Eli Ruiz | Democrat Barry Lewis, of Woodbourne, wins the annual Rails to Trails in Mountaindale, with a time of 23:54.

Rails to Trails sails in Mountaindale

Story by Eli Ruiz
MOUNTAINDALE — July 23, 2013 — A cool yet sun-drenched Sunday morning provided the perfect backdrop for the approximately 100 participants in the 4th Annual Rails to Trails 4-Mile Run/2-Mile Walk in Mountaindale. The turnout nearly doubled last year’s participation level.
Runners from all over Sullivan County, and as far away as Philadelphia, assembled at the Mountaindale Firehouse for the 8:30 a.m. gun, signaling the start of the mildly challenging circuit; a mostly tree-lined, shady route that follows the path of the old Ontario & Western Railway (O&R) that long ago distributed coal downstate and north to the Port of Oswego on Lake Ontario, and to points west. Passenger service on the O&W assisted in the growth of the then nascent resort industry in Sullivan County as well as in the lower Catskills.
Back in 2010, several groups, including the Town of Fallsburg, the Woodridge Kiwanis, the Mountaindale Community Development Project (MCDP), the Mountaindale Action Committee (MAC) and the Sullivan Striders running club took a $5,000 Sullivan Renaissance grant, and under the leadership of former Fallsburg Code Enforcement Officer Allen Frishman, began the transformation of the abandoned railway into the charming, scenic and much-used hiking, running and biking trail that today stretches nearly five miles between Mountaindale and the Neversink River.
Fittingly, and for the first time since spearheading the trail's creation, Frishman was actually able to participate in Sunday's event. "After helping organize the thing every year, I figured it was about time I participated in it," offered Frishman, who finished the course in a respectable 28:37.02 – good for fifth place amongst walkers. Barry Lewis, of Mountaindale, was the fastest walker in 23:54.04.
The top two finishers in the 4-mile run division mirrored last year's two top finishers: First was Raymond Revell of Wurtsboro in 24:16.09, not quite as fast as his 23:44.03 finish last year. Crossing second was John Sellstrom of Liberty with a time of 25:28.04, just seconds ahead of his brother Eric, who finished in 25:31.01.
A first for the Rails to Trails run, this year's event was tied-into the Hudson Valley Grand Prix race series, with nearly four dozen participants bolstering the field and vying for points in the series Sunday.
"It's the first year we're doing this and I think it's a wonderful thing, “ said Rails to Trails Race Director Maryann Manza. “Not just for the [Hudson Valley Grand Prix] series participants, but for this race's competitiveness as well."
Having raised more than $2,000 last year, as of press time this year's race proceeds hadn't yet been announced, but Manza said, "whatever the proceeds are from this year’s run, most of it will go back into maintaining the trail with a percentage also going toward our sponsor, the Sullivan Striders."
With friendly competition the order of the day, long-distance couple Pat Ramos of Woodbourne and Daria Petraglia of Philadelphia had something else on their minds Sunday – being together. Having met Ramos back in 2010 through the local running scene, Petraglia explained, "I was up visiting my parents who live in Goshen back in 2010 and he [Ramos] was timing a local race that I was just hanging out at. He started talking to me and I offered to help him time the race. We ended up running the Orange Classic together that year, and now we run all the races we can together – this [running] is our connection."
For complete race results please go to www.eagletiming.com.

Rails to Trails Results
(4-mile Run Top Finishers)
Overall Top 10
1. Raymond Revell, Wurtsboro 24:16
2. John Sellstrom, Liberty 25:28
3. Erik Sellstrom, Liberty 25:31
4. Donald Thurston, Pine Bush 25:39
5. Frank Colella, Campbell Hall 27:01
6. Suzanne LaBurt, Green. Lake 27:28
7. Sam Miller, Harris 27:37
8. Doug Carter, Chester 27:59
9. Jackie Schiffer, Olivebridge 28:00
10. Patty Insignares, Goshen 28:46

Female 20-29
1. Rachel Quinn, Goshen 29:00
2. Nicole Porco, Tillson 34:06
3. Janice Harter, Florida 34:19

Male 16-29
1. Sam Miller, Harris 27:37
2. Dakota Raponi, Wurtsboro 30:07
3. Nick Dimaria, Middletown 31:21

Female 30-39
1. Eileen Kalter-Lieberman, Phi. 32:58
2. Janet Lee, Rock Tavern 40:52
3. Allison Sage, Latham 46:51

Male 30-39
1. Chris Regan, Wapping. Falls 30:59
2. Andy Speranza, Rock Tavern 25:42
3. Jared Lieberman, Philadelphia 32:58

Female 40-49
1. Jill Croucher, Washingtonville 31:14
2. Joann Andryshak, Florida 31:27
3. Jennifer Pferstin, Rock Hill 32:09

Male 40-49
1. Donald Thurston,Pine Bush 25:39
2. Thomas Kavanah, Rock Tavern 28:46
3. Thomas Andryshak, Florida 29:12

Female 50-59
1. Pam Henning, Woodbourne 27:33
2. Sharon Phillips, MIddletown 35:15
3. Fran Pantano, Walden 35:42

Male 50-59
1. Frank Colella, Campbell Hall 27:01
2. Doug Carter, Chester 27:59
3. John Losardo, Middletown 29:02

Female 60-69
1. Rebecca Withers, Wallkill 39:14

Male 60-69
1. Carl Zuidema, Warwick 30:40
2. Richard Robillard, Florida 31:35
3. Lorne MacDonald, Sussex, NJ 31:56

Female 70 and over
3. Marion Schneider, Pine Bush 1:16:13

Male 70 and over
1. John Singer, Suffern 32;06
2. William Rosenberg, Wallkill 33:46

(2-mile Walk Top Finishers)
OVERALL TOP 10
1. Barrry Lewis, Woodbourne 23:54
2. Michael Snyder, Mountaindale 24:05
3. Joseph Snyder, Mountaindale 24:55
4. Helen Rados, Harris 25:00
5. Allen Frishman. Mtndale. 28:37
6. John Stasko, Wurtsboro 31:12
7. Sue Ksofsky, Woodridge 31:12
8. Owen Messenger, Monticello 31:12
9. Leo Messenger, Monticello 35:16
10. Mollie Messenger, Monticello 35:29