Defending champions swept the Jerry Richey Mile (16-19) in the 7th annual Pittsylvania Mile Run/Walk on June 3 at Mt. Lebanon High.

Penn-Trafford junior Diana Filtz–silver medallist in the demanding WPIAL 1600/3200m double–ran 5:15.8 to knock 12 seconds off last year’s 5:27.9.

W&J College freshman Bobby Regan–silver medallist in the Presidents Athletic Conference 1500m–ran 4:37.5 to better last year’s 4:40.4.

Both runners competed in 2004. Diana won the 14-15 race in a record 4:28.8, and Bobby–then at Pine-Richland High–took third in the 16-19 race in 4:41.

Cal Bailey, 3, of Mt. Lebanon and Rylie Grantonic, 4, of Youngstown, OH broke new ground for the meet by competing in the 5-and-under age group.

Participants broke seven of the existing 41 records and established four. Men broke three marks and set three. Women broke four and set one.

FINISH LINE

Runners ranged in age from three-year-old Cal Bailey of Mt. Lebanon and four-year-old Rylie Grantonic of Youngstown, OH to West Penn’s Roger Brockenbrough (71) and Marti Stephan (63).

Three athletes won their third straight: West Penn’s Diana Filtz (14-15/16-19), West Penn’s George Kelly (8-9/10-11) and Providence College’s Ann Nemeth (16-19/20-24 walk). And three more athletes won their second straight: West Penn’s Roger Brockenbrough (70-74), Oakland Catholic High’s Mary Nemeth (14-15/16-19 walk) and W&J College’s Bobby Regan (16-19).

Dick Firsching–1945 PIAA 220y gold medallist for Mt. Lebanon High–and West Penn president Jim McCarthy served as custodians of awards.

Runners from six high schools ran in either the 14-15 or 16-19 races: Ft. Cherry, Mt. Lebanon, Oakland Catholic, Penn Hills, Penn-Trafford and Pine-Richland.

Four parent/child combinations ran: Steve Garand and Kristina, Tom and Karen Grantonic and Jordan and Rylie, Bob Harwick and Mike, and Ed May and Daniel and James.

Five sets of siblings ran: Jordan and Rylie Grantonic, Brighid and George Kelly, Lily and Wilson Kondrich, Daniel and James May, and Ann and Mary Nemeth.

Tom and Karen Grantonic–along with youngsters Jordan and Rylie–ranked as the family with the most participants.

Bob Harwick–along with youngsters MC, Mark, and Sarah–ranked as the family with the most volunteers.

Ken and Lyn Krynski hosted the club’s annual Picnic-in-the-Park during the meet.

Long-time USATF national official Mark Schwartz served as the meet referee for the seventh straight year.

Jerry Richey served as the meet’s honorary chair and made the award presentations. Jerry’s brilliant schoolboy career at North Allegheny High saw him win six PIAA titles in XC and track. Hit Pitt career saw him win the 1970 NCAA indoor 2M title and then anchor the Panthers to the 1971 DMR title.

Athletes from the host West Penn team won eight of the 15 men’s races and four of the 12 women’s races.

Men’s Mile Run

5 and Under: Cal Bailey of Mt. Lebanon ran 10:40.5 to establish a record.

8-9: Seamus Love of St. Bede ran 6:32.7 to break the 6:46.9 record set by George Kelly of West Penn in 2004.

12-13: Chris Short of Marshall Middle ran 5:24.3 to break the 5:27 record set by Dallas Frey of West Penn in 2002.

14-15: Andy Lucarini of West Penn ran 4:56.9 to break the 4:58 record set by Tim Phillips of Baldwin High in 2003.

Men’s Mile Racewalk

50-54: Russ Jones of Mt. Lebanon walked 12:04.5 to establish a record.

65-69: Pat Ciciarelli of West Penn walked 12:25.6 to establish a record.

Women’s Mile Run

5 and Under: Rylie Grantonic of Youngstown, OH ran 15:40.3 to establish a record.

10-11: Maria Fabi of Foster Elementary ran 6:21.8 to break the 6:32.6 record set by Emily Eby of Bellevue in 2001.

45-49: Mariann Tullius of Wexford ran 6:19.6 to break the 6:35.9 record set by Karen Mizikar of West Penn in 2005.

60-64: Marti Stephan of West Penn ran 7:43.5 to break the 8:26.9 record set by Joyce Geroux of West Penn in 2004.

Women’s Mile Racewalk

20-24: Annie Nemeth of Providence College walked 7:53.8 to break the 7:57.2 record she set in 2005.

Possibly Related Posts:

• West Penn Runners Make Up Half of Pittsylvania Mile Field; Race’s First Married Couple Celebrate Sweep
• Increased Participation Leads to More Record-Setting Performances at Pittsylvania Mile Run
• Sobal Decimates 50-54 Record at Pittsylvania Mile
• WPTC Member Wins 2007 Run Around the Square
• West Penn Dominates at Pittsylvania XC Challenge
• West Penn Breaks Six Records, Establishes Two at Pittsylvania Mile Run; Rogus, Nemeth Win Event
• Influx of Runners Raises Competitive Level of Pittsylvania XC Challenge
• Ricky Moore Leads Assault on Record Books at Pittsylvania XC Challenge
• History Repeats at Pittsylvania XC Challenge
• West Penn Cleans Up at Pittsylvania 5K
• Youth and Experience Face Off at Pittsylvania XC Challenge
• Increased Participation and Broken Records Story of Pittsylvania Mile Run
• WPTC Member First Masters Finisher at Great Race
• Tom Abott Profiled as Perfect Great Racer
• WPTC Member Wins Age Group at Parkersburg Half Marathon
• PA Sports Hall of Fame Induction
• 2006 Club Athletes-of-the-Year
• 2006 Club Volunteers Recognized
• Fast Times, a Tie, and West Penn Dominance Delivered at HealthAmerica XC
• 2005 Top Athletes and Volunteers
• 2005 U.S. Outdoor Track and Field Masters
• Host West Penn Track Club Dominates at Pittsylvania XC Challenge
• Club Members Capture "Gold" at 2005 Senior Summer Games
• Flagstaff Hill
• 2005 Boston Marathon
• 2004 Top Athletes and Volunteers
• 2003 Top 10 Athletes
• Barry Harwick in Post Gazette's "Where are They Now" Series
• 2002 Top 10 Athletes
• XC Challenge Results
• Results Tracking Service
• Mary Harwick Profiled in IUP Magazine

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