Ken Cohen | Democrat As if they didn't get enough during the race, Sullivan West students and other participants celebrated the race's completion with a final dust up.

More powder to you

Story by Ken Cohen
LAKE HUNTINGTON — May 21, 2013 — Washing machines and showers must have been humming Sunday in houses across western Sullivan County. The shirts, shorts, sneakers, hats – not to mention faces, arms, legs and hair – of 125 runners/walkers were full of yellow, purple, red, blue and pink powder. That’s what’s supposed to happen after a Powder Fun Run.
It’s a standard race – in this case a 5K around Lake Huntington – but at various points throughout the course, volunteers splash non-toxic colored powder on the participants. Just something to “add a little color” and differentiate one 5K race from another.
This one was sponsored by two Sullivan West groups: SADD (Students Against Destructive Decisions) and the Student Council. It was the first time these groups have collaborated on such an event. The buzz at the finish was the race got off to a great start. Families, like the Nearings, Arzillis and Nystroms were caked in powder from head to toe, but their smiles clearly broke through. Aerion Frazier of Jeffersonville, finished before her mom and quickly came back to one of the powder points to make sure she “got her mom” good.
There were winners – Branden Law, 16, of Livingston Manor – finished first overall with a time of 20:56. Rianne Erlwein, 19, of Jeffersonville was the fastest female in 23:18. Beret Nearing, 40, of Cochecton had an impressive race, clocking a 26:34 to easily outdistance all females 40 and over. Reece Maopolski, 9, of Narrowsburg was the youngest finisher with the best time, running the race in 28:19, good enough for 19th overall.
Sawyer Erlwein also had a great race, finishing 6th overall. The Sullivan West senior was more proud that he was one spot ahead of his sister Rianne, who recently competed in the Boston Marathon. As he approached the finish line, he could be heard saying to an onlooker, “see who’s behind me?”
Susan Zieres, SADD advisor, served as race director and was assisted by other faculty members, students, PTO members, parents, the Lake Huntington Fire Department and Ambulance Corps and the Sheriff’s Department in organizing and staging the event. She said her favorite part of the day was seeing all the clean white shirts that started the race full of bright new colors at the finish.

Powder Fun Run Results
OVERALL
1. Branden Law, Liv. Manor 20:56
2. Greg Senft, Damascus, PA. 21;09
3. Matt Quick, Jeffersonville 21:35
4. Kevin Hart, Jeffersonville 22:15
5. Dale Mercado, Narrowsburg 22:17
6. Sawyer Erlwein, Jeffersonville 22:43
7. Rianne Erlwein, Jeffersonville 23:18
8. Meaghan M. Gorr, Jeff 24:00
9. Bill Carmack, NA 25:51
10. Tanya Gushin, New York 25:54
11. Jonah Bauer, Callicoon 26:07
12. Beret Nearing, Cochecton 26:24
13. Bryce Maopolski, Narrows. 27:08
14. Paul Maopolski, Narrows. 27:08
15. Kelsey Dutton, NA 27:38
16. Dani Myers, Jeffersonville 27:38
17. Erin Sumfleth, Callicoon 28:01
18. Taylor Hillriegel, Callicoon 28:08
19. Reece Maopolski, Narrows. 28:19
20. Dee Maopolski, Narrows. 28:19