The Stockade-athon

Schenectady NY/USA

Race Winners (33 runnings)

09 Nov 2008

47:52

Emory Mort (NY/USA)

55:51

Kaitlin O'Sullivan (NY/USA)

11 Nov 2007

46:36

Andy Allstadt (NY/USA)

57:30

Eileen Combs (NY/USA)

12 Nov 2006

47:40

C. Fred Joslyn (NY/USA)

56:41

Kara-Lynn Kerr (NY/USA) -2

13 Nov 2005

47:22

Kevin Collins (NY/USA) -4

56:19

Jessica Manzer (NY/USA)

14 Nov 2004

48:59

Tom Dalton (NY/USA) -6

56:24

Kara-Lynn Kerr (NY/USA)

09 Nov 2003

47:29

Kevin Collins (NY/USA)

56:02

Debbie Springer (NY/USA)-2

10 Nov 2002

47:15

Chris Hartshorn (NY/USA)

57:27

Lori Hewig (NY/USA) -7

11 Nov 2001

47:35

Kevin Collins (NY/USA)

56:51

Emily Bryans (NY/USA) -2

12 Nov 2000

48:53

S. Chris Getman (NY/USA)

55:59

Dana Ostrander (NY/USA)

14 Nov 1999

49:01

Jason Dejoy (NY/USA) -2

57:57

Lori Hewig (NY/USA)

08 Nov 1998

48:02

Vincent O'Brien (NY/USA)

58:59

Emily Bryans (USA)

09 Nov 1997

47:10

Jason Dejoy (NY/USA)

56:35(t)

Lisa Vaill (NY/USA) -2

10 Nov 1996

47:01

John Trowse (NY/USA) -2

58:28

Debbie Springer (NY/USA)

05 Nov 1995

46:25

Kevin Collins (NY/USA)

53:21

Lori Hewig (NY/USA)

13 Nov 1994

45:14

Zakaria Kunyiha (KEN)

57:05

Linda Kimmey (NY/USA)

07 Nov 1993

47:31

Tom Dalton (NY/USA)

51:34

Lori Hewig (NY/USA)

08 Nov 1992

44:39

Jerry Lawson (NY/USA) -3

55:39

Michelle Simone (NY/USA)

10 Nov 1991

46:51

John Trowse (NY/USA)

52:40

Lori Hewig (NY/USA)

11 Nov 1990

46:51(t)

Thomas Dalton (NY/USA)

54:34

Lori Hewig (NY/USA)

12 Nov 1989

46:52

Tom Dalton (NY/USA)

54:48

Lori Hewig (NY/USA)

13 Nov 1988

45:20

Terry Perrault (USA)

54:02

Lisa Vaill (NY/USA)

08 Nov 1987

45:47

Jerry Lawson (USA)

56:02

Denise Herman (NY/USA) -2

09 Nov 1986

46:06

Jerry Lawson (NY/USA)

56:40

Denise Herman (NY/USA)

10 Nov 1985

46:00

Tom Dalton (NY/USA)

52:34

Kathy Brandell(USA)

11 Nov 1984

45:20

Dan Predmore (USA)

54:20

Ellen Weglarz (NY/USA) -4

13 Nov 1983

45:46

Tom Carter (NY/USA)

54:26

Ellen Weglarz (NY/USA)

14 Nov 1982

45:20

Thomas Dalton (NY/USA)

55:19

Ellen Weglarz (NY/USA)

22 Nov 1981

47:59

Steve Crowley (USA)

56:57

Ellen Weglarz (NY/USA)

23 Nov 1980

45:23

Barry Brown (NY/USA)

55:30

Mary Rybinski (NY/USA)

18 Nov 1979

47:29

Mark Mindel (NY/USA) -3

56:40

Sue Hay (NY/USA)

19 Nov 1978

48:21

Pat Glover (NY/USA)

58:13

Chris Bergeron (NY/USA)

20 Nov 1977

47:49(t)

Mark Mindel (NY/USA)

63:50

Casey Reynolds (USA)

21 Nov 1976

48:43(t)

Mark Mindel (NY/USA)

