By Rob Potter
ROCK HILL — November 10, 2006 — The Sullivan Striders Running Club held its sixth annual Falling Colors 8K Run/5K Walk on Sunday morning in Rock Hill.
The course took the 125 walkers and runners around Lake Louise Marie and back to the Emerald Green clubhouse.
The course was changed slightly from last year’s format and several participants noted that they liked the change.
The first runner to cross the finish line was Frank Colella of Campbell Hall. He completed the 8K course in 30 minutes and 1 second.
Following close behind Colella were Doug Carter of Chester and Tom Manza of Monticello. Carter reached the finish line in 30:07, while Manza’s time was 30:14.
“In that last mile, I put the hammer down,” said Colella, who was competing in his first Falling Colors event.
He noted that the cool autumn air was great for the competitors. He also praised the Sullivan Striders Running Club.
“The Sullivan Striders put on a nice race here,” Colella commented. “The course is really beautiful.”
The first female finisher was Edna Harrison of New Paltz. She ran the course in 33:04, which was 13th overall.
Marie DuSault of Washingtonville finished second in the women’s division. Her time was 34:44, which was 22nd overall.
Taking third was Alissa Nowak of Middletown, who was 34th overall in 37:19.
Kelly Finnigan of Washingtonville was the first walker to complete the 5K course. She reached the finish line in 37:51.
Clif Freeman of Neversink was second in a time of 38:01, while Beverly Garzon of Parksville was third in 38:29.
Instead of trophies, each of the aforementioned competitors and the top three age group finishers in the 8K received an Alberta Spruce tree courtesy of Manza Family Farm.
During the postrace awards ceremony, the 2006 Sullivan Striders officers were acknowledged. They include President Myriam Loor, Executive Vice President Dennis Toscano, Vice President Claudia Ferrara, Vice President John “Herbie” Waterman, Secretary Debbie LaPorte and Treasurer John Ferrara.
Also recognized were Sullivan Striders race committee members John and Kim Flynn.
“Thank you all for participating in this event,” Race Director Maryann Manza said to the dozens of walkers and runners seated before her in the Emerald Green clubhouse. “This is the club’s major fundraiser of the year and we use the money for the scholarships we present to local high school seniors.”
Earlier this year, five seniors who graduated from Sullivan County High Schools each received a $500 scholarship. Those student-athletes were: Kyle Anthony of Eldred Central School, Eleanor Bryan of Sullivan West Central School, Jonathan Huppke of Tri-Valley Central School, Derek Smith of T-V and Michael VanWagenen of SW.
The top 20 finishers in the 8K run were:
1. Frank Colella, Campbell Hall, 30:01
2. Doug Carter, Chester, 30:07
3. Tom Manza, Monticello, 30:14
4. Dan Lacitigholm, Leeds, 30:43
5. Michael Bassett, Rock Hill, 30:56
6. Franz Scholten, Greenville, 31:03
7. Eric Sellstrom, Liberty, 31:41
8. Drew Priest, Middletown, 31:46
9. Marco Pabon, Middletown, 32:02
10. Ken Rapp Jr., Middletown, 32:02
11. Steve Holmbraker, Middletown, 32:30
12. Bill Schneider, Barryville, 32:38
13. Edna Harrison, New Paltz, 33:04
14. Brendan Briggs, Rock Hill, 33:09
15. John P. Finnigan, Washingtonville, 33:27
16. Scott S. Coddington, Wurtsboro, 33:58
17. Bruce York, Suffern, 34:14
18. Jeff McGregor, Shelton, 34:15
19. Joseph Loughlin, 34:25
20. Bill Norton, Wurtsboro, 34:33
21. Ed Howard, Sloatsburg, 34:39
22. Marie DuSault, Washingtonville, 34:44
23. Richard Robillard, Chester, 34:50
24. Lorne McDonald, Sussex, NJ, 35:11
25. Alex Boyd, Liberty, 35:58
Other Sullivan County finishers included:
30. Jeff Boyd, Liberty, 36:41
37. Craig Boyd, Jeffersonville, 37:36;
39. Andy Kalter, South Fallsburg, 37:59
41. Connor Briggs, Rock Hill, 38:47
42. Peter Briggs, Rock Hill, 38:49
44. Elena Knight, Neversink, 38:56
47. Debbie O’Donohue, Wurtsboro, 40:32
49. Joanna Goldfarb, Harris, 40:43
50. Dennis Toscano, Liberty, 40:47
54. Majorie Lawton, Bloomingburg, 42:09
55. Amanda Evans, Rock Hill, 42:11
59. Kimberly Gueren, Monticello, 42:44
60. Cassandra Boyd, Jeffersonville, 43:02
68. Elizabeth Bassett, Rock Hill, 44:43
75. Nancy Figueroa, Grahamsville, 45:53
77. Abby Billias, Smallwood, 46:34
78. Eileen Wohltjen, Hurleyville, 46:43
79. Gladys Nieves, Rock Hill, 47:20
80. Bob Hunter, Mountaindale, 47:57
88. Helen Rados, Harris, 49:46
92. Leon Baumander, Liberty, 54:03
93. Michael Pustinik, Ferndale, 56:08
94. Martin Handler, Jeffersonville, 57:36
95. Mary Heinle, White Sulphur Springs, 1:00:14
97. Debbie LaPorte, Forestburgh, 1:15:41
98. Nancy Warth, Wurtsboro, 1:15:41
14 and Under Female
1. Deborah Spannagel, New Hampton, 42:17
2. Sarah Phelan, Montgomery, 42:37
3. Hannah Phelan, Montgomery, 49:37
14 and Under Male
1. Connor Briggs, Rock Hill, 38:47
2. Ken Rapp III, Middletown, 43:36
15-19 Female
1. Joanna Goldfarb, Harris, 40:43
15-19 Male
1. Brendan Briggs, Rock Hill, 33:09
2. Alex Boyd, Liberty, 35:58
20-29 Female
1. Cassandra Boyd, Jeffersonville, 43:02
20-29 Male
1. Dan Lactigholm, Leeds, NJ,
2. Edward Coffey, Tompkins Cove, NJ, 52:00
30-39 Female
1. Daria Petraglia, Philadelphia, Pa., 38:09
2. Elena Knight, Neversink, 38:56
3. Myrian Benton, Ellenville, 42:06
30-39 Male
1. Michael Bassett, Rock Hill, 30:56
2. Eric Sellstrom, Liberty, 31:41
3. Ken Rapp Jr., Middletown, 32:02
40-49 Female
1. Lesley Pierri, New Windsor, 39:41
2. Debbie O’Donohue, Wurtsboro, 40:32
3. Sharon Phillips, Middletown, 41:04
40-49 Male
1. Franz Scholten, Greenville, 31:03
2. Drew Priest, Middletown, 31:46
3. Marco Pabon, Middletown, 32:02
50-59 Female
1. Benita Auge, New Windsor, 41:19
2. Rebecca Withers, Wallkill, 43:17
3. Carolyn Negryz, Monroe, 44:46
50-59 Male
1. Bruce York, Suffern, 34:14
2. Bill Norton, Wurtsboro, 34:33
3. Ed Howard, Sloatsburg, 34:39
60-69 Male
1. Lorne McDonald, Sussex, NJ, 35:11
2. Kent Laudeman, West Point, 36:22
3. George Realmuto, Middletown, 36:28
70 and Over Female
1. Mary Heinle, White Sulphur Springs, 1:00:14
70 and Over Male
1. Phil Brennan, Milford, Pa., 40:41
2. John Schultz, Wilmington, 44:53
3. Herbie Waterman, Middletown, 46:23