WDF 5K Run & Walk: Molly Huddle is Still Number One!

"It takes a real man to work a women's race."
--Alan Lockett, one of many real men who worked this one!

It was another one of those "Good Golly, Miss Molly!" moments that happen pretty regularly around here these days.

Molly Huddle of Elmira won the Women's Distance Festival 5K, sponsored by the Finger Lakes Runners Club and held July 19 at Dryden Lake Town Park , in 17:43 -- a new course record by almost three minutes.

The 16-year-old senior-to-be at (Elmira) Notre Dame High School is ranked No. 1 in New York state among scholastic girls in the 1,500- and 3,000-meter distances.

Huddle also achieved All-American honors at the adidas National Scholastic Track and Field Championships, held in June in North Carolina, when she finished third in both the mile (4:50.98) and 2-mile (10:21.69) -- career bests.

Charity Learn, 18, of Troy, Pa., placed second in 19:39, and Yvette de Boer of Ithaca was third in 19:50.

Learn, a track and cross country standout at Mansfield High School, also placed second in the 3,200-meter race at the Pennyslvania State High School Championships, and third among females ages 15-19 at the Utica Boilermaker 15K (61:21).

De Boer used the WDF 5K to tune-up for the Lake Placid Ironman Triathlon, held July 29, where she completed the 2.4-mile swim, 112-mile bike and marathon run in 11 hours, 24 minutes.

Suzanne Myette of Endicott was first among masters women, with a time of 19:58. Myette is a former nationally-ranked masters triathlete and duathlete, and finished among the top masters women in the Philadelphia Marathon last November, with a time of 3:05.

The top four women were all under the existing course record of 20:10.

The challenging, but visually pretty course, which loops around Dryden Lake, includes one mile on a converted railroad bed, then rolling hills, until a fast downhill stretch to the finish.

The field of 76 female runners ranged in age from 7-year-old Sarah Danner to 67-year-old Joan de Boer, with all age groups well represented. There were four sister/sister teams -- the Locketts, Learns, Brennans and Koplinka-Loehrs; and four mother/daughter duos -- the Danners, Wencks, Marnells and de Boers.

We were also honored to have two notable, nationally-ranked senior runners in our race -- Margret Betz of Conklin, N.Y., and Lennie Tucker of Baldwinsville, N.Y. Betz finished first among seniors -- and 11th overall -- in 22:18, and Tucker placed second among F60 -- and 22nd overall -- in 24:35.

The 64-year-old Betz, of the Triple Cities Runners Club, currently holds eight single-age national records in distances of 5K, 8K and 15K, and one F60-64 U.S. age group record in the 15K (1:04:42). A multi-winner of the Utica Boilermaker senior division, Betz is a former USA Track & Field, and Running Times magazine, runner-of-the-year in her respective age group.

Tucker, of the Syracuse Chargers, is the reigning national masters 5K champion for women ages 60-64, and the recipient of the 2000 RRCA Kurt Steiner Award for her work with children's developmental running. A retired kindergarten teacher, Tucker is a pioneer in ultra running, and a long time advocate for youth and women's running in Central New York.

Thanks to our associate sponsors Moving Comfort, Ryka Shoes, Runner's World, Avon and the Road Runners Club of America, all entrants received goodie bags with product samples. The overall winner received a Moving Comfort outfit and Ryka shoes; the second- and third-place finishers, plus the masters, veteran and senior champions received Ryka shoes.

As an established tradition for this race, the top three winners and the masters champion, also received potted hanging plants. All age group winners (top four), the youngest, the mid-packer and back-of-the-packer received a small potted plant of their choice. The overall mother/daughter (Joan and Yvette de Boer) and sister/sister (Charity and Tricia Learn) teams received quarts of homegrown cherries.

Post-race refreshments included homemade cookies, watermelon, pretzels, soda and ice water with lemon wedges, all served on linen table clothes and surrounded by lighted candles.

As part of our commitment to supporting local community efforts, we asked that each runner bring a non-perishable food item to donate to the local food pantry. Four large boxes of food, and some monetary contributions, were delivered post-race to the Ithaca Kitchen Cupboard. This organization, which serves as an emergency and supplementary food pantry for people in the City and Town of Ithaca, is an ongoing project of Area Congregations Together (ACT).

"Your donations to the Ithaca Kitchen Cupboard helps us to help others," said Joan Barber, the Kitchen Cupboard treasurer. "Your donations of food, money and time are much appreciated by all of us at the Cupboard. Most especially, your efforts are appreciated by hungry people in Ithaca."