70:20

Patty Fuerst (USA)

Notes: A mixture of both American and World Single Age Records as well as some Age Group Records:
1993 Norm Green 54:47 Age 61 record and the 60-64 age group record.
1994 Fay Bradley 53:50 Age 56 single age USATF Record.
1994 Norm Green 55:46 Age 62 single age USATF Record.
1994 Margaret Betz 62:05 Age 58 single age USATF Record.
1995 Margaret Betz 63:28 Age 59 single age USATF Record.
1996 Margaret Betz 64:42 Age 60 record and the 60-64 USATF age group record.
1998 Margaret Betz 67:26 Age 62 single age USATF record.
1999 Margaret Betz 67:46 Age 63 single age USATF record.
2000 Margaret Betz 69:24 Age 64 single age USATF record.
2001 Margaret Betz 69:15 age 65 single age USATF record.
2002 Anny Stockman 80:43 age 70 record and the 70-74 age group record.
2003 Anny Stockman 83:23 age 71 single age USATF record.
2004 Margaret Betz 76:35 age 68 single age USATF record.
2004 Anny Stockman 82:42 age 72 single age USATF record.
2004 Ed Whitlock 58:57 age 73 world single age record.
2005 Ed Whitlock 59:43 age 74 world single age record.
2005 Anny Stockman 84:11 age 73 single age USATF record.
2005 Bill Borla 58:03 age 65 single age USATF Record.
2006 Diane LeGare 59:05 world 55-59 age group record.
2006 Ed Whitlock 60:29 world 75-79 age group record.

(t) The 1997 race was a tie between Lisa Vaill and her twin sister Teresa Vaill
(t) The 1990 Race was a tie between Tom Dalton and Rich Coughlin
(t) The 1977 race was a tie between Mark Mindel and Jay Smith
(t) The 1976 race was a tie between Mark Mindel and Scott Ferguson

Fastest Times Open Men & Women

Rank Year Name Time   Rank Year Name Time
1 1992 Jerry Lawson, 26 44:39   1 1993 Lori Hewig, 33 51:34
2 1994 Zakaria Kunyiha, 26 45:14   2 1985 Kathy Brandell, 23 52:34
3 1994 Paul Mbugua, 32 45:19   3 1991 Lori Hewig, 31 52:40
4 1988 Terry Perrault, 29 45:20   4 1995 Lori Hewig, 35 53:21
5 1984 Dan Predmore, 26 45:20   5 1988 Lisa Vaill, 26 54:02
6 1982 Thomas Dalton, 24 45:20   6 1984 Ellen Weglarz, 27 54:20
7 1980 Barry Brown, 36 45:23   7 1983 Ellen Weglarz, 26 54:26
8 1994 Paul Mwangi, 27 45:29   8 1990 Lori Hewig, 30 54:34
9 1988 Jerry Lawson, 22 45:40   9 1989 Lori Hewig, 29 54:48
10 1988 Thomas Dalton, 30 45:45   10 1991 Inge Aiken, 30 54:56
11 1983 Tom Carter 45:46   11 1989 Lisa Vaill, 27 55:03
12 1987 Jerry Lawson, 21 45:47   12 1984 Andrea Burke 55:07
13 1985 Thomas Dalton, 27 46:00   13 1982 Ellen Weglarz, 25 55:18
14 1986 Jerry Lawson, 20 46:06   14 1980 Mary Rybinski 55:30

