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Local Runners Win Westport Minuteman Race

WESTPORT, Conn. — Norwalk’s Noredine Abdelfatah won the men’s division and Stamford’s Sharon Lemberger led the women’s division in Sunday’s Minuteman 10K road race at Compo Beach.

Ansonia’s Tom Milenkevich and Bridgeport’s Emily LaSala were the men’s and women’s winners, respectively, in a 5K race. Children’s races were also run by Peak Performance Sports Camps.

Sunny skies, cool temperatures and a slight breeze greeted runners on near-perfect morning for running in one of Fairfield County’s most enduring races. There were a combined 992 finishers in the two races as the event celebrated its 30th anniversary.

Abdelfatah, a native of Morocco, won the 10K in 32:43. Eneas Freyre, also of Norwalk, took second in 33:04 and defending champion Tom Harding of Westport was third in 36:07.

“I won the 5K last year and decided to try the 10K this time,’’ Abdelfatah said. “It was a great race with good competition.

Lemberger cruised home in 37:31, followed by Forence Chretien of South Salem, N.Y., in 40:00 and Kelly Konstanty of Westport in 42:07.

“I loved the course,’’ Lemberger said. “I had never run this race before, but had run races here last summer. It was challenging and I loved it.”

Lemberger said she used the race as a tuneup for the New York Mini 10K in June. Lemberger finished 14th overall and eighth in her age group at the 2008 New York Mini, one of the most competitive women’s races in the country.

“This wasn’t my best race; it wasn’t my worst race,’’ Lemberger said. “I worked with some men to keep my pace.”

In the women’s 5K, LaSala won in 17:32, followed by Eloise Downs of Norwalk in 19:41 and Amanda Parrish, also of Norwalk, in 20:02.

Milenkevich won in 16:09, followed by Blacke Sturcke of Bridgeport in 18:33 and Colin Compas of Norwalk in 18:37.

Complete results are available online.

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