By Clay Shaw
Photography by Clay Shaw and Karen Mitchell

New Holland, PA, March 25, 2023, Garden Spot Half Marathon—Madelena Rizzo of Wyncote, PA and Ramsey Sybel of Mt Joy returned as defending champions to the 2023 event.  Hard rain was predicted; nevertheless, 626 finished the half-marathon, and everyone but the earliest finishers got a soaking. 

Madelena, consistent on her times on the hilly Amish Country course, ran 1:30:01 to repeat as champion.  Kaitlin Gresh of Reading was second in 1:30:29.  Meg Griffith of Manheim and the F & M Track Club was third in 1:3034.  Meg was second in 2022, and ran nearly two minutes faster in 2023; funny how that works out.  Betty Wittrig of Port Matilda, PA was sixth overall and top master in 1:39:54. Garden Spot Village is a home for elderly, and starts their master categories at 50.  No matter for Wittrig, as she is in the 55-59 group.  Karen Lam-Duckett of York was seventh overall in 1:40:13, and for editorial purposes was second master.  Karen is the race director of the York White Rose Run coming this fall on September 23, 2023.  Anabelle Broadbent of Perkasie, another 55-59 star earned the race’s second female master award.

Scott Savage of Exton, PA had a big lead that he never relinquished, winning in 1:18:58. Ramsey Sybel of Mt Joy, the 2022 champion, was second in 1:21:50.  Eric Rowits of New Holland earned third with a 1:22:48.  Andy Evans of West Chester was fourth overall and for editorial purposes, the first master in 1:22:56.  Scott Bartucca of Jackson Heights, NY was seventh and second master in 123:57.  The top fifty year old, recognized as masters by Garden Spot Village were Mark Hanna of Bethlehem in 1:26:58, he was fifteenth overall, and Patrick Donadio of Bensalem in 129L:42, who was twentieth overall. 

The Garden Spot Half partners with Bird-In-Hand Half as all runners can earn the famous award. The Bird-In-Hand Half is September 9, and has a companion Friday evening 5K.  Garden Spot has a companion 10K that had 211 finishers. Falon Doutrich of Gap, PA (44:43) and Sam Kovalchik of Medina, Ohio (36:07) were the overall winners.  Your RG photographers photographed at miles 4 and 9 of the half marathon and left before the hard rain.

Top Women

1. 1:30:01 Madelena Rizzo, Wyncote, PA
2. 1:30:29 Kaitlin Gresh, Reading, PA
3. 1:30:34 Meg Griffith, Manheim, PA
4. 1:33:39 Kacey Gibson, Williamsburg, VA
5. 1:34:21 Traci Tempone, Leola, PA
6. 1:39:54 Becky Wittrig, 55-59, Port Matilda, PA
7. 1:40:13 Karen Lam-Duckett, 45=49, York, PA
8. 1:41:19 Colleen Lynn, 45-49, East Petersburg, PA
9. 1:42:01 Kristen Guerrini, 45-49, York, PA
10. 1:42:30 Pamela Thomas, Harleysville, PA
11. 1:42:47 Morgan Markle, Marietta, PA
12. 1:43:56 Miranda Wenger, Denver PA
13. 1:44:06 Megan Dodson, 45-49, York, PA
14. 1:44:30 Anabelle Broadbent, 55-59, Perkasie, PA
15. 1:44:49 Hailey Mowery, Boiling Springs, PA

Top Men

1. 1:18:58 Scott Savage, Exton, PA
2. 1:21:50 Ramsey Sybel, Mount Joy, PA
3. 1:22:46 Eric Rowits, New Holland, PA
4. 1:22:56 Andy Evans, 40-44, West Chester, PA
5. 1:22:58 Josh Chang, Timonium, MD
6. 1:23:08 Caleb Sneller, Lancaster, PA
7. 1:23:57 Scott Bartucca, 40-44, Jackson Heights, NY
8. 1:24:10 Raymond Stoltzfus, Quarryville, PA
9. 1:24:13 Micah Sneller, Lancaster, PA
10. 1:24:46 Amos Beiler Jr., Ronks, PA
11. 1:25:19 Justin McCarthy, 40-44, Washington, DC
12. 1:25:50 Scott Delone, West Chester, PA
13. 1:26:00 Bob Riegel, Lancaster, PA
14. 1:26:09 Keegan Skidmore, 40-44, Lancaster, PA
15. 1:26:58 Mark Hanna, 50-54, Bethlehem PA

Categories: Race Coverage

Tags: 2023, featured