Age Group Record Holders

Age Gp Name Year Time Age Gp Name Year Time
15-19 Sue Hay 1979 56:40 15-19 Jordan Dubow 1996 50:12
20-24 Kathy Brandell 1985 52:34 20-24 Tom Dalton 1982 45:20
25-29 Lisa Vaill 1988 54:02 25-29 Jerry Lawson 1992 44:39
30-34 Lori Hewig 1993 51:34 30-34 Paul Mbugua 1994 45:19
35-39 Lori Hewig 1995 53:21 35-39 Barry Brown 1980 45:23
40-44 Emily Bryans 2008 57:24 40-44 Barry Brown 1984 46:21
45-49 Kelly Dworak 2008 59:33 45-49 Tom Dalton 2004 48:59
50-54 Diane LeGare 2002 58:47 50-54 Jan Frisby 1994 51:20
55-59 Diane LeGare 2006 59:05 55-59 Fay Bradley 1994 53:50
60-64 Margaret Betz 1996 64:42 60-64 Norm Green 1993 54:47
65-69 Margaret Betz 2001 69:15 65-69 Bill Borla 2005 58:03
70-74 Anny Stockman 2002 80:43 70-74 Ed Whitlock 2004 58:57
75-79 Anny Stockman 2008 92:02 75-79 Ed Whitlock 2006 60:29
80-84 Regina Tumidajewicz 2008 140:40 80-84 Dudley Healey 1995 85:12

Fastest Masters Times

Rank Year Name Time   Rank Year Name Time
1 1984 Barry Brown, 40 46:21   1 2008 Emily Bryans, 41 57:24
2 1986 Barry Brown, 42 47:35   2 2002 Lori Hewig, 42 57:27
3 1983 Peter Vangarderen, 42 48:23   3 2007 Emily Bryans, 40 57:35
4 1991 Dale Keenan, 41 48:34   4 2008 Lori Kingsley, 42 57:53
5 1998 Thomas Dalton, 40 48:38   5 2008 Kelly Dworak, 46 59:33
6 1990 Dale Keenan, 40 48:54   6 2000 Beth Gottung-Stalker, 41 59:34
7 2004 Tom Dalton, 46 48:59   7 2008 Anne Benson, 43 59:36
8 1992 Tom Carter 49:00   8 2006 Kelly Dworak, 44 59:48
9 1993 Vinny Reda, 41 49:38   9 1996 Harriet Jacob, 43 59:53
10 1993 Joseph Nzau, 44 49:41   10 1992 Barbara Blaszak, 42 59:58

Fastest 50-59 Times

Rank Year Name Time   Rank Year Name Time
1 1994 Jan Frisby 51:20   1 2002 Diane LeGare, 51 58:47
2 1998 William Dixon, 51 52:45   2 2006 Diane LeGare, 55 59:05
3 1993 Ray Kneer, 51 52:50   3 1992 Nancy Frisillo, 50 60:14
4 1994 Ray Kneer, 52 52:51   4 2007 Diane LeGare, 56 60:38
5 2000 William Dixon, 53 53:23   5 1994 Margaret Betz, 58 62:05
6 2001 Bob Giabalvo, 52 53:26   6 1995 Nancy Frisillo, 53 62:07
7 2000 Dale Keenan, 50 53:37   7 1985 Anny Stockman, 53 62:32
8 1994 Fay Bradley, 56 53:50   8 1986 Anny Stockman, 54 62:40
9 1996 Pat Glover, 50 53:56   9 1996 Nancy Frisoillo, 54 63:21

Fastest 60-69 Times

Rank Year Name Time   Rank Year Name Time
1 1993 Norm Green, 61 54:47   1 1996 Margaret Betz, 60 64:42
2 1994 Norm Green, 62 55:46   2 1998 Margaret Betz, 62 67:26
3 2003 Bill Borla, 63 56:10   3 1999 Margaret Betz, 63 67:46
4 2008 Will Dixon, 61 56:37   4 2001 Margaret Betz, 65 69:15
5 1988 Howard Rubin, 60 56:43   5 2000 Margaret Betz, 64 69:24
6 1983 Hubert Morgan, 61 57:18   6 2004 Margaret Betz, 68 76:35
7 2005 John Camelio, 60 58:01   7 1998 Anny Stockman, 66 77:48
8 2005 Bill Borla, 65 58:03   8 2001 Anny Stockman, 69 78:20
9 2002 Bill Borla, 62 58:16   9 1997 Anny Stockman, 65 79:21
10 1992 Gerald Barney, 60 58:28   10      

Fastest 70-79 Times

Rank Year Name Time   Rank Year Name Time
1 2004 Ed Whitlock, 73 58:57   1 2002 Anny Stockman, 70 80:43
2 2005 Ed Whitlock, 74 59:43   2 2003 Anny Stockman, 71 83:23
3 2003 Ed Whitlock, 72 59:54   3 2004 Anny Stockman, 72 82:42
4 2006 Ed Whitlock, 75 60:29   4 1998 Dolores Quinn 84:43
5 1989 Nate White, 70 68:56   5 2006 Anny Stockman, 74 90:23
          6 2008 Anny Stockman, 76 92:02

All Time Best Agegraded -- 90% Plus!


