Published: October 05, 2009 12:38 am      

Virginia man, former IUP runner win marathon

The day was one of triumph for a Front Royal, Va., man whose win was a “Lucky 13.”

For the women’s champion, the day was one that required grit, stamina, and tenacity.

Karsten Brown, 35, captured the men's championship of the 34th Annual YMCA Johnstown Marathon on Sunday on his 13th try, finally lowering his time to that of a champion (2 hours, 45 minutes, 35 seconds).

“This is my 13th year in a row running here. Lucky 13,” Brown said at Point Stadium while cooling down after the race. “This is my best time by far. I had so many years here. I was running 4-hour marathons. I had four or five years where I was a smoker and doing this. I never thought I’d win this - ever.”

For Mindy Sawtelle, 36, an eight-time All-American runner at IUP and a two-time winner of the Johnstown event, the day was very challenging because she was battling some internal factors.

“I’ve been sick all week. It was miserable,” Sawtelle said after running the course in 3 hours, 10 minutes, 10 seconds.

“I was a hurting girl from the start. I knew when I woke up this morning that it was all bad, but I was determined to do it. A win’s a win.”

Sawtelle was quite a distance from the record pace that she set in 1999 (2:46.43), one that still stands as the best in the women’s competition.

To appreciate Brown’s accomplishment, he ran a 4:23.35 in 2004, taking an hour and 38 minutes in his championship run five years late.

A Westmont family that is known for excellence in running provided some outstanding competition in the events. Dave Mock, a former Westmont Hilltop High School state champion in cross country, captured the men's half-marathon. His sister, Lindsay, a former Lady Hilltopper who competed for Pitt-Johnstown and the University of Pittsburgh, finished second to Sawtelle in the women's marathon (3:11.20). Ron Mock, father of Dave and Lindsay, finished first in the 55-to-59 category in the half-marathon.

“It’s nice to come back and run the race with the family,” Dave Mock, a former William & Mary College competitor, said.

“I took some time off after college, but I just missed it. So, I got back into running.”

Tom Lipsie of Indiana, a two-time former champion, finished second to Brown (2:47.59) in a relatively close men’s race.

“The second-place guy was ahead of me until about the 171/2-mile mark,” Brown said. “So he was pulling me along until I caught up with him.”

Lucas Marsak finished third in the men's race (2:51.24) while Teresa Stamplis (3:13.10) was third behind Sawtelle and Mock in the women’s marathon.

The half-marathon and a 5K were added this year, joining the 10K from previous years.

Mike McGee and his wife, Gina, captured both the men's and women’s events in last year’s marathon. However, they competed in the half-marathon on Sunday. Mike McGee (1:20.20) finished second to Mock in the men's half-marathon, while Joe Shetler was third (1:36.46).

Gina McGee (1:27.09) won the women's half-marathon, Lauren Melvin (1:43.10) was second, and Lynn Riley (1:46.50) was third.

Matthew Gagdet won the men’s 10K (34.22) and Sophie Kashurba (47.16), the women’s.

Charlie Weaver (19:26) won the men’s 5K, while Lisa Desanto (25.06) the women's event.

The runners competed in very good conditions, with clouds keeping temperatures in the low to mid-50s.