Miles For Matt 8 Hour Relay

Bethlehem, PA, June 17, 2000

MILES FOR MATT: Numero Eight Proves Great!

In the immortal words of former Yankee manager Yogi Berra: "It was Deja vu all over again!"

That is, at least, if you were a determined team of runners (mostly alumni) from Shippensburg University, a team that finished a very close 2nd to the Lehigh Valley's record-setting Team MOJO in the 1999 edition of Miles For Matt. So close, in fact, that TEAM MOJO-clicking off a record 98 miles-was less than a quarter mile ahead of the boys from Ship when the final gun sounded.

Back at Moravian College in Bethlehem for the 2000 Miles For Matt race, no one was fooled by their team name of "Shippensburg Kitty Kats"-here was a pride of hungry lions itching to settle a score with Team MOJO.. Only one problem: there WAS no Team MOJO for the eighth annual event, as it's various team members were either off competing elsewhere, on the injured reserve list, or had retired from serious racing.

Undaunted, the Kitty Kats vowed to do the next best thing: "We're gonna break Team MOJO's record and that will be just like beating them," said team captain Jason Gish, with a grin that would have left the Cheshire Cat envious. But it didn't happen. The Kitty Kats charged the record with all the ferocity befitting the King of Beasts, but could not nudge past their '99 effort of 97.75 miles. Nonetheless, given another hot and humid day and no real head-to-head competition, it was a solid-and this time winning-performance.

Along with Gish, Kevin Taylor, Brian Crispell, Matt Wagoner, Chris Yura, Billy Starner, Jeremy Hoffman and Shawn Pinamonti ran on the winning squad. They won by a whopping 9 miles over runner-up Team IUP (88.75). A spirited Liberty High School team (dubbed "The Baby Ruths" after their coach, Bill Ruth) took third in the men's open with 84 miles.

In the women's open, a team of runners with connections to Moravian College defended their title. The "Has Been Hounds"-Heidi Wolfsberger, Kristie Reccek, Emily Shertzer, Tara Wartman, Hannah Wood, Mraia Grabowski, Amy Cavanaugh and Tiff Catalino--clicked off 77.25 miles. Four of the Moravian runners-Wolfsberger, Reccek, Shertzer and Wartman--have Division 3 (small colleges) All-American honors on their resume. Two of them had just completed stellar sophomore seasons: Wolfsberger (who averaged about 5:30 per mile at this year's Miles4Matt event) was the D-3 NCAA silver medal winner in the 1500-meter run, while Shertzer achieved All-American honors in the 10,000-meter run at nationals in May.

A seasoned contingent of women runners-the Women's 5-K Classic team-finished second with 73.75-miles. Loretta Dodson, Molly Mitke, Wendy Rothrock, Therese Trujillo, AnnMarie Werley, Missi Heffner, Dianna Dunn and Ingrid Gerber all ran well.

Other winning teams included: The Dogs (first in mixed, 85 miles) and Aging Athletes Running Proud (top masters, in a race-record 81 miles).

Leading the walkers were Sue Drabic, with 26.5-miles and Wendy Weaver with 25-miles. A special note should be made that Matt's sister (Chris) has a 9 year old daughter that walked over 13 miles during the length of the event. A special gift certificate was awarded for her exceptional effort.

Of course, the most impressive performance was the overall combined "team effort": The 8th annual Miles For Matt raised a record $28,000 to benefit the National Marrow Donor Program. MFM increases both funding and awareness about bone marrow testing so that people can receive free testing for the NMDP. MFM has allowed thousands of people to be tested through bone marrow drives conducted by the HLA Registry Foundation and the Lehigh Valley's John and Dorothy Morgan Cancer Center. The funds raised this year bolstered the 8-year MFM total to a lofty $183,000. According to co-race director Dan Cruttenden: "We should definitely blow through the $200,000 mark next year."

Ron Snyder led the way in fund-raising with a whopping $4,735 tally, with past multi-time winner Dave Drabic in second with $3,001.

Miles For Matt honors Matthew J. Worman, a Lehigh Valley runner who lost his life at 34-years of age to lymphoma on August 21, 1992. His running friends (along with family members) began to stage this fund-raising relay race the following summer to pay homage to their lost friend and teammate.

The sponsorship charge was led by New Balance, hosting site Moravian College, Northwood Racquet and Fitness Club, D.J.T., The HLA Registry Foundation, Inc., Moravian Waterworks, Runner's World, and the Lehigh Valley's outstanding running stores - Aardvark Sports Shop and The Finish Line Running Store.

