FINISH LINE

Brian Buechel, of River City Elite, and West Penn’s Jake Moore staged the meet’s closest race in the Jerry Richey Mile with Brian winning by 2.7 seconds.

Chad Buechel–Brian’s brother and River City Elite teammate–posted the meet’s fastest time with his 4:32.5 in the 20-24 race. Chad won the 1998 Pennsylvania High School 1600-meter Championship for Central Catholic High.

Coaches swept the top three places in the 45-49 race. Barry Harwick, of Dartmouth College, Lee Zelkowitz, of Penn Hills High, and Dave Sobal, of Point Park College, went 1-2-3.

Bob Harwick and three of his children–Mark, Mary, and Mike–ranked as the family with the most runners.

Runners ranged in age from West Penn’s 8-year-old James Bucey to West Penn’s 69-year-old Elmer Gasper, and came from five states: Florida, Indiana, Kentucky, New Hampshire, and Pennsylvania.

Eleven of the 19 records set in 2000 fell. Eight of the 15 men’s marks fell, and three of the four women’s marks fell.

Dick Firsching–who worked with Jerry Richey on the awards presentation–won the PIAA 220-yard Championship in 1945 for Mt. Lebanon High.

Frank Rodenbaugh, President of the USATF Three Rivers, started the races.

Don Slusser, an NAIA All-American marathoner in 1972-1973 for Indiana University of PA, ran the 45-49 race.

Chris Walliser, one of the top distance runners in the Butler County Special Olympics, ran the 30-34 race.

Twenty-seven runners from the host West Penn Track Club crossed the finish line: 20 men, but only seven women.

JERRY RICHEY (RIGHT) PRESENTS PLAQUES TO WINNERS IN THE 16-19 JERRY RICHEY MILE (FROM LEFT): JAKE MOORE, SECOND; BRIAN BUECHEL, FIRST; AND ETHAN MCKENNEY, THIRD. JOHN MALICKY PHOTO

MEMBERS OF THE PITTSYLVANIA MILE RUN COMMITTEE PRIOR TO THE START OF THE RACES (STANDING, FROM LEFT): RACE DIRECTOR JOHN HARWICK, CHAIR JOE SILVERIO, HONORARY
CHAIR JERRY RICHEY, AND REFEREE MARK SCHWARTZ. KNEELING, FROM LEFT: COMMITTEE MEMBERS DARIO DONATELLI, MEN’S TRACK/XC COACH AT CARNEGIE MELLON UNIVERSITY; BARRY HARWICK, MEN’S TRACK/XC COACH AT DARTMOUTH COLLEGE; AND DAVE SOBAL, XC COACH AT POINT PARK COLLEGE. BETH HARWICK PHOTO

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Possibly Related Posts:

• WPTC Member Wins 2007 Run Around the Square
• Youngsters Break into Record Book at Pittsylvania Run
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• 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
• Increased Participation Leads to More Record-Setting Performances at Pittsylvania Mile Run
• Ricky Moore Leads Assault on Record Books at Pittsylvania XC Challenge
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• WPTC Member First Masters Finisher at Great Race
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• 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
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• Flagstaff Hill
• 2005 Boston Marathon
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This entry was posted on Sunday, July 8th, 2001 at 10:33 am and is filed under Results, Achievements, Members. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.