Onteora Runners Club poised to host 8-mile Harvest Run
The November running schedule kicks off with a bang on the 5th as the Onteora Runners Club hosts its annual Harvest Run.
The race, which was once a half-marathon, was shaved to an 8-mile distance, but will still travel through the same residential neighborhood in Red Hook.
“While we were looking to do the race as a half-marathon, we found this time of year was pretty full (of them) already,” said ORC president Deb Domack.
“To not compete with other races, we opted for a unique 8-mile course.”
Domack said the distance also provides an opportunity for 10k runners to stretch out their distance a bit without having to cover the 13.1 miles of a half-marathon course.
The race starts promptly at 10 a.m. from the Red Hook Recreation Park with participants asked to enter at the Fruit Bud Lane entrance.
Entry fee is now $30 and race-day registration starts at 8:30 a.m.
“It’s one of three races that the club sponsors and it’s also the ninth race in our Grand Prix Series,” Domack added.
“All of the proceeds go to the ORC Scholarship Fund and we award those scholarships to high school seniors who are members of the club.”
This year’s entire race committee is comprised of members of the club’s Board of Directors.
Domack said many businesses and organizations have stepped forward to help as race sponsors. “The first 75 preregistered runners get a longsleeve t-shirt and we still need volunteers to assist with traffic control and water stops,” she said.
You can get more details by contacting Domack at ORCpres@ gmail.com or you can download an application at www.onteorarunners.com.
Speaking of the club’s Grand Prix Series, standings through the first eight races were recently revealed with Ryan Kleitz (75 points) and Jacque Schiffer (71 points) leading the men’s and women’s overall categories, respectively.
Behind Kleitz is Ryan McCann (65), Jamie Reichler (37) and Logan Linares (36), while Sheryl Wheeler (68) is second to Schiffer, followed by Rachel Schabot (39) and Margaux Seche (38).
Age-group leaders for the ladies include Seche, Kate Roosa, Jessica Sunshine Smith, Lisa Jerkowski, Wheeler, Karen Spinozzi and Kathleen Balthazar.
Men’s age-group leaders are Gabriel Needham, Zury Oates, Max Gruner, McCann, Doug Needham, Steve Schallenkamp and Bob Ricketson.
SWEET, MEYERS GRAB FIRSTS AT CAHILL CLASSIC 5K
The annual Cahill Classic 5k featured a solid field this past Saturday and it was Ben Sweet and Rachel Meyers who took overall honors.
Sweet swept to the top spot in a zippy time of 18:20, with Matthew Morgan taking second in 18:40.
Darren Baird finished third in 18:41, and Ike Blough grabbed fourth in 18:44.
Kent Kleinsasser took fifth in 18:51, Justin MacDougall was sixth in 19:01, Art Driscolll placed seventh in 19:53 and Everett Wegner was eighth in 21:04.
Meyers was the leading women’s finisher and was ninth overall in 21:16, with Mitchell Hart in 10th at 21:28.
Meredith Montano was second to Meyers and 12th overall in 22:16, with Molly Daggett in third at 22:54.
Madge Marrico was close behind in 22:57, Teresa Gilmore was next in 23:21 and Hannah Mangione followed in 23:45.
Next up were Michelle Meyers (23:52), Jillian Murphy (24:36) and Tina Montano (24:39).
Other notable local finishers were Matthew Montano (24:20), James Hart (24:50), Victor McGregor (24:51), Cicily Wilson (30:22) and Diane O’Malley (30:37).
Proceeds from the race benefit the Cahill Elementary School.