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DALLAS — Mike Harnish and Marina Orrson successfully defended their crowns, winning the Susquehanna River Runners Club’s 1 Mile Run on the track at Misericordia University on Thursday evening.
Harnish’s win was his second straight. Orrson’s win was her fifth in-a-row and the first race of the series that feature three 1-milers. The second leg of the series is the 1 Mile Run on the Paved Loop on Church Street in Kingston on Aug. 10. The final leg is the Breaker Brewing Company Giants Despair Mile, set for Aug. 24.
Harnish, 24, of Annville, is a two-time All-American from Lebanon Valley College in the 800 meter indoor track event. He finished the race in four minutes and 27.78 seconds.
Rob Ahrens, 28, of Clarks Summit, who ran for Baptist Bible College, finished second in 4:33.59.
Harnish plans on running again this year in all three races of the series.
“It’s an awesome series,” he said. “It’s a lot of fun.”
Harnish’s time was a bit slower than last year.
“It wasn’t as good as my time from a week ago when I finished third in the Harrisburg Mile,” he said. “But I’ve been doing a lot of training over the last two weeks (60 miles per week). And with no body pushing me — I’m not really surprised with my slower time.”
Last year, Harnish had Forty Fort runner, Jeff Skwierz, pushing him. But Skwierz is injured and wasn’t able to run.
Going into Thursday’s race, Orrson had won the series four straight years. She had won 12 1-milers in-a-row, all in wire-to-wire fashion.
Make that 13.
The Shavertown native, who was a standout runner at Misericordia University, finished in 5:08.19. Shelby Foster, 23, of Dallas, finished second in 5:39.11.
“Another mile series is upon us,” she said. “I’m looking forward to winning again.”
Susquehanna River Runners Club’s Valley’s Fastest Man/Woman series
(three 1-mile races)
Race No. 1. SRRC 1 Mile Run on the Track at Misericordia University results
Top 3 male finishers
Mike Harnish, 24, Annville, 4:27.78
Rob Ahrens, 28, Clarks Summit, 4:33.59
Kyle Suponcic, 27, Shavertown, 4:54.22
Top 3 female finishers
Marina Orrson, 26, Shavertown, 5:08.19
Shelby Foster, 23, Dallas, 5:39.11
Emily Bell, 34, Bear Creek Twp., 5:50.00
First male masters (40 & over) finisher: Garrett Barr, 44, Dallas, 5:45
First female masters finisher: Kerry Potter, 44, Kingston, 6:47
Heat No. 1. (Slower Runners): First male finisher: Dave Stanitis, 54, Plymouth, 6:51.3.
First female finisher: Autumn Palma, 12, Dallas, 7:12.95.
Heat No. 2. (Mid range runners): First male finisher: Eric Klemchak, 23, Bear Creek Twp., 5:47.18. First female finisher: Bell.
Heat No. 3. (Elite runners): First male: Harnish. First female: Orrson.
Field: 46.
Official starter and timing: Chris Wadas (race director). Results: Jen Heck and Mike Kinney.
Schedule
Thursday, Aug. 3: Jack Daniels Mile at Tioga St. and Franklin Ave., Tunkhannock at 7 p.m. Info: Dick Daniels, 570-240-1932.
Sunday, Aug. 6: 9th annual Pauly Friedman Family 5K Run/Walk at Anderson Sports & Health Center, Misericordia University, Dallas at 9:30 a.m. Info: Amber Loomis, 570-823-5144.
Thursday, Aug. 10: Susquehanna River Runners Club’s 1 Mile Run on Paved Loop, Church St., Kingston at 7p.m. (Second leg of Valley’s Fastest Man/Woman series). Info: Chris Wadas, 570-592-2820.
Saturday, Aug. 19: 19th annual Pittston Tomato Festival 5K Run, starts at YMCA, Main St. at 10 a.m. and finishes at festival grounds. Info: Jay Duffy, 570-574-0463.
Thursday, Aug. 24: Susquehanna River Runners Club’s Breaker Brewing Company Giants Despair Mile, Northampton St., Wilkes-Barre at 7p.m. (Final leg of Fastest Man/Woman series). Info: Chris Wadas,570-592-2820.
