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Rain doesn’t keep crowd down at West Side Memorial Day Parade

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Levee system’s relief wells set for inspection

FORTY FORT &#8212; Chris Wadas led a field of 350 runners in the rain, capturing overall honors in the 37th annual Old Fort 5 Miler on Memorial Day.Wadas, 35, who is the head track and cross country coach at Misericordia University, broke the tape in 26 minutes and 58 seconds. The win was Wadas&#8217; sixth in the 5 miler.Matt Byrne, of Scranton, who made a last minute decision to race, finished second, 48 seconds behind Wadas. It was Byrne&#8217;s first race since last summer.&#8220;I ran the first mile in 5:15,&#8221; Wadas said. &#8220;I looked back and saw I had about a 10-second lead. Then I started pushing to build a bigger lead.&#8221;Wadas wanted to have a more comfortable lead by the time he reached mile three.&#8220;I wanted to know how hard I would have to push when I reached mile three,&#8221; he said. &#8220;I decided to just keep going at that pace. But I pushed really hard over the last mile. I think I covered the final mile in 5:14.&#8221;Byrne, who was a standout runner for Scranton High School and St. Joseph&#8217;s (Philadelphia), said jokingly, &#8220;I just tried to keep myself close in case (Wadas) crumbled.&#8221;Marina Orrson won top female honors with a 7th-place overall finish in 29:37. It was Orrson&#8217;s fourth straight victory in the Forty Fort race.&#8220;It went as good as to be expected,&#8221; Orrson said. &#8220;I ran a half marathon 10 days ago. And my legs are shot. I wanted to finish under 30 minutes. And I did. So I&#8217;m happy about that.&#8221;Orrson was referring to the Brooklyn Half Marathon where she finished in 1:21, 24th out of 14,000 women.The overall female award Orrson received is called the &#8220;Kerry O&#8217;Neill Memorial&#8221; award, named for Ensign Kerry O&#8217;Neill, whose life was cut tragically short at age 21 in 1993.O&#8217;Neill set numerous running records at the Naval Academy. The award was presented to Orrson by Kerry&#8217;s niece and namesake, Kerry Barrowclough, who traveled to the race from her home in Tega Cay, South Carolina. Two of O&#8217;Neill&#8217;s other nieces, Lexi and Sarah Barrowclough ran in the race.<ins>For other sports stories, <a href="https://www.timesleader.com/category/sports" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">click here</a>.</ins>Forty Fort Lions 37th annual Old Fort 5 Miler resultsTop 10 finishersChris Wadas, 35, Swoyersville, 26:58Matt Byrne, 40-44, Scranton, 27:46Bob Yonick, 30-34, Camp Hill, 28:24,Kyle Suponcic, 25-29, Shavertown, 28:31Mickey Moorhead, 20-24, Wilkes-Barre, 28:42Ken Quigley, 45-49, Dunmore, 29:31Marina Orrson, 26, Shavertown, 29:37John Martino, 30-34, Dallas, 29:39Barry Snyder, 30-34, Ashley, 29:52Tavian McKenna, Forty Fort, 30:00Male award winners: Overall (Bernie Hargadon Memorial): Wadas. Age group winners: First Forty Fort resident to finish (Ed Kupstas Memorial): McKenna. Age group winners: 12 &amp; under: 1. Will Wojciechowiki,45:59; 2. Tim Serianni, 53:53. 13-15: 1. Gavil&#225;n McKenna, 30:00; 2. Nathan Ridgley, 30:55; 3. Chris Hine, 33:52. 16-19: 1. Nathan Searfoss, 31:51; 2. Cade Corcoran, 33:36; 3. Daylong Kasper, 33;45. 20-24: Mickey Moorhead, 28:42; 2. Bernie Gavlick, 30:58; 3. Frank Swaha, 36:15. 25-29: 1. Kyle Suponcic, 28:31; 2. Raphael Verdetto, 34:35; 3. Mike Turner, 35:12. 30-34: 1. Bob Yonick, 28:24; 2. John Martino, 29:39; 3. Barry Singer, 29:52. 35-39: 2. Mike Adamshick, 31:28; 2. Stephen Walski, 32:44; 3. Joey Stoltz, 32:59. Masters division: 40-44: 1. Matt Byrne, 27:46; 2. Paul Shymanski, 34:03; 3. Pat Kilduff, 35:09. 