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First Posted: 9/23/2012
WILKES-BARRE – Mikhail Litvinov and Deedra Porfirio ran to easy victories in the Wyoming Valley Striders’ fourth annual End of Summer 10K Run on Saturday in Kirby Park.
Litvinov, 25, of Drums broke the tape in 33 minutes and 32 seconds. He outran second-place finisher, Mike Lewis, 17, of Shickshinny by 3:28. Robert Gronski Jr., 32, of Moosic finished third, 54 seconds behind Lewis.
“I just wanted to run 5:30 or faster over each mile,” said Litvinov, who ran cross country and track for Hazleton Area High School and Bloomsburg University. “Even though I had a big lead, I continued to run hard the entire way. It’s a tough course, running on the top of the dike where there is nothing to block the wind. Add to that the hills and many turns, and you’re talking about a tough race. The turns really slow you down – especially the U-turns.”
Porfirio wasn’t sure how things would go. She was ill Friday. And she’s been training at long distances of late, getting ready for the Steamtown Marathon, which is set for Oct.7.
But Porfirio ran to victory with a sixth-place overall finish in 40:05. The 36-year-old from West Pittston outraced second-place finisher, Whitney Lukas, 20, of Courtdale — who finished eighth-overall — by 2:04. Ann Zoranski, 41, of Swoyersville finished third in 43:22.
“I did a 20-mile run last Sunday, preparing for Steamtown, which will be my first marathon, so I just wasn’t sure how well I would do,” Porfirio said. “But, it went well. I looked back at Mile 2 and realized I had a good lead. After that, I just continued to run at the same pace the rest of the way.”
With her win in the 10K run, Porfirio won top female honors in the Open Division of the Wyoming Valley Striders’ Triple Crown, winning a $100 gift certificate to the National Running Center in Clarks Summit.
Porfirio won the second leg of the Triple Crown, the Cherry Blossom 5 Miler, in Kirby Park in May. She finished second, behind Kelly Ciravolo, in the first leg – Winter’s End (4.5-mile) Run – in March at Penn State Wilkes-Barre.
Ciravolo, who is the area’s best female triathlete, didn’t run in the second or third legs of the Triple Crown.
Jeff Skwierz, of Forty Fort, who ran cross country and track for Hazleton Area and Lock Haven University, was a shoe-in to win the Male Open Division of the Triple Crown. He finished second behind Bornfase Nyandusi Omurwa in the Winter’s End Run and second behind Chris Wadas in the Cherry Blossom run. Omurwa didn’t compete in the last two legs. And Wadas didn’t compete in the first or final legs. And it looked like Skwierz had yet another second-place finish in the bag.
But Skwierz made a wrong turn on the course and was disqualified.
“I was just trying to hang with (Litvinov) to win the series,” Skwierz said. “But when I returned back over the (Market Street) Bridge, I didn’t see anybody pointing which way I should go. Instead of going under the bridge, I returned into the park. And I never heard anyone yelling to me that I was going the wrong way.”
That opened the door for 17-year-old Mike Lewis, of Shickshinny, who won top male Triple Crown honors. Lewis finished eighth in the Winter’s End Run and fifth in the Cherry Blossom 5 Miler.
Mike McAndrew, 52, of Avoca, who finished fourth in 38:40, won top Male Masters (40 and older) Triple Crown honors, winning a $75 gift certificate to the National Running Center. Ann Zoranski, 41, of Swoyersville was awarded a $75 gift card for winning top Female Masters Triple Crown honors.
