Connelly, Braswell Best at Women's Fest

Sticky summer weather was no problem for Margaret Connelly and Erica Braswell on Sunday (July 18) as they won the 10K and 5K respectively at the Fleet Feet Sports Women's Festival races along the lakefront. Connelly, 18, of Western Springs, won the 10K in 37:16, well ahead of Christina Overbeck, 24, of Chicago, who placed second in 37:44. There was international flair in the bronze position as Simonetta Magnani of Parma, Italy notched third with a 38:52. There were 1,471 finishers in the 10K. In the 5K, Braswell, 29, of Birmingham, AL, also won comfortably, clocking 17:31 to 17:57 for runner-up Heather Prekop, 28, of Chicago. Columba Montes, 31, of Chicago, a regular on the CARA Runner's Choice Circuit as well as other top-tier races such as this one, finished third in 18:14. The 5K had 1,055 finishers.