By Rob Potter
CALLICOON — June 20, 2010 — A total of 140 runners and walkers made their way to Callicoon on Sunday morning to compete in the 12th annual Delaware Youth Center 5K River Race.
Those runners and walkers made their way along the scenic course down River Road which offers nice views of the Delaware River.
The winner of the race was Jason Kennedy of Honesdale, Pa. He ran the 3.1-mile course in a time of 17 minutes, 22.8 seconds.
“This is my first time running this race,” he said. “It’s a nice race. The course is nice and flat.”
The Delaware Youth Center 5K was the second race Kennedy ran during the weekend. On Saturday, he placed fourth in 16:37 in the Dr. William Perkins Memorial 5K Run in Honesdale, Pa.
“My time was good today, but it would have been about the same as yesterday’s time if my legs weren’t so tired,” Kennedy said.
He said he will probably come back to defend his title in next year’s River Race 5K.
The first woman to cross the finish line in Sunday’s race was April Ackermann of Cochecton. Her winning time was 19:07.
Ackermann has been participating in the River Race 5K for about 10 years, but this is the first time she won the women’s division.
“It is exciting,” said Ackermann, who placed third overall on Sunday. “It would be nice if the course had a hill. But it’s good without hills, I guess.”
Like Kennedy, Ackermann also competed in a race on Saturday. She captured first place in the women’s division of the Deposit Lumberjack Festival 5K in a time of 19:22.
In addition, Ackermann said she will be training to run in her first marathon this fall. She will join her uncle George Ackermann and cousin Jen Ackermann to compete in the Harrisburg, Pa. marathon on Nov. 14.
“I’m going to be stepping up the miles in my training,” April Ackermann said.
At the postrace awards ceremony, Tess McBeath, one of the many volunteers who help put on the race each July, asked everyone to observe a moment of silence for Herb Waterman, an avid runner who recently passed away. McBeath also thanked all of the runners and walkers for competing in the event, which helps the Delaware Youth Center offer a wide-range of programs for area youngsters.
“We started this race in 1999 with 32 runners and this year we had almost 150 runners and walkers,” McBeath said. “Thank you to all of the runners and walkers. And thank you to our sponsors. Please support these local businesses which supported our race.”
Those sponsors included: Duraclean; Cohen’s Bakery; Delaware Home; www.bethelcountrybuilders.com; Maureen Whipple, DMD; sportsinsightsny.com; Sullivan County Democrat; Dr. Linda Borrelli; Law Offices of Lori Bertsch-Brustman; John Eschenberg’s; Buddenhagen's Ford, Inc.; Bob Peters Plumbing & Heating, Inc.; Valley Water; Rosenhaven Alpacas; Matthew’s On Main; Catskill Hudson Bank; Paul D. Salzberg, MD; Yoga Barn; Jeff Bank; Liberty Trading Post; R&H Gorr, Inc.; Family Business, LLC; Villa Roma Resort; Delaware Valley Farm & Garden; Kenneth C. Klein, Esq.; Callicoon Co-Operative Insurance Company; Mike Preis Insurance; Roche’s Garage, Inc.; Matthew J. Freda Real Estate, Callicoon Counseling Center; Callicoon Theater; Lee H. Mall Plumbing & Heating, Inc.; John's Handyman Service; Creekside Computer Service; and Monahan Graphic Design.
Race Director Ann Santoro noted that the event raised just under $2,000.
“I want to thank all of the runners and walkers for coming out to our race to support the Delaware Youth Center,” she said. “This is one of our biggest fundraisers each year.
“I really appreciate all of our volunteers for helping with the race,” Santoro added. “One of those volunteers is Ron Bauer, who is here every year to officially start the race for us.”
The top finishers in the overall runner, overall walker and age group divisions were as follows:
Overall Male
1. Jason Kennedy, Honesdale, Pa., 17:22.8; 2. Erick Sellstrom, Liberty, 19:03.6; 3. Peter DeVoe, Glen Spey, 19:38.1
Male 12 and Under
1. Joseph Boroda, Massapequa, 25:19.1; 2. Alexei Walntes, Hawley, Pa., 25:40.6; 3. Sam Davis, Cochecton, 28:17.2
Male 13 to 15
1. Eric Haberli, Hankins, 20:36.2; 2. Michael Henry, Lake Ariel, Pa., 21:01.6; 3. Robbie Segalla, Lake Ariel, Pa., 21:13.2
Male 16 to 19
1. Nickolas Boroda, Massapequa, 20:49.2; 2. Antonio Donufrio, Middletown, 30:58.7; 3. John Lyttle III, Damascus, Pa., 44:46.7
Male 20 to 29
1. Dave Eggleton, Jeffersonville, 28:22.1; 2. Brian Zombo, Youngsville, 29:28.9
Male 30 to 39
1. John DeVoe, Glen Spey, 20:44.5; 2. Thelonious Johnson, North Branch, 20:53.7; 3. Lucas Binder, New York City, 22:48.7
Male 40 to 49
1. Michael Gigl, Callicoon, 21:48.1; 2. Barry Huppert, New York City, 22:08.9; 3. Daniel Jablon, Fanwood, 22:18.3
Male 50 to 59
1. Tom Manza, Monticello, 19:48.3; 2. Bill Schneider, Barryville, 21:24.8; 3. Doug Woods, Callicoon Center, 22:00.1
Male 60 and Over
1. Michael Francaviglia, Maplewood N.J., 23:04; 2. Phil Peelor, Middletown, 26:16.3; 3. John Pilny, Jeffersonville, 30:10.6
Overall Male Walker
1. Bob Harjes, Pine Bush, 30:36.6; 2. Danny Hanson, Jamaica, N.Y., 38:02.6; 3. Peter Kowalczyk, Ferndale, 41:29.5
Overall Female
1. April Ackermann, Cochecton, 19:07; 2. Anna-Sophie Harling, Jeffersonville, 21:26.5; 3. Stevie Lis, Greentown Pa., 21:55.7
Female 12 and Under
1. Emma Hess, Callicoon, 33:31; 2. Isabel Nearing, Cochecton, 33:33.1
Female 13 to 15
1. Brie Lis, Greentown, Pa. 25:54.2; 2. Katharina Harling, Jeffersonville, 31:59.4
Female 20 to 29
1. Angela Rein, White Lake, 23:18.1; 2. Kelly Irving, Woodbourne, 24:50.9; 3. Dawn Gillow, Narrowsburg, 32:19.7
Female 30 to 39
1. Lela Moore, Brooklyn, 24:53.6; 2. Beret Nearing, Cochecton, 25:21.4; 3. Lisa Watson, Prompton, Pa., 29:05.5
Female 40 to 49
1. Karin Gorr, Hortonville, 24:47.8; 2. Michele Walntes, Hawley, Pa., 25:58.1; 3. Donna Ackermann, Cochecton, 26:47
Female 50 to 59
1. Karen Curran, White Hall, 28:46.6; 2. Elsa M. Grosser, Cochecton, 29:10.8; 3. Michaeline Yurkovic, Poughkeepsie, 29:12.7
Female 60 and Over
1. Victoria Greffrath, Damascus, Pa., 36:08.8; 2. Judy Pilny, 36:35.7; 3. Mary Heinle, White Sulphur Springs, 36:54.9
Overall Female Walker
1. Stacey Millman, Cochecton, 38:25.7; 2. Linda DiPaola, Kauneonga Lake, 38:52.6; 3. Joanne Rosenberger, Callicoon, 40:34.