PLACE NAME                    AG S YEAR   TIME     % % 
===== ======================= == = =====  ======= =====
    1 Ed Whitlock             75 M 2006  1:00:29  99.59  
    2 Ed Whitlock             74 M 2005    59:43  99.26
    3 Ed Whitlock             73 M 2004    58:57  99.03
    4 Ed Whitlock             72 M 2003    59:54  96.11
    5 Diane LaGare            55 F 2006    59:05  95.36   
    6 Margaret Betz           58 F 1994  1:02:05  94.50
    7 Diane LaGare            56 F 2007  1:00:38  94.16 	         
    8 Norm Green              61 M 1993    54:47  93.98
    9 Margaret Betz           65 F 2001  1:09:15  93.81
   10 Margaret Betz           59 F 1995  1:03:28  93.72	
   11 Bill Borla              63 M 2003    56:10  93.38
   12 Margaret Betz           60 F 1996  1:04:42  93.25
   13 Norm Green              62 M 1994    55:46  93.19	
   14 Barry Brown             40 M 1984    46:21  93.17
   15 Margaret Betz           63 F 1999  1:07:46  93.02
   16 Thomas Dalton           46 M 2004    48:59  92.41
   17 Barry Brown             42 M 1986    47:35  92.19
   18 Jerry Lawson            26 M 1992    44:39  92.16
   19 Bill Borla              68 M 2008    59:44  92.13 
   20 Bill Borla              65 M 2005    58:03  92.10
   21 Diane LaGare            51 F 2002    58:47  90.98
   22 Will Dixon              61 M 2008    56:37  90.95
   23 Bill Borla              66 M 2006    59:23  90.89
   24 William Dixon           59 M 2006    55:55  90.45 
   25 Bill Borla              67 M 2007   1:00:16 90.41
   26 Will Dixon              57 M 2004    55:11  90.01

The History of Masters running at the Stockade-athon

     The earliest accounts of special performances in the masters division occurred in the Stockade-athon's 8th year, 1983. That year the dominating races by the overall winners Tom Carter and Ellen Weglarz overshadowed the special efforts of 42-year old Peter Van Garderen and 61-year old Hubert Morgan. Van Garderen's time of 48:23 was good enough for 7th place overall, and Morgan ran a remarkable 57:18 to win his age group by 13 minutes.
     The following year, Barry Brown celebrated his 40th birthday in July and proceeded to rewrite the National masters record book at almost every conceivable distance. By the time the Stockade-athon rolled around, it became impossible to ignore that division ever again. Brown ran an eye opening 46:21, a time that would win the overall championship most years, but in 1984 it was good enough for 3rd place overall. Brown would return from his Gainesville Florida home 2 years later, to run another remarkable race in 47:35.
     Over the years many of the top NY runners like Tom Dalton, Dale Keenan, and Tom Carter would all take a shot at these marks as they turned 40, but the performances of Brown and Van Garderen have remained solidified at the top of the Stockade-athon masters chart for two decades.
     The earliest accounts of master's achievements by women occurred when a 45-year old Anny Stockman decided to take up the sport of running so that she could train with her daughter who ran cross country in High School. 25 years later, Stockman's name appears among the all-time best in the 50, 60, and 70-year age groups at the Stockade-athon.
     Due to the efforts of race director Chris Rush, the Stockade-athon hosted the 15K masters championship in 1993 and 1994 and a new age and gender graded division was introduced that attracted many of this nations best older runners to Schenectady. Norm Green won the age-graded title both years and set a single year American Record the first year with a time of 54.47 at age 61. The National Championship has since moved on but the national and world-class runners who participate in this highly competitive contest have not.
     Margret Betz of Conklin NY won the age-graded title 4 of the next 7 years setting an impressive 7 national masters age records at the 15K distance. William Dixon of Brattelboro Vermont won the championship twice and has finished first in the tough Veteran division on five occasions.
     In recent years, world-class runners from Quebec and Ontario, Canada have made the trek south to add prestige to the Age-graded contest. Diane Legare and Ed Whitlock have won the last 3 titles over strong masters fields that included nationally ranked Bill Borla from Torrington Ct, William Dixon, Tom Dalton, and Bob Giambalvo. The incomparable Whitlock at age 72 shattered the prior 70 and over record by 9 minutes in 2003 (formerly held by Syracuse's Nate White). The next year Whitlock returned to run 58:57, lowering his own age record by nearly a minute to capture his second age-graded title. His Age-graded percentile 99:03% is the best in race history.
     As of 2008, 26 masters performances at this race have received world class rankings, & 10 National age records have been set on this challenging certified loop course.

