John Johnson crosses the finish line to win the Wyoming Valley Striders Spring Trail 5.3 Mile Run at Frances Slocum State Park on Sunday.
Courtesy of Wyoming Valley Striders
Patti Turissini, 74, was the top female finisher at Sunday’s Spring Trail 5.3 Mile Run.
Courtesy of Wyoming Valley Striders
The Wyoming Valley Striders held their Spring Trail 5.3 Mile Run on Sunday at Frances Slocum State Park, with first-time participant John Johnson, 53, of Ulster, PA, capturing the overall title in 53:34 — finishing nearly two minutes ahead of the next runner. Johnson was also the top male and second-place overall finisher at the 2022 Fall Trail 5.5 Mile Run.
The race uses an age-graded handicap format, with runners starting at staggered times based on age and gender. Top female finisher Patti Turissini, 74, of Middleburg, started first at 0:00 and placed third overall in 58:21.
Johnson and eventual third-place finisher Danny Houssock, 14, of Plymouth, started together with 15:59 already on the clock. Houssock finished in 55:27 after shaving 3:45 off his third-place time from last year and was coming off a victory at last October’s Fall Trail Run.
Sunday’s top female finish adds to Turissini’s six overall Spring Trail Run victories. Her Fall Trail Run history includes four overall victories and two top female finishes. She is also a member of the esteemed 10+ Winners Club, recognized last December at the WVS 50th Anniversary Celebration, and one of only seven athletes to have won more than 10 WVS races since the club’s inception in 1975.
Jersey Bly, 16, of Hanover Township, overcame the largest deficit after starting in the open division with 20:19 already on the clock and finished fifth overall in 60:00.
Second female was Amanda Wilczynski, 43, of Mayfield, placed sixth overall in 61:50.
This year’s race officially set a new Spring Trail Run registration record with 72 entries. The previous mark came in 2014 during the event’s 23rd annual running — the same year the race was renamed in memory of Jen Stec, an avid runner and friend to many who passed away the previous year at age 38. Stec was a nine-time WVS top female winner, including six victories at this race.
Adding even more meaning to the day, Johnson received a first-place WVS gold medal previously owned by his friend, Jen Stec, while Houssock received one of Stec’s silver medals.
A large number of first-time participants took part in this year’s event, with medals awarded to the top 15 finishers.
Five other past Spring Trail Run winners finished among the top 15: Sean Robbins, Mario Zarate, Paul Shaffer, Melissa Delfino, and Tony Korch, a member of the WVS 10+ Winners Club. Robbins, Delfino, and Korch are also Fall Trail Run champions.
Next up for the Wyoming Valley Striders will be the 51st annual Cliff Robbins Sr. Memorial High School Cross Country Races on September 5.
The Fall Trail 5.5 Mile Run will follow on October 25, followed by the 20K Run, the final leg of the Vince Wojnar Triple Crown.
The 20K Run, along with an accompanying 5K race, will be held on November 8 at the Susquehanna Warrior Trail in Shickshinny.
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