3 course records set in Ultramarathon
WORTH TWP — Three course records were set Saturday at the eighth annual Glacier Ridge Trail Ultramarathon at Moraine State Park.
Most of the runners, or 88 percent, who entered their races finished, despite the elevated heat and humidity in the afternoon.
Just a few participants went off course and momentarily lost their way on the trails, and only one runner reportedly fell but was not seriously injured.
Proceeds were expected to hit or even top $10,000.
It was another successful event, said race co-director Tammy McGaughey, who quicker than the fastest runner, deferred credit.
She heaped praise on the more than 100 volunteers who helped plan and piece together the event, coordinate and chart the course, and mobilize and man the aid stations for weary runners along the trail.
The stations, McGaughey noted, offered “real food,” including soup, grilled cheese sandwiches and turkey wraps.
“Putting this together,” she said, “is pretty much a full-year job. The serious planning starts in September and October.”
Hundreds of man hours are expended for the cause.
“But I'm not complaining,” she said. “It's a passion for us. I can't say enough about our volunteers. We're family.”
McGaughey and David Murray, a member of the race committee, also recognized the sponsors of the event.
Proceeds benefit Moraine State Park, Jennings Environmental Education Center and McConnells Mill State Park.
The following is a list of the top three finishers for men and women in each individual race and the winning relay team:
30K Men
(1) Jamison Dohn, of Oakmont, Allegheny County, 3:02:19
(2) Brandon Frazier, Brookfield, Ohio, 3:28:17
(3) Daniel Fenstermacher, Sewickley, Allegheny County, 3:29:21
Women
(1) Jamie Eakin, Washington, Pa., 3:11:47 (new course record)
(2) Gwendolyn Musser, Butler, 3:14:14
(3) Makenzie O'Connor, Pittsburgh, 3:16:01
50K Men
(1) Sean Hulburt, Portersville, 4:28:24
(2) San Goldstein, Pittsburgh, 4:28:58
(3) John Graf, Ballston Lake, N.Y., 5:01:32
Women
(1) Melissa Pastore, Fairview, Erie County, 6:01:31
(2) Catherine Lyon, Manassas, Va., 6:27:23
(3) Kelly Giles, Pittsburgh, 6:34:46
50-mile Men
(1) Jeffrey Adams, Buffalo, N.Y., 7:52:38
(2) William Huber, Zelienople, 8:31:02
(3) Patrick Moran, Rochester, Beaver County, 8:52:02
Women
(1) Anna Piskorska, Blandon, Berks County, 9:07:57 (new course record)
(2) Stefanie Flippin, Northville, Mich., 10:12:00
(3) Tami Sari, Polk, Venango County, 10:36:41
50-mile team relay
(1) Glacier Pacers: Nathan Sydik, Butler; Jonathan Fleming, Butler; Tim Karls, Pittsburgh; Elijah Shekinah, Pittsburgh; and Mike Williams, Latrobe, Westmoreland County, 6:51:29 (new course record).
McGaughey noted that the Glacier Pacers' team was the post-race buzz. The team by more than one hour beat the old record of 8:07:00.
