First Posted: 8/18/2014
DALLAS – The nasty scars on his left shoulder and upper thigh clearly suggested a recent scrape with some asphalt.
But by the end of Sunday, the whole Wilkes-Barre Triathlon field received a Brush burn.
Shrugging off a recent practice accident on Route 118 suffered while he was preparing for the event, former collegiate pitcher Stephen Brush fired a fastball in his new sport by winning the grueling Olympic-distance division of the Wilkes-Barre Triathlon with a time of 2:20:14.
That was easily faster than the time of Robbie Gould, of Drums, who wound up second overall in 2:26:43, and the first-place finish felt much better than the tumble Brush took on the same course earlier this month.
“I fell two weeks ago, doing this course, preparing for it,” said Brush, a Dunmore resident. “I was doing 30 miles an hour. I wiped out on 118. I went about 20 feet in the street.”
He may as well have been 20 miles in front of the rest of the rest of the Olympic-distance lineup competing in the 1.5K swim, 40K bike ride and 11K run – although that was tough to gauge in a jumbled group of competitors.
With Wilkes-Barre’s recently-created Sprint Division – which included racers covering half the distances of the Olympic-level swim, bike and run event – mixed into the field, even Shavertown’s Kelly Ciravolo had trouble deciphering if she’d just captured her fifth women’s crown in the Wilkes-Barre Triathlon moments after crossing the finish line.
“Are we sure I won?” a skeptical Ciravolo wondered for a long while afterwards, until official results were finally announced. “There were Sprinters, there were Olympic (-distance) people I didn’t know (on the course) and usually I know a lot of the competitors. I was sure there was a girl (who finished) ahead of me.”
Not in the Olympic-distance women’s field.
Ciravolo was back on top of the women’s division Sunday with a time of 2:28:31, a year after she failed to finish in front of the women’s field while running the Wilkes-Barre Triathlon little more than two weeks after giving birth to her now 1-year-old daughter Tuula.
“Who doesn’t do a triathlon 16 days after delivery?” Ciravolo laughed.
This summer, her husband Scott’s frightening battle with Lyme Disease took Ciravolo away from the sport for a spell.
“I missed a lot of training,” Ciravolo said. “He was on antibiotics for six weeks, he was in the hospital. But he’s here, he’s up and walking around now. I missed all my big races, but what’s more important?”
She wasn’t about to miss Wilkes-Barre, though. After all that’s where Ciravolo met her husband while she was winning two Wilkes-Barre races under her maiden name Kelly Ochinko. She married Scott a month after one Wilkes-Barre Triathlon and the family grew around two other Wilkes-Barre races – as both Tuula and 5-year-old Gemma were both born in August.
“I just can’t imagine sitting this race out,” Ciravolo said.
She certainly wasn’t doing much sitting Sunday.
Ciravolo’s winning time bested women’s runner-up Charlene Aquilina, of Wyoming, who finished in 2:40:30.
That margin may have been greater if Ciravolo didn’t have to put her bike back together.
“My chain came off,” she said. “Coming downhill. I had to stop. The last race, I flatted. I said, ‘Please, just let me finish this one.’”
Former Lock Haven University pitcher Brush felt fortunate just to make the start.
He was knocked unconscious during that crash earlier this month while practicing for Wilkes-Barre a couple weeks ago, an accident that happened while he was trying to avoid a car on bike training.
So imagine Brush’s reaction when the lead vehicle stopped in front of him on the Wilkes-Barre course.
“I felt pretty scared,” Brush said. “But the course is so much fun.”
It became as exciting for him as a strikeout to wrap up a victory in the bottom of the ninth.
“I never really learned how to pitch, but I threw hard,” Brush said of his surgery-plagued college career.
Now he goes hard.
Brush said he was in the swimming pool for triathlon training just two hours after his accident, which left him with fresh burns on his body that are still noticeable.
All in the name of completing a game on top of the hill.
