More than 900 runners took to the streets of West Hartford on Sunday, June 8, 2025 to kick off the second day of Celebrate! West Hartford with the FUNd RUNS. 

By Ronni Newton. Photos by Craig Rosenberg

More than 1,000 participants participated Sunday morning in the Celebrate! West Hartford’s FUNd RUNS – the 5K and the Kids K – runners from toddler-age to 80-plus.

The temperature at the start was in the low-60s, with cloudy skies, and generally considered good running weather.

While the Kids K stayed within the confines of Blue Back Square, the 5K – which was being run for the second time on the new course introduced last year – took runners north up Main Street to Craigmoor Road where they turned right and then headed south to enjoy the picturesque Trout Brook Trail for the second half of the race. The race ended with an uphill on Memorial Road to the finish line arch in Blue Back Square – but other than that hill most of the course was flat and fast.

Cameron Cheyney, 26, of Hartford, was the first to break the tape, finishing the 5K in 16:21. Cheyney was honored with the inaugural Peter Hawley Memorial Award, given to the first-place overall male winner.

Braeden Laframboise, 22, of Southington, was second in 16:29. Laframboise was third in last year’s race.

The third place overall finisher was the first female finisher. Jenna Zydanowicz, 23, of West Hartford crossed the finish line in 16:46. She was the winner of the Fleet Feet Sports Trophy as the first female to break the tape.

Greg Weaver, 45, of West Hartford, who was fourth overall in 17:02, received the Sherman Malley Memorial Award as the first male finisher from West Hartford.

Complete race results can be found here.

A portion of the proceeds from the Celebrate! West Hartford FUNd RUNS are donated to the Town That Cares Fund as well as the Leisure Services Scholarship Fund which aids low-income families by funding the cost of enrolling in swim lessons, summer camps, and various other activities.

For scenes from the remainder of the Celebrate! West Hartford event, click here.

Like what you see here? Click here to subscribe to We-Ha’s newsletter so you’ll always be in the know about what’s happening in West Hartford! Click the blue button below to become a supporter of We-Ha.com and our efforts to continue producing quality journalism.