By Rob Potter
FORESTBURGH — Dozens of men, women and children made their way to Forestburgh on Saturday morning to compete in the annual Forestburgh 5K Run.
“It was our biggest run yet,” said Race Committee Member Anthony Kane. “We had 162 runners here today.”
At the starting line, Kane reminded those 162 competitors about how the race raises money for a great organization.
“I want to thank everybody for coming out this morning to run in our race,” he said. “This is our fifth annual race. In the previous four races, we have raised over $50,000 for Hospice of Orange and Sullivan Counties, Inc.
“It’s wonderful that you all are here to help us support that cause,” Kane added. “Please take note of our race sponsors. They are the businesses and individuals who help us raise that money.”
Kane introduced Town of Forestburgh Supervisor Jim Galligan to the runners and the crowd of family members and friends on hand to support the athletes. Kane noted that Galligan was the person who suggested the town have a 5K run as part of the annual Forestburgh Day celebration.
Among those cheering on the runners was Janice Valentino, who is the Director of Marketing and Fund Development for Hospice of Orange and Sullivan Counties, Inc.
“It gets bigger and better every year,” Valentino said of the event.
The competitors started the race at the intersection of Adam Road and Lake Joseph Road. The scenic 3.1-mile course included an off-road section.
The first runner to finish was Sean Hayes of Warwick. His winning time was 19 minutes, 29.8 seconds.
Tom Manza of Monticello finished second in 19:50.9. Matt Fortin placed third with a time of 20:29.
This is the second time Hayes, a 2010 graduate of Manhattan College, has competed in the Forestburgh 5K. He finished eighth in the race two years ago.
“It’s a tough course,” said Hayes, who ran cross country and track at Warwick High School. “It’s a very competitive race with the hills and flat areas. I don’t mind the hills.
“I had fun,” added Hayes, who works for Granite Springs Asset Management in New York City where one of his supervisors is Vice President Mike Smith, who grew up in Monticello.
Twelve-year-old Camryn Johnson of Rock Hill took first place in Overall Female Division by running the course in a time of 21:26.8.
Camryn’s identical twin sister Sydney Johnson finished second in the division in 21.32.1. Joanna Goldfarb placed third in 23:02.9
The Johnsons ran side by side for the majority of the race. Camryn was able to move ahead of Sydney near the end of the run.
“I saw our grandpa [Charlie Delmonico] cheering near the 3-mile mark,” Camryn said. “I ran faster to the finish line.”
This is the first time that Camryn Johnson, who will start eighth grade in two weeks, has competed in the Forestburgh 5K Run.
“It had a lot of hills,” she said of the course. “I like the hills.
“It was fun,” Camryn Johnson continued. “It was a great race.”
At the awards ceremony, Kane again thanked all of the runners for participating in the event. He said that this year’s race raised approximately $14,000.
In addition to Anthony Kane, the race committee members included: Nancy Kane, Dr. Gary and Rose Berson, Ann and Jim Culligan, Ellen Galligan and Gene and Shirley Blabey.
The top three overall and top three age group winners were as follows:
Overall Male
1. Sean Hayes, Warwick, 19:29.8;
2. Tom Manza, Monticello, 19:50.9;
3. Matt Fortin, 20:29.0
Overall Female
1. Camryn Johnson, Rock Hill, 21:26.8;
2. Sydney Johnson, Rock Hill, 21:32.1;
3. Joanna Goldfarb, 23:02.9
Female 1 to 11
1. Kassidy Fishman, 39:53.6
Male 1 to 11
1. Charles Fishman, 42:29.9
Female 12 to 15
1. Kaitlyn Kellam, Liberty, 29:27.5;
2. Hope Ebert, Pine Bush, 31:39.3
Male 12 to 15
1. Alexander Rokicki, 24:26.1;
2. Baruch Bitton, New York City, 26:53.4;
3. Andrew Nagoda, 47:13.3
Female 16 to 19
1. Brittany Rupp, Forestburgh, 23:47.6;
2. Erica Concors, 24:10.6;
3. Stephanie Heisler, Liberty, 29:27.5
Female 20 to 29
1. Tina Perdikologos, 23:13.4;
2. Kelly Irving, Woodbourne, 24:43.3;
3. Jenny Brimley, 28:51.4
Male 20 to 29
1. Matt Manzi, 20:50.3;
2. Jon Nardy, Sunnyside, 26:00.1;
3. Bill Coffey, Winter Garden, Fla., 27:40.8
Female 30 to 39
1. Nicole Jones, White Lake, 25:10.7;
2. Beret Nearing, Cochecton, 26:37.4;
3. Stacey Gray, 28:05.7
Male 30 to 39
1. John Murran, Loch Sheldrake, 26:36.9;
2. Kevin Marrazzo, Ridgewood, N.J., 27:15.2;
3. Craig Irving, Woodbourne, 28:50.0
Female 40 to 49
1. Kim Klemen, 25:16.6;
2. Marie Enright, 27:47.8;
3. Michele Kearns, Port Jervis, 28:37.3
Male 40-49
1. Andrew Kalter, South Fallsburg, 23:37.8;
2. Ron Lindholm, 27:05.6;
3. Kenneth Benjamin, Glen Wild, 27:28.2
Female 50 to 59
1. Elsa Grosser, Cochecton, 29:24.7;
2. Eileen Wohltzen, Hurleyville, 30:21.8;
3. Sue Shaughnessy, Monticello, 32:17.4
Male 50 to 59
1. Craig Parsons, Spring Valley, 24:29.0;
2. Michael Lewis, Bellvale, 31:06.4;
3. Peter Kowalczyk, Ferndale, 45:26.5
Female 60 to 69
1. Cathy Pellicci, Napanoch, 35:22.6;
2. Beverley Garzon, Parksville, 36:12.4
Male 60-69
1. Kenneth Lohmeyer, Mongaup Valley, 23:49.2;
2. Phil Peelor, Middletown, 25:37.0;
3. Jordan Goldstein, New York City, 28:14.7
Female 70-79
1. Jackie Juergens, Forestburgh, 46:36.0
Male 70 to 79
1. Burton Ledina, Monticello, 33:38.3;
2. Francis Waite, Livingston Manor, 34:08.6;
3. Joel Fishman, 39:58.2.