Age/Gender Graded Champions(1993-date)

2008 Bill Borla 68 CT
2007 Diane Legare 56 QC
2006 Ed Whitlock 75 ON
2005 Ed Whitlock 74 ON
2004 Ed Whitlock 73 ON
2003 Ed Whitlock 72 ON
2002 Diane Legare 51 QC
2001 Margaret Betz 65 NY
2000 William Dixon 53 VT
1999 Margaret Betz 63 NY
1998 William Dixon 51 VT
1997 Jason Dejoy 24 NY
1996 Margaret Betz 60 NY
1995 Margaret Betz 59 NY
1994 Norm Green 62 PA
1993 Norm Green 61 PA

Most Wins (1976-date)

Men

6

Thomas Dalton (NY/USA) 1982, 1985, -89, -90, -93, 2004

Women

7

Lori Hewig (NY/USA) 1989-91, -93, -95, -99, 2002


Number of Finishers

Year   Finishers
2007      1257
2007      1133
2006      1110
2005      1125
2004      1007
2003       910
2002       979
2001       875
2000       877
1999       821
1998       722
1997       718
1996       800
1995       717
1994       942
1993       830
1992       867
1991       994
1990      1038
1989      1061
1988      1053
1987       826
1986       886
1985      1040
1984      1159
1983      1008
1982      1041
1981       750
1980       750
1979       617
1978       578
1977       176
1976        80
Sum      28747

Stockade-athon History 1976 - 2003

1976- Year 1

The year was 1976 when Schenectady City Council member Joe Notar decided to stage a road race to help celebrate America's bi-centennial. Joe enlisted Mark Mindel & Chris Carroll who worked for the city Parks Department to plan a course that would run through Schenectady's Historic Stockade District. Mindel & Carroll utilized portions of the High School Invitational cross-country Grout Run to design a course. It began in Central Park and led to the Stockade before returning to the Park via a hilly route up State Street and Fehr Ave. The route measured out to nearly 15K so that was the distance chosen. The Schenectady Parks Department provided much of the logistic support, as 80 runners finished the inaugural event. Mark Mindel & Scott Ferguson tied for first place after Ferguson got held up in traffic letting out of St. Luke's Church near the 10K mark.

1977- Year 2

Pat Glover and John Hale mistakenly run off course in Central Park and finish first and second respectively, but are moved back to third and fourth behind Mindel & Jay Smith who tie. All four runners break 49 minutes. Lowell Montgomery is first master in 53:12. The race grows to 176 finishers.

1978- Year 3

Pat Glover out dueled Chet Bieganski over the final mile to win the third Stockade-athon race. "I had the lead at 7 miles but lost it back to Chet at the 8-mile mark" said Glover. Glover then took advantage of two remaining upgrades in the final mile to prevail by 12 seconds. Chris Bergeron, a member of Queensbury High School Section ll championship cross-country team, wins the women's division. Race director Ellie McGrath reported that a special division for women over 40 would be added next year. Lowell Montgomery defended his master's title in 53:13 in a close contest with Ted Bick. Race participation triples to 588 finishers.

