24:09
2. Gayle Sirpenski, Voluntown, CT 29:48
3. Mary Boy, Mystic, CT 30:51
Females 60-69
1. Rose Buckingham, Norwich, CT 27:46
2. Susan Sheckley, Niantic, CT 29:13
3. Patricia Phillips, Niantic, CT 29:32
Females 70+
1. Irene Burke, Storrs, CT, 43:52
The full results list is available at Snerro.com.
 Prize donors included Anne Robins, Connecticut Science Center, Garden Specialities, Jazzercise of Groton/Gales Ferry, Kelly Everett Massage Therapist, Kitchen Little, Larry and MaryAnn Mazzaro, Munson’s Chocolates, Mystic Pizza, Mystic Soup Company, New England Runner magazine, Olde Mistick Village, Paul’s Pasta, The Pita Spot, Pronto Gourmet Express, Pizza Grille, Road ID, Shennocossett Golf Course, Somewhere in Time, Spartan Foods, That Look Salon, The Yellow House and Vetrano’s Restaurant.
Sponsors of the event included Shannon Pugliese of Brookfield, Conn., WBMW-FM (106.5), Panera Bread, Get Fired Up, Coca-Cola, Concentra, Lawrence & Memorial Hospital, Mystic Aquarium Store/Event Network, Splash Lids, Capital Studio Architects LLC, Denison Pequotsepos Nature Center, Crystal Rock Bottled Water, Mazuri, Olde Mistick Village, Denison Society, Charles River, Monsanto, Beacon Prescriptions, Ocean Blue Catering, Arbonne, ShopRite, Stairway to the Moon and the Center for Better Health – Sports Rehab & Massage, Dr. Kurt Strecker, D.C.
About Sea Research Foundation, Inc.
Mystic Aquarium, Institute for Exploration and Immersion Learning are divisions of Sea Research Foundation, Inc., a non-profit 501(c)3 organization. The mission of Sea Research is to inspire people to care for and protect our ocean planet through education, research and exploration.
Press release published on October 21, 2009.
View event photos here and here!
|
Newsroom 
reset