“I definitely thought it was realistic,” Brush said, “especially since two guys who usually do this race weren’t doing it. I thought this was my chance to become victorious. I knew I had a good bike and a good swim.
“It feels good.”
As for that Sprint race, Matthew Stephens of Lewisburg won it and was the first triathlete to cross the finish line in any category with a time of 1:29:15. He bested Mountain Top’s Jonathan Bilbow, who clocked in at 1:32:54. Nadalie Solomon, of Nuangola, won the women’s Sprint title in 1:43:40.
And Yonah Wasik, Brian Hazenski and Russ Susko teamed up to win the relay race, finishing with a time of 2:25:18 to edge the 2:27:01 finish of Matt VanDerMeid, Greg Klusewitz and Mitch Ford.
***
Wilkes-Barre Triathlon Top Finishers
OLYMPIC DISTANCE
Men
Overall
1. Stephen Brush, Dunmore`23:12
2. Robert Gould, Drums`25:29
3. Andy McDonald, Clarks Summitt`29:24
Age Groups
14-19
1. Troy Reinert, Shavertown`2:53:44
2. John Kane, Shavertown`3:15:18
3. Patrick Newhart, Dallas`3:15:18
4. Ryan Leblanc, Larchmont`3:22:54
20-24
1. Scott Skammer, Dallas`2:38:43
2. Joshua Allgaier, Ambler`2:39:14
3. Marc Eder, Princeton, N.J.`2:39:32
4. Jared Barilla, Swoyersville`2:50:00
5. Brad Thomas, Trucksville`2:50:03
25-29
1. Alex Spott, Scranton`2:33:43
2. William Eggleston, Binghamton, NY`2:42:19
3. Marcus Magyar, Forty Fort`3:02:38
4. Gregory Rushing, New York`3:04:22
5. David Sandrowicz, Swoyersville`3:30:33
30-34
1. Kim Hawkins, Moscow`2:35:59
2. Timothy Craven, Kingston`2:39:05
3. Douglas Yeager, Dallas`2:43:37
4. Robert Cicci, Peckville`3:07:21
5. Michael Kulinski, Springfield, Va.`3:23:31
35-39
1. Matthew Nebzydoski, Montrose`2:32:14
2. Mike Adamshick, Dallas`2:35:51
3. Jarrod Baranowski, Lancaster`2:36:46
4. Brian Hilburt, Wilkes-Barre`2:42:50
5. John Loforte, Freeland`2:49:45
40-44
1. Andrew Morgan, Clarks Summit`2:31:25
2. Randy Stanfield, Gilbertsville`2:33:24
3. William Deemer, Kingston`2:38:43
4. Craig Borders, Carbondale`2:40:30
5. Raymond Fabrizio, Phila.`2:46:48
45-49
1. Jerome Washo, Montrose`2:39:53
2. Daniel Edwards, Burlington, N.J.`2:40:43
3. Thomas Pollock, Sugarloaf`2:47:07
4. John Tulaney, Dunmore`2:54:55
5. Gregory Breidenstine, Hershey`3:12:44
50-54
1. Jack Davis, Scranton`2:43:58
2. Robert Oley, Dallas`2:46:00
3. Robert Guzzi, Dalton`2:52:18
4. Paul Lumia, Dallas`3:02:01
5. Richard Pais, Wilkes-Barre`3:08:46
55-59
1. Charles Eckman, Dallas`2:48:55
2. Con McCole, Wilkes-Barre`2:51:59
3. Stephen Taren, Kingston`2:54:21
4. Sid Halsor, Dallas`2:59:48
5. Peter Eckman, Shavertown`3:03:03
60-64