1979- Year 4

Mark Mindel wins his third championship (47:29), pulling away from Larry Frederick in the final 400 yards. Niskayuna junior Sue Hay (56:43) edges Elaine Radwanski to win the women's division by 15 seconds. Both winners and runner-ups break the existing course records. Lee Wilcox adds to the record day by finishing first among masters in 50:34 as 617 runners finish.

1980- Year 5

Despite wintry conditions, Barry Brown of Gainesville, Florida pulls away from Carlo Cherubino and Siena College junior Rich Coughlin after leaving the historic Stockade and goes on to break the course record by 2 minutes. Mary Rybinski, a Cortland State runner from the Syracuse area lowers the women's record by over a minute as last years champion Sue Hay finishes second. Less than a year later Rybinski would win another 15K championship, the prestigious Utica Boilermaker. Brown 45:23, Rybinski 55:30.

1981- Year 6

The Hudson Mohawk Road Runners Club under the leadership of Tom Miller, agrees to assume control of the race from the Schenectady Parks Department as the Stockade-athon grows to 750. Albany Medical College student, Steve Crowley edges Dale Keenan for the win as wind and snow squalls confront the runners for the second straight year. Ellen Weglarz of Ballston Lake wins the first of her 4 consecutive women's championships.

1982- Year 7

Facing his mentor for the first time in a road race, Tom Dalton out duels Barry Brown and a talented field to break the course record by three seconds. Weglarz lowers the women's record by 11 seconds in 55:19. The field tops 1000 for the first time as a record 18 runners break 50 minutes. The Gazette Newspapers assumes the title sponsorship and the start of the race is moved outside the park near the Central Park Stone Gate to accommodate the growing field.

1983- Year 8

A field of 1008 finishes in ideal running conditions. Tom Carter of Owego rolls to a convincing win and Weglarz becomes the first women to break 55 minutes. A decade before the age-graded championship is introduced, 61 year-old Hubert Morgan runs 57:18 and Peter Van Garderen 42, wins the master's title in 48:23.

1984- Year 9

Dan Predmore weathers a stiff headwind up State Street to win the men's title over Dalton, Brown, and Coughlin as a record field of 1159 finishes. Weglarz completes her four-year sweep, breaking her own record in 54:20. Brown, who turned 40 in July, sets the master's mark of 46:21.

1985- Year 10

Dalton wins his second title defeating Steve Oliver while Plattsburg runner Kathy Brandell makes short work of Weglarz women's record in 52:23. Anne Stockman 53 is first women master in 62:10.

1986- Year 11

Jerry Lawson, an unknown 20 year old from the Utica area, shows up with an orange Mohawk haircut and runs away from the field by almost a minute. Denise Herman of Saratoga Springs wins her first Stockade-athon title over Marisa Sutera. Brown runs the race for the 4th and final time, checking in at 47:35 at age 42.

1987- Year 12

For the second year in a row, Lawson wins easily, as Dalton & Coughlin share second place. Herman successfully defends her women's championship. Rich Brown takes over as Race Director from Tom Miller and introduces a sports expo and dinner to kick-off the Stockade-athon weekend.

1988- Year 13

Lawson with the word "Awesome" printed on his T-shirt sets a torrid pace at the start, but Terry Perreault picks up the pieces at the end and wins in a record matching 45:20. Lisa Vaill of Pines Plains defeats a deep women's field in 54:02 as a record 11 women break 1 hour including a debut run by Lori Hewig. New Hartford resident Howard Rubin sets a new senior mark in 56:43, missing the national record by 5 seconds. The legendary Jim Ryan 41 participates in the race after speaking at the candlelight dinner the night before at Union College.

1989- Year 14

A strong headwind between Central Park and the Stockade, the fast part of the course, prevents Tom Dalton from challenging the course record, but he goes on to win his third men's title. Lori Hewig, who didn't start running until well after graduating from college, wins the first of three straight women's crowns in a close race with 1988 champion Lisa Vaill.

1990- Year 15

Dalton and Coughlin, former Siena teammates and close friends, battle over most of the course before deciding to share the championship by holding hands at the finish line for a tie. Hewig recovers from a fall in the first mile to easily defeats runner up Karen Vanderwood of Utica.