Wyoming Valley Striders End of Summer 10Km Run (final leg of Striders’ Triple Crown) results
Top 10
Mikhail Litvinov, 25, Drums, 33:32
Mike Lewis, 17, Shickshinny, 37:00
Robert Gronski Jr., 32, Moosic, 37:54
Mike McAndrew, 52, Avoca, 38:40
Stephen Housenick, 43, Kingston, 39:47
Deedra Porfirio, 36, W. Pittston, 40:05
Jeremy Dormer, 41, Hazle Twp., 40:36
Whitney Lukas, 20, Courtdale, 42:01
Dave Mitchell, 58, Bloomsburg, 42:04
Dan Rosa, 42, Hughestown, 42:22
Male award winners: Overall: Litvinov. Age group winners: 19 & under: 1. Mike Lewis, Shickshinny, 37:00. 20-29: 1. Jon Milius, Plymouth, 49:43; 2. Matt Bickert, Plains Twp., 50:20. 30-39: 1. Robert Gronski Jr., Moosic, 37:54; 2. Joe Dowd, Duryea, 47:57; 3. Charles Fino, Taylor, 48:22. Masters division: 40-44: 1. Stephen Housenick, Kingston, 39:47; 2. Jeremy Dormer, Hazle Twp., 40:36; 3. Dan Rosa, Hughestown, 42:22. 45-49: 1. Jim Pyrah, Hanover Twp., 46:01; 2. John Fazzi, Bear Creek Twp., 51:59; 3. Howard Corra, Sugarloaf, 52:44. 50-54: 1. Mike McAndrew, Avoca, 38:40; 2. Joe Kichilinsky, Wyoming, 43:05; 3. Bob Warnagiris, Hunlock Creek, 43:27. 55-59: 1. Dave Mitchell, Bloomsburg, 42:04; 2. Reginald Thomas, Bear Creek Twp., 44:39; 3. Charles Bonisese, Nazareth, 47:28. 60-64: 1. Ed Zindell, Jermyn, 44:38; 2. Robert Gronski Sr., Moosic, 52:39. 65 & over: 1. Joe Dutko, Mountain Top, 45:16; 2. Max Furek, Mocanaqua, 48:54; 3. Jim Rehrig, Nazareth, 49:39.
Triple Crown Open Division winner: Mike Lewis, $100 gift certificate to National Running Center of Clarks Summit. Triple Crown Masters Division winner: Mike McAndrew, $75 gift certificate
Top 3 females
Deedra Porfirio, 36, W. Pittston, 40:05
Whitney Lukas, 20, Courtdale, 42:01
Ann Zoranski, 41, Swoyersville, 43:22
Female award winners:
Overall: Porfirio. Age group winners: 19 & under: 1. Molly Rupert, Shickshinny, 47:06; 2. Shelby Flaherty, Plains Twp., 58:54. 20-29: 1. Whitney Lukas, Courtdale, 42:01; 2. Rebecca Kinsey, Dunmore, 53:03. 30-34: 1. Jill Matthews-Lada, Wilkes-Barre, 44:53; 2. Christal Zermane, Avoca, 53:57; 3. Wendy Guzenski, Wyoming, 57:55. 35-39: 1. Pat Buzinkai, Kingston, 43:39; 2. Kerry Potter-Gydosh, Wyoming, 46:11; 3. Mariann Jurista, Mountain Top, 46:15. Masters Division: 40-44: 1. Ann Zoranski, Swoyersville, 43:22; 2. Sherri Yelen, Kingston, 46:33; 3. Traci Dutko-Strungis, Mountain Top, 48:10. 45-49: 1. Joann Price, Mountain Top, 50:46. 50 & over: 1. Patty Phillips, Hanover Twp., 56:17; 2. Libby Moran, Harveys Lake, 58:25
Triple Crown Open Division winner: Deedra Porfirio, $100 gift certificate to National Running Center, Clarks Summit. Triple Crown Masters Division winner: Ann Zoranski, $75 gift certificate.
Field: 89 finishers, one DQ. Pace bike: Ron Rawls. Starter: Vince A. Wojnar. Timing: Vince P. Wojnar. Results: Wyoming Valley Striders. Triple Crown results: Ron Rawls. Race director: Vince A. Wojnar.
Schedule
Sunday, Oct. 7: 17th annual Steamtown Marathon. Starts at Forest City Regional High School at 8 a.m. and finishes at Courthouse Square, downtown Scranton. Info: 345-3481.
Sunday, Oct. 14: Jewish Community Center of Wyoming Valley’s 2012 Benjamin August Memorial 3 Mile Run/Walk at 9 a.m. at the JCC, S. River St., Wilkes-Barre. Info: Bill Buzza, 824-4646.