By Tom Walski

SWOYERSVILLE, PA—Wilkes-Barre’s Mickey Moorhead wasted no time jumping to an early lead and pulling away for a convincing win over John Martino in the 7th running of the Swoyersville Two Mile Run held July 6. On the women’s side, Marina Martino wasn’t sure she was going to race until she found a baby sitter at the starting line, but still managed a convincing win six months after giving birth.

Although heat and humidity were less than ideal, this race features a short downhill start and then 1.95 miles of flat streets which resulted in some good times.

While this was a 7th running of the race under the leadership of Chris Wadas, it was the first under the banner of the Wyoming Valley Striders and featured the largest turnout the race’s history.

As with many Striders races, the oldest age groups proved to be the toughest. Fifty-nine-year-old Jeff Baran took 10th overall but was only 4th in the 50-59 age group.

The biggest age group was the 30-39-year-old women with 15 runners led by second placer Jill Sosnowski in 13:44.

The race also features a pizza and wings party at Murphy’s Irish Pub located at the finish line.

Top 25

1 Mickey Moorhead Wilkes Barre PA 403 25 M 1: Open 10:45 5:23/M

2 John Martino Dallas PA 480 35 M 1: 30-39 11:08 5:34/M

3 Marina Martino Dallas PA 481 28 F 1: Open 11:36 5:48/M

4 Paul Shaffer West Pittston PA 510 50 M 1: 50-59 12:15 6:08/M

5 Bob Muscovitch Jim Thorpe PA 401 44 M 1: 40-49 12:48 6:24/M

6 Tony Korch Nanticoke PA 527 59 M 2: 50-59 12:53 6:27/M

7 Jonathan Valentine Forty Fort PA 517 41 M 2: 40-49 13:27 6:44/M

8 Donald Shearer West Pittston PA 512 51 M 3: 50-59 13:29 6:45/M

9 Jill Sosnoski Wilkes Barre PA 513 39 F 1: 30-39 13:44 6:52/M

10 Jeff Baran Wilkes Barre PA 524 59 M 4: 50-59 13:49 6:55/M

11 Scott Seelye Shavertown PA 397 56 M 5: 50-59 13:59 7:00/M

12 Mark Nicholson Harveys Lake PA 489 51 M 6: 50-59 14:18 7:09/M

13 Shane Bradley Swoyersville PA 424 42 M 3: 40-49 14:20 7:10/M

14 Tia Kavulich Scranton PA 526 38 F 2: 30-39 14:26 7:13/M

15 Carl Daubert Wilkes Barre PA 454 24 M 1: 20-29 14:28 7:14/M

16 Eryn Milius Dallas PA 486 34 F 3: 30-39 14:29 7:15/M

17 Ed Ciprich Wilkes Barre PA 452 24 M 2: 20-29 14:34 7:17/M

18 Edward Urban Swoyersville PA 543 50 M 7: 50-59 14:35 7:18/M

19 Paul Holena Swoyersville PA 468 23 M 3: 20-29 14:57 7:29/M

20 Jonathon Milius Dallas PA 487 34 M 2: 30-39 14:58 7:29/M

21 Lynn Eckrote Drums PA 457 39 F 4: 30-39 15:08 7:34/M

22 Eric Grego Forty Fort PA 539 27 M 4: 20-29 15:20 7:40/M

23 Annet Kaminski Shavertown PA 545 56 F 1: 50-59 15:22 7:41/M

24 Tyler Smith Swoyersville PA 371 24 M 5: 20-29 15:27 7:44/M

25 Thomas Hogans Shavertown PA 465 35 M 3: 30-39 15:27 7:44/M

Categories: Race Coverage

Tags: 2019 WyomingValleyStriders