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The Beer Meister: A trip to the Sunshine State is a good opportunity to try Florida brews

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Deirdre Cooney, King’s senior recipient of faculty scholarship

<p>SCRANTON &#8212; Bigger prize money at the 3rd annual Scranton Half Marathon on Sunday made for a quality field. And Suleman Shifa ran away with the field of 3,000 runners.</p><p>The 22-year-old Ethiopian, who is currently living in New York City, broke the tape in 1 hour, 5 minutes and 31 seconds, setting a new course record and winning $1,000 (last year&#8217;s top prize was $500). Shifa outran second-place finisher, Thomas Porter, 25, of New Haven, Conn., by four minutes.Porter won $750.</p><p>Last year&#8217;s winner, Kevin Borelli, 33, of Dickson City, finished third, just seven seconds behind Porter. Borrelli, who was a standout runner for Duquesne University won $500. Rob Ahrens, 28, of Clarks Summit, who won the inaugural running of the half marathon, finished fourth, just four seconds behind Borrelli, winning $300.</p><p>Fifth-place finisher, Dickson Mercer, 34, of Washington D.C., (1:09:59, $100) said Shifa, who has won two marathons and now two half marathons, went out really hard right from the gun.</p><p>&#8220;After that, it was a race for second,&#8221; Mercer said.</p><p>You don&#8217;t have to look out of town to find a quality female runner.</p><p>Scranton&#8217;s own Heidi Peoples ran to her third straight win in the Scranton Half, finishing in 1:18:50. Her time was about two minutes slower than her winning time from last year. But her prize money of $1,000 was twice as much from last year.</p><p>Samantha Snead, 27, of Moscow, who was a fine runner for Penn State Worthington, finished second in 1:25:22, winning $750.</p><p>Peoples, who won All-America honors 11 times while running for Moravian College, agreed with Mercer, &#8220;The guys went out so fast at the start, I soon found myself running alone. I don&#8217;t like that. I didn&#8217;t really have anyone to pace myself with until we got on the trail (7-1/4 &#8212; 11 miles into the race). But I&#8217;m excited about winning my third time here. And I&#8217;m grateful that I&#8217;m able to run so well.&#8221;</p><p><strong>How Wilkes-Barre area runners fared</strong></p><p>Forty Fort&#8217;s Jeff Skwierz, 33, finished second in the 30-34 age group, clocking in at 1:11:26.</p><p>Robert Moulton, 23, of Mountain Top, who finished fourth last year, finished third in the 19-23 age group in 1:14:01.</p><p>Mike Coco, 53, of Exeter, finished third in the 50-54 age group, with a 1:30:16 time.</p><p>Michelle Golden, 23, of West Pittston and Kristin Buchholz, 30, of Mountain Top, won the 19-23 and 30-34 age groups, respectively. Deana Manzoni, 47, of Dallas and Joyce Foster, 61, of Dallas, scored second-place wins in the 45-49 and 60-64 age groups respectively.</p><p>Times Leader Assistant News Editor, Joe Soprano, continued his training for this year&#8217;s Wilkes-Barre Triathlon (swim, bike, run) with a 2:20 finish in the Scranton Half. Last year, Soprano reached his goal, finishing the sprint version of the triathlon. This year, Soprano has his sights set on the tougher Olympic distance.