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Shoe House 5 Miler: First Live Race in Four Months

By mitchpa on July 12, 2020 • ( 0 )

by Clay Shaw

YORK, PA—The 8^th Annual Shoe House 5 Miler, held July 4, 2020, became the first regional race to be held live since the start of the pandemic in mid-March. Race director Melissa Darrin had mixed emotions about going forward with the region’s first live race. The “Green” designation issued by the state of Pennsylvania for York County in early June made the event possible for less than 250 people (runners and staff). Guidelines for six-feet apart in either the packet pick-up line or the toilet lines. Masks were to be worn to pick up packets and at anytime other than the actual race itself. The water station was staffed by gloved personnel who placed 8 oz. unopened bottles of water on the tables. Throwaway containers were nearby. Awards will be mailed. 176 runners finished the 5 miler, and 191 registered.

Christopher Myers of Lancaster won the race in 25:48 in a close battle with Benjamin Linne of York, who took second in 26:13. Matthew Martino of Hanover was third in 27:37. Eric Deignan of Harrisburg was fourth in 27:41. Lyle Stauffer of Ephrata had a PR and was fifth in 27:46, and at 39 almost a Master. Paul Willits of Lititz was the top Master in 33:46, and 16^th overall.

Colleen Deignan of Harrisburg was top woman, in 34:56. York Winter Series regular Lyla Eltz (age 9) of Hanover was second overall in 35:53. Masters runners Kelly Trabosh of Pottsville (36:34) and Megan Dodson of York (36:48) took the third and fourth overall spots. Sarah Wenger of Dallastown was fifth in 36:58.

Of note, some nice older-runner performances by Courtland Howard of Red Lion in 40:55 at age 65, Armand Meyer of York in 41:44 at 72. Not to be outdone, Isabel Bentz of Lancaster ran 43:38 at 69.

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