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WILKES-BARRE — David Haines ran to his second straight victory and Caitlin Gaughan chalked up her first win in the Wilkes-Barre YMCA 3-Mile Run “Bernie’s Memorial” on Independence Day.
Like last year, a field of more than 600 runners had to compete in extremely hot temperatures.
Haines, 19, from Madison Township, crossed the finish line in 15 minutes, 33 seconds. He outran second-place finisher Chis Wadas, 33, of Swoyersville, by 52 seconds. Mickey Moorhead, 25, of Wilkes-Barre, finished third, 19 seconds behind Wadas. Haines’ time was about a half-minute slower than his winning time from last year.
“I was all by myself out there today,” said Haines, who runs track and cross country for Marywood University. “And with the heat and nobody really pushing me, I basically just focused on running the way I wanted to run.”
In last year’s race, Haines actually trailed Chris McCabe over the first two miles before tracking him down and winning by less than five seconds.
“You run a lot different than when you have some one pushing you — especially in this heat,” Haines said.
Gaughan, 33, of Dalton, won top female honors with an eighth-place overall finish in 17:02. Alana Jacaruso, 24, of Philadelphia, finished second, 11th overall in 17:45. Marina Martino, 28, of Dallas, finished third and 12th overall in 18:07.
“I went into the race wanting to break 18 minutes,” Gaughan said. “I had no other goal in mind. I try not to focus on who is behind me. But I finally realized — with about 400 yards to go (over the final stretch down South Main Street) — that I had a comfortable lead. I felt strong, so I gave it all I had right to the finish.”
Gaughan recently set a course record for women in the Damon S. Young 5K Run in Tunkhannock. She is a three-time winner in the Pittston Tomato Festival 5K, and she won the Race for the Cure in Scranton last year.
Last year, Jacaruso won the Old Fort 5-Miler in Forty Fort on Memorial Day. And she won the 1-Mile Run on the track at Misericordia University — the first leg of the Valley’s Fastest Female Series, but she didn’t compete in the two remaining races in the series.
Martino, once the most dominating woman in the local running scene, is still recovering from giving birth to a baby boy in October.
Moorhead, who ran for Coughlin High School and Drexel University, is a past winner of the Run Around the (Harveys) Lake.
Wadas is the head track and cross country coach at Misericordia.
The YMCA 3-miler is called “Bernie’s Memorial” in memory of Bernie Hargadon, the founder of the race, who served as the executive director of the Y for 18 years. Hargadon died in 1994 at age 55.
36th annual Wilkes-Barre YMCA 3-Mile Run “Bernie’s Memorial” results
Top 3 Male Award Winners
David Haines, 19, Madison Twp., 15:33
Chris Wadas, 37, Swoyersville, 16:25
Mickey Moorhead, 25, Wilkes-Barre, 16:44
Age group award winners: 10 & under: 1. Emmett Gallagher, Kingston, 23:45; 2. Anthony Gatto, Exeter, 23:48. 11-14: 1. Dan Danilovitz, Moosic, 17:16; 2. Dustin Polchin, Drums, 19:27. 15-19: 1. Tavian McKenna, Newark Valley, NY, 16:51; 2. Logan Desciak, Mount Pleasant, SC, 17:22. 20-24: Keegan Desciak, Mount Pleasant, SC, 20:38; 2. Austin Severns, Kingston,21:11. 25-29: 1. Rays haul Mayberry, Dallas, 16:56; 2. John Novack, Wyoming,17:11. 30-34: 1. Garett Henderson, Rochville, 21:38. 35-39: 1. Chris Tapia, Wilkes-Barre, 18:58; 2. Ryan Grochal, Harding, 19:22. Masters division: 40-44: Mike Adamshick, Dallas, 18:41; 2. George Marat, Raleigh, NC, 19:46. 45-49: Tim Walsh, Old Forge, 19:21; 2. Chris Augustine, Pittston, 21:05. 50-54: 1. Paul Shaffer, W. Pittston, 19:03; 2. Craig Rome, Dallas, 19:32. 55-59: George Dunbar, Old Forge, 20:39; 2. Scott Seelye, Shavertown,21:30. 60-69: 1. Brian Conniff, Roaring Brook Twp., 19:01; 2. Dave Grilz, Wilkes-Barre, 22:56. 70 & over: 1. Pat Healy, Wyoming, 29:16; 2. Tom O’Neill, Wilkes-Barre, 30:07.
Top 3 Female Award Winners
Caitlin Gaughan, 33, Dalton, 17:02
Alana Jacaruso, 24, Philadelphia, 17:45
Marina Martino, 28, Dallas, 18:07
Age group award winners: 10 & under: 1. Piper Kleban- Harden, Wilkes-Barre, 30:14; 2. Emma Kane, Wilkes-Barre, 30:52. 11-14: 1. Nevaeh Baran, Nanticoke, 22:44; 2. Jade McKenna, Plymouth, 25:29. 15-19: 1. Tierney Porfirio, Exeter, 20:01; 2. Ashleigh Clarke, Factoryville, 20:07. 20-24: 1. Olivia Lanza, Hunlock Creek, 20:50. 25-29: 1. Sarah Radzwilka, Exeter, 19:26; 2. Josey Rupert, Shickshinny, 20:31. 30-34: 1. Jen Roman, Mountain Top, 20:48; 2. Desiree Kreidler, Mountain Top, 22:18. 35-39: 1. Kim Drozda, Hanover Twp., 20:50; 2. Emily Bell, Bear Creek Twp., 21:07. Masters division: 40-44: 1. Deedra Porfirio, Exeter,20:34; 2. Karen Shedlock, Forty Fort, 22:19. 45-49: 1. Kris Danilovitz, Moosic, 21:13; 2. Kim Segiel, Gouldsboro, 21:42. 50-54: 1. Chris Fazzi, Wilkes-Barre, 24:10; 2. Traci Strungis, Mountain Top, 24:53. 55-59: 1. Patty Leighton, Wilkes-Barre, 24:10; 2. Lynn Grilli, Kingston, 25:25. 60-69: 1. Joyce Foster, Dallas, 26:58; 2. Debbie Alunni, Jessup, 29:26. 70 & over: 1. Barbara Zeske, Hanover Twp., 30:42.
Field: 611
Pace: Rick Harding, Jim Thomas (Wilkes-Barre YMCA Executve Director), Joe Coyne, Phil Latinski and Tom Malloy. Official starter, timing and results: Scranton Running Company. Race director: Laranel Banks.
Schedule
Saturday: Wyoming Valley Striders 2-Mile Run at Murphy’s Pub, Slocum St., Swoyersville at 9 a.m. Info: Chris Wadas,570-592-2820.
