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SCRANTON – Pol Domenech, a Spaniard, running for his first time locally, ran to victory in the 24th annual Steamtown Marathon on Sunday. And local standout, Heidi Peoples, won top female honors for the sixth time.
Domenech, 24, of Barcelona, finished the 26.2-mile trek from Forest City to downtown Scranton, in 2 hours, 24 minutes and 43 seconds, winning $1,500. Abu Kebede Diriba, of New York City, finished second in 2:26:05. He won $1,000.
“It was great,” said Domenech, who ran cross country and track at the college level at The University of Mount Olive in North Carolina. “I chased the leader over the first 14 miles before finally taking the lead.”
Steamtown was just Domenech’s second marathon. He posted. A time of 2:31 in his other marathon in Newport News, Va.
“Those hills over the last three miles took a toll on me,” he said. “But I put myself into survival mode. I blocked out everything around me and kept telling myself to ‘Just make it to the finish line.’ The fans along the course were great. They were very encouraging. The got me to the finish.”
Like Domenech, Peoples, 39, of South Abington Township, had nothing but praise about the spectators along the course en route to her win in 2:55:09.
“The crowd support was amazing,” she said. “I love marathons – especially one like this, so close to home. It’s so much easier without the traveling.”
Alyssa Kennedy, of Wyomissing, finished second in 2:59:51, winning $1,000.
Kennedy led over most of the race. But Peoples finally tracked her down after 21 miles.
“She really went out fast early,” said Peoples. “But I used a different strategy today – I actually went out slower than I ever had in a marathon. And that helped me late in the race. I had plenty left. And that’s why I was able to catch her and pass her.”
In addition to winning $1,500, Peoples also won another $300 for being the first local finisher.
Last year after scoring her fifth win at Steamtown, Peoples held up her hand, flashing five fingers and saying, “That’s a hand full of wins in this race.” On Sunday, she had to start using her other hand.
Peoples won All America honors 11 times at Moravian College.
Chris McCabe, 29, of Carlisle, who ran cross country and track for Wyoming Area, finished sixth in 2:34. It was his fourth marathon and first at Steamtown. He ran the New Jersey Marathon in 2017, Boston Marathon and Mohawk Hudson Marathon (.Albany, NY) last year. McCabe has won the Pittston Tomato Festival 5K four times, including this year when he set a course record.
Proceeds from the race go to St. Joseph’s Center in Dunmore, a facility for neurologically impaired, multiple-handicapped and medically fragile children and young adults.
On Thursday evening a pre-race VIP party, honoring those who make the marathon possible, was held at the Cognetti Room at St. Joseph’s Center.
Race director, Bill King, and race treasurer, Jack Marx, presented Sister Maryalice Jacquinot, IHM, president of St. Joe’s, with a check for $50,000. That check put the amount the marathon has raised for St. Joe’s over 24 years at more than $1.9 million.
Upon receiving the check, Jacquinot thanked the race sponsors, race committee, volunteers and runners.
“These 24 years (as benefactor of the marathon) have been incredible,” she said. “Each year at St. Joe’s we celebrate some milestones of years of service for me and our programs. Steamtown Marathon and its contribution have allowed us to open new programs, expand services and maintain quality.
“We are so grateful.”
24th ANNUAL STEAMTOWN MARATHON RESULTS
Top 5 male award winners
Pol Domenech, 24, Barcelona, Spain, 2:24:43, $1,500
Abu Diriba, na, New York City, 2:26:05, $1,000
Shawn D’Andrea, na, Collingswood, NJ, 2:26:27, 2:31:10, $500
Richard Powell, na, Missouri City, Texas, 2:31:10, $300
Dmytro Molchanov, na, Brooklyn, NY, 2:33:00, $100
Other male award winners:
Masters Division(40 & over):
Loc O, Williamsburg, 2:34:52, $300
Dimaa Karlin, New York City, 2:41:13, $200
Jeff Duyn, Garrett Park, Md, 2:45:11, $100
Top local finishers:
Sam Kuchwara, Dickson City, 2:41:05, $300
Alex Zubko, Exeter, 2:45:56, $200
Mark Burton, Scranton, 2:50:23, $100
Age group winners: 24 & under: Mark Alves, Kearny, NJ, 2:46:58. 25-29: Chris McCabe, Carlisle, 2:34:20. 30-34: Ryan Johnson, Gaithersburg, Md, 2:35:56. Fred Joslyn, Mount Holly Springs, 2:43:39. Masters division: 40-44: Mark Colwell, Centre Hall, 2:51:41. 45-49: Jongwoo Ryu, Leonia, NJ, 2:48:38. 50-54: Robert Gealy, Dunmore, 3:37:25. 55-59: Jack Davis, Scranton, 2:57:44. 60-64: Robert Judson, Bethesda, Md, 3:21:00. 65-69: Lou Grunfelder, Florham Park, NJ, 3:40:46. 70-74: Richard Reinhart, Philadelphia, 4:11:01.
Handcycle division: Bruce Newman, 73, Stella, NC; Peter Gagliardo, 34, Tenafly, NJ; Rob Leisur, 64, Nazareth,
Top 5 female award winners
Heidi Peoples, 39, S. Abington Twp., 2:55:09, $1,500
Alyssa Kennedy, na, Wyomissing, 2:59:01, $1,000
Jen Perkins, na, Albany, NY, 3:06:48, $500
Lauren Jackson, na, Auguste, Ga, $300
Lauren Scarupa, na, Clifton Park, NY, $100
Masters division (40 & over):
Julie Albano, na, Milton, Ga, 3:10:28, $300
Cathy Dragwa, Mayfield, 3:15:54, $200
Laurie Dymond, Chambersburg, 18:57, $100
Top local finishers:
Peoples, S. Abington Twp, 2:55:09, $300
Taryn Olmstead, Scranton, 3:11:00, $200
Dragwa, Mayfield, 3:15:54, $100
Age group winners: 24 & under: Shelby Shrader, Manchester, Md, 3:19:48. 25-29: Jen Sapienza, Hazlet,NJ, 3:11:26. 30-34: Taryn Olmstead, Scranton, Scranton, 3:11:00. 35-39: Laura Boll Peifer, W. Orange, NJ, 3:18:20. Masters division: 40-44: Amy Konopka, Rochester, NY, 3:20:06. 45-49: Kristine Vogt, Florida, NY, 3:29:07. 50-54: Melissa Delfino, Dunmore, 3:37:26. 55-59: Kerry Patrick, Rising Sun, Md, 3:33:40. 60-64: Joyce Brensinger, Highland Lakes, NJ, 3:59:45. 65-69: Paula Fitch, Brackney, 4:12:52.
Handcycle division: Maria Bournias, Tenafly, NJ.
Race info
Field: 1,200 (runners from 37 states and three countries (US, Canada and Mexico)).Traffic control: Kevin Calpin. Expo and finish line: Jim Moran. Kids race: Elaine Walker, Pat Knight and John Major. Registration: Anne Gallagher. Treasurer: Jack Marx. Race director: Bill King. Director’s assistant: Jim Cummings. Timing at 10 mile marker: Linda Wojnar (Wyoming Valley Striders). Timing and results: Scranton Running Company (scrantonrunning.com).
Next local race
Sunday, Oct. 27: Wyoming Valley Striders 32nd annual Fall Trail Run (a 5.5-mile age-group graded race) at the pavilion near the boat launch area of Frances Slocum State Park, Kingston Twp. at noon. Info: Don Grose, 570-239-5792 or Linda Wojnar, 570-262-0603.