For Borrelli, Mercado, 26 miles end in victories

SCRANTON – Area runners Kevin Borrelli and Jeff McCabe finished 1-2 in the 14th annual Steamtown Marathon on Sunday.

Borrelli’s win in 2 hours, 25 minutes and 42 seconds was his second straight in as many attempts at Steamtown. He won $1,500 for his effort. McCabe finished 41 seconds behind and took home $1,000.

“I’m two-for-two,” said Borrelli. “Last year’s win was very emotional because it was my first time running here and my first win. This win was also emotional – but a different kind of emotion. This year there was a lot of expectation. And it’s always tougher running with a bull’s-eye on your back.”

Borrelli, 27, of Throop, who ran for Duquesne University, and McCabe, 26, of Exeter, who ran for Edinboro University, ran neck-and-neck until they reached Dickson City with about five miles remaining in the 26.2-mile race. That’s when Borrelli made his move and finally put some distance between himself and his challenger.

“Jeff was running for time,” said Borrelli. “I was running to win. Jeff controlled the pace early in the race and moved into the lead at mile 10 and again at mile 15. I was content to let him run in front. After I took the lead for good, people were yelling to me that I had about a 100-yard lead. But with three miles to go, I totally ran out of gas. I felt like I wasn’t moving. It felt like someone had poured cement over me.

“I said, ‘O Lord, give me a little extra.’ I continued to feel that way all the way to the finish. I really didn’t believe people when they were yelling to me that I was leading by 100 yards. It felt more like I was leading by about five seconds. I really don’t know how I won.”

Borrelli attributed some of his fatigue to perhaps putting too much into the downhills. And Steamtown, which starts at Forest City High School and has a net elevation drop of 955 feet to its downtown Scranton finish, is loaded with downhills.

“Downhills are dirty tricks,” Borrelli said. “They suck you in (you push too much because they are easy), then you pay for it later.”

Yolanda Mercado, a 39-year-old from Bayamon, Puerto Rico, won the female division and $1,500 in 2:50:20. She was virtually unchallenged after the 20-mile marker. Kaitlin Anelauskas, 24, of Cambridge, Mass., finished second, 2:48 behind Mercado She won $1,000.

“I probably could have run better,” said Mercado. “My time over the first 10K of the race was way too fast. I think I pushed too hard early in the race and that cost me.”

“I concentrated on pace, pace, pace,” she said. “(Anelauskas) caught me and passed me at mile 14. Then I push, push, push and finally caught her and took the lead for good at mile 20.”

After that, it was smooth sailing for the winner, who also won a marathon in Cleveland in 2004 and in Puerto Rico in 2006.

Paul Leonard, 47, of Forty Fort, was the top masters (40 and older) division winner, finishing eighth overall in 2:36:33. He won $300. Amanda Starr, 40, of Lewisburg, was the first female masters finisher, clocking in at 3:00:45. She won $300.

U.S. Army Major Gary Beaty, of San Antonio, and a member of the Marathon Maniacs running club, ran on a treadmill for 26.2 miles in Afghanistan while the race was taking place in Scranton.

Special award: First local runner to finish: Borrelli. Age group winners: 25-29: 1. Jeremy Bochert, 29, Reynoldsville, 2:45:20; 2. Jason Kennedy, Honesdale, 2:47:03; 3. Matt Cullen, Yorktown Heights, N.Y., 2:48:54; 4. Alex Ochman, Philadelphia, 2:56:29; 5. Brad Reed, E. Longmeadow, Mass., 2:59:24. 30-34: 1. Chad Carr, Cambridge, Mass., 2:32:30; 2. Matt Dipretore, Cranford, N.J., 2:35:16; 3. Nick Menzies, Brookline, Mass., 2:36:43; 4. Nate Ayers, Winston-Salem, N.C., 2:43:36; 5. Tetsuya Yamaguchi, Nasberth, 2:48:12. 35-39: 1. Marco Capelli, Collegeville, 2:37:14; 2. Brian Bumgarner,

