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KINGSTON TWP. — The head start given to the group of older females was all Patty Turissini needed to help her capture overall honors in the 5.3-mile Spring Trail Run handicap race on Sunday at Frances Slocum State Park.
Turissini, 65, of Scott Township, crossed the finish line in 53 minutes and 15 seconds.
Tony Korch, 57, of Nanticoke, finished second at 54:26. Aaron Stredny, 36, of Trucksville, finished third in 55:16. Bill Urbanski, 50, of Kingston, finished fourth in 57 minutes.
Turissini’s win marked the first time a female runner had ever won overall honors in the handicap race. She had won top female honors in the fall version of the race, which is not run as an age group handicap race. She had never competed in the spring race before.
“I’m excited about the win,” said Turissini, who runs along with her husband, Leo (5th in 57:49), and the legendary 80-year-old runner from Jermyn, Tony Cerminaro, four to five times a week. “I took advantage of the downhills by really pushing them. And I also pushed hard on the pavement areas of the race. I’m a road runner. On the trail sections of the race, I just kept telling myself, ‘I can push, after all running is a mental game.’”
Korch, who has won the spring version of the run five times and the fall version four times, was thrilled for Turissini.
“I’m really happy for Patty. She’s such a good runner. I never saw her throughout the entire race. I just couldn’t catch her.”
Sunday’s race marked the fourth time the event was run as the Jen Stec Memorial. Stec, who loved running trail races, died following a heart attack in October 2013 at age 38.
Korch, who was Stec’s best friend and training partner, just before the start of the race thanked the Striders running club for running the event in Stec’s memory.
After the race Korch said, “There are a lot of good runners here today remembering Jen. And it’s a beautiful day. I think she’s watching with a smile.”
In the age group handicap race, the clock starts ticking when the older runners head out in the earlier heats, giving them a head start. Turissini’s finishing time on her wrist watch read 49:34. Korch’s watch read 39:28. But the head start Turissini was given was just too much for Korch to overcome.
The handicaps were determined by the World Masters Association, an organization that collects stats on just how much runners slow down with age. The idea is to give everybody a chance to win.
Wyoming Valley Striders
26th annual Spring Trail Run
“Jen Stec Memorial”
(a 5.3 mile age group handicap race)
Top 20 award winners
Patti Turissini, 65, Scott Twp., 53:15
Tony Korch, 57, Nanticoke, 54:26
Aaron Stredny, 36, Trucksville, 55:16
Bill Urbanski, 50, Kingston, 57:00
Leo Turissini, 65, Scott Twp., 57:49
Mark Anttila, 37, S. Abington, 58:46
Bill Cook, 63, Scranton, 59:32
Randy Lyback, 48, Dupont, 59:43
Shamus Nugent, 34, Pocono Lake, 1:01:25
Melissa Delfino, 48, Dunmore, 1:01:47
Randy Shemanski, 40, Dunmore, 1:02:10
Heather Dewees, 44, Dallas, 1:02:40
Ron Lozowski, 47, Warren Glen, 1:03:07
Steve Walski, 35, W. Wyoming, 1:03:41
Mike Bochnovich, 46, Archbald, 1:05:41
Larry Polachek, 52, Dallas, 1:05:41
Chris Roberts, 42, Shavertown, 1:05:51
Joe Dutko, 70, Mountain Top, 1:06:18
Scott Edwards, 28, Dunmore, 1:06:57
Moriah Peters, 43, S. Abington, 1:06:58
Field: 55 (36 males, 19 females). Official starter and timing: Vince P. Wojnar. Results: Tony Pszeniczny (Wyoming Valley Striders). Race directors: Don Grose and Linda Wojnar.