Three college men and one high school girl provided the pre-Fourth of July fireworks in the Jerry Richey Mile races in the Pittsylvania Mile Run on June 28 at Carnegie Mellon University.

Jerry Richey, honorary chair for the fourth annual meet, won six PIAA titles in XC and track from 1965-67 at North Allegheny High. He won the 1970 NCAA indoor 2M title during his Pitt career.

Slippery Rock’s Jake Moore, Pitt’s Steve Gonzalez, and Duquesne’s Brent Rogus staged a thrilling battle in the men’s 16-19 race with several lead changes on a sunny morning on the 8-lane Surpan track.

Jake–second in the race in 2001 as a Penn-Trafford High senior–edged Steve, 4:36.9 to 4:40.1. But the Rock sophomore missed the 4:36.7 record set last year by Steve by the narrowest of margins.

Marissa–third in the WPIAL 3200–won the women’s 16-19 race in a convincing 5:14.7 to knock 11.5 seconds off the 5:26.2 record set by Washington High’s Anna Beck in 2001. Anna took third that year in the PIAA 800.

Runners from the host West Penn Track Club dominated the meet by winning 17 of the 27 races. Three West Penners repeated: Elmer Gasper (70-74), Joyce Geroux (55-59), and Larry Van Dyke (40-44).

Participation climbed from 58 last year to 63. And the slim increase helped account for the men breaking four records and the women breaking three and establishing four (including one for the racewalk):

MEN

14-15: Tim Phillips of Baldwin High ran 4:58 to break the 4:58.3 record set by John Nemeth of Wings of Moon in 2002.

35-39: Jim Beck of West Penn ran 5:39.5 to break the 5:40 record by Dan Sheehan of Pittsburgh in 2000.

40-44: Larry Van Dyke of West Penn ran 4:44 to break the 4:48 record set by teammate Carl Hubel in 2000.

70-74: Elmer Gasper of West Penn ran 8:50.6 to break his own record that was established in 2002.

WOMEN

14-15: Rachel Umbel of Indiana High ran 5:56.7 to break the 6:45.3 record set by Bridget Sedlock of Bethel Park High in 2001.

16-19: Marissa Umbel of Indiana High ran 5:14.7 to break the 5:36.2 record set by Anna Beck of Washington High in 2001.

20-24: Deborah Glosser of West Penn ran 6:21 to establish a record.

30-34: Carmella Salem of West Penn ran 6:30.2 to establish a record.

35-39: Lisa Falenski of West Penn ran 7:04.2 to establish a record.

40-44: Nicole Constable of West Penn ran 7:04.1 to break the 9:09 record set by teammate Silvia Paesano in 2001.

Racewalk

45-49: BJ Kosmach of the South Park Runners walked 11:36.5 to establish a record.

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