WEST PITTSTON — Two former Bucknell University runners, D.J. Krystek and Michelle Golden, ran to wins in the 38th annual West Pittston Anthracite 4-Mile Run on Saturday, June 6.
Krystek, 24, of Pittsburgh, broke the tape in 21 minutes and five seconds. He outran last year’s winner, Chris Wadas, 33, of Courtdale, by seven seconds. Former Coughlin High School standout, Mickey Moorhead, 21, of Wilkes-Barre, finished third, 1:03 behind Wadas.
“Chris pushed me throughout most of the race,” said Krystek, who ran on four Patriot League championship teams for the Bison.
“We took turns taking the lead over the first two miles of the race,”said Krystek, who specialized in the 5K and 10K at Bucknell. “Chris ran in front over the entire third mile. But I took control of the lead at the top of the hill with about one mile to go. Once I moved in front, I kept concentrating on making sure Chris didn’t get close to me over the final mile. I just kept pushing.”
Wadas won last year’s race in 21:08. Krystek’s time was three seconds faster than Wadas’ time from last year. Wadas’ time on Saturday, 21:12, was four seconds slower than his winning time from last year.
Krystek’s girlfriend, Michelle Golden, kept pushing as well. She pushed her way to top female honors, finishing seventh overall in 25:15. The 22-year-old West Pittston resident outraced fellow West Pittston resident, Deedra Porfirio, 38, by 39 seconds. Jen Heck, 44, of West Wyoming, finished third, 1:04 behind Porfirio.
Porfirio, a past winner at West Pittston, finished last year’s race in second place (25:27) behind Shavertown’s Marina Orrson, who clocked in at 22:57. Orrson didn’t run.
“Deedra was within contact of me over the first 2-1/2 miles of the race,” said Golden, who was the captain of the women’s track and cross county teams at Bucknell. “That’s when I surged, opened up my stride and opened up about a 100-meter lead.”
When Golden reached the hills over the later part of the race, she began pushing.
“I just kept pushing to try and maintain my pace to the finish,” said Golden, who specialized in the 5K, 3K and cross country at Bucknell.
Golden, who finished second in the West Pittston race a number of times in the past, was excited about her win.
“Now, I can tell you that I finally won this race,” she said.
38th annual West Pittston Anthracite 4 Mile Run results
Top 1
1. D.J. Krystek, 24, Pittsburgh, 21:05
2. Chris Wadas, 33, Courtdale, 21:12
3. Mickey Moorhead, Wilkes-Barre, 22:15
4. Frank Spear, 29, Clarks Summit, 22:30
5. Chris McCabe, 25, Carlisle, 22:57
6. Thamas Nallon, 32, Swoyersville, 24:04
7. Michelle Golden, 22, W. Pittston, 25:15
8. Federal Porfirio, 38, W. Pittston, 25:34
9. Dave Ruggles, 34, W. Pittston, 26:43
10. Bryan Favver, 29, Moosic, 26:49
Male award winners: Overall: 1. Krystek; 2. Wadas; 3. Moorhead. Age group winners: 14 & under: 1. Lukas Volpetti, W. Wyoming, 31:24; 2. Kendall Heck, W, Wyoming, 32:01. 15-19: 1. Preston Shearer, Montoursville, 30:25; 2. Dexter Shearer, Montoursville, 41:09. 20-24: 1. Len Spearman, W. Pittston, 28:52. 25-29: 1. Frank Spear, Clarks Summit, 22:30; 2. Chris McCabe, Carlisle, 32:57; 3. Bryan Favver, Moosic, 26:49. 30-34: 1. Thomas Nallon, Swoyersville, 29:04; 2. Dave Ruggles, W. Pittston, 26:43; 3. Scott Barnes, Dupont, 33:53. 35-39: 1. Jim Igoe, Jim Thorpe, 28:43. Masters division: 40-44: 1. Jim Albert, Pittston, 28:06; 2. Jim Cole, Plymouth Twp., 29:15; 3. John Kearns, W. Pittston, 29:38. 45-49: 1. Dan Rosa, W. Pittston, 27:06; 2. John Jettic, Hanover Twp., 27:12; 3. Don Shearer, W. Pittston, 28:21. 50-54: 1. Chet Shearer, Montoursviil, 28:59; 2. Bob Bilbow, W. Wyoming, 29:31; 3. Jeff Baran, Bear Twp., 29:46. 55-59: 1. Greg Bassham, Mountain Top, 26:58; 2. Mike Kenney, Wilke-BRre, 27:35; 3. Kevin Southerlard, Scranton, 27:52. 60-64: 1. Ed Lipski, Clarks Summit, 28:35; 2. Rich Novack, Tunkhannock, 32:46. 3. Dave Pavlock, Bear Creek Twp, 32:49. 65-69: 1. Ron Rawls, Mountian. top, 30:28; 2. Max Fureck, Mocanaqua, 30:43; 3. Joe Putka, Mountain Top, 31:33. 70 & over: 1. Len Sowinski, Scott Twp., 30:39; 2. Ron Faust, W. Pittston, 39:03; 3. Joe Naughton, Pocono Pines, 40:49.
Top 3 female finishers
1. Michelle Golden, 22, W. Pittston, 25:15
2. Deedra Porfirio, 38, W. Pittston, 25:54
3. Jen Heck, 44, W. Wyoming, 26:58
Female award winners: Overall: 1. Golden; 2. Porfirio; 3. Heck. Age group winners: 14 & under: None. 15-19: 1. Gabbie Volpetti, Wyoming, 38:38. 20-24:1. Karen Schulte, Trout a Run, 28:57; 2. Shelly Foster, Dallas, 29:27; 3. Meg Hinc, Shavertown, 30:45. 25-29: 1. Heather McAndrew, Duryea, 31:53; 2. Mallory Troynacki, Laflin, 34:19; 3. Alyssa Aritz, Exeter, 35:17. 30-34: 1. Emily Bell, Bear Creek Twp., 28:20; 2. Michelle Falzone, W. Pittston, 29:03; 3. Amy Feldman, Shavertown, 32:04. 35-39: 1. Michelle Wolniec, Plains Twp., 29:00; 2. Chris Zermane, Avoca, 29:36; 3. Nicole Biscotto, Dallas, 29:43. Masters division: 40-44: 1. Kerry Zawadski, Luzerne, 30:34; 2. Jessica Joseph, Dallas, 30:48; 3. Jen Krypel, Forty Fort, 31:33. 45-49: 1. Traci Dutko-Strungis, Mountain Top, 31:38. 50-54: 1. Libby Moran, Harveys Lake, 38:39; 2. Colleen Volpetti, Wyoming, /8:35; 3. Val Jayne, Hunlock Creek, 41:39. 55-59: 1. Jane Colwell, W. Pittston, 37:41; 2. Gloria Rawls, Mountain Top, 39:30. 60-64: 1. Bev Tomasak, Edwardsville, 33:10; 2. Joyce Fioster, 33:32; 3. Deb Alunni, Jessup, 35:11.
Field: 135 entered, 123 finishers. Starter: Charlie Burns. Timing: Vince P. Wojnar (Wyoming Valley Striders). Results: Insta Results. Race director: Don Shearer.
