By Rob Potter
CALLICOON — It was hot and humid on Sunday, but those tough weather conditions did not prevent dozens of walkers and runners from participating in the Delaware Youth Center’s 10th annual 5K River Race in the hamlet of Callicoon.
More than 125 participants enjoyed the scenic views along the 5K course that runs along the Delaware River.
For the second straight year, Colin Seidl and Maegan Krifchin won the Overall Male and Overall Female divisions, respectively.
Seidl, an 18-year-old from Cochecton, was the first runner to cross the finish line. His winning time was 16 minutes, 58 seconds. Twenty-year-old Krifchin, who hails from Bellmore, Long Island but spends the summer in Woodbourne, placed third overall in a time of 17:39.
“I’m happy,” Seidl said. “My time was three seconds faster than last year.”
Seidl said he prefers running on a hilly course to the River Race’s straight, flat course.
“With a flat course like this, you keep looking ahead and seeing the finish line, but it seems like you’ll never get there,” explained Seidl, who will begin his senior year at Sullivan West Central School in September.
“I like running this course, it’s a great course,” he added.
Krifchin shares Seidl’s opinion about hilly courses.
“I like hills,” she said.
But it’s safe to say that Krifchin also likes the 5K River Race course. After all, Krifchin’s win on Sunday in the Overall Female division marked the fourth time she has placed first in the division at the River Race.
In addition to her victories last year and this year, Krifchin bested the other competitors in the division in both 2004 and 2005.
“I love running,” said Krifchin, who is a member of the women’s track and field team at Syracuse University. “Running here helps with my summer training. I’m trying to build up my fitness level, so I didn’t go all out today.”
Race Director Alice Newell noted that the event raised more than $1,600. Those funds will be used to support the Delaware Youth Center and its programs.
In celebrating the Delaware Youth Center’s 10th consecutive year of holding the 5K River Race, a raffle was held with prizes donated by The Shadowland Theatre, The Vitamin Shoppe, Type O Graphics, Lander’s River Café, Borders, White Lake Wine & Spirit Shop, Callicoon Wine Merchant, The Wet Noodle and Modell’s.
The race sponsors included: Catskill Hudson Bank, Creekside Computer Service, Barriger & Barriger, Incorporated, Sullivan County Community College, Type O Graphics, Family Business LLC, Schmidt’s Wholesale, Lohr Lumber Company, Baum Law Offices, Delaware Valley Farm & Garden, Matthew’s on Main, Schumacher Systems, Mike Preis Insurance, The Vitamin Shoppe, Callicoon Theatre, Narrowsburg Motor Sales, Callicoon Cooperative Insurance Company, Roche’s Garage, R&H Gorr, DJS Plumbing & Heating, Liberty Trading Post, Kenneth C. Klein, Dr. Paul Salzberg, Best Ad-Vantage, LLC, Klimchok Real Estate, Crossroads Agency, Callicoon Counseling Center, Matthew J. Freda Real Estate, Cohen’s Bakery, Steve’s Music Center, Soaring Eagle Campground, The 1906 Restaurant, Crystal Run Healthcare, GEO Construction, La Shed Du Fred, The Yoga Barn, Fosterdale Equipment and Jeff Bank.
Refreshments were donated by The Vitamin Shoppe of Middletown, Cohen’s Bakery and Peck’s Market of Callicoon. Generous donations for the runner’s bags were made by Catskill Hudson Bank, Crystal Run Healthcare, The Vitamin Shoppe of Middletown, and Corrinne Dunlap (Avon representative).
Newell thanked her fellow board members and all of the volunteers who put in countless hours to make the event a success. She also made mention that Ron Bauer’s 10 years of dedication to the event resulted in every race starting off with a bang.
“And we can’t forget about those awesome T-shirts,” Newell said. “They just keep getting better every year and we have Mike Ranze to thank for that, who, in collaboration with Monahan Graphic Design, created a beautiful T-shirt that most would have to agree is special and unique,” Newell said.
Three young ladies helped present the medals to the top three finishers in each age group during the postrace awards ceremony. Those future members of the Delaware Youth Center are Alexa Santoro, Eliza Fisher and Erin Hankins.
