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WHITE HAVEN — Matt Byrne and Kristin Patchell-Pellis ran to victories in the 4th annual Wyoming Valley Striders 20K Run on a bitterly cold Sunday at Lehigh Gorge State Park.

Byrne, 42, of Scranton, crossed the finish line in 1 hour, 15 minutes and 37 seconds. It was the second straight win in a Striders sponsored-race for Byrne. The former Scranton High School and St. Joseph’s University (Philadelphia) standout won the Fall Trail Run at Frances Slocum State Park on Oct. 29.

“(Joe Kelly) and I ran together over the first seven miles before I pulled ahead,” said Byrne, who is the race director of the Scranton Half Marathon that takes place in early April. “I wanted to finish strong. I wanted to do a negative (faster on the way back than on the way out). So I increased the intensity a little bit. I’m still trying to get back in shape. And this race was a good building block for that. And I was able to finish strong.”

Kelly, 35, of Carbondale, finished second, 1:05 behind Byrne. Last year’s winner, Mickey Moorhead, 24, of Philadelphia and formerly of Wilkes-Barre, finished third in 1:18:06. Moorhead’s course record, 1:15:04, set last year, still stands.

Like Byrne, Patchell-Pellis was also running with a goal in mind. The 36-year-old from Roaring Brook Twp., finished 12th overall in 1:32:01.

“I’m training for the JFK 50 (a 50-mile race in Maryland on Nov. 18),” said Patchell-Pellis. “A group of us, who are running in the 50-miler, drove here today, warmed up and gave it a shot. This is a great running community. So we knew we would have good people to run with. The sun was shining. So it was good even though it was really cold. But when you have someone like Tony Cerminaro running with you (81-year-old from Jermyn who holds national age-group records), and inspiring you, it makes running in the cold easy.”

By the way, Cerminaro finished first in the 80 & over age group in 1:54:48.

Patricia Buzinkai, 42, of Kingston, who won the race the last two years, placed second among the females and 13th overall, finishing 57 seconds behind Patchell-Pellis.

SHADOW BOX SEASON-ENDING CELEBRATION

The 20K Run marks the end of Striders-sponsored races for the 2017 season. The running club will celebrate another successful season with a social at Rodano’s on Wilkes-Barre Public Square on Nov. 17 from 7 to 10 p.m. The fee, which includes food and soft drinks, is $10. Happy hour prices for adult beverages will be available. All are invited. A raffle giveaway of prizes will take place.

Today is the final day to RSVP for the social. To RSVP, contact Traci Strungis at [email protected]

