Lopick, Slusser run to Summit Challenge titles
FARMINGTON — Nearly 700 or so runners and walkers climbed the Summit, Route 40 from Hopwood to the historic Summit Inn, on a pleasant, sunny Sunday morning.
The 36th edition of the 3.5-mile race was a little different this year because the field did not include stalwart Mary Campbell-Spegar.
Spegar passed away last November in a house fire. The longtime Fayette County assistant public defender was one of hundreds who annually walked or ran the unique race.
A moment of silence was held for Spegar before the horn signaled the start of the run. Also, a number of participants donned T-shirts in memory of Spegar, including the women’s walk champion, Jamie Brooks.
Brooks has won the walk multiple times over the 22 or 23 times she’s competed, but this title came on the heels of completing the Boston Trail Half Marathon Saturday in just under two hours.
“I decided to walk for Mary Spegar. That’s what she would’ve done,” explained Brooks. “I knew my legs would be tired. As the saying goes, when the legs are tired, you race with your heart.
“So, I raced with her in my heart.”
Brooks has been running the Summit in recent years, and didn’t know what to expect this time around in the walk.
“I started this nonsense in 1996 or ’97,” Brooks said with a smile. “I didn’t expect to feel good today after I pushed myself yesterday.”
The men’s walk had a lot of familiar faces in the top three finishers with all three former champions.
Monroeville’s Don Slusser added another Summit trophy to the case after he crossed the finish line in 40:48, just six seconds in front of Pittsburgh’s Jason Cwynar. Youngwood’s Jason Lohr was the third male — and fourth overall — with a time of 42:11.
Cwynar finished first last year with Slusser second and Lohr third. Lohr won in 2016 with Cwynar second.
Sunny skies and favorable temperatures greeted the competitors, but the field also had to deal with a stiff headwind for most of the course.
“All too familiar, it was brutal,” Lohr said of the course. “I was within striking distance (of Slusser) at about 2½ miles, but I got a little stomach sick and light-headed. The problem was (Slusser) stayed steady.
“I didn’t notice the wind in my face until I got exhausted.”
Lohr received encouragement from one his fellow walkers.
“I saw Jamie (Brooks) with the side of my eye and didn’t know it was her. She passed me and said, ‘Come on Jason. You’re doing great.’ She caught up to them and I stayed where I was.”
Corey Lopick, of Allison Park, won the run in a time of 29:39 after finishing sixth last year. Although, there was a bit of confusion when an unregistered runner led the pack up the hill.
Connellsville’s Jesse Irwin has done a little bit of everything, including a marathon and trail/mountain biking, but his first attempt at the Summit Challenge produced a second-place finish in 29:43.
“I’ve always wanted to do it, but it never worked out. My girlfriend Paige Vanek wanted to walk it, so I decided to run it,” said Irwin. “It’s a different race. Other loop races are so monotonous.
“I tried to catch (Lopick), but I just couldn’t.”
Irwin had a plan of attack for his first Summit Challenge.
“I wanted to start slow and see what took place,” said Irwin. “From the lookout to the finish, that ½-mile is harder than the rest of the race. That ½-mile finish is harder that the entire Woodruff in July.”
Irwin also threw a shot at good friend Kenny King, who was a two-time state champion in the 800.
“If I wouldn’t hang out with Kenny King so much, I think I would’ve won,” Irwin said through a big smile.
Uniontown’s Joseph Casteel, a freshman at Laurel Highlands, placed third in 30:18.
Tammy Slusser added another trophy to the family when she won the women’s run in 31:20. Belle Vernon’s Belinda Adamec was not far behind in second after crossing the finish line in 31:42.
Adamec was the defending champion.
“It never gets easier. This (race) is awesome. It’s always fun,” said Adamec.
Adamec has had a lot of success in the Summit Challenge, with five top-3 finishes. Making her run of top finishes even more remarkable is Adamec suffered a stroke three years ago.
“I was second and third, and then had a year off because I had a stroke,” explained Adamec, who placed third when she returned after recovering from the stroke.
William Mossor, of Fort Belvoir, Va., won the Clydesdale division (for runners over 200 pounds) in 35:22. Pittsburgh’s Steve Kuhn was second in 40:20, with Aidan Van Houter, of Adah, five seconds behind in third.
Hopwood’s Christopher Martin won the Cruisers division (for runners between 175-199 pounds) in 33:35. Allison Park’s Brent Lopick was second with a time of 35:21. Pittsburgh’s Tyler Thimons was third in 37:04.
Among the first-timers competing was Greensburg’s Brandon Phillips. Phillips, in only his second competitive race, finished third in his age bracket and 138th overall in 46:37.
“I’ll come back. But, I need the year’s rest,” said Phillips, a cardiac nurse at Latrobe Hospital. “I knew it was going to be rough.
“It was double what I thought it would be. It threw me for loop. But, it was fun.”
Proceeds support the Fayette Striders Cross Country/Track & Field Scholarship. The Fayette Striders wished to thank the sponsors and those who made the race possible, including Somerset Trust Company, Historic Summit Inn Resort, McMillen Engineering Inc., ZJx Entertainment, SERJ Racing Services, Hilton Garden Inn, and Slavicocorp.com.