By Rob Potter
ROCK HILL — November 12, 2010 — The 2010 Falling Colors 8K Run and 5K Walk which was held last Saturday in Rock Hill was extra special for a couple of reasons.
First, it was the 10th anniversary of the race. The Sullivan Striders Running & Walking Club sponsors the race each November as a fundraiser for its scholarship fund. The following summer, the Sullivan Striders use the money raised at the Falling Colors race to award scholarships to recent Sullivan County high school graduates who competed for their school’s cross country and/or track and field teams.
The second reason the race was special was because it was held in honor of Herby Waterman.
Waterman, who lived in Middletown and was a dedicated member of the Sullivan Striders, passed away in April. A moment of silence was held for him at the starting line.
His widow Joyce and son Bobby, both of whom are Sullivan Striders members, had special roles in Saturday’s race. Joyce Waterman gave the official command for the 186 runners and walkers to start the event. Bobby Waterman wore race tag No. 1 on his shirt to honor his father.
Jason Kennedy of Honesdale, Pa. won the 8K run in a time of 28 minutes, 34.4 seconds.
Ethan Cohen of Smithtown was second in 29:21.9 and Tom Stratton of Liberty placed third in 29:30.6.
Misty Fillus of Wappingers Falls won the overall women’s division by crossing the finish line in a time of 32:59.5.
Kristin Matson of Middletown was the second woman to finish and posted a time of 33:20.2. Jacque Schiffer of Olivebridge finished third in 35:27.7.
“I had a good race,” Fillus said. “I am very happy that I set a personal best time.
“This is the third time I have run in this race,” she added. “I was second [in the women’s division] two years ago, third last year and now I finished first.”
Fillus, who is a Sullivan Striders member, really enjoyed the course and the weather.
“The weather was almost perfect today, it was nice and cool,” she commented. “I think this is a great course. There is a great downhill [section] at the end of the race.”
Fillus said that she will be moving to the Midwest in the near future and really appreciated the opportunity to spend time with her fellow Sullivan Striders members at the race.
As has been the tradition since the first Falling Colors race, the winners received trees courtesy of Manza Family Farm in Montgomery. The top overall male and female finishers in the 8K run and 5K walk and the top three finishers in the male and female age groups in Saturday’s race received Dwarf Alberta Spruce trees.
Sullivan Striders President Kim Klemen noted that the race was a success once again.
“We want to thank all of the runners and walkers,” Klemen said. “And we say thank you to all of our sponsors who continue to support this race even in these difficult economic times.”
Klemen said that the race could not be held without the help of many dedicated volunteers. She then thanked several of those volunteers by name: Kim Flynn, John Flynn, Nancy Warth, Harold Johnson, Kelly Desmond, Steve Holmbraker, Bill Norton, Maryann Manza, Tom Manza, Nancy Figueroa, Patricia Fassetta and Dennis Toscano.
All of the runners and walkers received an official 10th annual Falling Colors 8K Run/5K Walk T-shirt designed by Kim Flynn, an artist who lives in Wurtsboro. She has created the official T-shirt for every Falling Colors race and included the designs for all of the previous T-shirts on this year’s T-shirt.
Klemen noted that the Sullivan Striders appreciate all of the local businesses which sponsor the race each autumn, but a couple of them deserve special recognition.
“Gusar’s Pharmacy in Monticello has been the largest contributor for our race every year,” she said. “And Manza Family Farm has donated the trees for our race winners every year.”
Complete race results can be found at www.coolrunning.com.
The top 30 runners were as follows:
1. Jason Kennedy, Honesdale, Pa., 28:34.4
2. Ethan Cohen, Smithtown, 29:21.9
3. Tom Stratton, Liberty, 29:30.6
4. David Wilbur, Mongaup Valley, 29:59.0
5. Tyler Eckhoff, Woodbourne, 30:27.8
6. Mike Kresge, Montgomery, 30:34.6
7. Matthew Wontz, Sayville, 30:35.9
8. Erick Sellstrom, Liberty, 30:39.4
9. John Sellstrom, Liberty, 30:44.0
10. Donald Thurston, Pine Bush, 30:50.0
11. Michael Bassett, Rock Hill, 30:56.0
12. Frank Colella, Campbell Hall, 31:21.6
13. Christian Gordon, Rock Hill, 31:22.0
14. Jay Morsden, Jim Thorpe Pa., 31:28.7
15. Mike Henri, Staten Island, 31:42.2
16. Peter DeVoe, Glen Spey, 31:42.6
17. Franz Scholten, Greenville, 31:56.6
18. Tom Manza, Monticello, 32:11.8
19. Bob McPhillips, Montgomery, 32:11.8
20. Ken Rapp, Middletown, 32:13.7
21. Douglas Kennedy, Honesdale Pa., 32:18.1
22. Kyle Fried, Rock Hill, 32:36.5
23. James Dzurica, Monticello, 32:37.3
24. Misty Fillus, Wappingers Falls, 32:59.5
25. Charles Williams, Poughkeepsie, 33:13.6
26. Kristin Matson, Middletown, 33:20.2
27. Matt Forth, Livingston Manor, 33:55.7
28. John Losardo, Middletown, 34:26.9
29. Peter Weinman, Jeffersonville, 34:40.2
30. Kenneth Wojtak, Monticello, 34:57.0.
There were 29 walkers in the race and their results were as follows:
1. Robert Harjes, Pine Bush, 30:24.6
2. Violet Green, Monroe, 34:17.4
3. John Flynn, Wurtsboro, 34:58.6
4. James Goldfarb, Harris, 37:23.8
5. Barry Lewis, Woodbourne, 37:24.1
6. Linda Dipaola, Kauneonga Lake, 37:35.2
7. Helen Rados, Harris, 38:00.3
8. Dru Buesing, Wurtsboro, 41:09.2
9. Ronald Kates, Woodridge, 41:10.2
10. Peter Kowalczyk, Ferndale , 41:27.9
11. Ursula Hillman, Slate Hill, 43:28.8
12. Ruth Shelley, Middletown, 43:29.0
13. Carmen Rivera, Middletown, 43:29.4
14. Delia M. Cerisano, Forestburgh, 43:55.8
15. Diane McDermott, Middletown, 44:44.3
16. Tom Zolanski, Middletown, 44:45.6
17. Kelly Desmond, Claryville, 47:42.5
18. Pat Owen, Wurtsboro, 48:42.5
19. Joanne Slesinski, Wurtsboro, 48:42.8
20. Patricia Aigotti, Wurtsboro, 48:52.3
21. Eileen Kalter, South Fallsburg, 49:04.1
22. Amy Carnright, Cornwall, 53:56.9
23. Deborah Wood, Cornwall, 53:57.0
24. Dana Loiacono, Beacon, 53:57.1
25.Jennifer Jessup, Wurtsboro, 57:26.7
26. Peter Warth, Wurtsboro, 57:27.8
27. Cliff Jessup, Wurtsboro, 57:28.7
28. Peter McDermott, Middletown, 57:29.1
29. Evelyn Smithem, Wurtsboro, 57:29.3.