45-49: 1. Ken Quigley, 29:31; 2. Paul Shaffer, 35:05; 3. Bob Torch, 35:11. 50-54: 1. Dan Sherie, 31:13; 2. Fred Lombardo, 38:08; 3. Dave Stanitis, 38:26. 55-59: 1. Paul Leonard, 30:14; 2. Chris Krall, 35:51; 3. Greg Bassham, 44:49. 60-64: 1. Dan Rittenhouse, 37:57; 2. Robert Miller, 39:11. 65 &amp; over: Len Matysczak, 42:14; 2. Joe Naughton, 57:35; 3. Eric Snyder, 58:20.Top 3 female finishersMarina Orrson, 26, Shavertown, 29:37.Jenn Swiferski-Yonick, 30-34, Camp Hill, 32:14Joey Rupert, 20-24, Shickshinny, 32:20Female award winners: Overall (Kerry O&#8217;Neill Memorial): Orrson. First Forty Fort resident to finish: Erin Moreck. Age group winners: 12 &amp; under: 1. Lola Wojciechowiki, 38:30; 2. Emma Horsley, 41:03; 3. Scarlett Hobson-Tomascik, 43:36. 13-15: 1. Caitlyn Bly, 37:14; 2. Annabelle Wojciechowiki, 38:21; 3. Lessly Ortiz, 45:34. 16-19: 1. Allison Manley, 40:52; 2. Mallory Balchun, 44:30; 3. Abby Haddock, 46:47. 20-24: 1. Mosey Rupert, 32:20; 2. Alexandria Plant, 36:03; 3. Rebecca Wychock, 38:55. 25-29: 1. Kelsey Cameron, 32:35; 2. Rebecca Crawford, 34:29; 3. Alla Wilson, 35:33. 30-34: 1. Jenn Swiderski-Yonick, 32:14; 2. Eryn Milius 33:18; 3. Emily Bell, 33:46. 35-39: 1. Erin Moreck, 35:50; 2. Chris Zermane, 36:32; 3. Jen Zangardi, 37:10. Masters division: 40-44: 1. Kim Danilovitz, 35:46; 2. Kim Segiel, 36:43; 3. Melissa Obmann, 37:10. 45-49: 1. Jen Heck, 35:02; 2. Melissa Delfino, 37:03; 3. Gina Jakubowski, 39:06. 50-54: 1. Wendy Fisk, 38:05; 2. Lisa Flanders, 41:03; 3. Sandra Orrson, 41:56. 55-59: 1. Carleen Lavin, 40:09; 2. Patty Leighton, 42:55; 3. Irene Ghezzi, 44:49. 60-64: 1. Joyce Foster, 42:14; 2. Patty Phillips-Pavlock, 50:20; 3. Barb Rupert, 56:42.Field: 391 registered, 350 finishers. Timing and results: Scranton Running Company. Race director: Bernie Popson.ScheduleSaturday: West Pittston Anthracite 4 Mile Run and Fun Walk at W. Pittston Borough building, Route 92, W. Pittston at 9 a.m. Info: Don Shearer, 570-357-9144.Saturday, June 10: Susquehanna River Runners Club&#8217;s 2 Mile Run at Murphy&#8217;s Pub, Slocum St., Swoyersville at 9 a.m. Info: Chris Wadas, 570-592-2820.<style>
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<div class="neCaption">The start of the 37th annual Old Fort 5 Miler on Memorial Day. </div></div><div class="metaInfo"><photo0>https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/05/web1_ff_run1_faa.jpg</photo0><caption0>The start of the 37th annual Old Fort 5 Miler on Memorial Day. </caption0><photoCredit0>Fred Adams | For Times Leader </photoCredit0></div><div class="neFile"><img class="neImage" src="https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/05/web1_ff_r3_faa.jpg">
<div class="neCaption">Marina Orrson cruised to her fourth straight victory in the Forty Fort race with a time of 29:37. </div></div><div class="metaInfo"><photo1>https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/05/web1_ff_r3_faa.jpg</photo1><caption1>Marina Orrson cruised to her fourth straight victory in the Forty Fort race with a time of 29:37. </caption1><photoCredit1>Fred Adams | For Times Leader </photoCredit1></div><div class="neFile"><img class="neImage" src="https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/05/web1_ff_run2_faa.jpg">
<div class="neCaption">Chris Wadas was the overall winner with a time of 26:58. </div></div><div class="metaInfo"><photo2>https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/05/web1_ff_run2_faa.jpg</photo2><caption2>Chris Wadas was the overall winner with a time of 26:58. </caption2><photoCredit2>Fred Adams | For Times Leader </photoCredit2></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>

Chris Wadas, Marina Orrson win wet Old Fort 5 Miler