web1_TTL040819WVW-HazBB_1.jpg

WVC baseball: Valley West holds off Hazleton Area to win at PNC Field

web1_e-1.jpg

A display fit for a King: Kingston home pays homage to all-things-Elvis

<p>SCRANTON &#8212; The buzz around Scranton Memorial Stadium just before the start of the sixth annual Scranton Half Marathon was that this race was going to feature the best field yet.</p><p>And the buzzing proved correct.</p><p>The top two male finishers and the top three female finishers all finished under the course records.</p><p>Diriba Degefa Yigezu led a field of 2,200 runners, winning top honors, $1,000 and setting a new course record at 1 hour, 4 minutes, 46 seconds.</p><p>Yigezu, 31, an Ethiopian who now lives in New York, was happy about setting a course record.</p><p>&#8220;It was cold early in the morning,&#8221; he said. &#8220;But it warmed up good. And I was happy about that. It was beautiful (weather). I&#8217;ve been training hard for this race. I&#8217;m happy that all my hard work has paid off.&#8221;</p><p>Two more Ethiopians who now call The Big Apple their homes, Tariku Demplash, 23, and Abu Kebebe Diriba, 31, finished second and third in 1:05:02 ($750) and 1:07:03 ($500), respectively.</p><p>Suleman Shifa, 25, of New York and formerly from Ethiopia, a two-time winner in the 13.1 miler, finished fourth in 1:07:54. He won $300. Griff Graves, 29, of Syracuse, N.Y., finished fifth in 1:08:16. The assistant cross country and track coach at Syracuse University won $100.</p><p>Rachel Schilkowsky, 26, of Providence, R.I., set a course record and won $1,000, finishing in 1:14:35. Meseret Ali Basa, 30, of Bronx, N.Y., finished second in 1:15:05, winning $750. Garish Megersa, 26, of New York, finished third in 1:16:35, winning $500. Heidi Peoples, 38, of South Abington Township, who has won the race four times, finished fourth in 1:19:00, winning $300. And Emily Hulme, 34, of Easton, finished fifth in 1:20:07, winning $100.</p><p>Schilkowsky said she drove over the course on Saturday to familiarize herself with the hills &#8212; and it helped.</p><p>&#8220;The second- and third-place finishers had me on the ropes between miles four and eight,&#8221; said Schilkowsky, who won All-America honors five times at Cornell University. &#8220;I tried to stay controlled and composed. Then I pulled away over mile nine and took control of the race. I didn&#8217;t really surge. It was more like the two women fell off the pace.</p><p>&#8220;When we reached the turn on mile 10, I started feeling really bad. But I forged on. The last three miles were really tough. But I pushed on for the win.&#8221;</p><p>Schilkowsky said it was a well-run race. And she complemented the race officials for doing such a good job. She said it was very safe with the good traffic control And she enjoyed all the spectators cheering her on along the course.</p><p>Shifa and Peoples were the previous course record holders.</p><p><strong>How area runners fared</strong></p><p>Sean Luzzi, of Dallas, placed third in the 19-24 age group clocking in at 1:11:41. Marina Martino, of Dallas, finished second in the 25-29 age group in 1:33:12. Not bad, considering she gave birth to a baby boy just eight weeks ago. Deedra Porfirio, of Exeter, won the 40-44 age group in 1:33:58. And Patrica Buzinkai, of Kingston, finished third in that age bracket in 1:40:59.</p><p>Hazleton&#8217;s Lisa Steffes won the 45-49 age group in 1:32:15. Paul Shaffer, of West Pittston, won the 50-54 bracket in 1:24:38.</p><p style="text-align: center;"><strong>6th annual Scranton Half Marathon results</strong></p><p style="text-align: left;"><strong>Top 5 finishers</strong></p><p>Diriba Degefa Yigezu, 31, New York City, 1:04:46, $1,000</p><p>Tarik&#8217;s Demplash, 23, New York City, 1:05:02, $750</p><p>Abu Kebebe Diriba, 31, New York City, 1:07:03, $500</p><p>Suleman Shifa, 25, New York City, 1:07:54, $300</p><p>Griff Graves, 29, Syracuse, NY, 1:08:16, $100</p><p><strong>Other Male award winners:</strong></p><p>Masters: Loc O, 42, Williamsburg, 1:14:30, $250</p><p>First Scranton finisher: Rob Ahrens, 31, $100.</p><p>Age group winners: 18 &amp; under: Nick Deamer, State College, 1:15:13. 19-24: Mike Cobb, New York City, 1:10:26. 25-29: Harrison Toney, Harrisburg, 1:08:32. 30-34: Rob Ahrens, Scranton, 1:14:18. 35-39: Gishuo Maco, New York City, 1:11:20. Masters division: 40-44: Jeff Pellis, New York City, 1:23:54. 45-49: Kirt Joseph, Tobyhanna, 1:16:43. 50-54: Paul Shaffer, W. Pittston, 1:24:76. 55-59: Jim Cadden, S. Abington Twp., 1:28:13. 60-64: Brian Conniff, Moscow, 1:29:06. 65-69: None. 70 &amp; over: Rod Bailey, Rochester, NY, 2:26:39.