Monaghan, Shinsky capture Woodruff
CONNELLSVILLE – The 23rd annual John Woodruff 5K race was held Wednesday at Connellsville Stadium. Woodruff, now 90-years old, was the 1936 Olympic gold medal winner at 800 meters in the Berlin games, and now lives in Arizona. He sent a letter to the participant, explaining his health prevents him from traveling back to the race, but encouraged the runners and walkers to give their best effort.
The race also provides a $1,000 scholarship to two graduating seniors at Connellsville. This year’s winners were Wade Schnorr, and Molly Mulaney. Both will attend Penn State in the fall.
Uniontown’s Adam Shinsky, now running track and cross country at Indiana University of Indiana, won his third straight race in a time of 16:51.
“I was very pleased with my time today,” Shinsky said. “I was hoping to run under 16:30. It was a little warm today, and I wasn’t really pushed. Anything under 17 minutes, I’ll take it, I’m very happy to win today.”
The overall women’s winner was Mikie Monaghan of Uniontown, will be a junior at Brown University, where she runs cross-country and track. Her winning time was 19:16. “I haven’t ran in this race for about three years. This is my first time winning it overall,” she said. “It was a little humid today. The first half of the race was a little hilly, but the second half was all downhill, which made for a nice finish.”
A couple of long-time competitors picked up wins in the walking portion of the race. Ken James of Trafford strolled to another win with a time of 29:33.
“I’ve competed in this race for about 15 years. I think this is close to the tenth time I’ve won it, ” he said. “I’m coming off the Senior Olympics in Pittsburgh, where I was fourth at 5,000 meters, and fifth at 1,500 meters. It always fun to take part in this race, especially today when it’s not as humid.”
Jamie Brooks of Connellsville won the women’s 5K walk just fourth months after giving birth to her son. “I gave birth March 3rd. My husband Rick carried the baby through the race this year. I’m pleased to just win this race,” she said.
“For me the weather was nice, and I felt my conditioning was pretty good. Compared to other years it wasn’t too bad, because there have been some years when it was very hot.”
The 800-meter kids fun run was held before the race. The overall boys winner was Will Hughes and the overall girls winner was Kami Washabaugh.
Race director Kristin Porter got another great effort from her staff to make the race run smoothly for another year, and is looking for more volunteers to help next year.
Father Frank Lesnowski of St.Rita’s Catholic Church in Connellsville gave the pre-race prayer. Tony Cavalier of Connellsville sang the National Anthem, The Molinaro Band once again provided the music during the race, and Fayette county commissioner, Joe Hardy, was the official starter of the race.