Sunday, July 13, 2014

Omurwa wins Wendy’s Half Marathon

August 31. 2013 11:36PM
JAY MONAHAN For The Times Leader

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WILKES-BARRE — Like with most adults, life has gotten in the way of running for Bornfase Omurwa. Once a fixture at the top of the podium at local races, Omurwa has had his hands full this summer, committing less time to running than past years.

Between a marriage, a 14-month son and his business studies at King’s College, Omurwa still seems to squeak in a local race or two. And when he manages to lace ‘em up, like he did at Saturday’s Wendy’s Wonderful Kids Half Marathon, there aren’t many runners who can catch up to the Dusi, Kenya, native.

“I’m always ready for the marathons and the half marathons,” he said. “I feel more comfortable at these races. It felt good to be out there ahead.”

Omurwa, a resident of Kingston, finished the 13.1-mile South Wilkes-Barre course in 1:20:33 to win the Wendy’s Wonderful Kids Half Marathon. Michael McAndrew, of Avoca, finished in second in 1:24:48. Scranton’s Mark Burton trailed with a time of 1:26:15.

“After the 10K runners merged off, I was by myself for a while,” Omurwa said. “The guy on the bicycle was riding with me. He kept me company for a while. I needed the mental toughness to get myself all the way through.”

With next month’s Steamtown Marathon and the King’s cross country season on the horizon, Omurwa used the half marathon as a precursor to a busy fall.

“I haven’t been running for a while this season,” he said. “I just wanted to run at a comfortable, easy pace to see how I’d do. I need to some training for the Steamtown Marathon.”

West Pittston’s Deedra Porfirio won the women’s half marathon at a time of 1:29:17. She finished ahead of Kingston’s Jenn Swiderski and Jim Thorpe’s Jaclyn Shokey — who both finished within eight-hundreths of each other at 1:32:4.

Shavertown resident Sean Robbins continued his success stemming from his third straight victory at the Wilkes-Barre Triathlon, claming the Wendy’s Wonderful Kids 10K in 35:07 — at 3:50 per kilometer. It was no easy victory for Robbins, who had to leg out Honesdale’s Jason Kennedy by 34 seconds.

Shavertown swept the 10K with a win by Marina Orrson in the women’s race. Orrson’s 37:26 time was 2:30 faster than the third quickest male finisher. Shavertown’s Kelly Ciravolo took second in 42:23.

Orrson said she was impressed by her performance after running in the Wendy’s Wonderful Kids 1 Mile Race on Friday.

“It feels good. I ran the mile last night,” she said. “I wasn’t even sure how I’d feel today.”


Wendy’s Wonderful Kids Half Marathon

Overall: 1. Bornfase Omurwa, Kingston, 1:20:33; 2. Michael McAndrew, Avoca, 1:24:48; 3. Mark Burton, Scranton, 1:26:15; Overall Women: 1. Deedra Porfirio, West Pittston, 1:29:17; 2. Jenn Swiderski, Kingston, 1:32:41; 3. Jaclyn Shokey, Jim Thorpe, 1:32:49; Male 1-19: 1. Corey Dubil, Wilkes-Barre, 1:44:13; Female 1-19: 1. Maria Gentile, Jefferson Twp:, 2:00:28; 2. Kelsey Hart, Edison, N.J., 2:15:3; 3. Lauren Luginsland, Bridgewater, N.J., 2:15:37; Male 20-29: 1. Marc Honrath, Kingston, 1:29:37; 2. Aaron Griggs, Montrose, 1:33:21; 3. Brian Gibbons, Dallas, 1:45:55; Female 20-29: 1. Julie Musto, Pittston, 1:50:5; 2. Jacki Lukas, Kingston, 2:02:31; 3. Brittany Barbacci, Noxen, 2:05:34; Male 30-39: 1. Christian Tapia, 1:31:17; 2. Mike Adamshick, Dallas, 1:32:05; 3. Brian Hilburth, 1:32:26; Female 30-39: 1. Erin Griffin, Kingston, 1:33:23; 2. Patricia Buzinkai, 1:38:21; 3. Angela Stanski, Easton, 1:43:02; Male 40-49: 1. Gerard Pescatore, Glenside, 1:26:4; 2. Chuck Thompson, Chalfont, 1:28:37; 3. Stephen Housenick, Kingston, 1:32:12; Female 40-49: 1. Lisa Steffes, Hazleton,: 1:36:06; 2. Stefen Yelen, Kingston, 1:44:48; 3. Rose Yanko, Wilkes-Barre, 1:47:1; Male 50-59: 1. Chris Krall, Kingston Twp:, 1:37:56; 2. James Hrubesh, Blakeslee, 1:42; 3. John Sobota, Forty Fort, 1:45:39; Female 50-59: 1. Maryann Gagliardi, Hanover Twp:, 2:00:25; 2. Colleen Morda, Forty Fort, 2:02:08; 3. Jennifer Hopkins, Drums, 2:10:05


Overall Men: 1. Sean Robbins, Shavertown, 35:07; 2. Jason Kennedy, Honesdale, 35:44; 3. Earl Marshall, Honesdale, 40:05; Overall Women: 1. Marina Orsson, Shavertown, 37:26; 2. Kelly Ciravolo, Shavertown, 42:23; 3. Megan Kretz, Brooklyn, N.Y., 45:15; Female 1-19: 1. Anah Bozentka, Kingston, 55:21; 2. Joy Zinn, S. Windsor, Conn., 1:02:12; Male 20-29: 1. Matthew Bisson, Ottawa, Ontario, 48;56; 2. Francis Shovlin, Philadelphia, 50:03; 3. Al Martino, Kingston, 53:04; Female 20-29: 1. Rachel Frey, Milton, 48:49; 2. Elizabeth Wyckoff, State College, 53:18; 3. Kari Lavin, Dunmore, 53:37; Male 30-39: 1. Daniel Moore, Drums, 46:43; 2. Craig Eley, State College, 47:17; 3. David Balchum, Wilkes-Barre, 47:29; Female 30-39: 1. Jennifer Moore, Drums, 46:37; 2. Michelle Mariotti, Old Forge, 46:55; 3. Jamie Barker, Mt. Top, 50:30; Male 40-49: 1. Rob Baran, Plains, 41:59; 2. Randy Lyback, 42:34; 3. Cynthia Rachilla, Mountain Top, 59:46; Male 50-59: 1. Michael Kinney, Wilkes-Barre, 41:24; 2. Ed Lipski, Clarks Green, 42:41; 3. Donald Lavan, Dunmore, 45:13; Female 50-59: 1. Libby Moran, Harveys Lake, 1:01.23; 2. Peggy Manley, Mountain Top, 1:02:34; 3. Jane Colwell, West Pittston, 1:06.25; Male 60-Over: 1. Ron Rawls, Mountain Top, 50:01; 2. Francis Mirabelle, Bel Air, Md., 50:27; 3. Patrick McMahon, Dallas, 54:12; Female 60-Over: 1. Connie Wolf, Clarks Summit, 1:20:04; 2. Nancy Ryan, 1:02.03


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