J.R. Taylor Memorial 5K Race Grows More Support Each Year

Last Updated on Sunday, 11 August 2019 14:25

By Jackson Brower

On Saturday, June 1 a total of 183 participants from all over western Pennsylvania ran and walked in the J.R. Taylor Memorial 5K Race. Every year, the late spring event draws more support from Montour Trail users and the entire community.

Peter Kohnke, Bethel Park Friends of the Montour Trail President, has made a huge impact with his Montour Trail volunteer work.

This year the run began at 8:30 am at the Washington Elementary School parking lot on Clifton Road overlooking the J.R. Taylor Memorial Bridge. The event was very special for Montour Trail volunteers in that it commemorated the 30th anniversary of the renowned 47- mile recreational trail that follows old railway right-of-ways from Coraopolis to Clairton.

It also commemorated the 15th anniversary of the passing of Bethel Park ironworker J.R. Taylor, who died in a fluke accident in June 2004 while doing yard work. Taylor, a popular community resident with many friends and a large caring family, was only 43 years old at the time.

“With the help of the trail council, Bethel Park trail volunteers and many other local organizations, a state-of-the-art 200-foot steel bridge honoring J.R. was constructed over Clifton Road in 2011,” said Bethel Park Friends of the Montour Trail president Peter Kohnke.

Following are the top three winning runners by age group:

Female Overall 5K Winners – 1. Elsie Hackworth, Mt Lebanon; 2. Tammy Williams, McMurray & 3. Sara Hansel, Pittsburgh
Female Master Winner – 1. Meg Burke, Pittsburgh
Female Age 1 to 10 – 1. Molly Biedrzycki, Pittsburgh; 2. Katelyn Coates, Bethel Park & 3. Teagen McKown, Bethel Park
Female Age 11 to 14 – 1. Lillie Hackworth, Pittsburgh; 2. Alex Burt, Bethel Park & 3. Morgan Wood, Canonsburg
Female Age 15 to 19 – 1. Rachel Walters, Pittsburgh & 2. Bree Hayes, Bethel Park
Female Age 20 to 24 – 1. Rachel McClaine, Bethel Park
Female Age 25 to 29 – 1. Jenna Carnahan, Bridgeville; 2. Rachel DeNino, Greensburg & 3. Delanie Pohlot, McMurray
Female Age 30 to 34 – 1. Susan Concillo, Bethel Park; 2. Larissa Ziemianski, Finleyville & 3. Shannon Riskey, Venetia
Female Age 35 to 39 – 1. Allison Rowland, Pittsburgh; 2. Jessica Reddinger-Litke, Bethel Park & 3. Molly Quinn, Venetia
Female Age 40 to 44 – 1. Beth Biedrzycki, Pittsburgh; 2. Lauren Lisien, Pittsburgh & 3. Jennifer Smith, Bethel Park
Female Age 45 to 49 – 1. Kim Walters, Pittsburgh; 2. Erica Kain, Sewickley & 3. Rachael Woldoff, Pittsburgh
Female Age 50 to 54 – 1. Beth Arzillo, Bethel Park; 2. Carmen Rios, Pittsburgh & 3. Valerie Sherbondy, McDonald
Female Age 55 to 59 – 1. Judy Minkemeyer, Wheeling, WV; 2. Carey Gates, Pittsburgh & 3. Linda Taylor, Canonsburg
Female Age 60 to 64 – 1. Carla Pfeifer, Bethel Park; 2. Kimberly Thomas, Bethel Park & 3. Gina Luisi, Bethel Park
Female Age 65 to 69 – 1. Jill Dodin, Pittsburgh; 2. Pam Backstrom, Bethel Park & 3. Sharon Sanner, South Park
Female Age 70 & over – 1. Shirl Mahoney, South Park; 2. Charlotte Bogner, Pittsburgh & Lea Cook, Bethel Park
Male Overall 5K Winners – 1. Ian Cayzer, Pittsburgh (originally from Australia); 2. Ryan Clark, Pittsburgh & 3. Arjun Mishra, Pittsburgh
Male Masters Winner – 1. Oscar Shutt, Bethel Park
Male Age 1 to 10 – 1. Charlie Skeen, Fort Mitchell, KY; 2. Cedric Otey, Pittsburgh, PA & 3. Tyler Wood, Canonsburg
Male Age 11 to 14 – 1. Evan Williams, McMurray; 2. Josh Kosmach, South Park & 3. Caden Coates, Bethel Park
Male Age 15 to 19 – 1. Lucas Dunst, McMurray, 2. Anthony Walters, Pittsburgh & 3. Aaron Brula, Venetia
Male Age 20 to 24 – 1. Matthew Detar, Bridgeville; 2. Christian Buccilli, Venetia & 3. Sean McClaine, Bethel Park
Male Age 25 to 29 – 1. Joshua Kammeraad, Bethel Park; 2. Joshua Penderville, Bethel Park & 3. Geoff Backstrom, Bethel Park
Male Age 30 to 34 – 1. Dennis McKenna, Pittsburgh; 2. Ben Hinton, Belle Vernon & 3. Robert Bonser, Carmichaels
Male Age 35 to 39 – 1. Ryan Silvis, Bethel Park; 2. Travis Miller, Pittsburgh & 3. Anthony Palermo, Jefferson Hills
Male Age 40 to 44 – 1. Matthew Hackworth, Pittsburgh; 2. Matthew Otey, Pittsburgh & 3. Charles Douch, Bethel Park
Male Age 45 to 49 – 1. Victor Walters, Pittsburgh; 2. Tom Coates, Bethel Park & 3. Ron Straw, McMurray
Male Age 50 to 54 – 1. Barry Henck, Pittsburgh; 2. John Mutsavage, Forest Hills & 3. David Deter, Bridgeville
Male Age 55 to 59 – 1. Sijian Zhang, Pittsburgh; 2. Mike Romzy, Pittsburgh & 3. Jim Kaufman, Pittsburgh
Male Age 60 to 64 – 1. Ron Coulson, Bethel Park; 2. Ron Pfeifer, Bethel Park & 3. Thomas Jarding, Wyano
Male Age 65 to 69 – 1. James Davis, Bethel Park; 2. John Schmidt, Pittsburgh & 3. James Travitz, South Park
Male Age 70 & over – 1. Bruce Cook, Bethel Park & H.Wayne Williams, Bethel Park