Rain and light snow could not dampen the spirits of the runners and walkers as they lined up to compete in the 2022 Frostbite 5 Mile Run and the Penguin 5K Walk. Once everyone was in place, the start command was given, and the fun began. With runners and walkers settling into their own pace, Weston Fry, from Montoursville, decided the day would be his as he bolted into the lead and never looked back. After blistering through the first mile of the Frostbite 5 Mile Run at a 5:07 pace, he continued to increase his lead over the rest of the field during the final four miles. Finishing with a time of 27:44, Fry was followed by Nathan Horn and Ken Kuntz, also posting respectable times of 32:29 and 35:02, respectively.
In the women’s division of the 42nd Annual Frostbite 5 Mile Run, Amy McCoy, Katherine Miller, and Kara Moyer settled into a strategic battle as they pushed through the first mile at around a 7:00 minute mile pace. Throughout the next 4 miles, they stayed in contact with each other and made it a closely contested run. Finishing in first place was McCoy, 35:50, followed by Miller, 38:27, and Moyer, 38:29.
When questioned about their wins, Fry stated that the course was challenging and he was not sure how long he could maintain his pace, but once he reached the turnaround point, the last 2 miles were mostly downhill and flat, so he just kept pushing. McCoy said that having other competitors around her helped her stay focused, the snow made the course scenic, and she just gave everything that she had.
Competing in the 19th Annual Penguin 5K Walk, the men’s division saw an outstanding race as Pete Gstalder and Stephen Fedder battled all the way to the finish line, with Gstalder taking first place, 35:24.58 and just edging out Fedder, second place with a time of 38:25.30. In the women’s division, Alexandria Armstrong had a strong performance, finishing as the first women and third finisher overall, in a time of 38:53.
Congratulations go to all 113 participants who set their own pace and arrived at the finish line within their respective times; however, special mention needs to be made about the youngest and oldest competitors. In the Frostbite 5 Mile Run, 10-year-old Italia Mangiardi finished in a time of 44:09 while Walt Hause, 69, finished in a time of 52:38. In the Penguin 5K Walk, Arowyn Ireland, 6 years old, finished in 1:02.45, while the oldest finishers were 77-year-old John German, 45:41 and Joan Stabley, 1:11.25.
Like the past 20 years, all proceeds raised by this year’s 42nd Annual Frostbite 5 Mile Run and 19th Annual Penguin 5K Walk were donated to Lycoming County Special Olympics. With race sponsorships, community support, and participants’ registration fees, this year’s events raised almost $12,000.00. Since Lycoming County Special Olympics is run totally by volunteers and receives no federal or state funding, this money is a boost to the program. These monies allow Lycoming County Special Olympics to continue to operate 13 different Olympic-type individual and team sports year-round, purchase new uniforms, rent training facilities, pay registration fees for athletes to attend competitions, and buy new sports equipment as needed.
Thank you goes to all volunteers, businesses, and participants who contributed in any way to help make this event the great success it was. Special thanks go to the Borough of Duboistown, its emergency staff, and Armstrong Township for providing Lycoming County Special Olympics the opportunity to hold this event. You all have ‘Joined the Inclusion Revolution’ and become part of the Lycoming County Special Olympics family.
Hope to see all of you on December 10, 2023.
