John Woodruff 5K Run-Walk
McGuire prevents sweep of repeat winners CONNELLSVILLE – Pat McGuire prevented a sweep of repeat winners in the 20th annual John Woodruff 5K Run-Walk held in Connellsville on Wednesday.
McGuire, a Hempfield graduate from Greensburg, lead almost wire to wire in crossing the finish line first in the men’s run with a time of 16:48.34.
The other three champions all successfully defended their titles.
Gina McGee won the women’s run for the second year in a row with a time of 19:01.94. Steve Bence finished first for the fourth consecutive time in the men’s walk with a time of 26:16.57. Jamie Brooks topped all women walkers for the third straight year in earning her fifth overall crown.
McGuire, a 20-year-old Duquesne University student, was running the race seriously for the first time.
“I think I ran it one other time when I was in eighth grade,” said McGuire, who is a member of the Dukes’ cross country and track and field teams. “I run steeplechase in track. I just kind of came in here to test and see what kind of shape I’m in. I’m just trying to do mileage this summer.
“I liked the course. The first half is tough, the second half a little easier. Overall, it’s a pretty good race.”
McGuire had a lonely feeling as he ran.
“I took the lead right off the bat,” McGuire said. “Basically, I was running by myself.”
That wasn’t the case in the battle for second place between a pair of Uniontown residents. Eddie Filcheck entered Falcon Stadium, where the race concludes after one lap around the field, with a significant edge. Adam Shinsky stormed from behind with a strong push to catch Filcheck down the final straightaway, crossing the finish line with a time of 17:40.60. Filcheck’s time was 17:42.97.
Joe Como was fourth and South Connellsville’s Kenny King was fifth. Rounding out the top 10 were Branden Teets, Connellsville’s Pat Mullaney, Uniontown’s Josh Dennis and Bill Ulmer, and Connellsville’s Brad Showman.
The race record is still held by Don Norman who ran a blistering 14:15 in 1985.
McGee, a 37-year-old Latrobe resident and Greater Latrobe graduate, held off a strong challenge from 17-year-old Laurel Highlands running star Mikie Monaghan, who finished second with a time of 19:18.83.
“It was a fight the whole way,” said McGee, who was accompanied by her husband, Mike, and has two daughters, eight-year-old Amanda and five-year-old Casey Rose.
“She was still with me at the top of the hill. She really pushed me.”
“She got me about a mile and a half in,” said Monaghan, a Fillies’ senior-to-be who had her highest finish in her third year of participation. “She was in my sights the rest of the race. I kept trying little surges to try and catch her, but couldn’t.”
McGee took awhile to recover after crossing the finish line.
“I woke up this morning not feeling well in the stomach. I think I have a touch of something,” said McGee, who finished 14th in this year’s Pittsburgh Marathon and was second in the Latrobe Rolling Rock race. “This is a really nice race. If I can stay healthy, I’ll be back again next year.”
A pair of Farmington residents, Uniontown High School’s Scarlett Graham and Susan Lobos, finished in third and fourth, respectively, with Connellsville’s Shannon Kovack fifth.
Laurel Highlands’ graduate Wendy Craft of Uniontown was sixth, followed by Mount Pleasant’s Karen Mizikar, Smithfield’s Julie Lipniskas, Natalie Bower and Perryopolis’ Darsie Lonce.
Bence took the lead immediately and cruised to victory with Thomas Starkey second (27:45.83), Randy Davis third, Ken James fourth and Uniontown’s Frank Mulich fifth.
Bence credited Pati Heydorn with helping him overcome an injury to keep his winning streak in the race alive.
“I threw a disc out in my back and didn’t get back into it until January,” said the 46-year-old Bence, who is a Penn Hills graduate and resident. “She’s a really good runner and a good athlete and she helped me believe I could still do this. This race was for her tonight.”
A humid day was cooling off a bit as the race began, to the dismay of Bence.
“I was hoping it was going to be about 90 degrees,” said Bence with a smile.
“I really like the heat. But this is a tough course.”
Craig Baer finished sixth in the men’s walk, and was followed by two Connellsville residents in Ron Brooks and Jim Downey. Tom Skemp and Ken Ashton rounded out the top 10.
Jamie Brooks has finished first in the women’s walk the last five times she raced in it.
After winding up second in 1996, Brooks triumphed in 1997 and 1998 before missing the 1999 race, and has won the past three years.
“I was pleased with tonight,” said Brooks, a 32-year-old Laurel Highlands graduate who lives in Connellsville. “I paced myself well.
“I did the Uniontown Triathlon a couple weeks ago and all my training recently has been for that.
“I wasn’t doing as many race-walking miles, I was doing more running, biking and swimming, but I figured my cardiovascular system was in good shape.”
Brooks isn’t about to stop now after winning five times.
“Oh yes, I’ll be back again,” Brooks said. “I’ll do it as long as I can.”
Fredericktown’s Kathy Paes was second (32:16.73), with Connellsville’s Debbie Lonigro third, Uniontown’s Jennifer Blout fourth and Brownsville’s Anne Peters fifth.
Rounding out the top 10 were Natalie Miller, Dunbar’s Laura Jericho, South Connellsville’s Sharon Tlumack, Dunbar’s Gretchen Polosky and Linda Smida.
Kristen Porter, who has been running the race since 1988, served as race director for the second year in a row and was pleased with the outcome, even though Woodruff was unable to attend.
“It was fabulous,” Porter said. “We have over 500 runners.
“It’s a shame John couldn’t be here. We’re making a video tape and we’re going to send it out to him.”
Woodruff sent a pre-race speech that was read by race committee member Dr. Rich Grimaldi. Kevin Harrison served as the Master of Ceremonies.
Connellsville’s Ryan Mullaney was the 2002 race scholarship winner.