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PITTSTON &#8212; Matt Flynn ran to his third straight win and Tara Johnson scored a wire-to-wire victory on Saturday in the 17th annual Pittston Tomato Festival 5K run.Flynn, 29, of Media and formerly from Pittston, broke the tape in 16 minutes and 42 seconds. The former Pittston Area High School track and cross country standout, outraced second-place finisher, Chris McCabe, 25, of Lancaster and formerly from Wyoming, by 32 seconds. Bob Yonick, 31, of Camp Hill, finished third in 18:07.&#8220;It feels good &#8212; winning three in a row,&#8221; said Flynn, who runs for the prestigious Bryn Mawr Running Company. &#8220;I love this race. That&#8217;s why I keep coming back.&#8221;McCabe ran with Flynn over the first two miles of the race. That&#8217;s when Flynn made his move.&#8220;I kind of put some distance between us just after mile 2,&#8221; Flynn said. &#8220;Once I opened up a lead, it was all over. I lost him on the hills.&#8221;Johnson, 17, of Avoca, won top female honors in 20:10. And even though she led from start to finish, she scored just a one-second win, holding off second-place finisher, Jenn Swiderski-Yonick, 29, of Camp Hill and formerly from Nanticoke. Molly MacDonald, 22, of Scranton, finished third, just six seconds behind Swiderski-Yonick.&#8220;I went out fast right from the start and took the lead,&#8221; said Johnson, who will be a senior at Pittston Area High School where she runs cross country and track, specializing in the 4x800. &#8220;Once I took the lead, I just tried to hold it.&#8221;She did. But it wasn&#8217;t easy.At the half way point of the race, Johnson had about a 40-meter lead over Swiderski-Yonick.Swiderski-Yonick cut into that deficit and kept pressuring Johnson. But Johnson proved to be too tough at the finish, using a strong kick over the home stretch to secure the win.&#8220;She pounded that final straight away,&#8221; Swiderski-Yonick said of Johnson. &#8220;She was just too strong at the finish.&#8221;17th annual 5K Run at the 32nd annual Pittston Tomato Festival resultsTop 3 Male Finishers1. Matt Flynn, 29, Media, 16:422. Chris McCabe, 25, Lancaster, 17:183. Bob Yonick, 31, Camp Hill, 18:07Male award winners: Overall: 1. Flynn; 2. McCabe; 3. Yonick. Age group winners: 14 &amp; under: Tony Molinaro, Pittston, 19:59. 15-19: Joe Buczynski, Exeter, 19:28. 20-24: Jeff Nelson, Shickshinny, 20:38. 25-29: Raphael Verdetto, Old Forge, 20:53. 30-34: Brian Gallagher, Old Forge, 21:09. 35-39: Len VanOrden, Moscow, 19:56. Masters division: 40-44: Kohn Curley, Jenkins Twp., 22:08. 45-49: Dave Pitterberi, Fredericksburg, 20:27. 50-59: Mike McAndrew, Avoca, 19:07. 60 &amp; over: Ed Lipski, Clarks Green, 21:35.Top 3 female finishers1. Tara Johnson, 17, Avoca, 20:102. Jenn Swiderski-Yonick, 29, 20:113. Molly MacDonald, Scranton, 20:17Female award winners: Overall: 1. Johnson; 2. Spider ski-Yonick; 3. MacDonald. Age group winners: 14 &amp; under: Bailey Loyack, Pittston, 21:50. 15-19: Mackenzie Bilbow, W. Wyoming, 25:24. 20-24: Alexandra Conniff, Roaring Brook Twp., 21:05. 25-29: Jackie Baldwin, Wyoming, 22:35. 30-34: Emily Bell, Bear Creek Twp., 22:01. 35-39: Christal Zermane, Avoca, 20:44. Masters division: 40-44: Melissa Obmann, Mountain Top, 23:48. 45-49: Mary Leonard, New York City, 23:23. 50-59: Kim Shambora, Laflin, 27:21. 60 &amp; over: Debbi Alunni, Jessup, 27:29.Field: 370 (run-300, walk-70). Official starter and finisher: Joe Curry. Timing and results: Fast Finishes (fastfinishes.net). Finish line officials: Joleen Lazecki and Hannah Melone. Race directors: Jay Duffy and Michelle Hopkins. Tomato Festival chairpersons: Lori Nocito and Mike Lombardo.Schedule:Thursday: Susquehanna River Runners Club&#8217;s Valley&#8217;s Fastest Man and Woman Series, Race No. 3. Murphy&#8217;s Pub Mile at the pub, Slocum St., Swoyersville at 7 p.m. Info: Chris Wadas, 570-574-0463.Saturday, Sept. 5: Wyoming a alley Striders 41st annual Cliff Robbins Sr. memorial High School Invitational Cross Country Races at Letterkenny Fields, just off 42nd St., Dallas Twp.Race No. 1. Junior High Girls 3K, 9:30 a.m.Race No. 2. Junior High Boys 3K, 10:10 a.m.Race No. 3. Girls Varsity 5K, 10:45 a.m.Race No. 4. Boys Varsity 5K, 11:35 a.m.Awards ceremony, 12:25 p.m.Info: Vince Wojnar, 570-474-5363.Sunday, Sept. 13: Wilkes-Barre Triathlon (swim, bike, run), starting at Harveys Lake at 7:30 a.m. and finishing at Penn State Wilkes-Barre, Lehman Twp. Info: 570-270-4793.Saturday, Sept. 19: Scranton Race for the Cure 5K Run/Walk, starting on Wyoming Ave., one block over from Courthouse Square at 8:30 a.m. And finishing on the square. Info: Dolly Woody, 570-696-6072.<style>
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<div class="neCaption">Matt Flynn a Pittston native, was the overall male winner with a time of 16:38 at the 17th annual Pittston Tomato Festival 5K run. </div></div><div class="metaInfo"><photo0>https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/08/web1_Tomato-Fest-5K-race-TL-1.jpg</photo0><caption0>Matt Flynn a Pittston native, was the overall male winner with a time of 16:38 at the 17th annual Pittston Tomato Festival 5K run. </caption0><photoCredit0>Tony Callaio | For Times Leader </photoCredit0></div><div class="neFile"><img class="neImage" src="https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/08/web1_Tomato-Fest-5K-race-TL-3.jpg">
<div class="neCaption">Overall first place winners, Tara Johnson, a Pittston Area High School senior, and Matt Flynn, a former Pittston resident now living in Media. </div></div><div class="metaInfo"><photo1>https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/08/web1_Tomato-Fest-5K-race-TL-3.jpg</photo1><caption1>Overall first place winners, Tara Johnson, a Pittston Area High School senior, and Matt Flynn, a former Pittston resident now living in Media. </caption1><photoCredit1>Tony Callaio | For Times Leader </photoCredit1></div></div>
<div class="metaInfo"><bylineMeta>By Robert MinerFor Times Leader</bylineMeta></div><div class="metaInfo"><shirttailMeta>Reach Times Leader sports at 570-829-7143 or on Twitter @tlsports.</shirttailMeta></div>

Pittston natives lead the charge in Tomato Festival 5K