Toomey, Slusser, Starkey, Brooks all up to ‘Summit’ Challenge
FARMINGTON – Over 500 people took to the mountain in the 22nd installment of the Mt. Summit Challenge Sunday. The 3.5-mile course beginning almost directly in front of Hopwood Fire Station and ends at the Summit Inn Resort saw many previous winners again grace the medal stand. Jamie Brooks and Tom Starkey finished first in the walkers divisions, while course-record holder Tammy Slusser and first-time winner Geo Toomey claimed top spot in the running divisions.
For Brooks, the win was her eighth-straight in the 10 years that she’s participated in the Challenge.
Six weeks ago, Brooks gave birth to Dylan Thomas and was recently given the go-ahead from her physician to train for the event.
“I just got the okay from my doctor Monday night to begin vigorous exercise,” said Brooks.
Brooks finished with a time of 43:44 this year, compared to 40:50 in the 2004 race.
“It was just about four minutes slower, but I’m pretty happy with that,” Brooks said. “It was just enough to win. I had someone close to me and that actually gave me a little push.”
If you’re keeping score at home, Brooks needs just seven more consecutive first-place finishes to tie Eric Wilkins’ 15 consecutive titles in the men’s run.
Farmington local Kelly Henning placed second among the walkers with a time of 44:01 and Shari Bandemer of Scottdale finished third at 45:24.
With a race as early as the Mt. Summit Challenge, weather is always a concern, especially with a 1,220 feet elevation change from start to finish. Over the years, there’s been high winds, rain and even snow, but Sunday the conditions were near perfect. Still, runners and walkers are forced to contend with a slight head wind going up hill.
The infamous last 1/2 mile past the scenic overlook leaves participants with a clear view of the finish line, but clearly is the most difficult part of the course with winds whipping no matter what the conditions are.
Forty-five year old Millsboro native Starkey was first to cross the finish line among the men’s walkers. It was his fifth victory in the past six years that he’s tackled the mountain. His time was 39:08.
“I felt good,” Starkey commented. “A lot of people travel to this race and it’s a good draw to the area.”
Scottdale native Donald Echard claimed second place among the walkers with a time of 39:11 and Uniontown’s Frank Mulich finished third in 39:26.
Toomey raced up the mountain for his first victory in the Challenge in the men’s run. The Bethel Park native finished with a time of 25:37, the best time recorded among all participants and his best time by 10 seconds.
“The closest I’ve come to winning was third,” Toomey remarked. “If I came in third or fourth or 10th, that’s OK, but improving my time makes me happy.”
It’s the fifth time that Toomey ran in the event and ranks the Summit Challenge among his favorites.
“It’s one of my favorites for a couple reasons,” said Toomey. “First off, it’s very challenging because you’re climbing and a lot of people don’t like to climb. They do a great job here. It’s a great race and a great course.”
Jeff Nelson of Titusville finished second (26:13) and Uniontown’s Dexter Smart rounded out the top three runners in 26:45.
“You have to be in good condition to run this,” remarked Smart. “I’m proud because this is my first time running it. It’s a very good hometown race.”
Monroeville native and top-rated distance runner Slusser claimed her second straight victory in the women’s run. Her time of 28:24 was shy of her record-setting 27:30 in 2000.
Rachel Feldner of Zanesville, Ohio, finished second (32:16) and Lisa Cimbala finished third with a time of 32:40.
Nate Romesburg finished first in the Clydesdales with a time of 33:16, while Leroy Clark finished second (34:08) and Thomas Lavelle rounded out the top three in 35:05.
Uniontown’s Mark Shrader topped the cruisers in 31:15 and Norbert Tama placed second with a time of 31:29.