Nearly 300 run in YMCA Turkey Trot
NORWICH – Nearly 300 runners turned out to participate in the Norwich Family YMCA’s 27th Annual Turkey Trot 5K race. The runners braved below-freezing temperatures to set personal-best records, or to simply feel the gratification of participating.
“Every year we witness something exciting and new,” said Jamey Mullen, YMCA executive director. “We had participants as young as five-year-old Jessie Sutton complete the entire course, and as seasoned as 82-year-old Jack Meeks.”
“It’s always impressive to see how well some of these runners do in spite of the weather conditions,” said Tom Revoir, YMCA program director.
Matt LoPiccolo, 33, of Oneonta was again the fastest on the course winning the men’s race in 17:18.
Amanda Laytham, 26, of Oneonta – and also LoPiccolo’s spouse – was the first woman to cross the finish line with a time of 18:16, a time bested by just five male racers. Just a few steps behind her was Murphee Hayes, of Marathon, who was the first female to finish in the 30-39 age group with a time of 18:40.
Other outstanding performances included finishes by members of the same family. Sarah Spittler, of Norwich, was first to finish among 13-15 year-old females with a time of 22:47. Her brother, Steven Spittler, was the first 16-19 year old male to finish, with an impressive time of 17:28, good for second overall.
David and Andrew Bohunicky of Johnson City took the gold and silver medals, respectively, among 13-15 year old males. The brothers finished just five seconds apart from each other.
“Every year we see more impressive performances at both ends of the age spectrum,” said YMCA health and fitness director, Shannon Gawronski. “For example, we had eight-year-old Michael Carson and ten-year-old Tess Markham, both Norwich youngsters, finish the race in under 37 minutes. And we saw 12-year-old Matthew Robinson of Oneonta finish in under 22 minutes, while Amy Allaire of Norwich finished in under 27 minutes. That’s really fast for their ages. Equally incredible was Rome’s 70-year-old Kermit Cardette finishing just shy of 25 minutes!”
The Gilbersville-Mt. Upton school district racers, led by Mychelle Cotton, won the annual ”Best School Participation” trophy. All individuals who placed first in their respective age categories won a gold medal and a frozen turkey. For the first time, the best overall male and female finishers each won a $100 gift certificate to Olympia Sports and a free night’s stay at Howard Johnson’s.
“We appreciate not only the spirit of these runners to brave the cold and do their best, but the generosity of the volunteers to make this a great event for everyone,” said Gawronski.
The following are top-three finishers by age division:
Female 12-and-under
Amy Allaire, Norwich, 26:39; Meghan Meers, Gilbertsville, 27:40; Olivia Birdsall, Gilbertsville, 30:31.
Female 13-15
Sarah Spittler, Norwich, 22:47; Kristen Brooks, Binghamton, 22:50; Rae Tobey, Cazenovia, 23:04.
Female 16-19
Bethany Althaus, Delhi, 22:18; Jess Felice, Endicott, 23:35; Katrina Daoud, Norwich, 23:55.
Female 20-29
Amanda Laytham, Oneonta, 18:16; Colleen Spring, Binghamton, 22:31; Megan Lindoerfer, Sherburne, 24:09.
Female 30-39
Murphee Hayes, Marathon, 18:40; Suzanne Swantak, Oneonta, 24:31; Kelly Wheeler, Sidney, OH, 25:39.
Female 40-49
Penny Haynes, Gilbertsville, 23:23; Candice Poyer, Greene, 24:31; Amy Robertson, Morris, 25:25.
Female 50-59
Karla Eisch, Vestal, 25:29; Laureen Clarke, 28:01; Barb Utter, 29:34.
Female 60-69
Sally Endress, Laurens, 24:55; Gail Merian, Norwich, 36:01.
Female 70-79
June Vyse Gravener, Mt. Upton, 40:10.
Male under-12
Matthew Robinson, Oneonta, 21:45; Trace Thayer, Otego, 23:29; Luke Day, Greene, 24:20.
Male 13-15
David Bohunicky, Johnson City, 18:57; Andrew Bohunicky, Johnson City, 19:02; Levi Anderson, Oneonta, 19:31.
Male 16-19
Steven Spittler, Norwich, 17:28; Nicholas Reynolds, Binghamton, 17:58; Leon Nevins, Walton, 18:08.
Male 20-29
Liam Murray, Oneonta, 19:25; Kyle Breier, Oneonta, 19:45; Dave Backus, Hamilton, 20:23.
Male 30-39
Matt LoPiccolo, Oneonta, 17:18; Ray Revell, Wurtsboro, 17:42; Rich Wilson, Noriwch, 18:50.
Male 40-49
Eric Maki, Cortland, 18:27; Jeff Felice, Endicott, 18:33; John Barnett, Norwich, 19:45.
Male 50-59
Ron Hulsander, Cortland, 19:51; Harold Gardner, Norwich, 21:36; Gary Gundlach, Norwich, 21:46
Male 60-69
Robert Neuland, Norwich, 23:32; Michael Anderson, Truxton, 23:35; Harland Bigelow, Lisle, 23:43
Male 70-79
Kermit Cardette, Rome, 24:57; Jim Wheeling, Oneonta, 30:30; Dillon Maier, Oneonta, 30:51.