Team Pledge award - Lowest total pledges last 4 runners. - KNOLL 1. Warren Stevens 2. Rob Bartholomew 3. Mark Kuhns 4. Steve Gerhard 5. Ron Synder 6. Bill Edwards 7. Dick Jordan Each team member won a pair of New Balance running shoes.

OPEN TEAMS 1st place - Shippensburg Kitty Kats - 97.75 miles

1. Jason Gish 2. Kevin Taylor 3. Brian Crispell 4. Matt Wagoner 5. Chris Yura 6. Billy Starner 7. Jeremy Hoffman 8. Shawn Pinamonti

2nd Place - Team IUP - 88.75 miles

1. Andrew Schwab 2. Tony S. 3. Todd Schrag 4. Ben Giess 5. Jerry Smith 6. Nate Snyder 7. Ed Richie 8. Matt D.

3rd Place - Baby Ruths - 84 miles

1. Zach Holt 2. Eric Canlas 3. Chris Christian 4. Pat Haas 5. Matt Lotito 6. Jason Shoemaker 7. Ethan Tate 8. Justin Ackland

4th Place - Lost Boys - 79.5 miles

1. Eric Jones 2. Len Mellon 3. Ed Kolosky 4. Mike Thomas 5. Bill Harris 6. Ed Andres 7. Mike Corriere

MIXED TEAMS

1st Place - Death Dogs - 85 miles

1. Rick Reinhard 2. Boris Dinabury 3. Sawn Gilmore 4. Craig Souders 5. Kami Wire 6. Tim Skoczen 7. Justin Gindlesperger 8. Stephanie Yingling

2nd Place - Quarter Pounders - 77 miles

1. Edwin Bghdasarsan 2. Mike Lanci 3. Elaine McCambridge 4. Jack McCambridge 5. Jason McCambridge 6. Matt McCambridge 7. Meridith McCambridge 8. Michelle Sosnowski

3rd Place - Hot Sophomores - 75.5 miles

1. Jon Ayre 2. Christina Enea 3. Corry Marcincin 4. Dorian McDonald 5. Chris Morgan 6. Dan Rucker 7. Willaim Shimer 8. Kristina Tkachenko

4th Place - NICU Run Rats - 63.5 miles

1. Ian Gertner 2. Stephanie Hauze 3. Janice Mayer 4. Michael Schwartz 5. Joe Zarola 6. Patrica Baller 7. David Gessner

MASTERS

1st Place - Aging Athletes Running Proud (AARP) - 81 Miles (race record)

1. Mark Will-Weber 2. Dave Drabic 3. David Bolash 4. Vern Walther 5. Bart Yasso 6. David Horvath 7. Tom Mays

WOMEN

1st Place - Has Been Hounds (Moravian women) - 77.25 miles

1. Heidi Wolfsberger 2. Kristie Reccek 3. Emily Shertzer 4. Tara Wartman 5. Hannah Wood 6. Maria Grabowski 7. Amy Cavanaugh 8. Tiffany Catalino

2nd Place - Women's 5K Classic - 73.75 miles

1. Loretta Dodson 2. Molly Mitke 3. Wendy Rothrock 4. Therese Trujillo 5. AnnMarie Werley 6. Missi Heffner 7. Dianna Dunn 8. Ingrid Gerber

WALKING DIVISION

1. Sue Drabic 26.5 miles 2. Wendy Weaver 25 3. Tracey Walakovits 21 4. Keri Koch 21 5. Stanley Worman 20.5 (Matt's Father) 6. Pam Henstenberger 20 7. Susan Worman 18 (Matt's Wife) 8. Samantha Mellon 16.75 9. Sandy Townsend 15 10. Deb Klepeiss 15

PLEDGE AWARDS AMOUNT RAISED PRIZE

1. Ron Snyder $4,735 $1,000 trip cert. 2. Dave Drabic $3,001.16 DVD player 3. Dennis Axman $920 Bike 4. Rob Bartholomew $865 Transbridge trip 5. Dick Jordan $692 Glasburn cert. 6. Ben Worman (Matt's mom) $655 $100 mall cert. 7. Dave Asconi $565 $50 Gift cert. 8. Mike Lanci $550 Hot Air Balloon ride 9. Dee Dee Martin $545 $50 Gift cert. 10. Lisa Rogalowicz $495 $50 Gift cert. 11. Jan Clement $400 $50 Gift cert. 12. Bob Wagner $400 New Balance shoes 13. Pam Henstenberger $370 $100 Racq club cert 14. Jack McCambridge $360 New Balance Bag 15. Warren Stevens $350 $50 Gift cert.