Kennett Square Runs

BY DICK FITCH

KENNETT SQUARE, PA -- Over 800 runners and walkers gathered just prior to 9am, Saturday May 16, 1998 ready for the start of the Kennett Square 10K run, followed in rapid succession by the 5K run, the 5K racewalk, and the one mile fun run/walk. All events started in the center of Kennett Square and wound their respective measured courses to nearby Anson B. Nixon Park for a spectacular conclusion along a half-mile of freshly groomed running trails, finishing by the main picnic area and fishing lakes. The morning temperature was in the 80s with clear skies, but high humidity.

The first 10K runner, Steve Parker, came in at 32:28, followed by Doug Schmitt and Kevin Wood. Steve successfully repeated his 1997 victory. Ladies leader was Margaret Starnes with a time of 40:58, followed by Ann Tierney and Megan Miller. Margaret moved up from her 1997 2nd place finish to take the crown this year.

John Brannon captured the 5K title in 15:44. He was followed closely by Marc Washington and Crosby Wood leading the rest of the runners. Ladies' victor was Jeanine Radke in 18:04 followed by Mary Beth Bittles and Julie Waterbury.

In the 5K racewalk, Ed Kurtz took the winner's award in 28:45, followed by Clyde Godschall, and Dan Simmons. Sherri Foster succeeded as first amongst the ladies in 34:15, ahead of Linda Akell and Sue Simmons. Sherri advanced from her 3rd place finish last year to capture the event this year.

Masters 40-and-over victories in the 10K went to Lee Kauffman and three-time winner Leah Whipple, while George Jacques and Donna Kestel captured the Masters 5K titles. Richard Morelli and Laura Phillips led all 5K racewalk Masters.

Awards of cash to the 10K and 5K top threes, handsome running jackets to the top Masters, and glass mugs for the top three in 5-year age groups for each event were cheerfully given to the winning participants.

In addition to the individual competition, there were Team awards in the 10K run. The Clark's Company Team won the Corporate division, North Harford Running Club repeated as winner of the Service Club/Public Agencies division and St. Michael's Church captured the Open competition. Congratulations to all these hard-running team members.

The day also featured a lift and run competition. Under the supervision of the Kennett YMCA, numerous runners bench-pressed their body weight (60% for women) before the running events started. Run times were then reduced for each repetition providing a combined lift/run score. The overall winners in the 10K event were repeat winner Frank Perna with 27 repetitions, then Mark Fanelli and John Yanzuk. Ladies' leaders were Meg Miller with 28 reps, followed by Loretta Perna and Theresa Hartzell. In the 5K lift and run segment, winners were Wade Scott who hefted 44 repetitions, followed by John Brannon and Jerry Ward. Irene Cross won the ladies' category with 40 reps and Cheryl Vanbuskirk and Julie Waterbury rounded out the top three. This event provides unique interest for certain runners and participation increased from last year.

Another unique attraction of The Kennett Run was a crowd-pleasing post-race party put on by the Kennett Square Wendy's staff who served up endless hundreds of burgers, dogs, and juices while Chester County Beverage Company provided additional beverages to the horde of hungry, thirsty runners and spectators.

The Run, in its ninth year and growing steadily, benefits individuals from the greater Kennett area with unique needs and is organized and administered by Kennett Run Charities, Inc. with the Kennett area Rotary and Lions and Exchange Clubs playing key leadership roles in support of the event.

Well-deserved congratulations go to the race organizers, sponsors, community groups, volunteer helpers, and participants for such a fine event.