Male 80 and over
Jack Meeks, South New Berlin, 43:11.
“Every year we witness something exciting and new,” said Jamey Mullen, YMCA executive director. “We had participants as young as five-year-old Jessie Sutton complete the entire course, and as seasoned as 82-year-old Jack Meeks.”
“It’s always impressive to see how well some of these runners do in spite of the weather conditions,” said Tom Revoir, YMCA program director.
Matt LoPiccolo, 33, of Oneonta was again the fastest on the course winning the men’s race in 17:18.
Amanda Laytham, 26, of Oneonta – and also LoPiccolo’s spouse – was the first woman to cross the finish line with a time of 18:16, a time bested by just five male racers. Just a few steps behind her was Murphee Hayes, of Marathon, who was the first female to finish in the 30-39 age group with a time of 18:40.
Other outstanding performances included finishes by members of the same family. Sarah Spittler, of Norwich, was first to finish among 13-15 year-old females with a time of 22:47. Her brother, Steven Spittler, was the first 16-19 year old male to finish, with an impressive time of 17:28, good for second overall.
David and Andrew Bohunicky of Johnson City took the gold and silver medals, respectively, among 13-15 year old males. The brothers finished just five seconds apart from each other.
“Every year we see more impressive performances at both ends of the age spectrum,” said YMCA health and fitness director, Shannon Gawronski. “For example, we had eight-year-old Michael Carson and ten-year-old Tess Markham, both Norwich youngsters, finish the race in under 37 minutes. And we saw 12-year-old Matthew Robinson of Oneonta finish in under 22 minutes, while Amy Allaire of Norwich finished in under 27 minutes. That’s really fast for their ages. Equally incredible was Rome’s 70-year-old Kermit Cardette finishing just shy of 25 minutes!”
The Gilbersville-Mt. Upton school district racers, led by Mychelle Cotton, won the annual ”Best School Participation” trophy. All individuals who placed first in their respective age categories won a gold medal and a frozen turkey. For the first time, the best overall male and female finishers each won a $100 gift certificate to Olympia Sports and a free night’s stay at Howard Johnson’s.
“We appreciate not only the spirit of these runners to brave the cold and do their best, but the generosity of the volunteers to make this a great event for everyone,” said Gawronski.
The following are top-three finishers by age division:
Female 12-and-under
Amy Allaire, Norwich, 26:39; Meghan Meers, Gilbertsville, 27:40; Olivia Birdsall, Gilbertsville, 30:31.
Female 13-15
Sarah Spittler, Norwich, 22:47; Kristen Brooks, Binghamton, 22:50; Rae Tobey, Cazenovia, 23:04.
Female 16-19
Bethany Althaus, Delhi, 22:18; Jess Felice, Endicott, 23:35; Katrina Daoud, Norwich, 23:55.
Female 20-29
Amanda Laytham, Oneonta, 18:16; Colleen Spring, Binghamton, 22:31; Megan Lindoerfer, Sherburne, 24:09.
Female 30-39
Murphee Hayes, Marathon, 18:40; Suzanne Swantak, Oneonta, 24:31; Kelly Wheeler, Sidney, OH, 25:39.
Female 40-49
Penny Haynes, Gilbertsville, 23:23; Candice Poyer, Greene, 24:31; Amy Robertson, Morris, 25:25.
Female 50-59
Karla Eisch, Vestal, 25:29; Laureen Clarke, 28:01; Barb Utter, 29:34.
Female 60-69
Sally Endress, Laurens, 24:55; Gail Merian, Norwich, 36:01.
Female 70-79
June Vyse Gravener, Mt. Upton, 40:10.
Male under-12
Matthew Robinson, Oneonta, 21:45; Trace Thayer, Otego, 23:29; Luke Day, Greene, 24:20.
Male 13-15
David Bohunicky, Johnson City, 18:57; Andrew Bohunicky, Johnson City, 19:02; Levi Anderson, Oneonta, 19:31.
Male 16-19
Steven Spittler, Norwich, 17:28; Nicholas Reynolds, Binghamton, 17:58; Leon Nevins, Walton, 18:08.
Male 20-29
Liam Murray, Oneonta, 19:25; Kyle Breier, Oneonta, 19:45; Dave Backus, Hamilton, 20:23.
Male 30-39
Matt LoPiccolo, Oneonta, 17:18; Ray Revell, Wurtsboro, 17:42; Rich Wilson, Noriwch, 18:50.
Male 40-49
Eric Maki, Cortland, 18:27; Jeff Felice, Endicott, 18:33; John Barnett, Norwich, 19:45.
Male 50-59
Ron Hulsander, Cortland, 19:51; Harold Gardner, Norwich, 21:36; Gary Gundlach, Norwich, 21:46
Male 60-69
Robert Neuland, Norwich, 23:32; Michael Anderson, Truxton, 23:35; Harland Bigelow, Lisle, 23:43
Male 70-79
Kermit Cardette, Rome, 24:57; Jim Wheeling, Oneonta, 30:30; Dillon Maier, Oneonta, 30:51.
Male 80 and over
Jack Meeks, South New Berlin, 43:11.
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