By Rob Potter
ROCK HILL — November 11, 2005 – It’s not often that the weather for a running event in the month of November can be described as “warm.”
But that was the case last Saturday as 189 area athletes competed in the fifth annual Falling Colors 8K Run/5K Walk in Rock Hill.
The event, which was presented by the Sullivan Striders running club, began about a quarter of a mile from the Emerald Green Clubhouse. The downhill finish brought the runners and walkers to the clubhouse for the postrace awards ceremony and meal.
The bright sunshine, warm temperatures and colorful leaves on the trees helped make the event enjoyable for runners, walkers and spectators.
“It is just a perfect day for a race,” said Myriam Loor, who is President of the Sullivan Striders.
The winner of the 8K run was Andy Latincsics of Newton, NJ. He completed the course in 26 minutes and 39 seconds.
Almost two minutes later, Steve Keller and George Shakelton ran down the hill and turned right onto the Emerald Green clubhouse driveway. With the finish line clearly in their sights, the two men ran stride for stride. But a quick burst in the final 5 yards allowed Keller, who hails from Youngsville, to reach the line just before Shakelton.
Keller’s time was 28:37, while Shakelton, a Hancock resident, took third place in 28:39.
“It was a little warm, but it really didn’t bother me,” Latincsics said. “This is a great race on a nice course.”
The first woman to cross the finish line was Carolyn Gates of Washingtonville. Her time of 34:40 placed her 25th overall.
Gates, who is a 16-year-old sophomore at Washingtonville High School, was also the first-place woman in last year’s Falling Colors race. She ran Saturday’s 8K less than 24 hours after placing fifth in the Section IX Class A girls’ race at Bear Mountain. Incidentally, Gates excellent finish in the sectional meet qualified her to represent Washingtonville at tomorrow’s New York State Public High School Athletic Association (NYSPHSAA) Class A meet.
Gates liked the course and the weather.
“I like hills, so I felt pretty good out there,” she said. “It was a little warm, but it didn’t bother me because I wasn’t running as hard as I normally would have because of yesterday’s meet.
“It’s nice to get out and see the leaves on the trees as you are running,” she added. “This is a very nice course.”
Valerie Kilcoin of Middletown finished second in the female division with a time of 35:21. Edna Harrison of New Paltz placed third in 35:54.
Wurtsboro resident Kim Nonnenmacher won the 5K walk with a time of 30:46. Elizabeth Barrett-Alexander of Montgomery was second (32:51) and Lisa Kutshera of Youngsville was third (36:22).
During the awards ceremony, Loor spoke of two very special people who passed away in December 2004. Marcus Joseph was a member of the Sullivan Striders. Clair Findlay, who resided in Rochester, was not a member of the club, but he was a loyal supporter of the Sullivan Striders.
The names of both men were printed on the back of the official 2005 Falling Colors race T-shirt which every competitor received. In addition, Loor presented a special plaque to Marcus Joseph’s wife, Lynn.
Loor noted that last spring the Sullivan Striders awarded $500 scholarships to five Sullivan County high school seniors who were headed for college this fall. She said that proceeds from Saturday’s race will be used to award similar scholarships next spring.
The age group winners for the 8K run were as follows:
8-10 Female
1. Alissa Nowak, Middletown, 37:16.
8-10 Male
1. Evan Taggart, Livingston Manor, 1:02.28; 2. Michael D’Auria, 1:02:29; 3. Nicholas Ferrara, Barryville, 1:10:06.
11-12 Female
1. Anagabriele Loor, Thompsonville, 39:28.
11-12 Male
1. Brandon Stinehour, Napanoch, 37:09; 2. Connor Briggs, Rock Hill, 41:14; 3. Trevor Taggart, Livingston Manor, 47:27.
13-15 Male
1. David McCarey, Circleville, 30:44; 2. Matthew Gewing, Middletown, 31:08; 3. Brendan Briggs, Rock Hill, 36:23.
16-19 Female
1. Olivia Lincoln, Smallwood, 41:18; 2. Joanna Goldfarb, Harris, 44:33; 3. Caitlin VanKeuren, Thompsonvile, 1:11:12.
16-19 Male
1. Brendan Ference, Smallwood, 33:19; 2. Matt Blanchard, Hurleyville, 35:33.
20-29 Female
1. Elizabeth Bassett, Rock Hill, 46:26; 2. Alissa Appel, Cornwall-on-Hudson, 47:26.
20-29 Male
1. Michael Bassett, Rock Hill, 31:46; 2. Jared Lamonica, Grahamsville, 33:43; 3. Joe Rudnitski, New Paltz, 37:11.
30-39 Female
1. Nina Sheldon, Wallkill, 37:01; 2. Myrian Benton, Cragsmoor, 41: 23; 3. Heather Stelmaszyk, Middletown, 42:23.
30-39 Male
1. Edward Stelmaszyk, Middletown, 29:57; 2. Mike Kresge, Rock Hill, 30:08; 3. Andy McKean, Bethel, 31:57.
40-49 Female
1. Deanna Bailey, Warwick, 37:51; 2. Lesley Pierri, New Windsor, 39:35; 3. Michelle Fields, Middletown, 40:39.
40-49 Male
1. James Phelan, Montgomery, 29:43; 2. Frank Colella, Campbell Hall, 30:38; 3. Franz Scholten, Greenville, 33:04.
50-59 Female
1. Benita Auge, New Windsor, 42:09; 2. Karin McCaffery, Napanoch, 42:44; 3. Rebecca Withers, Wallkill, 43:46.
50-59 Male
1. Ken Lohmeyer, Sackett Lake, 31:46; 2. Doug Carter, Chester, 32:43; 3. Martin Kane, Chester, 34:21.
60-69 Female
1. Josefa Botens, Middletown, 49:30; 2. Mary Ann Dowling, Rock Hill, 49:32; 3. Kathleen Davies, Hillburn, 49:43.
60-69 Male
1. Kent Laudeman, West Point, 36:45; 2. Lorne McDonald, Sussex, NJ, 36:55; 3. John Whitney, New Paltz, 37:05.
70-79 Female
1. Mary Heinle, White Sulphur Springs, 1:00:56
70-79 Male
1. Herb Waterman, Middletown, 42:53; 2. E.J. Szulwach, Chester, 43:38.
80 and Over Female
1. Kelly Desmond, Claryville, 1:13:28.
80 and Over Male
1. Sid Zecher, Newburgh, 1:08:54.