WILKES-Barre — In a race featuring one of the best competitive fields of the season, Robert Moulton came out on top Sunday at the Benjamin August Memorial 3 Mile Run.
Moulton’s goal, going into the flat and fast race that started and finished near the Jewish Community Center, was to break 15 minutes.
He did it, finishing in 14 minutes and 53 seconds. Moulton, 23, of Mountain Top, outran second-place finisher, Jeff Skwierz, 33, of Forty Fort — who also broke 15 — by five seconds. Chris Wadas, also 33, of Courtdale, finished third, four seconds behind Skwierz.
“I went out hard right from the start,” said Moulton, who is the head track and cross country coach at Crestwood High School. “(Breaking 15 minutes in a 3-miler) has been my goal for quite some time now,” said Moulton, who set three course records in area October 5K races (Ryan’s Run, Back Mountain Catholic Youth, King’s College Palermo Run). “I knew there was good competition here today. So I knew I would have somebody pushing me. I led the entire way. I could hear runners behind me. But I wasn’t sure just how far behind me they were.
“But I didn’t look back to see. I figured, if I saw that I had a comfortable lead, I might be tempted to slow down a bit. And I didn’t want to do that.”
Skwierz won the Susquehanna River Runners Club’s Valley’s Fastest Man series earlier this season, which featured three 1-mile runs (on the track at Misericordia University, Giants Despair, Murphy’s Pub in Swoyersville). Skwierz also won the other JCC sponsored race, River Street 3 Mile Run, in May. He won the Old Fort 5 Miler on Memorial Day. And he won the Susquehanna River Runners Club’s 2 miler in June.
Wadas, who is the head track and cross country coach at Misericordia, was running in just his first race since August.
Kelly Ciravolo, 36, of Shavertown, won top female honors, finishing sixth-overall in 18:22. She outran second-place finisher, Emily Bell, 33, of Bear Creek Township, by 1:52. Kerry Zawadski, 40, of Luzerne, finished third in 21:54.
“It was horrible out there today,” said Ciravolo. “I was running alone. The front running guys were too far ahead for me to be able to pace myself with them. I’m not in good shape yet. So I just wanted to see just where I’m at, so I can figure out just what training I need to do in order to get in great shape for next season.”
Like Wadas, Ciravolo has been away from running recently. The only other race she’s competed in since August was the Wilkes-Barre Triathon Sprint, which she won.
Jewish Community Center of Wyoming Valley’s
Benjamin August Memorial 3 Mile Run results
Top 10 finishers
1. Robert Moulton, 23, Mountain Top, 14:53
2. Jeff Skwierz, 33, Forty Fort, 14:58
3. Chris Wadas, 33, Courtdale, 15:02
4. Alex Saba, 24, Mountain Top, 16:49
5. Clayton Kemsal, 16, White Haven, 17:04
6. Kelly Ciravolo, 36, Shavertown, 18:22
7. George Bassham, 56, Mountain Top, 19:44
8. Tony Pszeniczny, 54, Mountain Top, 19:54
9. Emily Bell, 33, Bear Creek Twp., 20:14
10. John Zawadski, 43, Luzerne, 20:43
Male award winners: Overall: Moulton. Age group winners: 14 & under: 1. T.J. Bernhardt, Glen Lyon, 23:50. 15-19: 1. Clayton Kemsal, White Haven, 17:04. 20-29: 1. Alex Saba, 16:49; 2. Kevin Curry, Pittston, 21:23. 30-34: 1. Jeff Skwierz, Forty Fort, 14:58; 2. Chris Wadas, Courtdale, 15:02. 35-39: 1. Joe Dowd, Duryea, 24:03. Masters division: 40-44: 1. John Zawadski, Luzerne, 20:43; 2. David Hines, Kingston, 30:02. 45-49: 1. Don Shearer, W. Pittston, 21:06. 50-59: 1. Greg Bassham, Mountain Top, 19:44; 2. Tony Pszeniczny, Mountain Top, 19:59. 60-69: 1. Ron Rawls, Mountain Top, 22:05; 2. Dave Jiunta, Wyoming, 22:12. 70 & over: 1. George Cosmetis, Dalton, 23:38.
Top 3 female finishers
1. Kelly Ciravolo, 36, Shavertown, 18:22
2. Emily Bell, 33, Bear Creek Twp., 20:14
3. Erin Griffin, Kingston, 20:52
Female award winners: Overall: Ciravolo. Age group winners: 14 & under: 1. Clare Griffin, Kingston, 28:16. 15-19: None. 20-29: 1. Jaclyn Rawlings, Swoyersville, 22:43. 30-34: 1. Emily Bell, Bear Creek Twp., 20:14; 2. Becky Yerka, Dunmore, 34:03. 35-39: Erin Griffin, Kingston, 20:52; 2. Jackie Brassington, Nanticoke, 22:39. Masters division: 40-44: 1. Kerry Zawadski, Luzerne, 21:54; 2. Maureen Jones, Shavertown, 30:28. 45-49: 1. None. 50-59: 1. Barb Rupert, Shickshinny, 29:00; 2. Dee Carey, Trucksville, 29:12. 60-69: 1. Bev Tomasak, Edwardsville, 23:55. 70 & over: None.
First walker to finish: Jeff Knutson, 62, Saylorsburg.
Field: 50. Official starter and finisher: Vince P. Wojnar. Timing: Vince A. Wojnar. Results: Insta Results. Race director: Bill Buzza.
Schedule
Sunday: Wyoming Valley Striders 20K Run at Lehigh Gorge State Park, White Haven, at 9 a.m. Info: Linda Wojnar, 570-262-0603.
Thursday, Nov. 26 (Thanksgiving): Berwick Marathon Association’s (9 mile) Run for the Diamonds at Market and Second streets, Berwick, at 10:30 a.m. Info: Margaret Livsey, 570-759-1300.
