Newcomer wins Freedom Run 10K; locals top two-mile field

A pair of race newcomers made their way to the front of the 10-kilometer field Saturday at the 30th annual Little Falls Family YMCA/Little Falls Lumber Co. Freedom Run.

An annual Canal Celebration event, the 2010 Freedom Run drew 147 participants, including two-mile walkers and Sheriff Chris Farber’s Youth Fun Run entries. Forty-five runners competed in the two-mile race while 46 finishers were listed in the 10-kilometer division.

Michael Hamilton, a former SUNY-Oneonta wrestler originally from Yaphank on Long Island, set the 10-kilometer pace at 36:01 and was more than a minute and a half faster than runner-up Stephen Rathbun, a 2010 graduate of Cicero-North Syracuse High School. Hamilton broke away from three-time champion Ty Remington when the pair headed out of the city on Route 167 and Remington wound up placing third, one spot ahead of 2009 winner David Putney of Newport.

Michael Abdallah of Mohawk was the fifth-place finisher, followed by Justin DeAmicis and St. Johnsville’s John Geesler.

Heather Devitt of Herkimer ran 10th overall and won the women’s division of the 10-kilometer race for the first time with a time of 45:12. Michele Nizzi, the women’s winner two years running, opted instead to defend her win Herkimer’s D.A.R.E. five-kilometer run Saturday and did not enter the Freedom Run. Dolgeville’s Michelle Comstock took second in the women’s field with her time of 46:44.

The two-mile titles went to Little Falls High School runners Jeremiah Casler and Mary Kathryn Connolly. Casler completed the course in 12:17 with Jim Tretola second in 12:53. Connolly placed ninth overall in 15:15 with her nearest female challenge coming from Betty Brown at 16:30.

Casler and Connolly were both first-time winners and gave the high school a two-mile sweep for the second year in a row. John Bladek and JoAnna Douglas were the 2009 winners.

TWO-MILE RUN

1, Jeremiah Casler, 12:17 (first male 14-16)
2, Jim Tretola, 12:53 (first male 50-59)
3, Daniel Jaquays, 13:41
4, Colin Newell, 14:08 (first male 17-29)
5, Michael Izzo, 14:20

6, Tristen Carrig, 14:48 (first male 11-13)
7, Lucas Godlewski, 14:49
8, Jason Sagatis, 15:04 (first male 30-39)
9, Mary Kathryn Connolly, 15:15 (first female 14-16)
10, Mark Rose, 15:18 (first male 40-49)

11, Ryan Finkst, 15:19
12, Sam Casler, 15:20
13, Luke George, 15:21
14, Chris Toher, 15:31
15, Devyn Roorda, 15:55

16, Brian Dodge, 16:17
17, Betty Brown, 16:30 (first female 40-49)
18, Jace LaPuma, 16:33
19, Melinda Regan, 17:10 (first female 30-39)
20, Carrie Parese, 17:29

21, Robert Parese, 17:30
22, James Yaworski, 17:31 (first male 60-69)
23, Jason Finkst, 17:45 (first male 10 and under)
24, Gary Finkst, 18:09
25, Debra Hansen, 18:15 (first female 17-29)

26, Jessica Sklarz, 18:49
27, Domiano Altieri, 18:55
28, Dan Casler, 19:03
29, Rachel Daly, 19:04 (first female 11-13)
30, Rebecca Daly, 19:09

31, Mitchell Ross, 19:22
32, John Newell Jr, 19:33
33, Tom Bertges, 19:46
34, Patti Bertges, 19:58
35, Christine McDonough, 20:11

36, Sam Roorda, 20:56
37, Jennifer Feagies, 21:09
38, John Bodin, 21:13
39, James Ehlinger, 21:39
40, Anthony Altieri, 21:48

41, Kathy Altieri, 21:49
42, Jeanette Reinhardt, 23:17
43, Stefanie Roorda, 24:12
44, Lorraine Heath, 25:11
45, Lawrence Fazio, 26:27

10-KILOMETER RUN

1, Michael Hamilton, 36:01 (first male 18-29)
2, Stephen Rathbun, 37:47 (first male 17 and under)
3, Ty Remington, 38:21 (first male 30-39)
4, David Putney, 38:41 (first male 40-49)
5, Michael Abdallah, 39:45

6, Justin DeAmicis, 41:06
7, John Geesler, 42:22 (first male 50-59)
8, Jeff Brown, 42:50
9, Kyle Breier, 43:43
10, Heather Devitt, 45:12 (first female 30-39)

11, Rob Richard, 46:22
12, Darryl Stephenson, 46:25
13, Michelle Comstock, 46:44
14, Aaron Yallowitz, 47:30
15, Ben Mihevc, 49:02

16, Lauren Mowers, 49:07
17, Joe Spaulding, 49:15
18, Alaina Demeree, 50:22 (first female 18-29)
19, James Dooley, 52:19
20, Dee Hameline, 53:53 (first female 40-49)

21, Jennifer Fischer, 54:11
22, Keneck Skibinski, 55:35
23, Luke Van Meter, 56:08
24, Kelcie Herron, 56:17
25, Jonathon Doran, 56:18

26, Maria Burton, 56:36 (first female 50-59)
27, Paul Warren, 56:50
28, Rita Rose, 57:17
29, Tiffany Leiphart, 57:52
30, Stephen Jasewicz, 58:02

31, Shawn Sponable, 59:10
32, Jan Bass, 59:11
33, Don Whiting, 59:44
34, Richard Meldrim, 59:48
first male 70 and over
35, Karen Casler, 59:58

36, Isabella Stone, 59:59
37, William Gokey, 1:00:14 (first male 60-69)
38, David Flansburg, 1:01:27
39, Andre Cuda, 1:04:06
40, Jessica Manieri, 1:04:27

41, Elaine Cobb, 1:04:35
42, Amber Harris, 1:05:27
43, Marilyn Fairman, 1:05:40 (first female 60-69)
44, Dave Van Meter, 1:06:46
45, Aaron Wilson, 1:07:35

46, Dawn Zitoli, 1:08:43

Compiled From Times Staff Reports