By Rob Potter
ROCK HILL — On Sunday morning, hundreds of runners and walkers made their way to Rock Hill to compete in the eighth annual Celebrate Life Half Marathon.
The competitors included 528 runners and 50 walkers. In addition, 14 men and women who are cancer survivors competed in the survivors division.
The 13.1-mile race course began near the Rock Hill United Methodist Church and continued around Lake Louise Marie. The runners and walkers then circled Wolf Lake before crossing the finish line in front of The Lodge at Rock Hill.
Once again, the Race Directors were Myriam Loor and Kathleen Rifkin.
New for the 2011 event was the introduction of the Motivational Mile, a strip of signs purchased by a runner honoring a loved one touched by cancer.
“Fifty signs were sold and runners say it gave them inspiration and courage and it helped put in perspective what people dealing with cancer are facing,” Loor said.
Art Gunther of Nyack won the race in a time of 1 hour, 14 minutes and 19 seconds. Kyle O’Brien of Goshen finished second in 1:16.54 and Samuel Mackenzie of Syracuse was third in 1:17.08.
Christina Ardito of Niskayuna, who recorded a time of 1:32.05, was the first woman to cross the finish line. Jacquilin Degrandpri of Hyde Park took second place in 1:32.07, running across the finish line just two seconds after Ardito finished.
Jennifer Jankowski of Kingston placed third with a time of 1:34.17.
Bob Harjes of Pine Bush took first place in the walkers category with a time of 2:48.02. Norman Aaronson of Woodstock and Ed Maruszewski of Middletown finished second and third with respective times of 2:51.27 and 2:52.29.
The results for those competing in the survivors division were: 1. Will Deroberts of Boonton, 1:32.00; 2. Bette Clark of Yonkers, 1:50.55; 3. Lorne MacDonald of Sussex, N.J., 1:56.37; 4. Eileen Moon of Warwick, 2:01.42; 5. Craig Irving of Woodbourne, 2:06.16; 6. Pamela Gottstine of Tillson, 2:11.50; 7. Natalie Gellerman of Kingston, 2:12.07; 8. Jackie Gaillard of Cornwall On Hudson, 2:14.47; 9. Lois Green of East Greenbush, 2:24.40; 10. Patricia Kestner of Hudson Falls, 2:37.24; 11. John Torres of Goshen, 3:01.32; 12. Lucia Rein of Pine Bush, 3:24.55; 13. Keith Tamlyn of Wappingers Falls, 3:55.23 and 14. Mary Andreozzi of Circleville, 4:08.15.
“We don’t know the exact amount of money raised yet, but it borders around $17,000,” Loor said yesterday. “Donations were lower this year, but personal donations were higher. There were many people who came on race day and gave us an envelope with pledges they had collected. All of that money will be used to help cancer patients in Sullivan County and Orange County. Who do we help? Those who are not only facing a dreadful diagnosis, but are also facing financial difficulties.”
Complete race results can be found at www.active.com.
The top three finishers in the male and female age group categories were as follows:
Male 1-16
1. Michael C. Bussow, Layton, N.J., 1:40.02; 2. Alex Melnick, Port Jervis, 2:01.47; 3. Michael J. Rutkoske, Beacon, 2:18.46
Male 17-19
1. Matthew Thomas, Rock Hill, 1:41.17; 2. Michael Debromsky, Beacon, 1:47.30; 3. Sam Miller, Harris, 1:49.34
Male 20-29
1. J. Matthew Medeiros, Saranac, 1:18.21; 2. Douglas Haines, Centreville, Va., 1:18.25; 3. Michael Hamilton, Oneonta, 1:20.44
Male 30-39
1. Raymond Revell, Wurtsboro, 1:20.08; 2. Tommy Pyon, Flushing, 1:23.25; 3. Douglas McEnroe, Stony Point, 1:24.48
Male 40-49
1. Andy Latincsics, Newton, N.J., 1:21.43; 2. Jim Phelan, Montgomery, 1:23.55; 3. Mike Kelly, Selkirk, 1:24.28
Male 50-59
1. Kevin Shelton-Smith, Bronx, 1:20.32; 2. Tom Manza, Monticello, 1:30.23; 3. Will Deroberts, Boonton, N.J., 1:32.00
Male 60-69
1. David King, Bronxville, 1:41.02; 2. Richard Robillard, Chester, 1:54.12; 3. John Kopalek, Binghamton, 1:54.33
Male 70-99
1. Arnold Gore, New York City, 2:06.28
Female 1-16
1. Mallory Rutkoske, Beacon, 1:47.30; 2. Paige Rutkoske, Beacon, 2:07.03; 3. Addison Rutkoske, Beacon, 2:15.20
Female 17-19
1. Kimberly Allen, Middletown, 1:47.17; 2. Shannon McChesney, Bloomingburg, 2:08.24; 3. Isabelle Barany, New York City, 2:11.36
Female 20-29
1. Katy Schlichtman, Wurtsboro, 1:36.18; 2. Shanna Bearisto, Middletown, 1:37.31; 3. Julie Gillis-Begyak, Stony Point, 1:37.46
Female 30-39
1. Melissa Weiner, New York City, 1:36.00; 2. Allison Hagberg, Middletown, 1:36.03; 3. Jessica Dovico, Chester, 1:40.05
Female 40-49
1. Jacque Schiffer, Olivebridge, 1:40.46; 2. Christine Varley, Albany, 1:43.36; 3. Jean Norton, Wurtsboro, 1:45.09
Female 50-59
1. Kimberlee Scott, Kingston, 1:46.49; 2. Joanne Warren, Wallkill, 1:49.25; 3. Maureen Fitzgerald, Clifton Park, 1:49.49
Female 60-69
1. Debbie Grassi, Johnson City, 2:16.25; 2. Benita Auge, New Windsor, 2:189.49; 3. Deborah Weibman, Wappingers Falls, 2:25.11