</p><p style="text-align: center;"><strong>3rd annual Scranton Half Marathon results</strong></p><p><strong>Top 5 male finishers</strong></p><p>1. Suleman Shifa, 22, New York City, 1:05:31, $1,000</p><p>2. Thomas Porter, 25, New Haven, Conn., 1:09:31, $750</p><p>3. Kevin Borrelli, 33, Dickson City, 1:09:38, $500</p><p>4. Rob Ahrens, 28, Clarks Summit, 1:09:42, $300</p><p>5. Dickson Mercer, 34, Washington D.C., 1:09:59, $100</p><p><strong>Male award winners: Overall:</strong> Shifa. <strong>Masters winner:</strong> Paul Leonard, 53, Scranton. <strong>First Scranton resident to finish:</strong> Mike Azzatto (Leonard was actually the first Scranton resident to finish, but he won the top Masters prize) <strong>Age group winners: 18 &amp; under:</strong> 1 Devin Smith, Carbondale, 1:27:20; 2. Tim Hanlon, Pittsburgh, 1:28:51; 3. Dan Gavin, Scranton, 1:35:22. <strong>19-23:</strong> 1. Eric Lipuma, Midland Park, N.J., 1:11:43; 2. Justin Clarke, Factoryville, 1:11:58; 3. Robert Moulton, Mountain Top, 1:14:01.<strong> 24-29:</strong> 1. Chris McCabe, Lancaster, 1:12:49; 2 Shawn D&#8217;Andrea, Philadelphia, 1:14:42; 3. Dan Krystek. W. Harrison, N.Y., 1:16:31. <strong>30-34:</strong> 1. Bryan Morseman, Bath, N.Y., 1:10:20. 2. Jeff Skwierz, Forty Fort, 1:11:26; 3. Fran Spear, Factoryville, 1:16:10. <strong>35-39:</strong> 1. Stephen McGrath, Hawley, 1:24:32; 2. Markus Anttila, Clarks Summit, 1:27:55; 3. Pat Leonard, New York City, 1:29:17. <strong>40-44:</strong> 1. Bill Uher, Odenton, Md., 1:23:58; 2. Brian Davidson, Mountain Top, 1:28:09; 3. R.J. Stiltenpole, Scranton, 1:28:26. <strong>45-49:</strong> 1. Kirt Joseph, Tobyhanna, 1:20:28; 2. Ken Quigley, Dunmore, 1:22:04; 3. John Evangelista, Blakely, 1:23:48. <strong>50-54:</strong> 1. Mike Brown, Milford, 1:27:08; 2. Peter Davenport, Lake Ariel, 1:29:33; 3. Mike Coco, Exeter, 1:30:20. <strong>55-59:</strong> 1. Brian Coniff, Moscow, 1:26:38; 2. Dan Dietz, Marietta, Ga., 1:30:01; 3. Frank Rainey, Scranton, 1:35:40. <strong>60-64:</strong> 1. William Cook, Scranton, 1:31:40; 2. Vince Grattolino, Roaring Brook Twp., 1:49:58; 3. E.J. Burns, Millerstown, 1:50:08.<strong> 65-69:</strong> 1. Paul Szymonsky, Scranton, 1:42:50; 2. Dennis Holmes, Throop, 1:44:27; 3. Roger Ericson, Tafton, 1:50:13. <strong>70 &amp; over:</strong> 1. Len Sowinski, Scott Twp., 1:49:36; 2. Robert Cays, Stroudsburg, 2:22:05.</p><p><strong>Top 5 females</strong></p><p>1. Heidi Peoples, 36, Scranton, 1:18:50, $1,000</p><p>2. Sam Snead, 27, Moscow, 1:25:22, $750</p><p>3. Karen Auteri, 34, Hackettstown, N.J., 1:26:12, $500</p><p>4. Larissa Hoffmann, 22, Sussex, N.J., 1:31:15, $300</p><p>5. Sarah Limbach, 31, Philadelphia, 1:31:56, $100</p><p><strong>Female award winners: Overall:</strong> Peoples. <strong>Masters winner:</strong> Kris Danilovitz, 42, Moosic, 11:37:12. <strong>First Sranton resident to finish:</strong> Lindsay Barrett. <strong>Age group winners: 18 &amp; under:</strong> 1. Jen Korty, Forest City, 1:36:44; 2. Abby Haddock, Roaring Brook Twp., 1:37:07; 3. Olivia Greer, Nanticoke, 1:42:32.<strong> 19-23:</strong> 1. Michelle Goldden, W. Pittston, 1:32:19; 2. Alexandra Conniff, Moscow, 1:33:44; 3. Sue Haines, Moscow, 1:33:56. <strong>24-29:</strong> 1. Lizzy Doherty, New York City, 1:35:25; 2. Ashley Shamus, Cllarks Summit, 1:36:00; 3 Jes McCayley, Gouldsboro, 1:36:34. <strong>30-34:</strong> 1. Kristin Buchholz, Mountain Top, 1:40:02; 2. Ashlet Stumpp, Northamton, 1:40:30; 3. Judy Riff, S. Abington, 1:40:42. <strong>35-39:</strong> 1. Kristan Homung, Lancaster, N.Y., 1:33:18; 2. Lindsay Barrrett, Scranton, 1:34:17; 3. Lily Ye, Atlanta, Ga., 1:36:56. 