With 1,200 runners on board – an almost 20% increase over last year’s field – it’s safe to say the Bucks County Roadrunners Club’s Thanksgiving 5-Miler is pretty much back to its pre-pandemic level.
It helped to have a good weather day. And, according to race director John O’Brien, the strong turnout means BCRR can make some significant donations to AHTN (Advocates for Homeless & Those in Need) as well as the Bucks County Courier Times/Levittown Bristol Kiwanis Club Give-A-Christmas fund.
Among local runners, Newtown’s Jack Czarnecki placed second (27:32) and Feasterville’s Jason Benham took third (29:29) in the overall men’s division while Julie Fricke of Newtown (32:37) placed second and Ivyland’s Kelly Alven finished third (33:19) in the overall women’s division.
The course starts and ends at the Summit Square Shopping Center in Langhorne. Much of the course goes through Core Creek Park. There was also 5K and 1-mile events.
“The 1,200 was well beyond what we expected,” O’Brien said in a telephone interview. “We were really impressed with that. The weather really helped us.”
Aside from the top finishers, there were some outstanding age group times. On the men’s side, Yardley’s Christian Carabello, 54, placed eighth overall in 31:32 (just a little over six minutes per mile). Rick Mingione, 70, also of Yardley, won that competition with an exceptional 37:58 (which put him 48th overall). On the women’s side, Newtown’s Courtney Woodfield, 54, placed 36th overall in a sharp 36:19.
Thanksgiving 5-Miler results:
Overall winners
Male
– 1. Kevin Ehrgott, Washington, D.C., 26:56; 2. Jack Czarnecki, Newtown, 27:32; 3. Jason Benham, Feasterville, 29:29.
Female
– 1. Jeannie Bujdos, Slatington, 32:37; 2. Julie Fricke, Newtown, 32:27; 3. Kelly Alven, Ivyland, 33:19.
Bucks County age-group medalists
Male
– 15-19: 1. Jack Czarnecki, Newtown, 27:32; 2. Andreas Quattrocchi, Bristol, 30:24.
– 20-24: 2. Jeremy Capella, Levittown, 32:43; 3. Andrew Brenner, Warminster, 33:07.
– 25-29: 1. Gerard Tessier, Langhorne, 36:23; 2. Connor Carpani, Langhorne, 37:35; 3. Tom Ugras, Feasterville, 38:03.
– 30-34: 1. Ryan Gallagher, Langhorne, 29:40; 2. Patrick Haneman, Washington Crossing, 30:08.
– 35-39: 1. Jason Benham, Feasterville, 29:29; 2. Andrew Northrup, Newtown, 34:51.
– 40-44: 1. Timothy Persico, Southampton, 34:11; 3. Tim Kline, Doylestown, 37:49.
– 45-49: 3. John Quinn, Morrisville, 38:09.
– 50-54: 1. Christian Carabello, Yardley, 31:32.
– 55-59: 2. Michael Haston, Levittown, 35:42; 2. Gary Nolan, Yardley, 38:25.
– 60-64: 3. Stephen Schlussel, Doylestown, 39:23.
– 65-69: 1. Chand Siewrattan, Warminster, 43:01; 2. Joe Feliciani, Newtown, 45:30; 3. Jeff Bruemmer, Southampton, 48:41.
– 70-74: 1. Rick Mingione, Yardley, 37:58; 3. Harold Gever, Feasterville, 56:41.
Female
– 14 and under: 1. Mia LaFrado, Southampton, 4:32; 2. A. Hearing, Langhorne, 43:18; 3. Kate Czarnecki, Newtown, 46:07.
– 15-19: 2. Egen Panchison, Newtown, 39:09; 3. Katie Burke, Southampton, 40:08.
– 20-24: 1. Amy Forst, Doylestown, 40:47; 2. Maggie Daeche, Langhorne, 42:20;
– 25-29: 1. Elizabeth Koloski, New Hope, 34:09; 2. Jacqueline Moruzzi, Morrisville, 35:37.
– 30-34: 1. Julie Fricke, Newtown, 32:40; 2. Caitlin Sanchez, Newtown, 36:02.
– 35-39: 1. Kelly Alven, Ivyland, 33:19.
– 40-44: 1. Jeny Fingerod, Furlong; 2. Kate Bulat, Yardley, 43:12; 3. Cindy Kunnas, Newtown, 43:54.
– 45-49: 1. Amy Sestito, Southampton, 40:27; 2. Jin Lee, Warwick, 40:38; 3. Saramarie Bittmann, Yardley, 43:48.
– 50-54: Courtney Woodfield, Newtown, 36:19; 2. Susan Bostian, Yardley, 42:30; 3. Leah Cutler, Newtown, 42:40.
– 55-59: 2. Lisa Wilson, Wycombe, 42:47; 3. Janie Scurti, Newtown, 43:32.
– 60-64: 3. Wendy Carpani, Langhorne, 48:50.
– 65-69: 1. Merri Axenroth, Levittown, 54:34; 2. Dori Fifis, Newtown, 59:38.
– 70-74: 1. Emily Grace, Washington Crossing, 1:07.23.
Sesame Place Classic registration set to open
Online registration for the 24th annual Kiwanis-Herald Sesame Place Classic on Sunday, May 19 will be open starting this Friday, 12:01 a.m. at https://runsignup.com/Race/PA/Langhorne/KiwanisHeraldSesamePlaceClassic.
Proceeds from the race go to the Dick Dougherty Scholarship Fund, named for the late sports editor of the Bucks County Courier Times. Since 1999, more than $500,000 has been raised to assist college-bound scholar-athletes from 18 Bucks County high schools.
For more information, go to www.sesameplaceclassic5k.com.
Race calendar
Thursday
– Peddler’s Village Holiday Hustle 2-Miler, New Hope.
Sunday
– Freeze-Up 5K, 10 a.m., Perkasie.
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