MALE

10K

Overall

1. Steve Parker 32:28
2. Doug Schmitt 33:29
3. Kevin Wood 34:55

Masters

1. Lee Kauffman 37:09

13 and Under

1. Peter Strugala 51:31

14-19

1. Brandon Tirrell 46:10
2. Andrew Miller 49:08
3. Joe Mahaffey 55:32

20-24

1. Greg Palloni 38:03

25-29

1. Mike Craighead 36:27
2. John Wanzuk 39:31
3. Patrick DiRubbo 39:36

30-34

1. David Bursler 39:24
2. Wilson Gorrell 39:41
3. Joseph Breslin 39:50

35-39

1. James Alexander 36:29

40-44

1. Bud Dougherty 39:06
2. Jeff Wersinger 40:34
3. Kent Springer 41:27

45-49

1. Fred Shuffleberger 37:38
2. Steve Brook 42:28
3. Craig Conover 43:09

50-54

1. Peter Hunt 42:25
2. Arthur Brown 46:46
3. Peter McDowell 47:45

55-59

1. Tyrone Fisher 47:56
2. Roberto Carrara 55:42
3. Skip Nelson 55:50

60 and Over

1. Robert Kline 50:34
2. Patrick Nutt 51:24
3. Lou Wanderly 52:33

10K PoweRun

Overall

1. Frank Perna (27 reps) 9:37
2. Mark Fanelli (28 reps) 13:42
3. John Yanzuk (24 reps) 15:31
4. Jeffrey Ogborn (26 reps) 15:49

