HANOVER TWP. — Stephen Walski ran to his second straight victory and Nadalie Solomon won top female honors in the 2nd annual Navient Ladders & Laces 5K Run on Sunday morning at the student loan facility.

Walski, 35, of West Wyoming, broke the tape in 19 minutes and 24 seconds, bettering his time from last year in the inaugural race by 1:21. However, last year’s race was run in below freezing temperatures with a strong wind. Walski had only been running on a steady basis for about a year going into that race.

With another year of running under his belt and with much better weather conditions, Walski ran much better this time around.

“I put on a little bit of a surge and moved in front about a half mile into the race,” Walski said. “I was running by myself until the 3-mile marker. I could hear someone behind me at that point. I wasn’t sure how far behind me he was. So I went into my kick and held him off for the win.”

Those footsteps belonged to Al Trybulski, 42, of Wilkes-Barre Township, who finished five seconds behind Walski. Noah Segear, 18, of Wilkes-Barre, finished third, 12 seconds behind Trybulski.

Solomon, 38, of Nuangola, won the female division with a fourth-place overall finish in 20:06. Solomon is no stranger to winning area races. She’s a past winner in the Red Cross Run for the Red 5K, Bear Creek 5K and the Gate of Heaven 5K.

“There were a couple of girls who really took it out fast right from the start,” Solomon said. “I caught and passed them a half mile into the race. Then I just settled into a nice pace and began focusing on the guys in front of me the rest of the way.”

Olivia Lanza, 22, of Falls, finished second among the females. Lanza ran cross country and track for Pittston Area High School. Alicia Orzechowski, 13, of Honover Twp., finished third in 21:39.

The race raises funds for the Hanover Township Fire Department. The firemen were called out to a 4-story double block fire in Ashley at 1:18 a.m. They fought the fire until 6:15 a.m. Then the firemen came directly to the race to work as volunteers, said Hanover Township Fire Chief Joe Temarantz.

2nd annual Navient Ladders & Laces 5K Run results

Top 3 overall male winners

Stephen Walaki, 35, W. Wyoming, 19:24

Al Trybulski, 42, Wilkes-Barre Twp., 19:29

Noah Segrar, 18, Wilkes-Barre, 19:41

Male age group award winners: Overall: Male age group winners: 14 & under: 1. Frank Yuscavage, 26:15; 2. Rio Bantell, 30:24. 15-19: 1. David Perrins, Mountain Top, 34:53. 20-24: 1. Justin Welliver, Wilkes-Barre, 20:18; 2. Stephen Potter, 21:18; 3. Eric Klemchak, Bear Creek Twp., 21:24. 25-29: 1. Nick Major, Harveys Lake, 21:39; 2. Josh Hamilton, Plymouth, 25:31. 30-34: 1. Brian Stubbs, Pittston, 21:30; 2. John Wren, Hanover Twp., 25:30; 3. Jeff Sabecky, Hanover Twp., 29:09. 35-39: 1. Chris Rebovich, Wilkes-Barre, 35:06. Masters division: 40-44: 1. Tom Mcgeer, Wilkes-Barre, Wilkes-Barre, 21:05; 2. Jose Tlatelpa, 23:30; 3. Ryan Cywinski, Hanover Twp., 27:21. 45-49: 1. Ed Steber, Shickshinny, 24:09. 50-54: 1. Ray Cebular, Richmondale, 24:45; 2. Bob Williams, Hanover Twp. 31:13; 3. Bob Loveless, Mountain Top, 31:23. 55-59: 1. Larry Pikul, Wilkes-Barre Twp., 21:27. 60-64: 1. Dave Giuliarelli, 28:51. 65-69: 1. Tom Walski, Nanticoke, 26:06; 2. Len Simpson, LaPorte, 28:07.

Top 3 overall female winners

Nadalie Solomon, 38, Nuangola, 20:06

Olivia Lanza, 22, Falls, 20:46

Alicia Orzechowski, 13, 21:39

Female age group winners: 14 & under: 1. Lia Keefe, Dallas, 24:13; 2. Anya Gramlich, 26:34; 3. Irelyn Karnes, Nanticoke, 32:47. 15-19: 1. Allyson Wilson, Scranton, 43:56. 20-24: 1. Male ride Monroe, 31:41; 2. Kayla Connolly, Hanover Twp., 35:04; 3. Jasmine Dyer, 39:54. 25-29: 1. Sam Mattie, Harveys Lake, 25:34; 2. Serena Hamilton, Plymouth, 26:20; 3. Kaitlyn Swales, Wilkes-Barre, 31:40. 30-34: 1. Kim Kelly, Old Forge, 30:27; 2. Joelle Gavlick, Swedesboro, 33:56; 3. Jennifer Green, Scranton, 43:52. 35-39: 1. Michelle Falzone, W. Pittston, 22:05; 2. Jill Matthews, Ashley, 22:36; 3. Jenny Guesto, Wilkes-Barre, 32:53. Masters division: 40-44: 1. Nicole Hummer, Hanover Twp., 30:25; 2. Lisa Cooper, 35:38; 3. Ann Motovidlak,37:50. 45-49: 1. Kim Rebovich, Wilkes-Barre, 26:58; 2. Jane Conboy, 32:25; 3. Cindy Boyle, Nanticoke, 33:05. 50-54: 1. Margaret Loveless, Mountain Top, 32:44; 2. Karen Buerger-Talacka, Marlton, 36:48. 55-59: 1. Patty Leighton, 26:07; 2. Ann Drazba, 30:15; 3. Marie Wisniewski, 46:30. 60-64: 1. Stephanie Walski, 32:31.

Field: 182. Starter: Patti Potomis. Timing and results: kirbysracetiming.com Race directors: Potomis, Lauren Pollman, Karen Makowski and Heather Anderson. Site leader: Lisa Stashik.

Schedule

Sunday, May 7: Wyoming Valley Striders 43rd annual Cherry Blossom 5 Mile Run and 1 Mile Fun Walk “Tim Thomas Memorial” at Kirby Park at 10 a.m. Info: Don Grose, 570-239-5792.

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By Robert Miner

For Times Leader

Reach Times Leader sports at 570-829-7143 or on Twitter @tlsports.