Pennsylvania State Snowshoe Championships 10KM USSSA Qualifier

A beautiful but chilly day greeted the field ready to challenge for the 2008 Pennsylvania State Snowshoe Championships (see picture of start). The race was held at the Nescopeck State Park in Dennison Township.

New winner, Greg Luna, 42, Houserville (see picture) improved over his 2nd place 2007 finish by more than ten minutes to take the 10km gold championship for this year. Ed Myers, Obelisk, took silver with a similar step up in his finish time after a fourth place 2007 result. Bronze medalist, Cameron Patch, Alexandria, finished with a 54:46. John Elliott, Columbia, won ‘most senior finisher,’ at age 69, giving credence everywhere to older racers to come out and race snowshoes, the world’s most healthy activity. Or so it seems.

Lisa Frischkneht, Fairfax, youngest racer in the field at 22, won the women’s gold and was the last finisher completing the course under one hour. Wendy Mastripolito, Glenmora, took silver with Rachael Novak completing the women’s medals.

The 5km overall gold was won by Tim Tyson, 47, with his 23:36 finish. Tom Ducatte, 54, won overall silver. Nadine Temperine, 27, finishing 6th in 2007, improved to 3rd overall and 1st female in this 2008 version. In the best race of the day, Nadine edged 4th place finisher, Kent Jackson, ceding 20 years in age, by one second.

Second female finisher was Jen Stec Gagliardi, improving over her 3rd woman result in 2007. Finishing fifth overall was a big step up from last year’s tenth overall. For that fifth slot she got to the finish only four seconds ahead of Tyler Standage of Chevy Chase, Maryland.

Photos were taken by Eric Conover of the Standard-Speaker, the Hazleton, Pa. newspaper. An incredible shot of Atlas Snowshoes (see photo) should be used by Atlas in ad campaigns for their mellow yellow racer model.

The friendliness of this race is best demonstrated by the ‘try on’ (picture) of snowshoes in the Park lodge.

FOR MORE INFORMATION:
United States Snowshoe Association – http://www.snowshoeracing.com
Phillip Gary Smith – http://www.ultrasuperior.com

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