A Race Report Card

BY HERB TOWNSEND

RACE: Second Annual Habitat for Humanity
DATE: November 29, 2003
PLACE: Quakertown, PA
DISTANCE: 3.1-miles
HOSTED BY: Honda

Course

Grade: A

A loop on lightly traveled roads in rural Upper Bucks County with mild rolling hills. Other than an occasional unavoidable barnyard odor, it is difficult to find fault with such an ever-changing, pastoral course.

Weather

Grade: B

After a spell of unusually mild weather, it seemed colder than the actual mid-30s. Overcast skies and a slight breeze contributed to the chill feeling of a typical late November day in Eastern Pennsylvania.

Entry Fee

Grade: B

A $20 day of race entry is on the high side, but it was softened through saving $5 by skipping the T-shirt, and knowing that the money was going to support the worthwhile Habitat for Humanity cause.

Awards

Grade: B

Medals for the age-group winners will never get high grades according to my official scoring protocol. However, this was softened by the fact that a lot of more valuable random awards were also given out.

Winners

Grade: A

John Lipa was an easy winner in 16:13 among the 123 finishers. First place in the woman's division was taken by Masters runner Nancy Smith in 20:57. Special notice is given to 10-year-old Owen Krug (20:56) who was able to out-kick the first woman (and almost got me as well).

Other

Grade: A+

Any race that serves pizza afterwards will always score high according to the official protocol. Other treats including fruits and baked goods were also in abundance.

Organization

Grade: A

The race was organized by the Quakertown Rotary Club using the facilities of the Quakertown United Methodist Church. Kudos to tuxedo-clad race organizer Bill Tuszynski for a excellent job of putting it all together for the second year.

Overall

Grade: A

A nice little local race with the potential for growing and becoming an annual classic. Highly recommended!

MALE

Overall

1. John Lipa 16:13

14 and Under

1. Taylor Gentile 20:30

15-19

1. Eric Rudolph 17:33
2. Ryan Gofus 18:38
3. Eric Dunlop 18:50

20-24

1. Peter Hixon 19:36
2. Tom Oristan 19:50
3. Phil Heckler 23:31

25-29

1. Chris Leitz 17:12
2. Randy Latza 17:18
3. Anthony Clark 18:13

30-34

1. Jon Piatkiewicz 19:52
2. Michael Mahoney 22:56
3. John Benincasa 23:22

35-39

1. Marshall Bowen 19:10
2. Scott Heckman 19:11
3. Rob Gallagher 19:22

40-44

1. Dean Dimmig 17:32
2. Jim Parsons 18:50
3. Tom Farrell 20:21

45-49

1. George Munro 18:24
2. Phil Rizzo 19:39
3. Bruce Limbert 21:27

50-59

1. Marcel Kares 21:53
2. Dave Broadbent 21:59
3. Eric Leitz 22:49

60 and Over

1. Herb Townsend 20:55
2. Dick Patterson 25:32
3. David Weiss 32:57

FEMALE

Overall

1. Nancy Smith 20:57

14 and Under

1. Alexis Bobarsky 25:04

15-19

1. Laura Kulikowski 24:27
2. Gena Gentile 26:02
3. Lauren Funk 29:45

20-24

1. Alexis Ross 25:55
2. Lisa Kemmerer 29:49
3. Jane Bar 35:40

25-29

1. Mary Latza 21:54
2. Alissa DellaCroce 23:12
3. Heather Van Pelt 25:36

30-34

1. Sue Mahoney 26:47
2. Laura Lauderslayer 26:48

35-39

1. Rosemarie Rosenberger 25:52
2. Lisa Todd 28:52
3. Deb Krieder 28:53

40-44

1. Sue Fischer 23:27
2. Sue Schaeffer 23:37
3. Liz Herman 25:18

45-49

1. Cindy Field 25:42
2. Dawn Lowe 27:30
3. Kathy Gentile 28:08

50-59

1. Sue Parker 24:50
2. Diane Good 26:25