Apr 27, 2025 3 min read

Only 43 seconds separated the top three finishers in the Mt. Summit Challenge on a Sunday morning that started at the bottom of the mountain in Hopwood and climbed 3.5 miles to the Historic Summit Inn Resort in Farmington.

Elizabeth’s Mitchell Minda, 25, won the race in 26:03.1 over Jesse Irwin, 38, of Morgantown, W.Va., and Brent Lopick, 46, of Uniontown.

Mitchell set a pace of 7:27 per mile.

Ohiopyle’s Brynn Cunningham, 42, won the female run in 32:39. The Uniontown Area High School graduate had a pace of 9:20 per mile. Amy Legeza, 49, of Smock was second in 37:15.7, and Shannon Shultz, 29, was third in 37:37.9.

Veteran race walker Jamie Brooks, 55, of Connellsville, topped the overall field in a time of 43:48.5. Brooks’ pace was 12:31 per mile. Uniontown’s Carl Shotts, 55, was second in 45:53.3, but won the male race at a pace of 13:07 per mile.

Chuck Martin, 44, of Lemont Furnace was the second male (third overall) with a time of 46:14. Uniontown’s Mandy Fike, 45, was fourth overall (second female) in 47:32.9.

Connellsville’s Jim Downey, 64, placed fifth overall (third male) with a time of 48:06.6. Uniontown’s Natalie Chury, 36, was seventh overall (third female) at 50:27.7.

Chris Martin, 30, didn’t have far to travel to start the race, and the Hopwood resident won the cruiser division in a time of 30:57.7 at a pace of 8:51 per mile. Irwin’s Justin Belak, 33, was second in 32:24.4 and Rices Landing’s Rob Schiffbauer, 41, was third in 37:05.

Smock’s Kevin Hager, 31, won the heavyweight division in a time of 38:12.6. He set a pace of 10:55 per mile. Sean Stiffey, 34, was second in 39:21.6 and Mike Emerick, 58, was third in 41:24.6.

The following runners won their age group in the male division: Grey Harder, 43:13.8, Ohiopyle, 12-and-under; Caleb Hixenbaugh, 30:05.2, Grindstone, 13-19; Logan Knoyer, 30:27.5, Uniontown, 20-29; Brian Johnson, 41:20.9, Pittsburgh, 30-39; Chris Dildine, 29:20.4, Greensburg, 40-49; Doug Banski, 30:45.4, 50-59; Amo Loewenthal, 36:37.7, Farmington, 60-69; Martin Joyce, 51:52.5, Pittsburgh, 70-79; Jim Beck Uniontown, 1:04.29.4, 80-and-over.

The female age-group winners in the running event were: Meila Holmes, 47:18.0, Smithfield, 12-and-under; Kaitlyn Kramer, 45:14.7, 13-19; Maria Vito, 42:15.9, Bentleyville, 20-29; Victoria Bradnam, 41:20.9, Irwin, 30-39; Selena Ohler, 38:05, White, 40-49; Amy Dunkin, 39:19.4, Uniontown, 50-59; Connie Frazier, 40:41, Monroeville, 60-69; Lynne Ryan, 49:21.6, 70-79.

The male age-group award winners in the walking division were: Hayden McChesney, 50:21.3, 12-and-under; Porter Johnson, 1:12.36.8, 13-19; Mitch Phillips, 57:51, 20-29; Justin Chury, 54:21.4, Uniontown, 30-39; Matthew McLuckey, 51:41.7, 40-49; Gary Zupper, 50:38.2, Spraggs, 50-59; Tim Frazier, 50:30.1, 60-69; Robert Berstecher, 52:22.7, 70-79; Ralph Warman, 53:04.0, Uniontown, 80-and-over.

The female age-group award winners in the walking division were: Carlin Shilk, 58:07.6, Uniontown, 12-and-under; Karleigh McChesney, 56:52.9, 13-19; Brooke Bertovich, 51:53, 20-29; Sarah Reid, 51:28.5, Clarksville, 30-39; Heidi Rodeheaver, 51:38, Farmington, 40-49; Susan George, 51:16.7, Uniontown, 50-59; Ginny Barndollar, 52:03, Chalk Hill, 60-69; Karen Clister, 54:07.8, Bruceton Mills, W.Va., 70-79.

Daniel Levin, 34, of Morgantown, W.Va., won the male 99-and-under cruiser division age-group award in a time of 39:36.3.

Connellsville’s Joshua Nichelson, 37, won the male 99-and-under heavyweight division age-group award in a time of 43:38.7.

The Mt. Summit Challenge was established in 1983 and is hosted by The Fayette Striders running club. Tammy Shell is the race director. The group thanked everyone for participating in the race on what was described as a “beautiful, crisp day!”

The Fayette Striders thanked Lee’s Plumbing and Excavating, Montgomery Medical, Maggie Hardy at Nemacolin Woodlands and 84 Lumber, Amanda Leskinen Voithofer at the Summit Inn Resort and the crew at the Hopwood Fire Station for their support, which helped make the race go. The club also thanked their sponsors and volunteers for the event. SERJ provided their timing services for the race, and the results that are posted online.