1. Oliver Mellet, Philadelphia`2:51:42
2. Howard Minnick, New Cumberland`3:14:44
3. Bill Fiore, Clarks Green`3:24:01
4. Bruce Palevac, Scranton`3:39:51
5. Michael Last, Wilkes-Barre`3:44:04
70-99
1. Carl Walker, Downingtown`4:18:45
Women
Overall
1. Kelly Ciravolo, Shavertown`28:15
2. Charlene Aquilina, Wyoming`29:19
3. Jessica Chesman, Dallas`29:23
Age Groups
14-19
1. Anah Bozentka, Kingston`2:53:44
2. Samantha Sabol, Shavertown`3:12:39
3. Morgan Manglaviti, Lake Winola`3:19:41
4. Elizabeth Wood, Kingston`3:28:11
20-24
1. Erin Hannigan, West Pittston`2:54:33
2. Stephanie McCole, Wilkes-Barre`2:59:35
3. Alex Leandri, Mechanicsburg`3:01:45
4. Meghan Pietraccini, Dallas`3:18:17
25-29
1. Katherine Weaver, Scranton`3:00:35
30-34
1. Kelly Dinan, Mountain Top`3:17:12
2. Danae Labar, West Chester`3:23:25
3. Arielle Martone, Phila.`3:33:38
35-39
1. Lindsey Leigh, Harrisburg`2:43:52
2. Kelly Adamshick, Dallas`2:49:41
3. Elyse Wilson, Shavertown`3:15:15
4. Karin Getz, Hughestown, 3:26:04
40-44
1. Laura Cedergren, Gilbertsville`2:47:57
2. Michele Covington, Olyphant`2:52:11
3. Kerry Potter, West Pittston`2:52:55
4. Jennifer Heck, West Wyoming`3:05:06
5. Tara Scarangelli, Philadelphia`3:13:02
45-49
1. Joelle Fair, Scotrun`3:12:10
2. Deana Manzoni, Dallas`3:24:04
3. Susan Jones, Gales Ferry, Ct.`3:25:51
4. Bridget White, Tunkhannock`4:01:13
5. Susan Dillmuth-Miller, Coplay`4:08:05
50-54
1. Colleen Morda, Forty Fort`2:00:27
2. Denise Thomas, Kingston`4:16:07
55-59
1. Susan O’Connor, Scranton`3:11:37
60-64
1. Leslie Mellet, Phila.`3:11:56
Olympic Clydesdales Awards
1. Steve Decker, Robesonia`2:57:29
2. John Lynott, Clarks Summit`3:04:07
3. Ryan Blaszczak, Millersville`3:04:34
4. Brian Donahue, Scranton`3:29:39
5. John Scott, Mystic, Ct.`4:08:11
SPRINT DISTANCE
Men
Overall
1. Matthew Stepehens, Lewisburg`1:29:15
2. Jonathan Bilbow, Mountain Top`1:32:54
3. Charles Fino, Taylor`1:38:34
Age Groups
14-19
1. James Pepel, Staten Island, NY`1:43:16
2. A.J. Spears, Dallas`2:06:02
3. Douglas Adams, Williamsport`2:16:03
4. Alexei Walutes, Hawley`2:28:41
20-24
1. Nicholas Lombard, Shavertown`1:50:06
2. Mordecai Bell, Shavertown`1:56:34
3. Benjamin Bell, Shavertown`1:57:36
4. Jeff Smith, Harveys Lake`2:15:27
5. Kyle Freeman, Harveys Lake`2:20:14
25-29
1. Thomas Kutney, White Haven`1:53:33
2. Mike Bickley, Clarks Summit`2:12:05
3. Keith Walsh, Philadelphia`2:17:13
4. Josh Davis, Scott Town`2:54:32
30-34
1. John Orloski, Lake Ariel`1:46:20
2. Michael Bair, Malvern`1:54:34
3. Kris Januzzi, Kingston`1:55:48
4. Scott Barnes, Dupont`2:11:31
5. Brian Sapak, Mountain Top`2:52:55
35-39