14-19

1. Daniel McTavish (5 reps) 58:70

20-29

1. Richard Grater (23 reps) 27:17
2. Peter Simon (14 reps) 33:30
3. Gary Huggard (13 reps) 48:10

30-39

1. Joseph Breslin (22 reps) 17:50
2. Karl Sauer (28 reps) 19:46
3. Joseph Swaar (22 reps) 23:43

40-54

1. Mike Perna (29 reps) 21:15
2. Jeff Wersinger (15 reps) 25:34
3. Mark Simms (13 reps) 32:27

5K

Overall

1. John Brannon 15:44
2. Marc Washington 15:57
3. Crosby Wood 16:12

Masters

1. George Jacques 17:34

13 and Under

1. Eric Broadbent 20:09
2. Michael Hulbertson 22:12
3. Mathew White 22:32

14-19

1. Kenneth Contrisciane 17:43
2. Brian Contrisciane 18:19
3. Justin Mailey 18:37

20-24

1. Ernie Churchville 16:42
2. Alex Deschenes 18:16
3. David Keefe 19:02

25-29

1. Robert Jones 16:28
2. Jeffrey Marks 17:15
3. Kenneth Taylor 18:01

30-34

1. John Callahan 17:11
2. Kevin Mathews 17:32
3. Joe Iuliucci 17:42

35-39

1. Robert Rimkis 16:31

40-44

1. Richard LaDow 18:11
2. Jeff Crago 18:24
3. Richard Royce 19:21

45-49

1. George Dieno 17:51
2. Tom Daly 18:57
3. Lee Rose 19:25

50-54

1. George Sanders 21:01
2. Greg Kachur 23:10
3. Jim Duckenfield 23:14

55-59

1. Jake Myers 19:42
2. Don Coates 20:35
3. David Yeats-Thomas 20:55

60 and Over

1. George Jackson 22:47
2. Robert McGee 23:04
3. Bill Gowdy 23:38

5K PoweRun

1. Wade Scott (44 reps) 1:53
2. John Brannon (22 reps) 4:44
3. Jerry Ward (33 reps) 5:32
4. Dan Arriola (35 reps) 5:35

14-19

1. Scott Whittle (14 reps) 13:22
2. Andrew Ciuffetelli (18 reps) 14:03
3. Rick Angelucci (10 reps) 16:52

20-29

1. Jerry Boland (28 reps) 6:53
2. Crosby Wood (11 reps) 10:42
3. Jason Britton (21 reps) 11:02

30-39

1. Russell Romberger (26 reps) 6:48
2. Jake Howard (24 reps) 7:41
3. Mike Bodary (15 reps) 10:59

40-54

1. Bernie Ciuffetelli (32 reps) 10:10
2. Lee Rose (17 reps) 10:55
3. Andy Ciuffetelli (25 reps) 11:58

55 and Over

1. Russell Romberger (12 reps) 28:07

5K Racewalk

1. Ed Kurtz 28:45
2. Clyde Godschall 31:35
3. Dan Simmons 31:55

Masters

1. Richard Morelli 38:03

FEMALE

10K

Overall

1. Margaret Starnes 40:58
2. Ann Tierney 41:41
3. Megan Miller 42:49

Masters

1. Leah Whipple 45:04

14-19

1. Christina Ledezma 56:09
2. Kelly Hanna 56:37

20-24

1. Melanie Herkins 45:24
2. Alexa Grobe 42:25
3. Siobhan Staley 48:12

25-29

1. Christy Hannum 50:09
2. Debbie Pojunis 53:06
3. Kristine Vidal 56:24

30-34

1. Connie Schmidt 49:36
2. Carol Pitts 49:55
3. Cherene Scherbinske 53:02

35-39

1. Theresa Hartzell 45:54

40-44

1. Ann Dlucos 48:53
2. Sandra Retzlaff 49:07
3. Sandy Iverson 51:52

45-49

1. Wendy Hughes 50:59
2. Linda Brook 56:51
3. Elizabeth McCarthy 57:00

55-59

1. Jackie Detwiler 1:00:00

10K PoweRun

Overall

1. Meg Miller (25 reps) 17:49
2. Loretta Perna (38 reps) 22:12
3. Theresa Hartzell (17 reps) 22:41

20-29

1. Melanie Herkis (16 reps) 23:36
2. Susan Krawitz (9 reps) 51:15
3. Helene Sisti (5 reps) 55:11

30-39

1. Ann Tierney (1 rep) 40:41
2. Stephanie Taylor (8 reps) 50:36

40-54

1. Marilyn Kamp (28 reps) 25:50

5K

Overall

1. Jeanine Radke 18:04
2. Mary Beth Bittles 19:23
3. Julie Waterbury 21:54

Masters

1. Donna Kestel 23:51

13 and Under

1. Shannon Reath 24:23
2. Melinda Kuritzky 27:47
3. Rachel Welsh 29:21

14-19

1. Susannah Oberdorf 22:49
2. Jennifer Feiner 24:44
3. Natale Retzloff 24:45

20-24

1. Carna Kahhu 22:19
2. Amy Thompson 22:40
3. Meridith Lentz 24:35

25-29

1. Cheryl Vanbuskirk 22:07
2. Karen Banker 22:43
3. Karen Forbes 25:18

30-34

1. Hally Burns 23:21
2. Laura Thomas 25:33
3. Carol Oas 25:54

35-39

1. Melanie Pratola 23:48

40-44

1. Maureen Harrigan 24:55
2. Donna McGowen 27:34
3. Janet Ruggieri 27:42

45-49

1. Betty Blow 26:27
2. Jeanette Taylor 27:45
3. Darcie Johnston 28:22

50-54

1. Carol Ann MacMullan 25:16
2. Rose Mary McCarty 31:34
3. Joanne Ganski 32:48

55-59

1. Heide Moebius 24:24
2. Shirley Duckenfield 28:05
3. Sally Stees 28:44

60 and Over

1. Becky Yencharis 46:38

5K PoweRun

Overall

1. Irene Norcross (40 reps) 8:26
2. Cheryl Vanbuskirk (27 reps) 8:37
3. Julie Waterbury (26 reps) 8:54

14-19

1. Susannah Oberdorf (1 rep) 22:19
2. Amy Brooks (3 reps) 31:46

20-29

1. Lisa Hurchik (13 reps) 23:01
2. Shalom Brooks (13 reps) 23:48
3. Dawn Brooks (3 reps) 30:47

30-39

1. Mary Beth Bittles (10 reps) 14:23
2. Laurie Young (22 reps) 16:04
3. Margie Hartnett (12 reps) 18:09

40-54

1. Darcie Johnston (18 reps) 19:22
2. Janet Ruggieri (12 reps) 21:42
3. Betty Blow (1 rep) 25:57

55 and Over

1. Sally Stees (6 reps) 25:44
2. Becky Yencharis (8 reps) 42:38

5K Racewalk

1. Sherri Foster 34:15
2. Linda Akell 35:36
3. Sue Simmons 36:35

Masters

1. Laura Phillips 36:42

Start of the Kennett Square 10K.