Apr 23, 2007 By Rob Burchianti 5 min read

John Brokenbrough knew he was being pushed. Julie Lipniskas wasn’t sure if she was in front or not. Both wound up winners at the Mount Summit Challenge 3.5 Mile Run and Walk in Uniontown on Sunday morning.

The daunting uphill event, in its 25th year, drew well over 600 competitors on what was a beautiful spring day.

Brokenbrough, of Murrysville, held off a late charge by Geo Toomey of Bethel Park to grab the men’s running title.

Lipniskas, an Albert Gallatin graduate from Smithfield, didn’t have to worry as she finished almost two minutes ahead of her closest competitor to take the women’s running crown.

Jamie Brooks of Connellsville was the highlight of the walking competition as she won the women’s race for the 10th consecutive year and finished second overall to men’s walking champion Don Slusser of Monroeville.

The 48-year-old Brokenbrough built an early lead and then hung for his second running victory in as many weeks, finishing with a time of 25:46.02 in his first attempt at the Summit.

Toomey, 41, was second at 25:52.41 with 26-year-old Evan Beach of Pittsburgh finishing third in 26:37.69.

“It was really close at the end,” Brokenbrough said. “Geo was right behind me at the most difficult part of the race. I was running at my own pace, then I had to decide how bad I wanted to win it.

“He definitely pushed me. I had a little gap because I went out kind of fast, but I used that all up and was looking behind me at the end.”

Brokenbrough was victorious in a close race last week, too.

“I won a 15K last week, but I don’t expect that trend to continue,” said Brokenbrough, who also cycles and competes in triathlons. “It’s hard to win a race, actually.”

It wasn’t all that hard for 24-year-old Lipniskas to repeat as the women’s running champion, though she didn’t realize that fact until she approached the finish line.

“When we started, I was trapped behind everyone and it wasn’t until after the first mile that I started to pass a good bit of women,” said Lipniskas, who finished in 30:29.36, bettering her winning time of 2006 by about 23 seconds. “I was just trying to catch one girl at a time.”

Lipniskas caught them all … without knowing it.

“I thought I might be in the lead, but I didn’t want to be too sure and then be disappointed if I wasn’t,” Lipniskas said.

“Then when I got near the end I heard someone yell ‘first girl’ and I knew I was in front. I was practically at the finish line before I really knew what place I was in.

“My goal was to try to break my time from last year, and I did that, too, so it was a good day.”

A pair of 36-year-old runners followed Lipniskas. Kristen Levan of Cranberry was second in 32:27.13, just ahead of Debbie Conner of Dunbar (32:28.39).

It was Lipniskas’ fourth attempt at the Summit.

“I ran it a couple times in high school,” she said. “I did OK then. There’s nothing as challenging as this one.”

“One” wasn’t the number Brooks was concentrating on. After finishing second in her first two cracks at the Summit, she had reeled off nine victories in a row heading into Sunday’s race, and No. 10 was on her mind.

“It was important to me to hit 10,” the 37-year-old Brooks said. “This is one of my favorite races and it was neat that my 10th win in a row happened on the 25th anniversary of the Summit Challenge.”

Brooks didn’t quite reach her other goal, however.

“I gave it everything I could to get my time under 40, but that was the best I could do today,” said Brooks, who finished in 40:22.57. “But that’s the fastest I’ve been since 2003.”

Brooks hit the tape almost five minutes ahead of second-place Linda Rumbaugh, 48, of Dawson, who turned in a time of 45:19.54. Judy Hufnagel, 42, of New Eagle crossed a minute after Rumbaugh to take third (46:19:10). Rumbaugh and Hufnagel were 12th and 17th, respectively, overall.

Brooks beat all but one of the men runners.

“The thing that I shoot for is my time,” Brooks said. “I try to make little goals for myself, and if I beat some guys along the way, well that just happens.”

The 55-year-old Slusser was the only walker to finish in under 40 minutes. He won the men’s race with a time of 37:53.68.

Jonathan Fox of Scottdale, a Southmoreland graduate, was second in the men’s competition and third overall with a time of 41:41.32. Kim Bennett of Berlin placed third in 41:44.86.

“He was pretty strong,” the 42-year-old Fox said of Slusser.

Fox was competing in only his second walking event.

“I’m an avid cyclist,” Fox said. “I started walking this winter and some of my triathlon friends encouraged me to do this event. I like the hills when I’m cycling, so I was looking forward to this in a way. I was pleased with how I did. I wasn’t really sure how it would turn out.

“I’m still going to concentrate on cycling, but I might do one or two more of the walking events this year.”

The event was sponsored by the Fayette Striders and results were calculated by SERJ Racing Services.

The turnout was eye-opening to Joe Thomas, president of the Fayette Striders and head coach of the Albert Gallatin boys and girls cross country and track and field teams.

“It was overwhelming,” Thomas said. “It was a great turnout. I know there was over 600 in the run and walk.

“I think it was the largest we’ve had.”