Home › Race Coverage › Wenger and Wyrick Win the 2024 Sasquatch Preservation Trail Run 10K

Wenger and Wyrick Win the 2024 Sasquatch Preservation Trail Run 10K

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Story and Photos by Karen Mitchell

Seven Valleys, PA, September 7, 2024—On Saturday Runner’s Gazette covered two races, one in Lancaster, PA (Bird-in-Hand) and this one, Sasquatch 5K and 10K on South Branch Farms in York County, PA. The race is a favorite among runners, run mostly on farmland with a short bit on the Heritage Rail Trail. Those who run the 10K version are treated to a rare run over the top of the Howard Tunnel; on every other day of the year, runners can only run through the tunnel, not over it.

Both courses are pretty tough and both run through the Codorus Creek. The 5K crosses the creek twice, a shallow part and a section that is sometimes more swimmable than runnable. (This year it was runnable.) The 10K bypasses the shallow creek crossing, replacing that crossing with a swinging bridge, which can be tricky, especially for those who are not fond of heights. There are wooden stairs at both ends of the bridge.

In my coverage of the 2023 race, I mentioned some of the event’s history and repeat it briefly here, as I think it’s interesting. I remember the first edition in 2011 and have been to almost all of them. I’ve run the Sasquatch 5K and the Thoroughbred 10K.

“Sasquatch began as a 5K cross country-type course held on a Farm and Natural Lands Trust (FNLT)-preserved farm in Mount Wolf, PA and continued every September from 2011-2017 when the nomadic Sasquatch appeared to be moving south. An additional event, Thoroughbred 10K, had been added and run every October from 2013-2016. Thoroughbred was hosted by FNLT and the Kinsley family on FNLT- preserved South Branch Farms in Seven Valleys, PA, every October. In 2017 the two events morphed into the current Sasquatch 5K and 10K every September on South Branch Farms.”

As the race benefits the Farm and Natural Lands Trust, you may want to know what the organization is and does.

“Farm & Natural Lands Trust of York County is a private, non-profit land preservation organization specializing in conservation easements. A conservation easement is a deed restriction that restricts and limits development on private property, while protecting important natural resources such as soils, woodlands, streams & more. The work of FNLT is community-supported by direct donations and a variety of events, including this one.”

The Races – 5K & 10K

In the 5K the top three women (girl) finishers were Brianna Mink (13) who finished first, J. Rebert (12) second and Brooke Mink (13). The top three men consisted of two teenagers, Alex Dougherty (14) and Matthew McKinney (16) and one master runner, Brad Chronister (40).

In the men’s 10K, the top three finishers were a bit spread out. Jonathan Wyrick (23) finished first with a 7:04 pace in 43:56. 2nd place was 32-year-old James Weaver in 45:33 with a 7:20 pace. Eric Ferree (46) of Dallastown finished 3rd with a 7:35 pace in 47:04. On the women’s side, Sarah Wenger (43) of Dallastown prevailed, finishing with a time of 53:30 and an 8:37 pace. 2nd place was Beth Simmons (45) with a 56:14 and a 9:03 pace. Rebecca Doner (35) of Mount Wolf, PA finished close behind in 3rd, with 9:06 pace in 56:35.

212 athletes finished the 5K and 129 finished the 10K. See you next year!!

Full Results

Top 10K Women

  1. 53:30 Sarah Wenger, 43, Dallastown
  2. 56:14 Beth Simmons, 45,
  3. 56:35 Rebecca Doner, 35 Mt Wolf
  4. 59:27 Tasha Martin, 41, McSherrystown
  5. 1:00:29 Rachel Wong Miller, 33,
  6. 1:03:28 Juliet Kinsley, 29, Seven Valleys
  7. 1:05:29 Karen Lam-Duckett, 46, York
  8. 1:06:12 Nicole Cassel, 47, Harrisburg
  9. 1:08:46 Patty Hall, 52, York
  10. 1:09:33 Emily Hribick, 37, Mt Joy

Top 10K Men

  1. 43:57 Jonathan Wyrick, 23, Spring Grove
  2. 45:34 James Weaver, 32,
  3. 47:05 Eric Ferree, 46, Dallastown
  4. 47:27 Robert M Kinsley, 29, Seven Valleys
  5. 50:28 Dave McLaughlin, 40,
  6. 50:32 Logan Trimble, 15, New Freedom
  7. 52:54 Gary Watson, 36, York
  8. 54:23 Colton Ayers, 30, Glen Rock
  9. 54:23 Clay Ayers, 27, Glen Rock
  10. 54:37 Andrew Foerster, 36, York

