True-ly an amazing finish

New Haven 20K race ends with dramatic finish for top three runners, less than a second apart

NEW HAVEN — After fighting through a lead pack of 20 runners for the majority of the 20K championship, Biya Simbassa saw the 12-mile marker sign and began his kick. Less than a half a mile left to the finish line he thought.

However, within moments he passed another 12-mile marker sign and realized the first sign he’d seen earlier had been for the half marathon race and not the 20K. He had started his kick too soon.

Simbassa held onto the surge as long as he could and led a group of four men to the final straightway with the finish line in sight.

However, in the final 50 meters, it was Ben True’s kick that surged at the right time, passing Simbassa within meters of the finish line to claim the 20K title in 59 minutes, 53 seconds at the Faxon Law New Haven Road Race Monday morning.

“It just came down to the kick and Ben had it,” Simbassa, 28, said. “I made a move early and that cost me, but I’m not going say that was as an excuse, but it was good racing overall and I’m happy with it.”

After holding the race virtually in 2020 because of the pandemic, the 20K field included a handful of newcomers to the distance in both the men’s and women’s race.

Brian A. Pounds / Hearst Connecticut Media Olympian Ben True wins the New Haven Road Race national championship 20k on Monday in New Haven.