Photo gallery by Laura Alvarez

WESTPORT — The Minute Man Race, an annual springtime tradition hosted by the Westport Young Women’s League, in its 46th year Sunday drew more than 1,000 runners of all ages to Compo Beach.

Net proceeds from the event — featuring 10K and 5K sanctioned competitions as well as several fun runs and walks for the less fleet of foot — support the Westport Young Woman’s League grants programs. Those grants since 1956 have allowed the leagure to distribute more than $4.3 million to community causes since 1956, according to the group’s website.

For the race results, click here.

Race report by Andy Hutchison

Stamford’s Milan Duka, 32, led the field in the Minute Man 5K, finishing in a time of 15:22.

“It’s great, it’s nice and flat,” Duka said of the Compo Beach area course, his first time competing in the annual event.

Duka may be new to this race, but is no stranger to running. In fact, he won all 10 Westport Road Runners Summer Series races last year and is a national champion in steeplechase in Serbia and the 3K in Belgium.

The top 5K female was Westport’s Kate Pfeffer, sixth overall in 18:49, the top female in several earlier outings.

“I’m trying to get back into shape. I used to be a competitive runner,” said 46-year-old Pfeffer, the mother of four children ages 2 to 12, the oldest of whom — Caroline — now runs races with her.

Westport’s Rob Simmelkjaer, 53, was 13th with a time of 20:20. He said when he first moved to Westport more than a decade ago the Minute Man Race was one of the first things he did, and that he met people at the event he still calls friends.

Simmelkjaer is president and CEO of New York Road Runners, which organizes about 40 races, including the NYC Half Marathon, each year. A half-marathon runner himself, Simmelkjaer enjoys the Minute Man 5K for the community atmosphere.

My Team Triumph competitors in wheelchairs, who otherwise would not get a chance to participate, were also among the race entrants. People with special needs, as well as those who can’t run for other reasons, are the captains of a team, pushed on the course by their “Angels.”

“I love this. It’s all about creating an atmosphere of inclusion for the captains,” My Team Triumph President Todd Ehrlich said.

Top 5K finishers, following Duka: 2. M.J. DeMartin 16:38. C.J. Gustafson 16:45, 4. David Sorensen 17:16. 5. Christopher Christiano 17:56, 6. Pfeffer 18:49, 7. Oliver Hudonogov Foster 18:59. 8. Brian McCormick 19:04, 9. Alexander McCall 19:04, 10. Hank Berkowitz 19:17, 11. Sean McCormick 19:30, and 12. Wellington Nunez 19:48. Jan Vascia was 14th and the second female, finishing in 20:36, followed closely by Lauren Tanenbaum in 15th with a time of 20:45.

The winner of the 10K could not be officially identified. The second finisher was Clare Kutnick, 31, of Westport who was only three seconds off the lead time with a finish in 38:11. Top 10K runners who followed: 3. Victor Nordenson 28:20, 4. William Kessinger 38:31, 5. Richard DeGeronimo 38:33, 6. Ramond King 38:38, 7. Jill Omicinski 38:50, 8. Allison Wiedman 39:01, 9. Balraj Suneja 39:51, 10. Sean Burns 39:54, 11. Mary Britto 40:34, 12. David Allen 40:53, 13. Jessica Donnarumma 40:56, 14. Alexander Shakibnia 41:15, 15. Roger D’Agostin 41:15.

The races drew a range of runners, from repeat competitors to first-timers — pre-teens and retirees alike.

Luz Sanchez has done the 5K race five times. “Definitely the most windy one but not the most cold one,” Sanchez said.

Megan and Daniel Jensen of Fairfield got the grandparents to watch their kids while running the Minute Man 5K race for the first time. “It’s beautiful,” Megan said of the course.

Westport Young Woman’s League President Tainara Cruvinel said the event helps raise money for area nonprofits. It’s one of the group’s two major fundraisers, along with CraftWestport, pulling in $65,000.

“Its always super fun, super exciting every year,” Cruvinel said of the races, which also features events for choldren, food trucks and music with a D.J. “That makes the race a very cool experience for the whole family.”

“It’s a kickoff to the good weather and the beach being open,” said Rachel Van Aken, chair of the race and Westport Young Woman’s League board member.

Sponsors are a big part of the event. “We love collaborating with other organizations,” said Katie Augustyn, president of the Westport Sunrise Rotary Club, a first-year sponsor.

Andy Hutchison has been covering school sports — including Staples athletics — as well as news and feature stories in Fairfield County, since the 1990s.