Wyoming Valley Striders 4th annual 20K Run results

Top 20 finishers

Matt Byrne, 42, Scranton, 1:15:37

Joseph Kelly, 35, Carbondale, 1:16:42

Mickey Moorhead, 24, Philadelphia, 1:18:06

Markus Anttila, 37, S. Abington, 1:23:45

Kyle Franceski, 30, Scranton, 1:24:34

Randy Shemanski, 40, Dunmore, 1:25:02

Lou Gunderman, 65, White Haven, 1:25:36

Stephen Walski, 35, W. Wyoming, 1:27:14

Al Trybulski, 42, Wilkes-Barre, 1:29:53

Chris Pahoski, 45, Dickson City, 1:30:44

Bill Cook, 68, Scranton, 1:31:26

Kristin Patchell-Pellis, 36, Roaring Brook Twp., 1:32:01

Patricia Buzinkai, 42, Kingston, 1:32:58

Dave Marsico Jr., 38, Old Forge, 1:33:04

David Baker, 32, Scranton, 1:34:38

George Dunbar, 54, Old Forge, 1:34:50

Dave Mitchell, 63, Bloomsburg, 1:35:52

Erin Treaster, 40, Macungie, 1:36:43

Mike Legath, 25, White Haven, 1:37:12

Chris Roberts, 43, Trucksville, 1:37:23

Male award winners

Overall: Byrne. Age group winners: 20-29: 1. Mickey Moorhead, Philadelphia, 1:18:06; 2. Mike Legath, White Haven, 1:37:12; 3. Preston Allen, Weston, 1:38:04. 30-34: 1. Kyle Franceski, Scranton, 1:24:34; 2. Dave Baker, Scranton, 1:34:38; 3. Zachary Ritz, Orefield, 1:48:30. 35-39: 1. Joseph Kelly, Carbondale, 1:16:42; 2. Markus Anttila, S. Abington, 1:23:45; 3. Stephen Walski, W.. Wyoming, 1:27:14. Masters division: 40-44: 1. Randy Shemanski, Dunmore, 1:25:02; 2. Al Trybulski, Wilkes-Barre, 1:29:53; 3. Chris Roberts, Trucksville, 1:37:23. 45-49: 1. Chris Pahoski, Dickson City, 1:30:44; 2. Tom Horeis, Peckville, 1:40:42; 3. Mike Bochnovich, Archbald, 1:45:08. 50-54: 1. George Dunbar, Old Forge, 1:34:50; 2. Dave Stanitis, Plymouth, 1:39:20; 3. Larry Alles, Mountain Top, 1:47:29. 55-59: 1. Steve Boucher, Zion Grove, 1:38:04; 2. Bob Bilbow, W. Wyoming, 1:47:25; 3. Rob Legath, White Haven, 1:47:33. 60-64: 1.. Bill Cook, Scranton, 1:31:26; 2. Dave Mitchell, Bloomsburg, 1:35:52; 3. Ed Zulkoski, Mountain Top, 1:52:10. 65-69: 1. Lou Gunderman, White Haven, 1:25:36; 2. Bill Fiore, Clarks Green, 1:44:05; 3. Leo Turissini, Scott Twp., 1:45:09. 70-79: None. 80 & over: Tony Cerminaro, Jermyn, 1:54:48.

Female award winners

Oerall: Patchell-Pellis. Age group winners: 19 & under: Amanda Katchmar, Old Forge, 1:49:12. 20-29: 1. Alyssa Teribury, Liberty, NY, 1:39:27; 2. Krispy Kaminsky, Greenfield, 1:43:47; 3. Molly Brown, Bloomsburg, 1:51:31. 30-34: 1. Erika Stresser, Wilmington, Del., na. 35-39: 1. Karen Moskel, Kingston, 1:41:26; 2. Melissa Hughes, Scott Twp., 1:49:10; 3. Amy Feldman, Shavertown, 1:55:04. Masters division: 40-44: 1. Patricia Buzinkai, Kingston, 1:32:58; 2. Erin Treaster, Macungie, 1:36:43; 3. Heather Dewees, Dallas, 1:39:30. 45-49: 1. Melissa Delfino, Dunmore, 1:45:08; 2. Ellen Knecht-Jones, Hunlock Creek, 1:50:09; 3. Julia Byriel, Drums, 2:00:27. 50-54: 1. Mary Ann na, Thompson, 1:37:41; 2. Patti Potomis, Hunlock Creek, 1:59:35; 3. Patricia na, Archbald, 2:11:46. 55-59: 1. Marjorie Adams, Kingston, 1:50:04; 2. Carma Flannery, Shavertown, 1:52:37. 60 & over: 1. Shawn Burke, Hazleton, 2:05:00; 2. Bev Tomasak, Edwardsville, 2:06:27; 3. Patty Phillips, Hanover Twp., 2:10:12.

Field: 118.

Official starter and timing: Vince P. Wojnar. Results: Wyoming Valley Striders. Race directors: Tony Pszeniczny and John Martino.

Schedule

Note: The Jewish Community Center’s Benjamin August Memorial 3-Mile Run/Walk, normally run each year in Oct. or Nov., will not be run this year. Instead — according to Rick Evans, JCC associate director — the August Memorial will likely be run in March of 2018. The 25th of March has been tentatively penciled in. But that date has not yet been confirmed.

Thursday, Nov. 23 (Thanksgiving): Berwick Marathon Association’s 108th running of the (9 mile) Run for the Diamonds at Market and Seconds streets, Berwick at 10:30 a.m. Info: Margaret Livsey, 570-759-1300.

Matt Byrne won the top finisher at Sunday’s 20K Run at Lehigh Gorge State Park.
https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/11/web1_wh1_faa.jpg.optimal.jpgMatt Byrne won the top finisher at Sunday’s 20K Run at Lehigh Gorge State Park. Fred Adams | For Times Leader

Kristin Patchell-Pellis was the top female finisher at Sunday’s 20K Run in White Haven, and completed the course 12th overall.
https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/11/web1_wh2_faa.jpg.optimal.jpgKristin Patchell-Pellis was the top female finisher at Sunday’s 20K Run in White Haven, and completed the course 12th overall. Fred Adams | For Times Leader

The field of runners head out at the start of Sunday’s chilly Wyoming Valley Striders 20K Run at Lehigh Gorge State Park in White Haven.
https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/11/web1_wh3_faa.jpg.optimal.jpgThe field of runners head out at the start of Sunday’s chilly Wyoming Valley Striders 20K Run at Lehigh Gorge State Park in White Haven. Fred Adams | For Times Leader
Cold conditions cannot lessen enthusiasm at 4th annual 20K Run

By Robert Miner

For Times Leader