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DALLAS — Steve Housenick scored a wire-to-wire victory and Sherri Yelen scored a come-from-behind win in the Pauly Friedman Family 5K Run on Sunday at Misericordia University.

Housenick, 46, of Kingston, broke the tape in 19 minutes and 14 seconds, outrunning second-place finisher, Nathan Searfoss, 14, of Wilkes-Barre, by nearly a minute and a half.

“I went out fast – I just tried to run my own race,” said Housenick, who has been running all his life. “(Searfoss), I think, was right behind me over most of the first mile. I started pulling away from him just before we reached the 1-mile marker. I pushed hard the entire time.”

Yelen won top female honors in 21:45. The win was her third at Pauly Friedman.

“I started out easy over the early going of the race,” said Yelen, a 43-year-old teacher at Meyers High School who lives in Kingston. “I actually ran in fifth place among the women for quite a while. The girl who finished second (Victoria Blazick), was still in the lead when we reached the second mile marker. That’s when I kicked it in and took over the lead.”

Once Yelen moved in front, she was not challenged again.

This year’s race was expected to raise about $15,000. Proceeds from the event will go to Help Line, a program of the Family Services Association of Northeastern Pennsylvania. Help Line is an information and referral service and first response point for crisis calls in Bradford, Clinton, Columbia, Lackawanna, Luzerne, Lycoming, Monroe, Montour, Northumberland, Pike, Snyder, Sullivan, Susquehanna, Tioga, Union, Wayne and Wyoming counties. It operates 24 hours a day, 365 days a year.

“If we do raise $15,000 at this race, we will have raised about $95,000 over the seven years of the event,” said Ruth Kemmerer, Family Services Association of Northeastern Pennsylvania Chief Advancement Officer.

Before the start of the race, Mike Zimmerman, Family Services CEO, thanked the participants, sponsors and the Friedman family for their support. He also thanked Misericordia University for providing the venue.

7th annual Pauly Friedman Family 5K Run results

Top 5 male finishers

1. Steve Housenick, 46, Kingston, 19:14

2. Nathan Searfoss, 14, Wilkes-Barre, 20:43

3. Glen Zimmerman, 33, Mountain Top, 21:21

4. Pete Miller, 31, Bethany, 21:25

5. Steve Filipiac, 32, Harding, 21:28

Male age group winners: 15 & under: Nathan Searfoss, Wilkes-Barre, 20:43; 2. Cade Corcoran, Wilkes-Barre; 3. Joe Ray, Mountain Top. 16-19: none. 20-29: Luke Shillington, Shickshinny, 22:48; 2. Eric VanHorn, Shickshinny; 3. Nick Holl, na. 30-39: 1. Glen Zimmerman, Mountain Top, 21:21; 2. Pete Miller, Bethany, 3. Steve Filipiak, Harding. 40-49: 1. Joe Sklansky, Mountain Top, 26:06; 2. Mike Corcoran, Wilkes-Barre; 3. Gene Bly, Hanover Twp. 50-59: 1. Mike Rawls, Mountain Top, 23:13; 2. Mark Hannon, Ashley; 3. Dave Searfoss, na. 60 & over: 1. Ron Rawls, Mountain Top, 24:20; 2. Tom Walski, Nanticoke.

Top 3 female finishers

1. Sherri Yelen, 43, Kingston, 21:45

2. Victoria Blazick, 34, Trucksville, 22:01

3. Maura Armezzani, 29, Scott Twp., 23:09

Female age group winners: 15 & under: 1. Nicole Joseph, Mountain Top, 24:42; 2. Caitlyn Bly, Hanover Twp.; 3. Noam Walsik, Harveys Lake. 16-19: 1. Alison Machey, McAdoo, 28:40; 2. Alysa Machey. 20-29: 1. Maura Armezzani, Scott Twp., 23:09; 2. Sarah Miller, Bethany.30-39: 1. Victoria Blazick, Trucksville, 22:01; 2. Lili Glauber, New York City; 3. Alexa Carroll, Wyoming. 40-49: 1. Karen Chappell, Williamsport, 26:59; 2. Kristi Joseph, Mountain Top; 3. Julia Burkhardt, Drums. 50-59: Brenda Gonzald, Exeter, 28:09; 2. Mary Ann Katajczak, Exeter; 3. Johanna Gelb, Wilkes-Barre.60 & over: 1. Bev Tomasak, Edwardsville, 25:28; 2. Stephanie Walski, Shavertown.

Field: 201 (total walkers and runners). Official starter: George Meiss (Insta Results). Timing: Vince Wojnar (Wyoming Valley Striders). Results: Insta Results. Race director: Ruth Kemmerer.

Schedule

Thursday: Susquehanna River Runners Club’s Valley’s Fastest Man and Woman series, Race No. 2. Breaker Brewing Company Giants Despair Mile, Northampton St., Laurel Run at 7 p.m. Info: Chris Wadas, 570-592-2820.

Saturday, Aug. 22: Pittston Tomato Festival 5K Run, at the festival grounds, just off Main St., Pittston, at 10 a.m. Info: Jay Duffy, 570-574-0463.

Thursday, Aug. 27: Susquehanna River Runners Club’s Valley’s Fastest Man and Woman series, Race No. 3., Murphy’s Pub Mile, at the pub, Slocum St., Swoyersville, at 7 p.m. Info: Chris Wadas, 570-592-2820.

Runners and walkers take off as the start of the Pauly Friedman Family 5K Walk/Run at Misericordia University in Dallas Township on Sunday morning.
https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/08/web1_TTL081015FriedmanRun_1.jpg.optimal.jpgRunners and walkers take off as the start of the Pauly Friedman Family 5K Walk/Run at Misericordia University in Dallas Township on Sunday morning. Bill Tarutis | For Times Leader

Overall winner, Stephen Housenick of Kingston crosses the finish line at the Pauly Friedman Family 5K Run at Misericordia University in Dallas Township on Sunday morning.
https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/08/web1_TTL081015FriedmanRun_2.jpg.optimal.jpgOverall winner, Stephen Housenick of Kingston crosses the finish line at the Pauly Friedman Family 5K Run at Misericordia University in Dallas Township on Sunday morning. Bill Tarutis | For Times Leader

Top female finisher, Sherri Yelen of Kingston crosses the finish line at the Pauly Friedman Family 5K Run at Misericordia University in Dallas Township on Sunday morning.
https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/08/web1_TTL081015FriedmanRun_3.jpg.optimal.jpgTop female finisher, Sherri Yelen of Kingston crosses the finish line at the Pauly Friedman Family 5K Run at Misericordia University in Dallas Township on Sunday morning. Bill Tarutis | For Times Leader
Pauly Friedman Family 5K Run hopes to raise $15K for crisis call program

By Robert Miner

For Times Leader

Reach Times Leader sports at 570-829-7143 or on Twitter @tlsports.