To many, the words “fun” and “run” usually aren’t synonymous with one another. But they were on Saturday morning as more than 75 runners competed in the 3rd annual Lucky Stag 5k road race.

Organized by the Fairfield men’s and women’s cross-country teams, the race helps both teams fund their trips to compete in various races while they are in season.

According to coach John Sagnelli, the road race continues to improve.

“Every year it is getting better and better,” said Sagnelli. “It started off casual 3 years ago and I would like to see it expand even more and get more contestants.”

Runners started off in the traffic circle and followed the road behind Jogues and down to the Dolan School of Business. The runners then took a left down the footpath to the library and up the steps by the chapel and back through the quad where they would then repeat that once more for one final lap.

It was a new feature for the race to finish in the Quad. It was an idea Sagnelli liked and hoped to continue in the years to come.

In all, it was slightly shorter than the promoted 5km but for the racers it was challenging nonetheless.

“The course was definitely a back-breaker, the majority of the race being an uphill battle.” Joked Vin Ferrer ’12, an alumnus of the Fairfield Men’s cross-country team, who placed second in the men’s open.

“But it definitely showed that support for the cross-country team is alive and well on campus,” said Ferrer.

There was an opportunity for all ages to get amongst the winners with divisions in open men’s, won open women’s, veteran men’s and women’s and a junior (u-16) category.

The men’s open was won by men’s soccer’s Ryan Perkins ‘15. The women’s open was won by Kristen Curran ‘14. The veteran men and women’s race was won by Gilbert and Meaghen Leidig, parents of Molly Leidig ‘14 on the women’s cross country team.

But if you weren’t among the winners in your respective category, there were spot prizes offered by sponsoring companies from the Fairfield area. The main prize was a one-hour massage from Massage Envy.

Sagnelli was thankful to the support they received both by the sponsors, other varsity teams on campus and competitors.

He mentioned it was particularly good to see the younger runners racing.

“It’s a good way to expose Fairfield to them so they can see what it’s about,” said Sagnelli.

The winner of the junior female category, Rachel Renzi, 16, is sister to current cross-country member Danielle Renzi ‘15 and said the overall afternoon was “fun, but it was very cold.”

A runner for her high school team in Providence, R.I., Rachel used the run as a training run, but also because her older sister forced her to, she said, laughing.

A total of $1,200 was raised during the event.

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