</p><p><strong>Top 5 female finishers</strong></p><p>Rachel Schilkowsky, 26, Providence, RI, 1:14:35, $1,000</p><p>Meseret Ali Basa, 30, Bronx, NY, 1:15:05, $750</p><p>Garish Megersa, 26, New York City, 1:16:35, $500</p><p>Heidi Peoples, 38, S. Abington Twp., 1:19:00, $300</p><p>Emily Hulme, 34, Easton, 1:20:07, $100</p><p><strong>Other award winners:</strong></p><p>Masters: Cathy Dragwa, 47, Jermyn,1:31:14, $250</p><p>First Scranton finisher: Riley Marcks, 27, $100</p><p>Age group winners: 18 &amp; under: Lizzy St. Clair, State College, 1:43:54. 19-24: Kerry Dalton, Harrisburg, 1:21:19. 25-29: Meg Jacoby, Endicott, NY, 1:22:44. 30-34: Samantha Snead, Dickson City, 1:28:38. 35-39: Jen Selig, Clarks Summiy, 1:21:32. Masters division: 40-44: Deedra Porfirio, Exeter, 1:33:58. 45-49: Lisa Steffes, Hazleton, 1:32:15. 50-54: Deb Long, Winfield, 1:45:47. 55-59: Sharon Callahan, Tarrytown, NY, 1:52:16. 60-64: Sue O&#8217;Connor, Scranton, 2:00:14. 65-69: Patti Turissini, Scott Twp., 1:47:28. 70 &amp; over: Rosemary Baldi, Scranton, 2:18:45.</p><p><strong>Field</strong>: 2,200 (runners from 30 states and three countries, Ethiopia, Canada and USA).</p><p><strong>Starter</strong>: Scranton Mayor, William L. Cartwright. Pace car: Dave Edsell and Linda Sagliano (Minooka Subarua). Timing and results: Scranton Running Company. Race director: Matt Byrne.</p><p style="text-align: center;"><strong>Schedule</strong></p><p>Sunday, April 28: 4th annual Navient Ladders &amp; Laces 5K Run at Navient student loan facility, Lasley Ave., Hanover Industrial Estates, Hanover Twp. at 9 a.m. Info: 570-821-3600.i</p><p>Sunday, April 28: 8th annual Max Fine Memorial 5K Run at Wilkes-Barre YMCA, Franklin and Northampton streets. Race starts and finishes, one block over from the Y on River St. Race begins at 10:30 a.m. Info: Mike Fine, 570-954-0124.</p><style>
.neFileBlock {
	margin-bottom: 20px;
}
.neFileBlock p {
	margin: 0px 0px 0px 0px;
}
.neFileBlock .neFile {
	border-bottom: 1px dotted #aaa;
	padding-bottom: 5px;
	padding-top: 10px;
}
.neFileBlock .neCaption {
	font-size: 85%;
}
</style>
<div class='neFileBlock'>
<div class="neFile"><img class="neImage" src="https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/04/web1_half2_faa.jpg">
<div class="neCaption">Diriba Degefa Yigezu, 31, won Sunday&#8217;s Scranton Half Marathon in a record time of 1:04:46. </div></div><div class="metaInfo"><photo0>https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/04/web1_half2_faa.jpg</photo0><caption0>Diriba Degefa Yigezu, 31, won Sunday&#8217;s Scranton Half Marathon in a record time of 1:04:46. </caption0><photoCredit0>Fred Adams | For Times Leader </photoCredit0></div><div class="neFile"><img class="neImage" src="https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/04/web1_half4_faa.jpg">
<div class="neCaption">Ryan Robeson, a York firefighter, ran the Scranton Half Marathon Sunday in full turnout gear in an attempt to set a world record. Robeson&#8217;s father James was the Scranton Fire Captain. </div></div><div class="metaInfo"><photo1>https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/04/web1_half4_faa.jpg</photo1><caption1>Ryan Robeson, a York firefighter, ran the Scranton Half Marathon Sunday in full turnout gear in an attempt to set a world record. Robeson&#8217;s father James was the Scranton Fire Captain. </caption1><photoCredit1>Fred Adams | For Times Leader </photoCredit1></div><div class="neFile"><img class="neImage" src="https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/04/web1_half1_faa.jpg">
<div class="neCaption">A field of 2,200 runners came out for Sunday&#8217;s Scranton Half Marathon. </div></div><div class="metaInfo"><photo2>https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/04/web1_half1_faa.jpg</photo2><caption2>A field of 2,200 runners came out for Sunday&#8217;s Scranton Half Marathon. </caption2><photoCredit2>Fred Adams | For Times Leader </photoCredit2></div><div class="neFile"><img class="neImage" src="https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/04/web1_half3_faa.jpg">
<div class="neCaption">Rachel Schilkowsky led all women in the race with a time of 1:14:35. </div></div><div class="metaInfo"><photo3>https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/04/web1_half3_faa.jpg</photo3><caption3>Rachel Schilkowsky led all women in the race with a time of 1:14:35. </caption3><photoCredit3>Fred Adams | For Times Leader </photoCredit3></div></div>
<div class="metaInfo"><bylineMeta><p>By Robert Miner</p><p>For Times Leader</p></bylineMeta></div>

Record-setting day at Scranton Half Marathon