Great Pumpkin Classic 4M

Trumbull, CT, October 21, 2001

Race Report: Brazilians Dominate Great Pumpkin 4 Miler

Brazilians Dominate Great Pumpkin 4 Miler

Two things seem to be a given when it comes to the Orthopaedic & Sports Medicine Center Great Pumpkin Classic 4 mile race: It will be another perfect running day and there will be a new winner. For the 8th year in a row a new champion was crowned. Tomix Costa took advantage of the hills and the weather in this 11th edition. But then again he's been used to good weather the last few weeks.

For the 38 year old Costa from Contagem, Brazil, it was his third race in 14 days. Luckily it was also the shortest. On Oct 7, Costa finished 13th in the Chicago Marathon in a time of 2hrs and 12 min. Six days later he ran the Hartford half marathon and was second in 1 hr. 7 sec. Today for his four mile jaunt in 19:32 (4:53 pace) he collected $200 for winning and was never really tested. Countryman Luiz Carlos Ramos (19:56) pulled away from 3rd place Sergio Ribiero (20:17) of Danbury. In a repeat of sorts, Ribiero ironically finished in third behind 2 Kenyans last year. Once again, however he was the first CT finisher.

The top two women flip-flopped their finishes from last year. Gordon Bakoulis of NYC (22:07) finished well up on defending champion Zofia Wieciorkowska (22:36) of Stratford, CT. In doing so she toppled the 8 year old masters course record of Rebecca Stockdale Woolley (22:48). Third place went to Sue Faber of Oxford (22:53) who, like Ribiero, repeated her place of last year.

The top master male was Jim Stemm of NYC (21:34). Joe Puopolo of Shelton was 2nd in the 40+ division. Top 40 year old female was Bakoulis followed by Mary Beth Evans (24:50) of Scarsdale, NY.

In what might be the most remarkable finish of the day Anna Thornhill of NYC was awarded the top grandmaster (age 50+) award despite being 61! In an eye popping time of 27:31 (6 min 53 pace per mile) she obliterated the 60+ age group record by 5 mins. 10 secs. She was the 97th finisher overall out of 597 total.

For the first time in its 11 year history the race field included an 80 year old finisher. Make that three octonagarians. Nationally ranked Bill Tribou of Granby ran the hilly 4 mile course in 34:26, an 8 min. 37 sec. pace per mile. George Whitney and Austin Ross rounded out the record setting age group.

First place Trumbull residents were Dale Richardson (22:52) and Jenzy Halls (27:26). Over 590 runners finished the O.S.M. Great Pumpkin Classic. More than 300 children ran in the Trumbull Education Association Kid's Runs and over 100 walkers participated in the Rosedale of Trumbull 2 mile fitness walk.

Major sponsors include The Orthopaedic & Sports Medicine Center, the Teachers and Administrators of Trumbull Schools, World Gym of Trumbull, Westfield Shoppingtown-Trumbull, Pitney Bowes Copier Division, Bertucci's, Bruegger's Bagels, and SoBe.

Proceeds of the race are donated to the Trumbull High School scholarship foundation. Over $65,000 has been raised from this event since its start in 1991.

Complete results available at HI-TEK Racing.

Orthopaedic & Sports Medicine Center Great Pumpkin 4M
68 degrees at the start, bright sun
Major sponsors: World Gym of Trumbull, Westfield Shoppingtown, Pitney Bowes, Trumbull (Teachers) Education Association

Men: Tomix Costa Brazil 19:32 $200 Luiz Carlos Ramos Brazil 19:56 $125 Sergio Ribiero CT 20:17 $75+$100 Bob's stores cert. 1st CT Claudio Pereira CT 20:36 $50 + $75 cert. Moya Leonardo CT 20:41 $25 + $50 cert. Stephane Bois NY 20:59 Kevin Grant CT 21:02 $25 cert.

40+ Jim Stemm NY 21:34 $100 Joe Puopolo CT 22:05 $50 Jose Torres Brandao CT 22:33 $25

50+ Nick Caswell NY 23:26 $50 Mark Uliasz CT 23:38 $30 Bob Hermesch NY 23:58 $20

80+ Bill Tribou CT 34:26 Gift Cert

Women Gordon Bakoulis NY 22:07 $200+$100 Master CR Zofia Wieciorkowska CT 22:36 $125 + $100 GC Susan Faber CT 22:53 $75 + $75 GC Heather Gardner CT 23:14 $50 + $50 GC Martha Merz CT 23:19 $25 + $25 GC

40+ Mary Beth Evans NY 24:50 $100 Karen Newman CT 24:56 $50 Jean Stemm NY 25:00 $25