January 13, 2018
University Park, PA

There was a huge turnout for the first meet of the 2018 Indoor Mile Series, several close finishes, and one Series Record. Forty-seven runners came out of the cold to the Horace Ashenfelter III Multi-Sport Facility for the morning's races. In the first heat, a group of PSU ran in a close pack for the whole race to take the four top places. At first, it looked like the pace might have brought the leaders in under 6 minutes, and the way these women ran, that benchmark will surely be attained in the coming weeks. Erica Pitcavage was first in 6:06.69. followed by Molly Holmes (6:07.51), with Grace McStravock finishing third in 6:10.80.

In the second heat, Baylee Robey led from start to finish, far outpacing the field to finish in 5:26.40. Next meet she will surely move up a heat! Joey Stoltz was second in 5:39.71, and Jo Ohm cam in third in 5:4.50.

The third heat had another very tight quartet holding the lead for the whole race. Joshua Forrest was first in 4:53.09, followed closely by Steve Hanna in 4:55.31. Third place, along with a place in the Indoor Mile Series record books, went to Allie Martin, who now has the women's Series record with her finish of 4:55.64.

The fast heat started out slow, with the leaders content to stay in a pack at about a 4:40 pace. But the last quarter mile showed a gear change, with the last lap run by several of the contestants at a blazing pace. Joe Clark sprinted to the finish in 4:27.17, with Christopher Cipro second in 4:32.72 and Matthew Balogh third in 4:33.46. Dave Rasmussen, a regular leader in the Series when he was a law student here some years ago, is back in town and ready to challenge for the top spots again. Dave's return to the Series saw him finish 6th in 4:36.42.

The second meet in the Series will be on Friday, January 26.



The four leaders early in Heat 1 finished pretty closely, though the order changed.


Heat 1
——————

Place  Name                      Time
-----  ----                      ----
 1.    Erica Pitcavage          6:06.69
 2.    Molly Holmes             6:07.51
 3.    Grace McStravock         6:10.80
 4.    Clare Gervino            6:21.76
 5.    Marty Klanchar           6:26.30 (M)
 6.    Phillip Pillin           6:32.38 (M)
 7.    Wilma DePiore            6:46.90 (M)
 8.    Marc Burns               6:52.70 (M)
 9.    David Lloyd              7:02.16 (M)    

Heat 2
——————

Place  Name                      Time
-----  ----                      ----
 1.    Baylee Robey             5:26.40
 2.    Joey Stoltz              5:39.71
 3.    Johanna Ohm              5:42.50
 4.    Keith Davies             5:42.80
 5.    John Affleck             5:46.90 (M)
 6.    Michael Martin           5:52.00
 7.    Doug Schunk              5:54.87
 8.    Matt Smith               5:55.01 (M)
 9.    Keith Henderson          6:04.52 (M)
10.    Sean Hillman             6:16.22
11.    Rich Harter              6:43.97 (M)

Heat 3
——————

Place  Name                      Time
-----  ----                      ----
 1.    Joshua Forrest           4:53.09
 2.    Steve Hanna              4:55.31
 3.    Allie Martin             4:55.64 (R)
 4.    Mark Colwell             4:58.83 (M)
 5.    Ryan Clark               5:02.34
 6.    Austin Sperl             5:06.75
 7.    Nikita Fedkin            5:09.28
 8.    Shundai Li               5:09.97 (M)
 9.    Adam Creveling           5:12.36
10.    Suz Stein                5:20.20
11.    Costas Maranas           5:24.20 (M)
12.    Isaac Messner            5:42.14

Heat 4
——————

Place  Name                      Time
-----  ----                      ----
 1.    Joe Clark                4:27.17
 2.    Christopher Cipro        4:32.72
 3.    Matthew Balogh           4:33.46
 4.    Andrew Hanna             4:33.62
 5.    Ben Heitsch              4:34.07
 6.    David Rasmussen          4:36.42
 7.    Matt Pennock             4:38.11
 8.    Mark Puleo               4:39.84
 9.    Lukas Marcelis           4:45.32
10.    Raymond Friend           4:47.29
11.    Mike Walro               4:50.16
12.    Aaron Seip               4:51.49
13.    Brody McElwain           5:00.60
14.    Wyatt Bascom             5:21.58
15.    Matthew Rodgers          5:21.95

M - Indicates Masters (40 and over) runner
R - Indicates NVRC Indoor Mile Series Record