By Matt Youngfrau
SMALLWOOD — July 9, 2002 – Usually when a new event starts, it takes a few years for it to catch on. Most events start slow with a limited amount of people and, over a few years, become popular and attract a great number of people.
That was not the case for the first annual Fighting Fires 5K, which was held on Sunday.
The first annual run/walk around Smallwood Lake was sponsored by the Smallwood-Mongaup Valley Fire Department (SMVFD). All proceeds went to the department.
“The community got together to come up with this,” said Matt Burns, one of the event’s organizers. “We are trying to make this an annual event. I am surprised by the large turnout.”
Due to limited publicity, event organizers expected a small turnout. They were very pleasantly surprised, however, when 114 people signed up for the 5K run/walk.
The race was won by 17-year-old Parksville resident Matt Manzi. Manzi, who will be a senior at Liberty Central School this fall, finished the course in 17:13.
“It was nice out there,” Manzi commented. “It was a good course. It was shady and cool.”
The overall women’s winner was 38-year-old Middletown resident Kathleen Rifkin. She finished the course in 22:59.
“The first mile was very tough,” Rifkin said. “After that, it was very nice. This was my first win.”
All the winners in each category were given medals.
As of press time, it was unknown how much money the inaugural Fighting Fires 5K had raised.
The times of local finishers and the age group winners are as follows:
12 and Under Female
1. Emily Alexander, Montgomery, 24:32; 2. Alissa Nowak, Middletown, 30:16; 3. Breame Burns, Pompton Lakes, 48:06.
12 and Under Male
1. Jesse Ierardi, New York City, 29:03; 2. A.J. Boardman, Smallwood, 34:13; 3. Paul Nesin, Monticello, 38;37.
13-19 Female
1. Lindsay Fisk, Livingston Manor, 24:10; 2. Leah Weber, Matamoras, Pa., 27:27.
13-19 Male
1. Jerry Donohue, White Lake, 23:04; 2. Thomas Morton, Bloomingburg, 23:38; 3. Jonathan Levy, Suffern, 25:26.
20-29 Female
1. Mindy Lippel, Rock Hill, 24:08; 2. Christine Giblin, Bronx, 32:19.
20-29 Male
1. Calvin Waterton, Swan Lake, 17:54; 2. Karl Bressler, Livingston Manor, 18:20; 3. Erik Lubniewski, Smallwood, 22:08.
30-39 Female
1. Katharine Smith, Oneonta, 25:45; 2. Elizabeth Boardman, Smallwood, 26:09; 3. Kim Nash, Yulan, 27:51.
30-39 Male
1. Andy McKean, Jeffersonville, 18:22; 2. Erick Sellstrom, Liberty, 18:53; 3. Jeffrey Carman, Swan Lake, 19:51.
40-49 Female
1. Elizabeth Alexander, Montgomery, 25:00; 2. Myriam Loor, Thompsonville, 25:06; 3. Susan Kross, Ellenville, 25:26.
40-49 Male
1. Tom Manza, Rock Hill, 18:03; 2. Jeff Gross, Matamoras, Pa., 19:16; 3. Pat Ramos, Monticello, 20:23.
50-59 Female
1.Judith Lohmeyer, Albany, 27:55; 2. Eileen Sinkowitz, Middletown, 29:08; 3. Judy Pilny, Jeffersonville, 29:40.
50-59 Male
1. Kenneth Lohmeyer, Freehold, 19:47; 2. Craig Schumacher, Callicoon, 22:35; 3. Alex Smith, Middletown, 23:31.
60-69 Female
1. Mary Heinle, White Sulphur Springs, 34:01; 2. June Barrett, Smallwood, 41:03; 3. Esther Newton, Smallwood, 50:07.
60-69 Male
1. John Pilny, Jeffersonville, 26:13; 2. Anthony Hornung, Hopewell Junction, 28:36.
70 and Over Male
1. Bert Zorn, Smallwood, 52:12.
Other Sullivan
County Finishers
10. Alejandro Pabon, Harris, 20:09; 12. Scott Coddington, Wurtsboro, 20:23; 13. Bill Schneider, Barryville, 20:24; 15. Marco Pabon, Monticello, 20:41; 16. John Campbell, Glen Spey, 20:48; 17. Curtis Browne, White Lake, 21:26; 19. Bob Harris, Wurtsboro, 22:03; 30. John Lennon, Jeffersonville, 24:21; 32. Roger Bisland, Monticello, 24:50; 33. David Heins, Monticello, 24:53; 36. George Glantzis, Smallwood, 25:20; 43. Colin Davis, Smallwood, 26:22; 45. Jim Barnicle, Monticello, 27:04; 47. Gary Cochrane, Cochecton, 27:48; 51. George Vitale, Smallwood, 28:05; 52. Laura Lee Carman, Swan Lake, 28:18; 53. John Laube, Smallwood, 28:23; 57. Kathryn Riegler, Liberty, 29:03; 60. Kathy Diaco, Monticello, 29:28; 61. Donna