Top 5K Women

  1. 23:06 Brianna Mink, 13, York
  2. 23:19 J Rebert, 12, York
  3. 23:35 Brooke Mink, 13, York
  4. 24:42 Madison Wirtz, 15,
  5. 24:56 Angela Coco, 30, York

Top 5K Men

  1. 22:36 Alex Dougherty, 14,
  2. 22:59 Matthew McKinney, 16,
  3. 23:00 Brad Chronister, 40,
  4. 23:03 P Steelman, 11, Seven Valleys
  5. 23:04 Lee Schmelyun, 53, Glenville
Start of the 2024 Sasquatch Preservation Trail Run 5K and 10K
Left to right: Brad Chronister (3rd place 5K), Matthew McKinney (2nd place 5K), Eric Ferree, (3rd place 10K), Dallastown, PA
J. Rebert (90) of York, took 2nd place in the 5K; Lee Schmelyun (107) placed 5th in the 5K,; Nate Baum (141) of York finished the 10K in 17th pace among men.
Always smiling, Becky Doner of Mount Wolf, PA placed 3rd among women in the 10K.
Daniel Hunter Mink was 14th among men in the 10K; his daughter Brooke finished the 5K in 3rd place among women.
Sarah Huss Wenger of Dallastown, on a winning streak, was the first finisher among all women in the 10K.
Eric Guyer finished 21st among men in the 5K. Nathan Humphrey looking good in his kilt and run PA shirt, finished 8th in the 5K. (Not sure how the kilt did in the 2nd creek crossing.)
#289 Morgan Rexroth of York finished 9th woman in the 10K. #307 Beth Simmons, with a smile, finished 2nd woman in the 10K. #288 Abigail Retzlaff was 6th female in the 5K.
#220 Juliette Kinsley, one of the race course architects, hosts, and stewards of the Farm & Natural Lands Trust (FNLT)-preserved South Branch Farms – and excellent runner – of Seven Valleys, PA, runs with #71 Tasha Martin of McSherrystown, PA during the first mile of the 10K. Juliette finished in 6th place. Tasha finished in 4th place, five minutes faster than last year’s time!!
#234 Brad Lippy of York running the 10K. #100 Kelly Rose of Dover, PA chose the 5K this year and finished 16th. #80 Adam Miller in a RUN PA shirt ran the 10K and finished 37th among men.
#41 David Harmon and #191 Kev Hawn running the 10K.
Penny Hornock of the Flying Feet Team, a longtime runner and our good friend, runs in the starting mile of the 5K.
Michaele Rayburn of York with a smile, runs in the beginning of the 5K.
Elizabeth Jones finished 55th in the 5K.
Michelle Dedrick of Jacobus running the 5K.
Jonathan Wyrick, age 23, won the Sasquatch Preservation Trail Run 10K. Here he shows how to quickly cross a swinging bridge, as he is the first 10K runner to get across it. Wyrick’s hometown is Spring Grove, PA. He ran cross country/track and field at Messiah College from 2020 through 2024.
Sarah Wenger of Dallastown, PA won the 10K. She also won the York 10 Miler in August.
Becky Doner of Mount Wolf, PA finished in 3rd place in the 10K with a fast 56:35.
Karen Lam-Duckett of York and the Flying Feet Racing Team crosses the SWINGING bridge with a bit of a grimace. She finished the 10K in 7th place among all women. Karen is the race director of the York White Rose Run.
Kev Hawn of Hanover crosses the swinging bridge wearing his Trails 4 Tails shirt coming up on September 21st. Meghann Pierdon of Bainbridge, PA, behind Kev, finished the 10K 14th among women.
Sarah Wenger of Dallastown appears to confirm the direction to the finish line.
Some excellent hurdling of the horse jump.
Michael Womelsdorf, aka Speedo Mike, of Etters is on his way to 16th place among males in the 10K.
Travis Hoke of York is still feeling good after the 2nd creek crossing with less than a mile to go.
Tasha Martin in the midst of a leap over the horse jump.
Jacob Boyer with a splash and a photo (?) during the creek crossing.
Danielle Rill on her way across the creek to finish in 1:16:37.
Heather Roe, York Road Runners Club president, checks out what all the splashing is about, as Jeffrey Kearns makes his way across the creek in back of her.
Byron Wolf of Dover decides to try swimming in the shallow creek on his way to the finish line. His time was 1:24:03.
Sheri Bullock feeling good as she cools off in the creek. She finished the 10K in 1:24:07.
Michelle Riley of York, makes her way across Codorus Creek on her way to the 10K finish.
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