ORC runners flock to Dietz for Ray’s Run
With precious Grand Prix points at stake, plenty of members of the Onteora Runners Club headed to Dietz Stadium last Sunday for the annual Ray’s Run 4-mile.
With precious Grand Prix points at stake, plenty of members of the Onteora Runners Club headed to Dietz Stadium last Sunday for the annual Ray’s Run 4-mile.
The race, a mainstay on the GP slate, was the second offering this year and has runners set for the long haul.
The club points are just an added extra as many locals show up to the race each year to support the beneficiary, the Ray Caddy Memorial Scholarship Fund at Kingston High.
That scholarship honors KHS alumni Ray Caddy Jr., a cross country athlete at the school who died at age 25, and his father, Ray Caddy Sr., who supported the effort until his death in 2009.
Both men were concerned with education, helping youth and a having a healthy mind and body.
Each year, the scholarship aids Tigers runners headed to college to further their education.
In the 4-mile run, contested in the hilly uptown Kingston streets surrounding Dietz, it was John Nolis who handled the route best with a winning effort of 23:22.
Darren Baird was right on his heels and settled for second place in 23:26, while Terry McCann took third in 24:37.
Jeffrey Baird was fourth in 25:13, then Ryan McCann placed fifth in 25:48.
Women’s winner Rachel Meyers finished sixth overall in 26:36.
Max Gruner got up for seventh in 26:43, Joseph Ciardi was eighth in 26:44, Gary Longhi took ninth in 26:59 and Ed Fitzmaurice capped the top 10 in 27:05.
Conni Grace was runner-up for the ladies in 27:13, Sheryl Wheeler was third in 28:15, Sue Klein was fourth in 32:06 and fifth place went to Jacque Schiffer in 32:48.
Some of the other notable finishers were Keith Kortright (27:07), Steve Schindler (27:56), Chris Gallo (28:29), Dave Seche (29:10), Christopher Regan (29:53), Nathan Briggs (30:33), Gary Myers (31:13), Margaux Seche (33:11), Alex Gruner (33:36), Deb Domack (33:52) and Jenny Carpenter (34:32).
In the accompanying 2-mile walk, Pete Wells was the overall winner in 23:28 and Marla Brucker was first for the women in 24:37.
The rest of the top five were Jillian Fisher (26:03), Angela Bader (30:31) and Linda Wells (30:34).
RUN THE PACE NEXT UP IN GP SERIES
Not too much time between Grand Prix Series races as next on the agenda is the Run The Pace Cross-Country trail run at 9 a.m. on May 14 at Locust Hill Farm in Hyde Park.
This might be one of the more interesting races on the series schedule as runners travel seven-plus miles on the grounds of a farm that will host a hunter pace for horses and riders the day before.
Organizers also offer an optional 5k run (that distance is not part of the GP Series).
The event has an optional entry fee, but a donation of $15-$20 is suggested and those proceeds will benefit the Every Mother Counts charity that provides needed health care to mothers in developing countries around the world.
More details can be obtained by contacting race director Tracy Little at (845) 334-8131 or via email at LocustHF@aol.com.
YWCA HOSTS MOTHER’S DAY 5K
This coming Saturday, one day before Mother’s Day, the YWCA of Ulster County presents its annual Mother’s Day 5k race, beginning at 10 a.m.
Entry fee is $15 for adults, $10 for kids 12 and under and increases to $20 for adults on race day.
The course is on the city of Kingston streets in the Clinton Ave. neighborhood near the YWCA.
Contact the YWCA at (845) 338-6844 for more information.
Please send all race results and information to 79 Hurley Ave., Kingston, N.Y., 12401; fax to (845) 331-3557; or email to runerichrun@gmail.com. Follow Eric Houghtaling on Twitter at http://twitter. com/runerichrun