BEAT THE HEAT
More than 2,500 runners race through Firecracker 4 heat
SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. » More than 2,000 runners decided that they could beat the heat Wednesday morning and took to the streets of Saratoga Springs for the 12th annual Firecracker 4 4-mile race with the experienced harriers taking the top spots once again.
Saratoga Springs High School star Kelsey Chmiel captured her third straight Firecracker 4 title, finishing 24th overall and as the
top female runner in a time of 22 minutes, 9.03 seconds.
Despite the oppressive heat and humidity on Wednesday’s Chmiel’s time was just six seconds slower than last year’s title run and seven seconds off her 2016 title.
Former University of Albany
runner Ryan Udvadia took to the 4-mile USTAF Certified course and bested 2016 champion and RPI grad Ben Fazio for the title in 19:35.11.
“It was definitely hot, the competition was hot, the temperature was definitely hot and it was very humid,” Ryan Udvadia said. “I was just trying to stay as hydrated as possible today and yesterday, try to stay as prepared as possible.
“I was just hanging around, probably about fourth- for fifth-place,” Udvadia said. “I recognized a couple of guys, I was just kind of hanging off them, thought about it as a track race and let the other guys do the work. About a halfmile left I kind of tried to push up the last hill and see what I had left and no one really responded, so coming across the finish line was exciting.”
For most of the nonelite caliber of runners on Wednesday, hundreds took advantage of the numerous water stations along the course while Udvadia took advantage of other thoughtful residents along the run.
“I didn’t really take water, what really helped on the course spraying the hoses and water, it definitely cooled you down a little bit, but it’s kind of hard when you’re going that fast to grab a cup of water, get the water in your mouth without it spilling all over the place,” Udvadia said. “I think I grabbed one cup and just dumped it over my head to cool my body down a little bit.”
The course is longer than the traditional 5k summer races and offers challenges with changes in elevation where some runners can make their marks.
“The hardest part was the downhill around mile two or three, going down that steep hill my feet were getting hot and trying to keep your form together and not fall apart, that’s key to winning,” Udvadia said. “I actually do pretty well going uphill, that’s one of my strengths, I think I handled that pretty well.”
For RPI grad Ben Fazio, he now owns his own Firecracker 4 trifecta.
He captured the title in 2016 with a time of 19:43 and finished third last year in 19:25.6 before being just two steps behind Udvadia on Wednesday at 19:41.68.
“I’m happy with that, especially the time considering the heat and everything, it’s a pretty fast time,” Ben Fazio said. “I think it’s my second fastest on this course, so considering the conditions today you definitely can’t be disappointed with that.
“In a field like that where there are other really competitive, really accomplished people, finishing second you can’t be too disappointed with that,” Fazio said.
Knowing the course led to Fazio’s first title and gave him a chance to earn another title check.
“Two years ago I surprised a couple of people because I knew that hill was at the end, that surprised a couple people and I thought the same thing would happen this year,” Fazio said. “I think there were four of us coming into that last hill all kind of neck and neck and you hope that people aren’t prepared for it and maybe that gives you a little bit of an advantage, but he must have known it was coming because he was totally prepared for that.
“I can’t be disappointed with second-place in a good field like that,” Fazio said. “Five seconds is tough, but at the end of the day, when it comes down to that last half mile, if he has it and I don’t, then that’s just the way it is.”
For complete results visit www.firecracker4.org