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FORTY FORT — Chris Wadas led a field of 350 runners in the rain, capturing overall honors in the 37th annual Old Fort 5 Miler on Memorial Day.
Wadas, 35, who is the head track and cross country coach at Misericordia University, broke the tape in 26 minutes and 58 seconds. The win was Wadas’ sixth in the 5 miler.
Matt Byrne, of Scranton, who made a last minute decision to race, finished second, 48 seconds behind Wadas. It was Byrne’s first race since last summer.
“I ran the first mile in 5:15,” Wadas said. “I looked back and saw I had about a 10-second lead. Then I started pushing to build a bigger lead.”
Wadas wanted to have a more comfortable lead by the time he reached mile three.
“I wanted to know how hard I would have to push when I reached mile three,” he said. “I decided to just keep going at that pace. But I pushed really hard over the last mile. I think I covered the final mile in 5:14.”
Byrne, who was a standout runner for Scranton High School and St. Joseph’s (Philadelphia), said jokingly, “I just tried to keep myself close in case (Wadas) crumbled.”
Marina Orrson won top female honors with a 7th-place overall finish in 29:37. It was Orrson’s fourth straight victory in the Forty Fort race.
“It went as good as to be expected,” Orrson said. “I ran a half marathon 10 days ago. And my legs are shot. I wanted to finish under 30 minutes. And I did. So I’m happy about that.”
Orrson was referring to the Brooklyn Half Marathon where she finished in 1:21, 24th out of 14,000 women.
The overall female award Orrson received is called the “Kerry O’Neill Memorial” award, named for Ensign Kerry O’Neill, whose life was cut tragically short at age 21 in 1993.
O’Neill set numerous running records at the Naval Academy. The award was presented to Orrson by Kerry’s niece and namesake, Kerry Barrowclough, who traveled to the race from her home in Tega Cay, South Carolina. Two of O’Neill’s other nieces, Lexi and Sarah Barrowclough ran in the race.
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Forty Fort Lions 37th annual Old Fort 5 Miler results
Top 10 finishers
Chris Wadas, 35, Swoyersville, 26:58
Matt Byrne, 40-44, Scranton, 27:46
Bob Yonick, 30-34, Camp Hill, 28:24,
Kyle Suponcic, 25-29, Shavertown, 28:31
Mickey Moorhead, 20-24, Wilkes-Barre, 28:42
Ken Quigley, 45-49, Dunmore, 29:31
Marina Orrson, 26, Shavertown, 29:37
John Martino, 30-34, Dallas, 29:39
Barry Snyder, 30-34, Ashley, 29:52
Tavian McKenna, Forty Fort, 30:00
Male award winners: Overall (Bernie Hargadon Memorial): Wadas. Age group winners: First Forty Fort resident to finish (Ed Kupstas Memorial): McKenna. Age group winners: 12 & under: 1. Will Wojciechowiki,45:59; 2. Tim Serianni, 53:53. 13-15: 1. Gavilán McKenna, 30:00; 2. Nathan Ridgley, 30:55; 3. Chris Hine, 33:52. 16-19: 1. Nathan Searfoss, 31:51; 2. Cade Corcoran, 33:36; 3. Daylong Kasper, 33;45. 20-24: Mickey Moorhead, 28:42; 2. Bernie Gavlick, 30:58; 3. Frank Swaha, 36:15. 25-29: 1. Kyle Suponcic, 28:31; 2. Raphael Verdetto, 34:35; 3. Mike Turner, 35:12. 30-34: 1. Bob Yonick, 28:24; 2. John Martino, 29:39; 3. Barry Singer, 29:52. 35-39: 2. Mike Adamshick, 31:28; 2. Stephen Walski, 32:44; 3. Joey Stoltz, 32:59. Masters division: 40-44: 1. Matt Byrne, 27:46; 2. Paul Shymanski, 34:03; 3. Pat Kilduff, 35:09. 45-49: 1. Ken Quigley, 29:31; 2. Paul Shaffer, 35:05; 3. Bob Torch, 35:11. 50-54: 1. Dan Sherie, 31:13; 2. Fred Lombardo, 38:08; 3. Dave Stanitis, 38:26. 55-59: 1. Paul Leonard, 30:14; 2. Chris Krall, 35:51; 3. Greg Bassham, 44:49. 60-64: 1. Dan Rittenhouse, 37:57; 2. Robert Miller, 39:11. 65 & over: Len Matysczak, 42:14; 2. Joe Naughton, 57:35; 3. Eric Snyder, 58:20.
Top 3 female finishers
Marina Orrson, 26, Shavertown, 29:37.
Jenn Swiferski-Yonick, 30-34, Camp Hill, 32:14
Joey Rupert, 20-24, Shickshinny, 32:20
Female award winners: Overall (Kerry O’Neill Memorial): Orrson. First Forty Fort resident to finish: Erin Moreck. Age group winners: 12 & under: 1. Lola Wojciechowiki, 38:30; 2. Emma Horsley, 41:03; 3. Scarlett Hobson-Tomascik, 43:36. 13-15: 1. Caitlyn Bly, 37:14; 2. Annabelle Wojciechowiki, 38:21; 3. Lessly Ortiz, 45:34. 16-19: 1. Allison Manley, 40:52; 2. Mallory Balchun, 44:30; 3. Abby Haddock, 46:47. 20-24: 1. Mosey Rupert, 32:20; 2. Alexandria Plant, 36:03; 3. Rebecca Wychock, 38:55. 25-29: 1. Kelsey Cameron, 32:35; 2. Rebecca Crawford, 34:29; 3. Alla Wilson, 35:33. 30-34: 1. Jenn Swiderski-Yonick, 32:14; 2. Eryn Milius 33:18; 3. Emily Bell, 33:46. 35-39: 1. Erin Moreck, 35:50; 2. Chris Zermane, 36:32; 3. Jen Zangardi, 37:10. Masters division: 40-44: 1. Kim Danilovitz, 35:46; 2. Kim Segiel, 36:43; 3. Melissa Obmann, 37:10. 45-49: 1. Jen Heck, 35:02; 2. Melissa Delfino, 37:03; 3. Gina Jakubowski, 39:06. 50-54: 1. Wendy Fisk, 38:05; 2. Lisa Flanders, 41:03; 3. Sandra Orrson, 41:56. 55-59: 1. Carleen Lavin, 40:09; 2. Patty Leighton, 42:55; 3. Irene Ghezzi, 44:49. 60-64: 1. Joyce Foster, 42:14; 2. Patty Phillips-Pavlock, 50:20; 3. Barb Rupert, 56:42.
Field: 391 registered, 350 finishers. Timing and results: Scranton Running Company. Race director: Bernie Popson.
Schedule
Saturday: West Pittston Anthracite 4 Mile Run and Fun Walk at W. Pittston Borough building, Route 92, W. Pittston at 9 a.m. Info: Don Shearer, 570-357-9144.
Saturday, June 10: Susquehanna River Runners Club’s 2 Mile Run at Murphy’s Pub, Slocum St., Swoyersville at 9 a.m. Info: Chris Wadas, 570-592-2820.
