Amsterdam’s Jake and Jenna Krong, brother and sister, were overall winners of this year’s Winter Wimp Foot Race, held January 11 in Hagaman, N.Y. Jake, 18, rounded the two-loop, 4.4-mile course in 23:58, and Jenna, 15, finished with a women’s best time of 31:41.
For Jake, it was a repeat of his 2002 win.
Mark McKenzie, 40, of Ballston Spa was runner-up in this year’s race with a 25:05 clocking, and Stephan Lyons, 16, of Broadalbin was third in 25:42. Close behind Jenna in the women’s competition were Jeannine Salvo, 25, of Scotia whose time was 31:50, and Amber Shibley, 18, of Mayfield, was third with a 32:30 finish.
In the companion 2.2-mile race (one loop of the Hagaman course), Amsterdam’s Charles Smullen, 42, was the winner for the third year in a row with a time of 12:54, and Janette Krong, 39, also of Amsterdam (and, yes, Jake and Jenna’s mom), was first in the women’s division with a time of 16:11.
Winners Jake and Jenna Krong are products of the Amsterdam High School running program. Jake graduated in 2002, following outstanding performances as captain of the varsity track and cross country teams. He holds Amsterdam’s school records for the mile—4:16—and two miles—9:17—and is now at Colgate University, and continuing his competitive running there.
Jenna is a sophomore at Amsterdam High, where she’s first runner in both girl’s track (distance events) and cross country and already owns the school record for the 5K—18:54.
Race factoids: • The weather at race time was cold (in the low 20s) and blustery, and the course was fast—no snow or ice. • Ages of the 116 finishers in the two races ranged from seven to 76. • About 50 pounds of food were collected for the food pantry; it was donated to the Savation Army in Amsterdam.