40-44: 1. Kim Segiel, Covington Twp., 1:37:40; 2. Cathy Dragwa, Mayfield, 1:37:45; 3. Debbie Putman, Lake Ariel, 1:40:32. <strong>45-49:</strong> 1. Pat Savage, Factoryville, 1:43:00; 2. Deana Manzoni, Dallas, 1:43:27; 3. Mary Leonard, New York City, 1:43:55. <strong>50-54:</strong> 1. Maryann Lawrenson, Thomppson, 1:40:41; 2. Irene Cobb, Nicholson, 1:42:49; 3. Ronda Walker, Dublin, Ga., 11:47:24. <strong>55-59:</strong> 1. Sharon Callahan, Tarrytown, N.Y., 1:42:52; 2. Donna Doherty, Scrantton, 1:56:32; 3 Ruth Wood, Jefferson Twp., 1:58:46. <strong>60-64:</strong> 1. Nancy Werthmuller,, Scott Twp., 1:53:58; 2. Joyce Foster, Dallas, 1:56:20; 3. Debbie Alunni, Jessup, 2:04:57. <strong>65-69:</strong> 1. Mary Anne Boyer, Pocono Lake, 2:08:41</p><p><strong>Field:</strong> 3,000 runners from 28 states and three countries. <strong>Official starter:</strong> Mary Wilding, mother of fallen Scranton Police officer, John Wilding. Results: Scranton Running Company. Race director: Matt Byrne.</p><p><strong>Schedule:</strong></p><p><strong>Sunday:</strong> 5th annual Max Fine 5K Run and 1 Mile Fun Walk at 10:30 a.m. at Jewish Community Center of Wyoming Valley, S. River St., Wilkes-Barre. Info: Mike Fine, 570-954-0125.</p><style>
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<div class="neCaption">Suleman Shifa, 22, of Ethiopia was the first male finisher in the Scranton Half Marathon on Sunday. </div></div><div class="metaInfo"><photo1>https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/04/web1_TTL041116marathon1.jpg</photo1><caption1>Suleman Shifa, 22, of Ethiopia was the first male finisher in the Scranton Half Marathon on Sunday. </caption1><photoCredit1>Aimee Dilger|Times Leader </photoCredit1></div><div class="neFile"><img class="neImage" src="https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/04/web1_TTL041116marathon2.jpg">
<div class="neCaption">Scranton&#8217;s own Heidi Peoples, 36, ran to her third straight win in the Scranton Half, finishing in 1:18:50. </div></div><div class="metaInfo"><photo2>https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/04/web1_TTL041116marathon2.jpg</photo2><caption2>Scranton&#8217;s own Heidi Peoples, 36, ran to her third straight win in the Scranton Half, finishing in 1:18:50. </caption2><photoCredit2>Aimee Dilger|Times Leader </photoCredit2></div><div class="neFile"><img class="neImage" src="https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/04/web1_TTL041116marathon3.jpg">
<div class="neCaption">Jeremiah Phillips talks to his son Ethan, 5, at the end of the Scranton Half Marathon on Sunday. Three thousand people took part in the event. </div></div><div class="metaInfo"><photo3>https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/04/web1_TTL041116marathon3.jpg</photo3><caption3>Jeremiah Phillips talks to his son Ethan, 5, at the end of the Scranton Half Marathon on Sunday. Three thousand people took part in the event. </caption3><photoCredit3>Aimee Dilger|Times Leader </photoCredit3></div></div>
<div class="metaInfo"><subheadMeta>Larger pot draws 3,000 at Scranton Half Marathon</subheadMeta></div><div class="metaInfo"><bylineMeta><p>By Robert Miner</p><p>For Times Leader</p></bylineMeta></div><div class="metaInfo"><shirttailMeta><p>Reach Times Leader sports at 570-829-7143 or on Twitter @tlsports.</p></shirttailMeta></div>

Scranton Half Marathon draws 3,000