LEHMAN TWP. — Jeff Skwierz and Marina Orrson ran to their third straight wins in the Wyoming Valley Striders 37th annual Winter’s End Run on Sunday at Penn State Wilkes-Barre.

Skwierz, 34, of Forty Fort, finished the 4.5 miler in 24 minutes and eight seconds. The former Hazleton Area High School and Lock Haven University standout finished 1:06 ahead of second-place finisher, Mickey Moorhead, who ran for Coughlin High School and Drexel University.

“I’m getting ready for the Scranton Half Marathon (on Sunday), so I wanted to get in a good, solid run here today,” Skwierz said. “I wanted to run between 5:15 and 5:18 per mile. I ran at that pace over the first 1-1/2 miles. But when I started hitting the mug, I got slowed down a bit. I had a big lead, so I just settled into a good pace the rest of the way.”

Like Skwierz, Orrson is also getting ready for the Scranton Half Marathon.

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She won top female honors with a third-place overall finish in 26:08.

“I just wanted to see where I’m at,” Orrson said. “I’m also running The Boston Marathon (April 17) this year, so the Scranton Half will serve as a training run for that. I haven’t been getting in a lot of running so far this season. Nevertheless, I’m happy with my time.”

Both Skwierz and Orrson’s times were slower this year when compared to last year. Skwierz won last year’s race in 23:43. And Orrson’s winning time last year was 25:43.

The race was originally scheduled for last week, but was postponed because of bad weather. The change resulted in a smaller than usual field. Their were 89 finishers. Thirty-two runners who originally registered for the race did not attend.

Wyoming Valley Striders 37th annual

Winter’s End (4.5 mile) Run results

Top 10 finishers

Jeff Skwierz, 34, Forty Fort, 24:08

Mickey Moorhead, 23, Wilkes-Barre, 25:14

Marina Orrson, 25, Shavertown, 26:08

John Martino, 32, Dallas, 26:23

Markus Anttila, 37, S. Abington, 27:35

Ken Quigley, 46, Dunmore, 27:47

Muscovitch, 41, Jim Thorpe, 28:41

Sean Robbins, 48, Shavertown, 29:30

William Mussari, 37, Jessup, 29;46

Emily Bell, 34, Bear Creek Twp., 30:28

Male awards: Overall: Skwierz. Age group winners: 14 & under: 1. Dylan Zoranski, Swoyersville, 34:13. 20-24: 1. Mickey Moorhead, Wilkes-Barre, 25:14. 25-29: 1. Raphael Verdetto, Old Forge, 32:43. 1. John Martino, Dallas, 26:23; 2. Jon Milius, Plymouth, 33:18; 3. Mingtong Lu, Avoca, 42:59. 35-39: 1. Markus Anttila, S. Abington, 27:35; 2. William Mussari, Jessup, 29:46; 3. JoeMaskalis, Shickshinny, 30:45. Masters division: 40-44: 1. Bob Muscovitch, Jim Thorpe, 28:41; 2. Rob Baran, Hudson, 31:49; 3. Tony Zigmont, Wyoming, 32:30. 45-49: 1. Ken Quigley, Dunmore, 27:47; 2. Sean Robbins, Shavertown, 29:30; 3. Pat O’Connell, Bloomsburg, 33:57. 50-54: 1. Dave Stanitis, Plymouth, 34:01; 2. John Fazzi, Bear Creek Twp., 34:50; 3. Joe Soprano, Havover Twp., 43:03. 55-59: 1. Larry Pikul, Bloomsburg, 32:36; 2. Herb Kline, Bloomsburg, 32:40; 3. Greg Bassham, Mountain Top, 32:50. 60-64: 1. Rich Owens, Wilkes-Barre, 44:09; 2. Ernie Morgan, Shickshinny, 56:09. 65-69: 1. Rick Hueholt, Berwick, 38:28; 2. Ron Rawls, Mountain Top, 44:43; 3. Dennis Wolfe, Williamsport, 53:13. 70 & over: 1. Max Furek, Mocanaqua, 39:34; 2. Eric Snyder, Sugarloaf, 54:41; 3. Tom Berezich, Shavertown, 1:04:29.

Female award winners: Overall: Orrson. Age group winners: 14 & under: None. 20-24: 1. Jen Borton, Harding, 38:18. 25-29: 1. Geri Prohaska, Pittston, 50:18. 30-34: 1. Emily Bell, Bear Creek Twp., 30:28; 2. Eryn Milius, Plymouth, 30:52; 3. Jen Palmaioli, Kingston, 39:39. 35-39: 1. Tiffany Leventhal, Honesdale, 30:35; 2. Jill Matthews, Ashley, 32:56; 3. Brenda Karavitch, Shavertown, 34:38. Masters division: 40-44: 1. Pat Buzinkai, Kingston, 32:25; 2. Jen Corcoran, Shavertown, 37:44. 45-49: 1. Ann Zoranski, Kingston, 32:45; 2. Chris Fazzi, Bear Creek Twp., 37:33; 3. Amy Scully, Wilkes-Barre, 44:20. 50-54: 1. Wendy Fisk, Dallas, 34:14; 2. Richelle Fessler, Bloomsburg, 36:50; 3. Sandra Orrson, Shavertown, 38:45. 55-59: 1. Mary Wargo, Shavertown, 43:14; 2. Libby Moran, Harveys Lake, 46:52. 60 & over: 1. Joyce Foster, Dallas, 36:11.

Field: 89 finishers, 32 no shows. Pace bike: John Fisher. Starter and timing: Vince P. Wojnar. Results: Tony Pszeniczny.

Schedule

Saturday: 10th annual Susquehanna Warrior Trail 5K Run at Susquehanna Warrior Trail, Oak St., Shickshinny at 10:15 a.m. Info: susquehannawarriortrail.org

Sunday: 3rd annual Scranton Half Marathon at Memorial Stadium, Scranton at 9 a.m. Info: Scranton Running Company, 570-955-0921.

For other sports stories, click here.

Eighty-nine runners took part in the Wyoming Valley Striders 37th annual Winter’s End Run on Sunday at Penn State Wilkes-Barre.
http://www.psdispatch.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/03/web1_we3_faa.jpg.optimal.jpgEighty-nine runners took part in the Wyoming Valley Striders 37th annual Winter’s End Run on Sunday at Penn State Wilkes-Barre. Fred Adams | For Times Leader

Jeff Skwierz, of Forty Fort, was the overall winner after finishing the 4.5-mile run in 24:08.
http://www.psdispatch.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/03/web1_we2_faa.jpg.optimal.jpgJeff Skwierz, of Forty Fort, was the overall winner after finishing the 4.5-mile run in 24:08. Fred Adams | For Times Leader

Marina Orrson, of Shavertown, was the first female finisher with a 26:08 finish.
http://www.psdispatch.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/03/web1_we1_faa.jpg.optimal.jpgMarina Orrson, of Shavertown, was the first female finisher with a 26:08 finish. Fred Adams | For Times Leader

By Robert Miner

For Times Leader

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