2008 Wimp Story

By all measures, this year’s 22nd annual Winter Wimp was another big success. The weather was cooperative—temperatures in the 40s with no precipitation, white or otherwise—and there was an excellent turnout—a total of 190 runners, second only to last year’s record field. (Click for 2.2 Mile results or 4.4 Mile results and to view a collection of race-day photos by Brian Teague.) The competition also was outstanding, with another course record for men in the 4.4-mile race.

Author of the new course record is Chuck Terry, 25, of Albany, who crossed the finish line in 23:20. That clipped four seconds off the previous record set in 2007 by Brendan Devine, 17, of Bethel, N.Y., who finished second this year, 29 seconds back. It was the first Winter Wimp for Chuck, who was an outstanding collegiate runner at SUNY-Cortland and now competes with the Willow Street Athletic Club, and it was the umpteenth Wimp for Brendan, a long-time club member who has won the race twice and just concluded an outstanding senior year in cross country at Monticello High School that included a win in the Section 9, Class A Championship race and a second-place finish in the New York State Class A Championship. Third in the men’s race went to Scott Barton, 23, of Fort Plain, whose time was 24:44. Scott, another long-time club member, did his collegiate running at Springfield College. He also is a two-time winner of the Wimp (in 2004 and 2005).

The women’s 4.4-mile race was equally competitive, with first going to Siena College freshman and lead runner Brina Seguine, 18, of Rensselaer. Brina’s 26:44 time was second-fastest in the history of the race. Second for the women went to Gina Cristaldi, 16, of Broadalbin, first runner on the 2007 Section 2, Class B Champion Broadalbin-Perth High School team, and third was captured by club member Regina Flint, 33, of Amsterdam, who has won several area races in recent months. Gina’s time was 28:29 and Regina finished in 29:28.

In the companion 2.2-mile “Wimp-Out” race, which attracted 60 competitors, first for the men was taken by Travis DeRusso, 20, of East Berne, N.Y., whose time was 13 minutes flat. Second went to Jonathan Hill, 17, of Sprakers, N.Y., who finished in 13:31, and Dylan Antalek, 17, of Fort Plain was third, five seconds back.

The women’s 2.2-miler was won by Alex Kuhl, 18, of Broadalbin, another member of the Broadalbin-Perth High sectional championship team, who clocked a 15:16 finish. Second, with a time of 15:31, went to Nicole Wojciechowski, 16, of Gloversville, and Emily Kowalczyk, 17, of Amsterdam was third in 16:02. Of special note, it was the first race ever for Jessie Brooks, 7, of Amsterdam and club secretary Jane Constantine, 49, of Amsterdam.

For the second year, there was a special award honoring the memory of long-time club member Kay Guere for the first 60-plus female in the 4.4-mile race. The award was won by Ginny Pezzula, 61, of Colonie. On hand for the presentation were Kay’s son Charles and grandchildren Brendan and Katherine. Kay died on Christmas Day 2005 following a long battle with cancer.

Club president Joyce Poulin and C.W. Austin were co-directors of this year’s race, taking over for perennial director Rick Vertucci who was granted a well-deserved hiatus this year. Rick’s expected back for the 2009 race. As always, the heavy lifting was done by an army of volunteers lined up by volunteer coordinator Marion Bayly, and the Hagaman Volunteer Fire Department did its usual yeoman job in providing traffic control.

The Village of Hagaman Civic Center was home base for the event as it has been since the inception of the race in 1987...special thanks to Village Clerk Virginia Salamack and Mayor Martin Natoli, who sounded the horn to start the race.

Major sponsors were Ferguson Trucking & Excavating, Inc.; Sacandaga Therapeutic Massage; U.S. Corrugated, Inc.; Douglas E. Landon, Attorney at Large; Stewart’s Shops; Rick’s RoBo North Car Wash, NBT Bank; and Gabriel Contractors. Sponsorship support also was provided by the Robert J. Hoy, Inc., insurance agency and the 1st National Bank of Scotia. Click for a handout containing their addresses and phone numbers, etc.

In the food department, a special tip of the cap to John Pagle of Pagles Produce, Amsterdam, donor of the fruit baskets for the first-place finishers in the 4.4-mile race as well as the oranges and bananas enjoyed by all and to Anthony and Joe Lanzi and their Northville-based Sport Island Pub & Restaurant, which donated the soups that gained most everybody’s rave reviews.