Dietz sizzles with Bernie Stahl Memorial Mile
Last Friday night featured 92 runners and walkers taking to the track at Dietz Stadium for the annual Bernie Stahl Memorial Onteora Mile. The race has enjoyed a renaissance since moving to Dietz a few years ago.
Last Friday night featured 92 runners and walkers taking to the track at Dietz Stadium for the annual Bernie Stahl Memorial Onteora Mile.
The race, part of the Onteora Runners Club Grand Prix Series, has enjoyed a renaissance since moving to Dietz a few years ago and club members were anxious to pick up precious GP points.
The event honors Stahl, the longtime legendary track and cross country coach at Onteora High, who also was one of the co-founders of the ORC.
This year’s race started off with the kids run on the backstretch of the track, then organizers offered the walk mile before the runners hit the oval.
Veteran race walker Pete Wells was the overall winner in that heat, finishing in 11:20.
Then things really heated up as no less than seven runners scorched the surface by finishing in less than five minutes.
Winner Adam Beach led the way in 4:47, while Jeff Conston was second in 4:50 and Ben Sweet was third in 4:51, just ahead of Logan Linares, who also ran 4:51.
John Nolis was fifth in 4:52, Declan DwyerMcNulty was sixth in 4:54 and Vanuk McBride placed seventh in 4:56.
William Beichman finished eighth in 5:09, Ryan Carney was ninth in 5:15 and Allan Serrano rounded out the top 10 in 5:17.
Renee Darmstadt was the women’s winner and was 19th overall in 5:50, finishing just ahead of runner-up Isabelle Serrano in 5:53.
Third for the ladies went to Grace Beach in 6:11 and Natalie Cartwright was fourth in 6:30.
In fifth, it was Rosibel Landau in 6:33, while Olivia Serrano was sixth in 6:57.
Next up were Jacque Schiffer (7:07), Katie Kortright (7:09), Kathleen Laux (7:10) and Claire Serrano (7:15).
Some of the other top finishers were Terry McCann (5:27), Ryan McCann (5:30), Keith Kortright (5:35), Tony Fletcher (5:46), Max Gruner (5:48), Chris Gallo (6:00), Chris Regan (6:08) and Danny Williams (6:11).
Proceeds from the race benefit the ORC Scholarship Fund.
CHK 4k next up in GP Series
As the races in the ORC Grand Prix Series continue to chug along, next on the slate is the CHK 4k on June 28, starting and finishing at the Children’s Home of Kingston.
This year’s race has a later start time (6:30 p.m.) with race-day registration beginning at 5 p.m. inside the school gymnasium.
The course has been altered slightly and the final portion will take runners (and walkers) through Rotary Park and onto the Kingston Point Trolley Rail Trail with its breathtaking views of the Hudson River and the Kingston Lighthouse.
Entry fee is $20 if you pre-register, with a $2 discount to ORC members, CHK employees and any 4k runner under 18.
Race-day fee increases to $25 for all, and there is a free accompanying kids 1k run before the 4k.
There are no t-shirts for this race, instead organizers are handing out lunch coolers to all 4k entrants.
All of the kids in the 1k run receive a medal and a special prize, and there are nearly 25 raffle prizes available at the post-race festivities.
All proceeds from the race benefit programs and services for the youth at the Children’s Home of Kingston.
Walkway Finishers, Please report
If anyone participated in the many races offered last weekend on the Walkway Over the Hudson, please send along your name and finishing time and I will be sure to get it into next week’s column.
Please send all race results and information to 79 Hurley Ave., Kingston, N.Y., 12401; fax to (845) 331-3557; or email to runerich@gmail.com. Follow Eric Houghtaling on Twitter at http:// twitter.com/runerichrun