West Hartford’s Ben Lanza and Wallingford’s Elizabeth Fengler won the Five-Mile State Championship at the Branford Road Race on June 18. Over 2,000 runners and walkers participated in the events on the Branford Green. The Branford Road Race consists of a Five-Mile Road Race, Two-Mile Fitness Walk and One-Mile Family Fun Run.

Lanza pulled away in the last mile to win in 25:27. Farmington’s Mario Vasquez followed closely in 25:30. Fengler won comfortably in 29:32 and was chased by New York City’s Amanda Shields, who finished in 30:14.

North Branford’s Carson Pelczar won the One-Mile Family Fun Run in 5:59 and Branford’s Matt Boffa followed in 6:13. Kate Cushing was the first girl, finishing in 7:05.

Sponsors of the 2023 Branford Road Race include H.D. Segur Insurance, Stony Creek Brewery, Medtronic, Connecticut Orthopaedics, Hartford HealthCare David & Rhoda Chase Family Movement Disorders Center, Perkatory Coffee Roasters, Madison Polymeric Engineering, Marathon Sports, Janney, Artis Senior Living, College Hunks Hauling Junk & Moving, TYCO Print, 99.1PLR, and The Sound.