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Running: Early start, early finish for Brooklyn runners

the Jamesport Fire Department Sound to Bay 5-10K run was held in Jamesport on August 28, 2016

Race day started early, especially for two Brooklyn runners, Angel Confesor and Felipe Garcia, who shared the Sunday morning drive to eastern Long Island for the Jamesport First Department’s 18th annual Sound to Bay 10K. Garcia said they were on the road by 6:20 a.m.

In keeping with the early-bird theme, both men were the first two finishers in the 10-kilometer race, with Confesor winning for the second year in a row. He reached the finish line at South Jamesport Beach in 36 minutes, 24 seconds, well behind his winning time of 35:33.9 last year. Garcia was well behind him. Despite getting lost on the course — he figures those missteps added about a minute to his time — Garcia still took second place in 39:04. Jose Vlloa was third in 40:21.

Unlike last year’s race, which was run on a cloud-covered, 70-degree, breezy day, Sunday’s weather conditions were more typical for late August: hot and humid.

The race starting 12 minutes later than scheduled probably didn’t help matters as the sun climbed higher in the sky.

“Yeah, it was pretty bad,” said Lara Doroski of New York City, who won the women’s race.

Confesor took the lead from the start and handled what Mother Nature threw at him. “It is tough to race in these conditions, but you try to enjoy yourself,” he said.

One can’t say Confesor and Garcia didn’t prepare for the race. Confesor, a chef, runs four miles each way to work every day. Garcia said he runs 10 to 14 miles a day. The two, who Garcia said have been friends for about 12 years, sometimes train together.

“You can’t do this without training,” said Garcia, 34.

When asked how long he has been involved in road racing, Confesor, 32, likes to say, “Too many years.” The truth is, he was 16 years old when he started.

“I love it,” he said. “That’s my hobby. It keeps you out of trouble.”

Doroski made her first appearance in the event a triumphant one. The NYU student, who ran cross country and track and field for Cold Spring Harbor High School, said her time of 42:41 wasn’t good, but there was a valid explanation. “I ran a really fast 5K yesterday, so I knew I’d be really sore today,” she said.

Doroski, 21, who won a marathon when she was 16, withstood the heat. A few weeks ago she ran a 10K race in Babylon in conditions that were “10 times worse,” she said.

Like Confesor, Doroski won handily, taking the lead on the first hill moments after the start at Iron Pier Beach in Northville. She said she kept looking behind her during the race to see if any competitors were creeping up on her. None were.

The runner-up, Meredith Dixon, was timed in 44:47. Tiffany Stack was third in 45:51.

Doroski may run cross country for NYU this season, but the answer to that question was still up in the air, even with Monday being the first day of practice.

“I don’t know,” she said. “We’ll see.”

Dagan, Harbaugh Win 5Ks. Brendan Dagan won the men’s five-kilometer race in 17:32. The next two male finishers were Mike McShane (18:09) and David Wallman (20:34).

The women’s 5K winner was Germaine Harbaugh in 20:30. Jacklyn Hoffman was second in 25:40 and Jennifer Caldwell third in 26:45.

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Photo caption: Angel Confesor of Brooklyn won the Sound to Bay 10K for the second year in a row Sunday. (Credit: Daniel De Mato).