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Skwierz represents hometown in Old Fort 5 Miler

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A KAZ Passport to fun, healthy activities

FORTY FORT &#8212; Jeff Skwierz has been working hard to get back in shape. And it&#8217;s been paying off.Skwierz ran to victory in the 35 annual Old Fort 5 Miler on Memorial Day - a race that takes place each year in his home town - breaking the tape in 26 minutes and 41 seconds. He outran second-place finisher, Chris Wadas, by 37 seconds. Last year&#8217;s winner, Dave Sadvary, finished third, 29 seconds behind Wadas.&#8220;I wasn&#8217;t sure who was here,&#8221; Skwierz said. &#8220;I knew (Wadas) was here. And I knew this race almost always draws a strong field. I knew I was in good shape. So I wanted to go out aggressively, but comfortable, at a pace I could maintain over five miles.&#8221;Skwierz moved in front a half mile into the race.&#8220;But Chris and a couple other guys were right behind me,&#8221; said Skwierz, who ran for Hazleton Area High School and Lock Haven University. &#8220;They stayed with me for a couple of miles. I was able to open it up over the third mile. And I ran pretty comfortably until the last mile. At that point the heat and the pace started getting to me. And I was hurting.&#8221;But Skwierz kept pushing. He was determined to win. And he did.&#8220;Winning this race means a lot to me,&#8221; Skwierz said.Skwierz won the 5 miler in 2010. But at that time, he wasn&#8217;t a Forty Fort resident.Marina Orrson, who has dominated the female divisions of most local races over the last couple, years, won top female honors easily, finishing sixth overall in 29:06. She outran second-place finisher, Jennifer Swiderski, by 3:48.&#8220;I came into the race hoping to run faster than last year,&#8221; Orrson said.But that didn&#8217;t happen. Last year, Orrson won top honors with a seventh place overall finish in 29:01, five seconds off last year&#8217;s pace.&#8220;I went out and tried to stay with Jeff and Chris for as long as I could,&#8221; said Orrson, who ran for Lake-Lehman High School and Misericordia University. &#8220;They started to pull away from me just after the first mile. But I could still see them up ahead. After that, I just tried to keep my own pace.&#8221;Orrson was basically running alone for about 2-1/2 miles (between miles 2 and 4-1/2), which probably cost her some time.Results of the Forty Fort Lions&#8217; 35th annual Old Fort 5 MilerTop 101 Jeff Skwierz, 32, Forty Fort, 26:412. Chris Wadas, 33, Courtdale, 27:183. Dave Sadvary, 18, Wilkes-Barre, 27:474. Mickey Moorhead, 21, Wilkes-Barre, 28:115. Paul Leonard, 52, Scranton, 28:586. Marina Orrson, 24, Shavertown, 29:067. Bob Yonick, 31, Camp Hill, 29:328. John Martino, 30, Dallas, 29:589. Jacob Kobusky, 15, Plymouth, 30:3210. Pat Leonard, 36, Pittston, 31:04Male award winners: Overall (Bernie Hargadon Memorial Award): Skwierz. First Forty Fort resident to finish (Ed Kupstas Memorial Award): Brian Krypel, 32:59. Age group winners: 12 &amp; under: 1. Chris Hine, 35:49; 2. Angelo Lombardo, 39:27; 3. Jaden Pepe, 44:42. 13-15: 1. Jacob Kobusky, 30:32; 2. Jack Zardecki, 32:25; 3. Dom DeLuca, 39:37. 17-19: 1. Dave Sadvary, 27:47; 2. Ben Sullivan, 31:37; 3. Toni Alunni, 34:37. 20-24: 1. Mickey Moorhead, 28:11; 2. Anthony Powell, 37;07: 3. Mario Lignori, 36:57. 25-29: 1. Thomas Carr, 35:47; 2. Dave Houssock, 36:47; 3. Andy Morganinji, 39:47. 30-34: 1. Chris Wadas, 27:18; 2. Bob Yonick, 29:32; 3. John Matino, 29:58. 35-39: 1. Pat Leonard, 31:04; 2. Mike Adamski, 32:09; 3. Dave Falcheck, 34:56. 40-44: 1. Marty Green, 35:24; 2. Kevin Curry, 36:15; 3. James Albert, 36:21. 45-49: 1. Stephen Housenick, 32:17; 2. Brian Krypel, 32:59; 3. Dan Rosa, 34:50. 50-54: 1. Paul Leonard, 28:58; 2. Lee Toussaint, 31:30; 3. George Dunbar, 33:40. 55-59: 1. Mike Kinney, 35:13; 2. Kevin Southard, 35:56; 3. Lee Kauffman, 36:41. 60 &amp; over: 1. Bill Cook, 35:02; 2.Len Sowinski, 39:46. 3. Ron Rawls, 40:12.Top 3 females1. Marina Orrson, 24, Shavertown, 29:062. Jenn Swiderski, 25-29, na, 32:543. Eryn Milius, 30-34, Na, 33:24Female award winners: Overall (Kerry O&#8217;Neill Memorial Award): Orrson. First Forty Fort resident to finish: Erin Milius, 33:51. Age group winners: 12 &amp; under: 1. Emma Horsley, 45:31; 2. Emma Kelleher, 55:33; 3. Samantha Chesman, 1:03:37. 13-15: 1. Kylee Laudenslager, 43:00; 2. Foto Tsioles, 43:33; 3. Mercedes Jasterzenski, 46:05. 16-19: 1. Alyson Manley, 38:43; 2. Anah Bozentka, 40:07; 3. Courtney Wagner, 44:09. 20-24: 1. Kelsey Cameron, 37:03; 2. Shelby Foster, 37:44; 3. Rachel Olszewski, 38:13. 25-29: 1. Jenn Swiderski, 32:54; 2. Jackie Bazdin, 40:38; 3. Lesley Warren, 40:50. 30-34: 1. Eryn Milus, 33:24; 2. Erin Moreck, 35:51; 3. Victoria Blazick, 36:00. 35-39: 1. Erin Treaster, 36:12; 2. Michelle Wolyniec, 36:36; 3. Melonie Shepard, 37:19. 40-44: 1. Ann Zoranski, 35:30; 2. Cathy Wozniak, 37:37; 3. Jill Stretanski, 37:59. 45-49: 1. Christine Fazzi, 40:48; 2. Pam Gurtis, 40:48; 3. Wendy Fisk, 42:52. 50-54: 1. Barbara Hoffman, 42:25; 2. Annet Kominski, 43:23; 3. Kim Shambora, 45:00. 55-59: 1. Carole Feole,37:07; 2. Colleen Morda, 42:12; 3. Marjorie Adams, 43:34. 60 &amp; over: 1. Bev Tomasak, 43:16; 2. Joyce Foster, 44:01; 3. Stephanie Walski, 49:18. Field: 478. Starters: Bernie Popson (race director) and Josh Weale (Forty a Fort Lions incoming president). Timing and results: kirbysracetiming@gmail.com.ScheduleSaturday, June 6: West Pittston Anthracite 4 Mile Run at West Pittston Borough Office, Route 92, W. Pittston at 9 a.m. Info: 570-655-7782.