| Record falls, heart center gains at Stampede 5K By Laurie Gordon Former Newton Memorial High School standout, Ray Biersbach made his hometown fans proud by not only winning but by beating the course record at yesterday’s 10th Annual Stillwater Stamped 5-Kilometer Race. Biersbach, who now runs for Brooks Manhattan, ran 15:21.87 to beat Olympian Marcus O’Sullivan’s 15:42 park 5-kilometer record. “It’s always great to come home to race,” Biersbach said, “And to achieve the new course record was a big thrill.” Biersbach went out in a 4:45 mile and had a 10-yard lead at the mile. He had opened it up to about 20 yards at the two-mile mark and then appeared to find yet another gear to bring it home for a 100-yard win. Biersbach walked away with $200 for his record-breaking victory. “I always make sure I set Stampede weekend aside to come to this race,” he said. “It holds a special place in my heart because I like the course with the rolling hills in the middle and finish by the lake plus it’s great to come home to race.” John Cote, who lives in Summit, also beat the course record, running 15:38.90 and Seth Holland, a former High Point Regional celeb runner, was third in 15:53.62. Both also now run for Brooks Manhattan. Kelly Bradley, who now lives in East Stroudsburg but who grew up in Vernon, was the female champion. “I liked this course a lot better than the 5K I did in Sparta,” she said, “I enjoyed the scenery and the hills in the middle are a challenge, but the second mile is the perfect place for them.” Bradley ran for Vernon High School and now teaches and coaches in the North Warren school district. “I started the race running with one of our kids which was great and then worked the hills and was pleased with my finishing time.” Her best time for 5-kilometers is 18:46 and she ran 19:00. “The times are coming down and I feel I’m getting in some good shape by racing. One of the things about this race that I think is great is that it benefits the new heart center.” The new Newton Memorial Heart Center was one of the race beneficiaries as was the Bears Youth Running Program. The hospital’s Chief Operating Officer, Sean O’Rourke, even ran the race. “This was great,” he said after catching his breath and congratulating the winners, “I thought it was a nice mix with the rolling hills thrown in there.” The hospital’s Foundation President, George Morville, was the official starter and his son, Jesse, not only ran the 5-K but raised $250 in pledge money for the Heart Center. Morville’s other son, Brian, competed in the fun run. Said Morville, owner of The Morville Group, “Certainly, we’re trying to build up funds for the heart center and what better way to help the heart health of the area by participating in something that’s heart healthy.” Newton’s Perrin Masi, was second in 20:49. Known county-wide for her marathoning, Masi also showed she is a force to be reckoned with at the 5-K distance. Makenzi Taepel, of Sussex, was third. Over 250 runners came out for the race to show their support of the heart center as well as the Bears Youth Running Program. Members of the program competed and volunteered and their parents contributed to the race’s hallmark post-race home baked goods table. Newton’s Tim Pazoria and Layton’s Jenny Heigis, both Bear Youth Runners and recent County Mile Champions, dominated the 14-and-under age group. Pazoria ran 19:17 while Heigis went 21:44. Sparta’s Bill Bosmann, 54, was the men’s Master’s Champion, running 18:36 and Linda Heter, of Lafayette, was the top Female Master in 21:58. Each took home a homemade Stampede quilt for their efforts. Kate Roshler, of Fredon, is just 10, but she’s already a huge fan of the sport of running and loves to put her game face on and compete. That face was bright red at the finish, but it bore a smile all the way across. “I love running races,” she said. “This one was a toughie in the middle, but then it was downhill and flat at the end and now I get to go and jump in the lake.” Roshler finished in 26:38. Her brothers, Cameron and Court, also ran...Cameron was second to Pazoria in the 14 and under age group, running 20:28, and Court ran in the mile fun run. All are members of The Bear’s Running Club. Entering its 10th year, the program instills the many physical and mental benefits of the sport in our Sussex County kids. Volunteer coaches work with elementary and middle school-aged kids two nights a week all fall, and kids also have the chance to compete against other kids their age from all over the state on the weekends and qualify for state and even national championships. The race was underscored with live music by singer/songwriter, Peter Karp, who performed live music from 8 AM until the awards ceremony. Said Karp, “It doesn’t get any purer than this: runners and walkers out for a great cause in a beautiful setting.” Karp combined cover songs with his originals ending with a full-out keyboard and vocal jam to “Like a Rolling Stone” that had the post-race runners singing and tapping their feet in time to the music. 2005 Stillwater Stampede Top 50 Finishers 1. Ray Biersbach, 25, NY, 15:21 2. John Cote, 23, 15:38 3. Seth Holland, 25, 15:53 4. Gary Dennis, 34, PA, 16:12, 5. Mark Bahnuk, 25, 16:56 6. Ryan Hashway, 29, East PA, 17:01 7. Brian Schulenberg, 35, 18:09 8. Todd Miller, 34, 18:26 9. Bill Bosmann, 54, 18:36 10. Kelly Bradley, 19:00 11. Tim Pazoria, 14, 19:17 12. Dan McBride, 16, 19:28 13. Adam Erny, 16, 19:37 14. Anthony Santonastaso, 17, 19:47 15. Jesse Morville, 16, 19:48 16. Jim Doyle, 45, 19:55 17. Al Sivto, 45, 20:13 18. Fred Clark, 48, 20:14 19. Cameron Roshler, 12, 20:28 20. Nick Kazimierczak, 16, 20:30 21. Dennis McGinley, 46, 20:32 22. Donald Docimo, 15, 20:45 23. Parrin Masi, Newton, 36, 20:49 24. Robert O’Rourke, 19, 21:20 25. Drew Reinhardt, 12, 21:21 26. Mackenzie Tepel, 23, Sussex, 21:23 27. Charles Marron, 49, 21:29 28. Sean O’Rourke, 45, 21:33 29. Brendan McDonough, 15, 21:37 30. George McDonough, 46: 21:33 31. Dean Giering, 38, 21:39 32. Frank Gargia, 16, 21:41 33. Bruce Brekke, 55, 21:43 34. Jenny Heigis, 14, 21:44 35. Lorne MacDonald, 60, 21:44 36. Tina Flemming, 26, Newton, 21:53 37. Linda Heter, 46, Lafayette, 21:58 (Top Female Masters Finisher) 38. Steve Rousseau, 15, 22:03 39. Casey Kazimierczak, 44, 22:13 40. Bob Howard, 42, 22:14 41. Jeffrey Arbuckle, 48, 22:18 42. Mary Olivieri, 45, Hampton, 22:29 43. John Uva, 56, 22:35 44. Jim Smith, 5622:35 45. Lindsey Baker, 15, Warren, 22:41 46. Carlton Reed, 47, 22:41 47. Duke DeGroat, 47, 22:44 48. Justin Alleman, 13, 22:45 49. Mystery Runner 50. G. Cleffi, 52, 22:50 | |
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