Our WDF 5K was not just for the elite and nationally ranked. We had "Big Girls" running with "Little Girls;" we had adults and children trying their first 5K; we had families joined as teams; we had neighbors and friends bringing someone new; parents cheerng from the sidelines; and female unity for all ages.

One little girl we didn't know ran up to co-race director Lorrie Marnell after the 5K, hugged her around the waist and said, "Thank you so much for putting on this race!" That makes it all worthwhile. Our Grown-up Gals loved the race, too.

"I was pretty happy with my time, and felt great the whole way through," said Tessa Bauer DuMont, a local trail runner. "I want to let you know I had a great time. It was my first women's race, and I am very glad that I did it. I felt I had a bonding experience with all my fellow female runners. I also enjoyed all the little extras like the lemons in the water -- that was a very nice touch. I also liked the potted flower awards. Thanks so much for putting this race on."

We also had real men -- and some wonderful women, too -- volunteering to make certain the race was a success. Many thanks to Jim Miner, "sag wagon" & registration; John McMurry, registration & finish line; Alan Lockett, Tom Nix and Don Tily, jacks of all trades; Joe Reynolds, splits and set up; Joe Dabes, finish line; Jim LeBlanc, computer; Nate Lockett and Jeffrey Juran, aid station; Gillian Sharp and T.J. Berry, set-up, clean-up, culinary experts; Sara Juran, food; Donna Lockett, photographer; Gene LaBare and Helmut Betz, working husbands; Jesse Ingall, finish line; Scottish Blue Harriers Stephen Snyder & Emily, course marshals; Bill and Fran Taylor of the Wineglass Running Club, finish line; and Mike Brennan, our Lance Armstrong cyclist leader of the pack.

Next year, we'll provide more food variety; fill up the goodie bags a bit; and add age group awards for 10-under, 11-14 and 70-over, and more team recognition.

Thanks everyone!

-- Diane Sherrer and Lorrie Marnell

Award Winners
Overall: Molly Huddle, 16, Elmira, 17:43 (course record).
2nd: Charity Learn, 18, Troy, Pa., 19:39
3rd: Yvette de Boer, Ithaca, 19:50

First masters: Suzanne Myette, Endicott, 19:58

Age Group Awards
14-under
1. Tricia Learn, 20:19
2. Amanda Lockett, 21:46
3. Daniell Koplinka-Loehr, 22:52
4. Irone Koplinka-Loehr, 23:10

15-19:
1. Anne Milazzo, 22:50
2. Jelene Gardner, 24:49
3. Caitlin Hardie, 24:49
4. Katie Brennan, 25:24

20-29:
1. Amy Rhodes, 21:40
2. Katie Danner, 22:33
3. Cathy Garcia, 28:26
4. Emily Silver, 29:01

30-39:
1. Melissa Schug, 21:47
2. Mia Slotnick, 23:37
3. Aimee Roberts, 24:14
4. D. Chorba, 25:15.

40-49:
1. Audrey Balander, 21:21
2. Nicolette Dryden, 21:31
3. Sandy Fitterer, 23:12
4. Karla Eisch, 23:35.

50-59:
1. Donna Russell, 24:51
2. Debbie Grassi, 25:44
3. Mary Wenck, 25:48
4. Nancy LaBare, 26:28

60-up:
1. Margret Betz, 22:18
2. Lennie Tucker, 24:35
3. Linda Eberly, 28:11
4. Joan de Boer, 29:07

Special Awards:
Youngest: Sarah Danner, age 7.
Oldest: Joan de Boer, age 67.
Walker: Susan Hatch
Mid-Pack: Amanda Shenstone 

Performances meeting age group national ranking times determined by USA Track & Field   :
1. Molly Huddle
2. Margret Betz
3. Lennie Tucker
Really close: Charity Learn, missed by 14 seconds; and Tricia Learn, missed by 4 seconds.

Mother/daughter
(Scoring determined by the lowest sum of finishing positions)
1. Yvette and Joan de Boer (52)
2. Sarah and Katie Danner (84)
3. Mary and Pam Wenck (85)
4. Lorrie and Shealena Marnell.(113)

Sister/sister
1. Charity and Tricia Learn (7)
2. Emily and Amanda Lockett (28)
3. Irene and Danielle Koplinka-Loehr (29)
4.. Katie and Kristen Brennan (57)