Branchburg, N.J., 2:44:11; 3. Jugant Laurent, Middletown, N.Y., 2:44:30; 4. Rich Roberts, Barnegat, N.J., 2:50:48; 5. Paul O’Hora, Scranton, 2:54:35. Masters division: 40-44: 1. Mike Murray, West Chester, 3:00:06; 2. Sean Robbins, Shavertown, 3:02:25; 3. Stephen Selby, Pearl River, N.Y., 3:02:56; 4. Eric Hohnson, East Berlin, 3:03:48; 5. Larry Smart, Tampa, Fla., 3:04:30. 45-49: 1. James Nolan, Collegeville, 2:50:52; 2. Barry Lass, Cedar Knolls, N.J., 2:54:03; 3. Rocco Della Serra, Cranford, N.J., 2:55:42; 4. Joe Ewaskiewicz, Millheim, 2:57:18; 5. Antonio Massa, Denville, N.J., 3:00:02. 50-54: 1. Steve Hershey, Perkiomenville, 2:55:30; 2. Frank Rainey, Scranton, 3:04:01; 3. Terry Doyle, Syracuse, N.Y., 3:05:08; 4. Mike Merra, Amherst, N.H., 3:08:28; 5. G. Vaughan Paul, St. Johns, NL, 3:08:58. 55-59: 1. Bob Welby, Northumberland, 3:03:00; 2. Dana Beyeler, Russel, 3:10:18; 3. Phil Davies, Doylestown, 3:14:39; 4. Paul Peterson, Bethesda, Md., 3:17:00; 5. Gary Mitchell, Churchville, Va., 3:20:11. 60-64: 1. Bong Yoon, Vestal, N.Y., 3:09:59; 2. Joe Dutka, Mountain Top, 3:31:15; 3. Dan Pettigrew, E. Brunswick, N.Y., 3:37:53; 4. James Fairchild, Albany, N.Y., 3:39:11; 5. Mike Murphy, Millbrook, N.Y., 3:39:30. 65-69: 1. Walt Seamon, Wheeling, W.Va., 3:27:07; 2. Len Sowinski, Scott Twp., 3:41:31. 70 & over: 1. Tony Cerminaro, Jermyn, 3:20:17.

Special award : First local female to finish: Slusser. Age group winners: 25-29: 1. Amanda Brewster, Cambridge, Mass., 3:08:10; 2. Victoria McGrew, Factoryville, 3:08:52; 3. Christie Menna, Nesconset, N.Y., 3:12:32; 4. Carrisa Stepien, Syracuse, N.Y., 3:23:30; 5. Dawn Sell, Fairfax, Va., 3:29:47. 30-34: 1. Carmon Harvey, Philadelphia, 3:09:27; 2. Emily Piza-Taylor, Binghamton, N.Y., 3:12:34; 3. Kate Buzzell, Scarborough, Maine, 3:23:14; 4. Rebecca Burke, Middletown, Conn., 3:23:22; 5. Aya Takeichi, North Brunswick, N.J., 3:24:42. 35-39: 1. Lydia Becker, Camp Hill, 3:04:55; 2. Sharon Donovan, Washington D.C., 3:05:14; 3. Kim Chalfin, Nanuet, N.Y., 3:16:21; 4. Allyson Schindel, Glen Allen, Va., 3:17:43; 5. Kathy Simin, Port Matilda, 3:20:48. Masters division: 40-44: 1. Brooke Curran, Alexandria, Va., 3:09:14; 2. Julie Burner, Mechanicsburg, 3:09:45; 3. Elizabeth Feldman, Chevy Chase, Md., 3:19:16; 4. Kim Harris, Clinton, N.J., 3:24:38; 5. Charlene Lyford, Greene, N.Y., 3:24:56. 45-49: 1. Diane Novy, Tenafly, N.J., 3:05:33; 2. Barb Picard, Yardley, 3:12:11; 3. Kathy Gannon, Stony Point, N.Y., 3:20:40; 4. Holly McDonald, Lebanon, N.J., 3:21:49; 5. Sue Kinnecome, Bethesda, Md., 3:24:47. 50-54: 1. Emma Riconda, Northport, N.Y., 3:24:55; 2. Renee Idone, Roxbury, Conn., 3:31:46; 3. Carol Giampietro, Garnet Valley, 3:35:25; 4. Amy Synder, Landsdale, 3:40:15; 5. Stephanie Danahy, Fairfax Station, Va., 3:49:20. 60-64: 1. Nancy Trammell, Port Jervis, N.Y., 3:44:26.

Field: 2,323 registered (record) and 65 in Children’s Fun Run. The race featured runners from 40 states, Washington, D.C., Canada, Puerto Rico and the United Kingdom. Official starter and pace car: Robert Corbett (honorary chairperson). Starting line coordinator: Ed Osburn. Timing and official finisher: S. Mark Courtney (Runner’s High – www.runhigh.com). Timing at halfway point: Vince Wojnar (Wyoming Valley Striders). Finish line director: Rich Tomamble. Traffic control: Kevin Calpin (Scranton Organized Area Runners). Expo coordinator and volunteer chief: Jim Moran. Treasurer: Jack Marx. Secretary and legal advisor: John McGovern. Registration: Anne Gallagher. Race director: Bill King. Assistant race director: Jim Cummings.

Schedule: Sunday, Oct. 18: Wilkes-Barre Lupus Loop 5K Run/Walk at 11 a.m. at Kirby Park. Info: Janice Liddic, 558-2008.

Sunday, Oct. 25: Wyoming Valley Striders 22nd annual Fall Trail Run, a 5.5-mile run at 1 p.m. at the boat launch area at Frances Slocum State Park, Kingston Twp. Info: Vince Wojnar, 474-5363.