Mule Haul 26
We lucked out...again
 
by C.W. Austin
 
The weather was a big concern going into Mule Haul 26.  It rained the night before, and the sky was dark and threatening as we set up the tents the morning of the race.  But conditions gradually improved, and by race time they were pretty much normal for the big event—hot and muggy, with overcast skies.  It didn’t rain!  We lucked out...again.
 
Two hundred fifteen runners toed the starting line for this year’s race. That was below 2008’s record number, but among our best showings.  Probably, the threatening weather had an effect on day-of-race sign-ups.  What counts is that everything went smoothly, thanks to the meticulous planning of race director Jim Moore and flawless execution of the army of volunteers (see accompanying list) organized by volunteer coordinator Jane Constantine.  Bottom line: everyone seemed to enjoy themselves...the running, the picnic, and all of the rest.  
 
In the racing, there was a repeat of past champions. The women were paced by Theresa Stern, of Saline, Mich., who won with a 31:02 clocking, and Joel Frost-Tift, 21, of Averill Park, repeated as men’s winner with a time this year of 26:51.  Second and third in the women’s division went to Regina Flint, 35, of Amsterdam in 35:47, and Tantra Daley, 26, of Fultonville in 36:01, while Joshua Tallent, 31, of Sprakers, N.Y., and William Venner, 50, of Granville, N.Y., finished second and third for the men with times of 29:25 and 29:38, respectively. 
 
For Theresa, 39, the former Theresa Papa, it was women’s division victory number six.  Her first win was way back in 1989, when, as a 19-year-old, she set a record that still stands for what was then a five-mile course.  (It was switched to an 8K in 1996.) Theresa was born and raised in Fonda and is a 1987 graduate of Fonda-Fultonville High School, where she excelled in cross country and track (distance events).  She went on to run cross country at West Virginia University. 
 
Men’s repeat winner Frost-Tift, 21, will be a senior this year at Cornell University, where he’s among the team leaders in cross country and track.  He’s a graduate of Averill Park High School, where he was top runner in cross country, winning the Class A, Section 2 Sectionals in his senior year, and also excelled in track—9:53 3200-meter PR.  
 
As overall winners, Stern and Frost-Tift were recognized by our parent organization, the Road Runners Club of America as 8K champions for New York State. Club president Joyce Poulin presented them with their RRCA state chamionship plaques. Diane Hanson and Brian DeBraccio also were recognized by the RRCA, as 1st Masters (ages 40-59) in the state championship competition, and Ginny Mosher and Terry Failing took home 1st Grandmaster (age 60 and above) RRCA plaques. 
 
Again this year there were everybody-wins kids races at various distances organized by Joyce and Jim Louison, and lots of young people took part.  In the featured kids mile, Brett Flint was first among the boys and Aleta Kirstein took first for the girls. 
 
A highlight of race day was the awarding of the Fulmont Roadrunners’ annual James R. Dern Memorial Scholarships. Long-time scholarship committee chair Stu Palczak did the honors.  The $500 awards went this year to Lianna Ferguson, Elizabeth Ferlazzo, and Andrew Goodspeed, all from Broadalbin-Perth High School. 
 
Dern Scholarships are awarded to outstanding high school seniors who participated in cross country and/or track during their high school careers and are going on to college.  Lianna will be attending Mesa State College; Elizabeth, The College at Brockport; and Andrew will be going to the State University of New York at Geneseo.  Funding for the awards comes from race profits and donations, including those made to the Mule Haul 50-50 raffle, which this year added $109 to the kitty for next year's scholarships. 
 
Number 26 will be remembered as another successful Mule Haul...thanks to all who volunteered and participated and to our great sponsors and supporters.  Until next year...
 
Mule Haul 26 Volunteers (in alphabetical order):  Marcia Adams • Tom Adams • Bill Austin • Liz Austin • Debbie Beach • Dollie Beniek • Joe Beniek • Chet Boehlke • Sharon Boehlke • Sue Carson • Greg Bown • Chuck Brooks • Jessie Brooks • Laura Burroughs • Jane Constantine • Tom Constantine • Erle Daniels • Brian DeBraccio • Mandy Ferguson • Jean Karutis • Jim Koller • Linda  Koller • Armand Langevan • Betty Langevan • Ray Lee • Anita Lewandowski • Cheyanne Lewandowski • Jim Louison • Bill Milak  • Alicia Montanaro • Shelbi Montanaro • Joan Montgomery • Lowell  Montgomery • Jim Moore •  Rick Morgan • Ginny Mosher • Stu Palczak • Bill Platt • Ed Poulin • Joyce Poulin • Joe Rzeznik • Tony Scott • Cathy Sliwinski • Jake Smith • Kathy Sullivan • Brian Teague • Tribes Hill Volunteer Fire Department • Rick  Vertucci • Nick Zabowsky