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Runners take off from the Messiah Primitive Methodist Church Saturday morning to start the Bear Creek 5K Run/Walk.
BILL TARUTIS/for the times leader
Wadas
Solomon
BEAR CREEK TWP. – After a three-year absence, the Bear Creek 5K Run/Walk returned to its place as the race that unofficially kicks off a new local running season with the 16th running at Messiah Primitive Methodist Church on Saturday.
Chris Wadas and Nadalie Solomon captured overall honors with easy wins.
Wadas, 29, of Plains Township, blitzed the somewhat hilly course, finishing in 15 minutes and 41 seconds. Wadas outran second-place finisher, Bornfase Nyandusi Omurwa, a 27-year-old from Kenya, who now lives in Kingston, by 1:18. John Martino, 26, of Dallas, finished third, 34 seconds behind Omurwa.
Wadas, who is the head track and cross country coach at Misericordia University, has dominated the male divisions of area races during the last few years. Omurwa, who has a lot of natural talent, has been training with Rich Chase, a longtime fixture at area races. And Chase, age 64 – who, by the way won the 60-69 age group with a ninth-place overall finish in 20:51 – said that it’s only a matter of time before Omurwa starts doing some dominating of his own. Chase said that he and Omurwa had been training on a lot of hills during the winter months.
Omurwa won the inaugural running of the American Red Cross (5K) Run for the Red last March. He is expected to defend his title at the second annual Red Cross race in Hanover Township on March 26.
Solomon won the female division of the Bear Creek 5K with a seventh-place overall finish in 20:39. The 30-year-old from Mountain Top outdistanced second-place finisher, Jen Stec-Gagliardi, 35, of Benton, by 28 seconds. Emily Bilbow, 30, of Forty Fort, placed third, 18 seconds behind Stec-Gagliardi.
Solomon wasn’t sure, going into the race, just how well her body was going to react after running in the New Orleans Marathon on Feb. 13. But she had enough in her to score the win.
“Me, Jen and Emily ran together early in the race,” said Solomon. “At about a half-mile into the race, I broke away. I thought I had a slight lead. But I was aware that both Jen and Emily weren’t too far behind. I pushed, over the home stretch, with all I had. Luckily, it was enough.”
Solomon is also expected to defend her title at the Red Cross race 13 days from now. Solomon, who recently got married, won last year’s Red Cross race under the name Nadalie Temperine.
16th running of the Bear Creek 5K Run
Results
Top 10
Chris Wadas, 29, Plains Twp., 15:41
Bornfase Nyandusi Omurwa, 27, Kingston, 16:59
John Martino, 26, Dallas, 17:33
James Nicastio, 19, Scranton, 17:52
Jake Reinert, 19, Dallas, 17:54
George Dunbar, 47, Old Forge, 20:15
Nadalie Solomon, 30, Mountain Top, 20:39
Nathon Cheek, 14, Edwardsville, 20:50
Rich Chase, 64, Larksville, 20:51
Chet Shearer, 47, Montoursville, 20:52
Male awards
.
Overall winners: 1. Wadas; 2. Omurwa; 3. Martino. Age group winners: 12 & under: 1. Alexi Walutes; 2. Raymont Wychock. 13-16: 1. Nathan Cheek; 2. Dave Sodvary; 3. Travis Roher. 17-20: 1. James Nicastio; 2. Jake Reinert; 3. Eric Greg. 21-29: 1. Wadas; 2. Omurwa; 3. Martino. 30-39: 1. John Guth; 2. Paul Manley; 3. Randall Johnson. Masters Division: 40-49: 1. George Dunbar; 2. Chet Shearer; 3. Don Shearer. 50-59: 1. Mike Kinney; 2. John Sabota; 3. Paul Reinert. 60-69: 1. Rich Chase; 2. Len Sowinsky; 3. Max Furek. 70 & over: 1. Ed Livsey.
Top 3 female finishers
Nadalie Solomon, 30, Mountain Top, 20:39
Jen Stec-Gagliardi, 35, Benton, 21:07
Emily Bilbow, 30, Forty Fort, 21:25
Female awards: Overall winners: 1. Solomon; 2. Stec-Gagliardi; 3. Bilbow. Age group
winners: 12 & under: None. 13-16: 1. Nora Fazzi; 2. Jessica Miorella. 17-20: 1. Grace Fazzi. 21-29: Miranda Costa; 2. Nicole Marosky; 3. Kristy Rockafeller. 30-39: 1. Solomon; 2. Stec-Gagliardi; 3. Bilbow. Masters Division: 40-49: 1. Michele Walutes; 2. Carol Eisenhauer; 3. Cathy Casey. 50-59: 1. Sharon Davies; 2. Bev Tomasak; 3. Patty Phillips. 60-69: 1. Kathy Koberlein. 70 & over: 1. Nancy DesGarenmas.
5K racewalk
First male: John Wills, 71, Mountain Top, 35:42.
First female: Michelle Wolyniec, 32, Plains Twp., 36:33.
Field: 96 (run-70, walk-15, kids fun run-11). Official starter: Atty. Richard Hughes. Timing: Vince Wojnar (Wyoming Valley Striders). Registration: Margaret Livsey. Results: Volunteers from Messiah Primitive Methodist Church. Race director: Reginald Thomas.
Schedule
Sunday, March 20: Wyoming Valley Striders 31st annual Winter’s End (4.5 mile) Run at 10 a.m. at Penn State Wilkes-Barre, Lehman Twp. Info: Vince Wojnar, 474-5363.
Saturday, March 26: American Red Cross (5K) Run for the Red at 10:30 a.m. on the grounds of the Red Cross Blood Center, 29 Commerce Blvd., Hanover Industrial Estates, Hanover Twp. Info: Amy George, 823-7164.