By Rob Potter
WURTSBORO — September 27, 2005 – Runners and walkers of all ages converged on Wurtsboro Sunday morning for the 24th Annual Roosa Gap Runs.
A total of 90 runners competed in the 11.57-mile race. They began in the Village of Wurtsboro, proceeded along the D & H Canal tow path, went up the Roosa Gap, followed Summitville Road up a mountain and made their way back to Wurtsboro.
Exactly 63 people participated in the 5K run/walk. They started the event in Wurtsboro and traveled along a tow path for 1.5 miles before turning around and going back into the village.
The winner of the 11.57-mile run was Andy Latincsics of Hampton, NJ. He ran the course in 1 minute, 10.17 seconds. His time set a course record since the race organizers slightly changed the course this year. The competitors now run on a couple of paths and roads that provide better traction and reduce the chances of someone slipping on the course.
Latincsics finished more than seven minutes ahead of the second-place runner, Marty Doherty of West Milford, NJ. Doherty ran the course in 1:17.20. Page Karstetes of West Point was third in a time of 1:17.28.
“It was a nice race,” said Latincsics, who has entered the event on several occasions and won it each time. “It was such a nice day. I think that late September and October is the best time to run. It wasn’t too hot today, we had some great weather.”
The 39-year-old Latincsics noted that the course was a challenge.
“After two miles, you go uphill and that is tough,” he said. “As you get older, it seems longer and steeper than it was, but you just put your head down and keep going.”
The first woman to cross the finish line was Jean Norton of Wurtsboro. She completed the race in 1:19.53, which was the fifth-best time overall.
Marie Dusault of Washingtonville was second in 1:32.07, while Colleen Hujus of Bloomingburg took third place with a time of 1:34.33.
“It was a really great race,” said Norton, who used the run as a training event to prepare her for a triathlon in November in Panama City, Fla. “It was a perfect day for running. We had a little rain during the race. That made it nice and cool while running on the downhill section of the course.
Norton said that it seemed that most of the runners liked the new course.
The winner of the 5K run/walk was Steve Keller of Youngsville. He ran the course in a time of 17:17.
Brendan Ference of Smallwood was second in 18:49. John Bowens of Wurtsboro finished third in a 18:56.
Shona Sneddon of Monroe won the women’s division of the 5K run/walk. She posted a time of 23:11, which was 12th overall.
Kimberly Allen of Middletown was second in a time of 23:42.
Rachel Bowens of Wurtsboro ran the course in 24:33 to finish third.
Robert Harjes of Bloomingburg earned first place in the overall male walker category of the 5K. He walked the course in a time of 40:04. Richard Morgenthaler of Pine Bush was second in 45:08 and Richard Wight of Washingtonville was third in a time of 59:26.
Barbara Winkler of Westbury finished first in the overall female walker category in the 5K with a time of 41:10. Lauren Spiro Weingard of Wurtsboro was second in 41:14 and Betty Jessup of Goshen was third in 43:51.
In addition to winning the women’s division of the 11.57-mile race, Jean Norton served as co-race director. The other co-race director was her husband, Bill Norton.
They have served as co-race directors for the past several years. Jean Norton noted that they receive plenty of help from Jim Arnott, who contacts many area businesses to sponsor the Roosa Gap Races.
“The whole community is great and really supports us,” Jean Norton said.
She noted that the G-Mart Supermarket in Wurtsboro donated bagels, bananas, Gatorade and watermelons for the runners. In addition, the Sullivan County Visitors Association provided bottled water.
That outpouring of community spirit helped make the 24th Annual Roosa Gap Runs successful.
“We had a good turnout today,” Bill Norton said. “We had great weather and the race benefits a worthy cause – the Jerry Evans scholarship.”
The Marine PFC Jerry B. Evans Memorial Scholarship was named in honor of a local man who gave his life for his country during the Vietnam War. The scholarship helps provide opportunities for the youth in the Wurtsboro community.