Newell noted that there are some official T-shirts remaining from the event. They are available at a cost of $15 each. To buy a race T-shirt, call the Delaware Youth Center at 887-5155.
“I would like to thank all of the dedicated board members of the Delaware Youth Center for their hard work,” Newell said. “I also want to thank all of the runners and walkers, this race would not happen if it wasn’t for you.”
Tess McBeath, who is the Delaware Youth Center board president, thanked Newell for her years of dedication to the 5K River Race.
“Alice began her involvement at this race nine years ago by handing out water near the finish line,” McBeath said. “She has been the race director for the past six years. She is relocating and we will miss her. She has done a great job.”
Complete race results are available at coolrunning.com, fastfinishes.net and sullivanstriders.org.
The top three finishers in each age group were as follows:
Overall Female
1. Maegan Krifchin, Bellmore, 17:39; 2. April Ackermann, Cochecton, 20:21; 3. Ana Loor, Thompsonville, 22:19
Overall Male
1. Colin Seidl, Cochecton, 16:58; 2. Tim Billias, Rock Hill, 17:23; 3. William Berger, Staten Island, 18:37
Overall Walker
1. Robert Harjes, Bloomingburg, 31:59; 2. Bob Barrett, Smallwood, 36:12; 3. Orshii Boldis, Hankins, 39:54
12 and Under Female
1. Heaven Porter, Cochecton, 25:28; 2. Emma Hess, Callicoon, 37:56; 3. Isabel Nearing, Cochecton, 54:59
12 and Under Male
1. Sean Graham, Youngsville, 26:22; 2. Ian Kurzrock, Woodbourne, 32:04
13-15 Female
1. Althea Schenck, Middletown, 31:08; 2. Brittney Milk, Callicoon, 44:26
13-15 Male
1. Nick Miller, Lake Winola, Pa., 19:07; 2. Luke Miller, Lake Winola, Pa., 21:16; 3. Nickolas Boroda, Massapequa, 24:10
16-19 Female
1. Jessica Fingers, Monticello, 22:19; 2. Emily Martin, Mongaup Valley, 22:19; 3. Kasi Pilny, Jeffersonville, 24:04
16-19 Male
1. James Dazurica, Monticello, 18:57; 2. Matthew Layman, Jeffersonville, 19:10; 3. Jeremy Kinney, Hurleyville, 19:44
20-29 Female
1. Amanda Ward, Youngsville, 23:23; 2. Kristen Theyson, Damascus, Pa., 23:55; 3. Allison Mirgalia, Wurtsboro, 25:04
20-29 Male
1. Stephen Mulvihill, Hurleyville, 19:36; 2. Ben McKean, Barryville, 20:44
30-39 Female
1. Karin Gorr, Hortonville, 25:23; 2. Elizabeth Bassett, Rock Hill, 26:12; 3. Melissa Kinsier, Woodridge, 26:16
30-39 Male
1. Michael Bassett, Rock Hill, 20:08; 2. Brian Constable, Westtown, 22:25; 3. Robert Sobcienski, Douglaston, 25:19
40-49 Female
1. Deanna Bailey, Warwick, 23:25; 2. Lisa Layman, Jeffersonville, 23:38; 3. Mariann Sims, Walden, 25:43
40-49 Male
1. Donald Thurston, Pine Bush, 19:22; 2. David Pere, West Hempstead, 19:51; 3. Daniel Miller, Lake Winola, Pa., 20:59
50-59 Female
1. Ananstasia Stekas, New York City, 22:33; 2. Eileen Wohltjen, Hurleyville, 28:41; 3. Susan Brown Otto, Jeffersonville, 30:17
50-59 Male
1. Frank Colella, Campbell Hall, 18:58; 2. Tom Manza, Monticello, 19:35; 3. Dave Getz, Warwick, 19:56
60 and Over Female
1. Judy Pilny, Jeffersonville, 32:49; 2. Diane Baynon, Callicoon, 34:02; 3. Victoria Greffrath, Damascus, Pa., 35:49
60 and Over Male
1. Phil Peelor, Middletown, 23:57; 2. Joseph Pilny, Cochecton, 26:29; 3. John Pilny, Jeffersonville, 27:15