1. Shaun Daney, Dallas`1:49:22
2. Paul Keeler, South Abington`1:57:54
3. Cody Friedel, Plains`2:00:39
4. John Harkins, Dallas`2:14:07
5. David Larrabee, Waltham`2:33:31
40-44
1. Michael Wilczynski, Mountain Top`1:49:10
2. Phil Pisano, Pittston`1:57:28
3. Garrett Barr, West Pittston`2:06:32
4. Jay Nardone, Moosic`2:18:38
45-49
1. Jeffrey Miller, Sugarloaf`1:43:15
2. Allen Hall, Phila.`1:45:15
3. Paul Hoda, White Haven`1:47:25
4. Rick Morgan, Shavertown`1:54:47
5. David Bass, Hunlock Creek`2:00:38
50-54
1. Lou Ciampi, Wyoming`1:48:56
2. Jeffrey Baran, Bear Creek`2:06:36
3. Ron Matusiak, Dallas`2:19:38
4. Eric Adams, Williamsport`2:23:52
55-59
1. Tom Cross, Wilkes-Barre`2:03:41
2. John Schultz, Dunmore`2:04:18
3. Michael Smith, Jefferson Twp.`2:32:42
4. Butch Dimitris, Lancaster`2:51:54
60-64
1. David Kowalek, Shavertown`1:59:12
2. Anthony Waldron, Hawley`2:23:18
Women
Overall
1. Nadalie Solomon, Nuangola`1:43:40
2. Nicole Sennett, Mountain Top`1:55:10
3. Alyssa Romano, Harveys Lake`1:56:17
Age Groups
14-19
1. Rachel Olszewski, Dallas`2:02:38
20-24
1. Rachel Lacek, Manheim`2:01:05
2. Kyla Halsor, Dallas`2:07:07
25-29
1. Megan Crawford, Harveys Lake`1:59:58
2. Christina Bair, Malvern`2:47:16
30-34
1. Anna Ristau, Clarks Summit`2:02:33
2. Beth Depolo, Flourtown`2:02:38
3. Nicole Valkenburg, Exeter`2:02:53
4. Elissa Jacob, Tunkhannock`2:04:55
5. Tia Kavulich, Scranton`2:23:35
35-39
1. Nikki Perschy, East Stroudsburg`1:58:31
2. Anne Bramblett, West Pittston`2:05:03
40-44
1. Carey Zapusek, Wapwallopen`2:01:02
2. Heidi Vanhamme, New York`2:04:31
3. Sandra Darling, Dallas`2:10:34
4. Claudia Eckstrom, Columbia`2:28:28
5. Heather Bower, Drums`2:30:30
45-49
1. Donna Rodio, Phila.`1:56:50
2. Donna May, Swoyersville`2:19:54
3. Jackie Kotch, Plains`2:20:03
4. Darlene Sabol, East Stroudsburg`2:20:59
5. Dana McCafferty, Furlong`2:36:50
50-54
1. Susan Mulholland, Taylor`2:14:51
2. Melissa Scartelli, Scranton`2:17:29
3. Mary Kate McGinty, Phila.`3:03:56
55-59
1. Barbara Bell, Shavertown`2:14:20
2. Dawn Frey, Emmaus`2:18:02
3. Susan Smith, Wyoming`2:27:57
4. Patti O’Hora, Lake Ariel`2:56:20
5. Kathleen Ford, Harveys Lake`3:12:14
60-64
1. Abigail Call, Harveys Lake`3:10:28
Sprint Clydesdales Awards
1. John Knowles, Scranton`2:16:14
2. Paul Pruce, Mountain Top`2:40:54
Relay
Overall
1. Yonah Wasik/Brian Hazenski/Russ Susko – 2:25:18
2. Matt VanDerMeid/Greg Klusewitz/Mitch Ford – 2:27:01
3. Jordan Metz/David Sabol/Chris Sabol – 2:31:08
4. Erin Kazmierczak/Christopher Stine/Chriss Krall – 2:31:16
5. Michelle Fernando/George Lacey/Nyandusi Omurwa – 2:31:57