The age group winners of the 11.57-mile race were as follows:
19-and-Under Female
1. Alissa Nowak, Middletown, 1:47.17; 2. Anagabriele Loor, Thompsonville, 1:51.58.
20-29 Female
1. Christina Sanfeliz, Woodridge, 1:45.26.
20-29 Male
1. Sean Fallon, Montgomery, 2:05.48.
30-39 Female
1. Misty Verma, Hopewell Junction, 1:36.50; 2. Daria Petraglia, Goshen, 1:41.14; 3. Lesley Pierri, New Windsor, 1:45.32.
30-39 Male
1. Timothy Decker, Union City, 1:20.48; 2. Erik Sellstrom, Liberty, 1:21.07; 3. Jamie Mazurowski, Hyde Park, 1:26.05.
40-49 Female
1. Ingrid Arlt, Mt. Hope, 1:38.24; 2. Joanne Shurter, Middletown, 1:41;15; 3. Cynthia Benedict, Maybrook, 1:42.08.
40-49 Male
1. Jim Phelan, Montgomery, 1:17.41; 2. Frank Colella, Campbell Hall, 1:20.03; 3. Franz Scholten, Greenville, 1:20.34.
50-59 Female
1. Karin McCaffery, Napanoch, 1:53.48; 2. Benita Auge, New Windsor, 1:55; 3. Elyse H. Kehoe, Somerset, 2:06.58.
50-59 Male
1. Carl Zuidema, Warwick, 1:30.26; 2. George Shurter, Middletown, 1:34.10; 3. Philip Melillo, Warwick, 1:36.2.
Master Female
1. Ann Singer, Suffern, 2:28.13.
Master Male
1. Jim Frieband, Highland Mills, 1:34.23; 2. Kent A. Laudeman, West Point, 1:34.41; 3. Lorne J. MacDonald, Sussex, NJ, 1:34.58.
The William McNeil Award, which is presented to the oldest finisher in honor of William McNeil, who was 82 when he competed in his final Roosa Gap Run, was given to John Schultz of Wilmington. The 73-year-old Schultz ran the 11.57-mile course in a time of 2:04.31.
The 5K Run/Walk Age Group winners were as follows:
19 and Under Female
1. Jamie Shurter, Middletown, 27:24; 2. Melissa Harjes, Bloomingburg, 33:39; 3. Carlye Benson, Wurtsboro, 49:02.
19 and Under Male
1. Matthew Gewing, Middletown, 20:17; 2. Matt Blanchard, Hurleyville, 20:47; 3. Anthony Melici, Red Bank, NJ.
20-29 Female
1. Allison Webster, Pine Bush, 43:52; 2. Carrie Karsteter, West Point, 44:25.
20-29 Male
1. Jared LaMonica, Grahamsville, 20:11; 2. Brian Webster, Pine Bush, 23:14.
30-39 Female
1. Kimberly Gueren, Monticello, 26:23; 2. Laurie Rozzo, Wurtsboro, 36:45.
30-39 Male
1. Robert Jahrling, Wurtsboro, 22:45; 2. Joseph Gallagher, Middletown, 27:50; 3. Jerry Wienckowksi, Montgomery, 36:35.
40-49 Female
1. Judy Lynn, Wurtsboro, 28:39; 2. Abby Billias, Kauneonga Lake, 32:37; 3. Debbie LaBounty, Neversink, 37:23.
40-49 Male
1. Lynn Fielitz, Walden, 21:16; 2. Vic LaMonica, Grahamsville, 22:52; 3. Stephan Krall, Red Bank, NJ, 24:20.
50-59 Female
1. Rebecca Withers, Wallkill, 26:38, 2. Lynn Martin, Pine Bush, 31:49; 3. Lydia Jimenez, Middletown, 46;35.
50-59 Male
1. Bob Tedaldi, Rock Hill, 22:07; 2. Bill Norton, Wurtsboro, 22:50; 3. George J. LaMonica, Grahamsville, 25:41.
Master Female
1. Rita Hoffman, Monticello, 31:51.
Master Male
1. Nick Petraglia, Goshen, 42:05.