Inaugural Wilton 5K Raises Over Half Of Norwalk River Valley Trail’s $40K Maintenance Goal

WILTON, CT — Nearly 100 runners took part in the inaugural “It’s All Downhill From Here” 5K on Aug. 2, helping raise more than half of the Norwalk River Valley Trail’s $40,000 maintenance goal.

The event, organized by Wilton High School Boys Cross Country Coach Jim Gerweck in partnership with the NRVT, drew participants ranging in age from 5 to 75 from nearly 40 towns.

The course began at Ambler Farm, climbed from Hurlbutt Road onto Skunk Lane, then descended to the NRVT trailhead on Route 7 at Devan Chevrolet. While the opening mile was a steep challenge, much of the remainder was downhill, and many runners reported personal-best times.

The 2025 NRVT Maintenance Appeal seeks $40,000 by Sept. 30 to help cover rising trail repair costs attributed to severe weather and climate change. This year’s race raised $2,500 in entry fees and $18,500 in sponsorships, totaling $21,000.

Top female finishers were Audrey Ahmetovic of Wethersfield; Virginie Sette and Josie Golman, both of Wilton; Carol Chao of Oxford; and Bailey Bitetto of Norwalk. The top male finishers were Logan Santisi of Wilton; Luis Quesada of Norwalk; Kyle Santisi of Wilton; Alexander Makrynasios of Wilton; and Jeffrey Hussey of Wilton.

Coach Gerweck noted the personal connection between the NRVT and Wilton’s student athletes: “The boys—well, and the girls—are always on the trail. It is such an integral part of their training and has been since it opened in Wilton. I wanted to do something to give back from our athletic community.”

The NRVT, which currently has completed sections in Norwalk, Wilton, and Redding, is planned to eventually stretch 30 miles from Calf Pasture Beach in Norwalk to Rogers Park in Danbury. Work is underway on projects in Norwalk, Wilton, Ridgefield, and Danbury with $8.4 million in committed funding.

NRVT Executive Director Andrea Gartner said the race’s strong turnout could signal the start of an annual tradition. Donations to the maintenance appeal can be made online here.