Stutzman fastest in Turkey Trot

It looks like it was a good homecoming for Tyler Stutzman, as the former Western Albemarle star — fresh off his first college cross country season — led the largest field in Boar’s Head Turkey Trot history across the finish line. The Stanford runner stopped the clock at 15 minutes, 38 seconds, and Ivy speedster Beth Cottone, fresh off a recent 3:16 at the New York City Marathon, topped the women’s field with a stellar 19:57.

It was the 28th running of the race and there was plenty to celebrate as over 1,300 runners and walkers traversed the challenging hills of Ednam Forest en route to rewarding finishes. The 5-kilometer course is widely considered to be one of the most difficult in the area, but despite the hills, many folks commented that this is their favorite local event of the entire year. Thanks to the participants’ support, the help of the Charlottesville Track Club and the generosity of the Boar’s Head, close to $40,000 is donated annually to the Children’s Hospital at UVa.

Stutzman wasn’t the only former local running high school star that took advantage of being back home for the holiday. Aileen Keogh (Western), Andrew Massaro (Charlottesville) and Stephen Chester (St. Anne’s-Belfield) all finished in the runner-up spot in their respective age groups. Other impressive age-group finishes of note were turned in by locals like Sophie Speidel (45-49), Dan Wiggins (45-49), Linda Scandore (55-59), Christian Defries (45-49) and Hernan Garbini (45-49).

Families were celebrating Thanksgiving throughout the race, and one trio of note ran the entire way together, with each of them finishing second in their age group. Parents Bob Kusyk and Casey Kerrigan and 13-year-old daughter Jayme Kusyk came across the finish line at the same time in a time that placed them in the same exact spot in their respective age group.

Results can be found at charlottesvilletrackclub.org.