College Runners Cut Out of Title Chase
at Gold Medal Camp Alumni 5K

BY JOHN HARWICK

CALIFORNIA, PA--Prognosticators tabbed the college runners as the pre-race favorites in the 8th annual Gold Medal Camp 5K Alumni Race on July 23 at California University, but crafty Craig and rapid Rachel had other ideas.

Former Pitt distance ace Craig Woshner, now the AD at James Wood (VA) High and close to joining the 40-plus age group, won the men’s race for the fifth straight year and seventh time in eight starts in a quick 17:36.

Fox Chapel High junior Rachel Humphrey--looking forward to a third straight trip to the PIAAs--repeated in the women’s race (21:37) to join 1991 Pennsylvania XC champ Laura Shaffer of West Allegheny High as a two-time winner.

Three age-group runners won their second straight: Fox Chapel High freshman Laura Humphrey (12-13 and 14-15), Chancellor (VA) High track coach Chuck Rudolph (40-49), and Dennis Bane (50-59) of the West Penn Track Club.

FINISH LINE

Each year Alumni Race officials dedicate the race to the memories of former Gold Medal Campers Seth Burton of Fairmont, WV and Katie DeRosa of Frostburg, MD. Separate automobile accidents in 1998 caused the deaths of those two young distance runners. Seth had captained his West Fairmont High team to the 1997 West Virginia State XC championship. Katie--in her last race--won the 15-and-under division of the Greater Clarksburg (WV) Distance Classic 10K.

Four father/son duos competed: Bronson and Talbot Armstrong, Skip and Jee Delclos, Norm and Chris DeRosa, and Bob and Mike Harwick.

Dave Mapes did his usual fine job of timing the race.

Runners from five states competed: Maryland, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, and Virginia.

Long-time USATF master official Mark Schwartz served as the referee.

Veteran California University XC coach Marty Uher started the race.