Runners stampede through Newton

By Laurie Gordon
NEWTON — A huge temperature drop from the night before and some unexpected rain didn't stop runners from stampeding through the sprawling countryside at Lodestar Park on Saturday, May 20. This year's Stampede 5K and Mile Fun Run honored the memory of local firewoman and EMT Terrie DeFabritis of Stillwater who passed away in January after a double lung transplant. Proceeds benefit her favorite charity, The NJ Sharing Network.
“I definitely haven't raced like that in a long time,” said Chelsea Gummerson, the race winner, who also happens to be one of DeFabritis' six children. “It felt good to go fast, but it also hurts when you aren't used to it. It was great to be out here and have everyone here remembering Mom.”
The Gummerson family and the love of DeFabritis' life, Bill Talmage, put photos and memories of her for all to see, and many of them walked in the race. “It was a great race and a great way to remember her,” Talmage said after the race. “She was an amazing lady.”
The 5K race toured runners along a grass path that goes around the park for three loops before finishing in front of the pavilion. The Mile saw mostly kids gunning it around a much shorter paved trail. The female winner in the Mile was Brenna Philson. She said, “I ran my hardest and really wanted to win when I realized I was in the front.” Philson would have won the race outright if not for the kick Patrick Payne unleashed as the two flew down the home stretch of the race. It was nearly a photo finish, but Payne took the win in the end. For their victories in the Mile, each received a comped entry to this August's X-Treme Youth Running Camp, donated by the camp's directors. Both Philson and Payne participate in The Bears Youth Running Club, which helped host the event.
Top three males and females in the 5K race received valuable gift certificates donated by Runner's Haven and Andover Hunt & Fish. Post-race baked goods were huge hit as were the Lab Snacks donated by Thor Labs.
Singer/songwriter Jack Tannehill of Randolph was on hand to keep the music going, and Sandy Pender, of Fredon, volunteered to take charge of the kitchen.
NJ Sharing Network's Kelly Bonventre, of Sparta, who serves as the nonprofit's manager of philanthropy and foundation programs, and Dan Sarnowski, also of Sparta, who serves on the Network's Board of Trustees and heads up an annual 5K in New Providence for the organization, were on hand. The Sharing Network said, “Thank you to the Stampede 5K Run for choosing our Foundation to support while celebrating the memory of Terrie DeFabritis.”
The NJ Sharing Network will hold a 5K in New Providence, on June 4, which will include several teams from the Newton and Sparta areas. Each year, more than 10,000 participants gather at one of three locations across the state. For more information, visit www.njsharingnetwork.org.