First Posted: 5/18/2014
WILKES-BARRE — Chris Wadas, John Martino, Nick Wadas and Jeff Skwierz — all members of the Susquehanna River Runners Club — finished 1-2-3-4 in the River Street 3-Mile Run on Sunday.
The race was Chris Wadas’ first since running in Berwick’s Run For The Diamonds (a 9-mile race) on Thanksgiving. He had been out of action due to minor surgery. He won easily in 15 minutes and 36 seconds.
He’s back!
“I had to have surgery in March,” said Wadas, 32, of Courtdale, who is the head track and cross country coach at Misericordia University. “So I was out for three weeks with no activity at all. I’m now in my seventh week of easy running. So I’m really happy with my performance here today because I hadn’t done any hard running for seven months.”
Martino, 29, of Dallas, who ran cross country and track for Marian Catholic High School and for Misericordia, finished in 16:19. Wadas’ twin brother, Nick, of Kingston, who is the head cross country coach at Wilkes University, finished 13 seconds behind Martino. And Skwierz, who ran for Hazleton Area High School and Lock Haven University, pulled in 18 seconds later.
All four members of the area’s newest running club are expected to be in action in the Old Fort 5 Miler on Memorial Day in Forty Fort, although Chris needs to get in enough good workouts this week before he can attempt that distance.
Sherri Yelen won the female division of the River Street flat and fast 3-miler with an eighth-place overall finish in 20:04. Lynn Dolan, 50, of West Wyoming, finished second in 21:48. Kerry Zawadski, 38, of Luzerne, finished third in 22:01.
“It was a great race,” said Yelen. “I felt really good, considering I ran Harveys Lake (Saturday). I led the entire way. No other females came up on me throughout the race.”
Notes
Yelen scored a personal best finish, 1 hour and 36 minutes, on April 27 in the St. Luke’s Marathon. And she won the 40-49 age group bracket at Harveys Lake two days ago in 59:39.
The JCC race was Dolan’s first competitive race since April 2013.
Jack Zardecki, 14, of Dallas, finished fifth in 19:09 in yesterday’s race. His performance was impressive, considering he made a wrong turn at one point that had to cost him easily 20 seconds. He just started running this year as an eighth grader at Dallas Middle School. His coach is Amy Rome, a woman who has won numerous times in JCC sponsored races.
Jewish Community Center of Wyoming Valley
River Street 3 Mile Run results
Top 10 overall
1. Chris Wadas, 32, Courtdale, 15:36
2. John Martino, 29, Dallas, 16:19
3. Nick Wadas, 32, Kingston, 16:33
4. Jeff Skwierz, 31, Forty Fort, 16:51
5. Jack Zardecki, 14, Dallas, 19:09
6. Greg Bassham, 55, Mountain Top, 19:30
7. Jon Morgan, 12, Berwick, 19:56
8. Sherri Yelen, 42, Kingston, 20:04
9. Don Shearer, 46, W. Pittston, 20:11
10. George Dunbar, 50, Old Forge, 21:01
Male age group winners
14 and under: 1. Jack Zardecki, Dallas, 19:09. 20-29: John Martino, Dallas, 16:19; 2. Justin Murphy, Sugarloaf, 24:44. 30-34: 1. Nick Wadas, Kingston, 16:33; 2. Jeff Skwierz, Forty Fort, 16:51. 35-39: 1. Igor Mijajlovic, Berwick, 21:30; 2. Chris Corbett, Wilkes-Barre, 23:40. 40-44: 1. Andy Penxa, Pittston, 27:21; 2. Larry Parker. 45-49: 1. Don Shearer, W. Pittston, 20:11; 2. Mitch Kornfeld, 20:13. 50-59: 1. Greg Bassham, Mountain Top, 19:30; 2. George Dunbar, Old Forge, 21:01. 70 and over: 1. Mike Fay, Hazleton, 27:20.
Top 3 females
1. Sherri Yelen, 42, Kingston, 20:04
2. Lynn Dolan, 50, W. Wyoming, 21:48
3. KerryZawadski, 38, Luzerne, 22:01
Female age group winners
14 and under: 1. Sara Wojnar, North Pocono, 25:37. 20-29: 1. Jaclyn Rawlings, Edwardsville, 23:54; 2. Ashley Gregory, Sugarloaf, 24:47. 30-34: 1. Amy Feldman, Trucksville, 26:09. 35-39: 1. Kerry Zawadski, Luzerne, 22:01; 2. Karen McLaughlin, Kingston. 40-44: 1. Taly Kornfeld, 33:57; 2. Diane Saluggi, Wilkes-Barre, 38:43. 45-49: 1. Rose Yanko, Wilkes-Barre, 22:28; 2. Danna May, 30:42. 50-59: 1. Lynn Dolan, W. Wyoming, 21:48; 2. Tracy Margelewicz, Stillwater, 30:38.
First finisher in 3-mile race walk: David Giuliarelli, Ashley, 33:47.
Field: 43 finishers in the run and 13 finishers in the race walk. Official starter and finisher: Vince P. Wojnar. Timing: Vince A. Wojnar (Wyoming Valley Striders). Race director: Bill Buzza.
Schedule
Monday, May 26 (Memorial Day): Forty Fort Lions 34th annual Old Fort 5 Miler at Betty Mascelli Borough Park, Wyoming Ave., Forty Fort, at 9 a.m. Info: Bernie Popson, 570-498-7665.
Saturday, June 7: The 37th annual West Pittston Anthracite 4 Mile Run at the West Pittston Borough Building, Route 92, West Pittston, at 9 a.m. Info: Borough office, 570-655-7782.