1991- Year 16

John Trowse of Watertown wins the men's division by over a minute and Hewig completes an Adirondack TAC season sweep of the championship series at distances from 3K to 15K. Dale Keenan dominates the Masters division for the second straight year and Syracuse legend Nate White sets the standard for 70 plus athletes for the third consecutive year.

1992- Year 17

Lawson up north from his training headquarters in Gainesville, Florida runs 44:39, shattering the course record. Michelle Simone makes a big comeback to overtake Amy Herold-Russom in the women's race. Nancy Frisillo finishes 7th women overall at age 50 to establish a new record for the age division. Chris Rush takes over as Race Director and begins planning to bring the Master's National Championship to the Stockade-athon for the next two years.

1993- Year 18

Hewig comes back from a stress fracture to win the women's race in 51:34, breaking Brandell's 8-year old course record. Dalton wins his fifth men's title in 12 years. Norm Green 61, of Penn. shatters Rubin's age record to win the 15K National Master's Championship in 54:57. The top master runs sub 50 minutes for the 4th consecutive year when Vince Reda runs 49:38. Tom Carter and Dale Keenan (twice) accomplished this feat in the prior 3 years.

1994- Year 19

The race features a group of elite Kenyan runners who have temporarily made Schenectady County their training headquarters. They take the top 5 spots, led by Zakaria Kunyiha in 45:14. Linda Kimmey, set a personal best to take the women's title. Norm Green repeats as the 15K National Master's Champion and sets a single year National Record of 55:46 at age 62.

1995- Year 20

Margret Betz of Conklin NY sets a National 15K single year record at age 59 in 63:28 to win her first of multiple age-graded championships. Hewig wins her 5th women's title by five minutes over Debbie Springer, 13 years Hewig's junior. Kevin Collins of Cicero, a U.S. marathon trials qualifier, runs away from Dalton, 13 years Collins senior.

1996- Year 21

Trowse wins his second men's title by a mere 4 seconds over Todd Resser, the closest race without an intentional tie. Springer comes back to win the women's title by 9 seconds over Linda Higgins. Betz repeats as the age-graded champion and sets a National 5-year age record (60-64) in the process.

1997- Year 22

Identical twins Lisa and Theresa Vaill hold hands at the finish line to tie for the women's championship. For Lisa it was her second women's title. Jason Dejoy, a College of Saint Rose graduate student wins the men's title as Dalton settles for the runner up spot for the 6th time.

1998- Year 23

After years of top-10 finishes, Vinny O'Brien finally wins, beating his cousin Dalton (their grandmothers were sisters). O'Brien pulls away on the final hill at Fehr Ave as Dalton 40, settles for second, the highest finish by a Master's runner. Emily Bryans passes Ellen Predmore (nee Weglarz) in the third mile and goes on to win the women's championship. William Dixon 51, of Vermont edges Dalton & Betz to win the age-graded championship in 52:45. Vince Juliano succeeds Chris Rush as Race Director and introduces a new 1-mile Children's Run course prior to the 15K championship race.

1999- Year 24

Hewig 39, wins a record 6th title and Jason DeJoy, now a High School cross country coach at Jamestown NY, makes a pit stop in Schenectady to win the men's title on his return home from the XCTRY state meet. Strong wins keep the times down; Hewig's time is the slowest of her six winning times, and DeJoy's time (49:01) is the slowest men's winning time ever. Betz 63, rebounds to win her 3rd Age-graded title and another single-year National mark.

2000- Year 25

The Stockade-athon, one of the oldest 15K races in America, turns 25, and celebrates by inviting past champions and race officials to a pre-race dinner at the Ramada Inn. The next day, Dana Ostrander, a former star at Shenendehowa HS and Providence College, runs shoulder to shoulder with 1998 champ Emily Bryans in the Stockade before pulling away on State Street Hill to win the women's division in 55:59. Chris Getman of Ilion wins a chess match with Nick Conway and Peter Flynn in the men's race. Dixon edges Keenan to win his second age-graded championship as both veteran runners go under 54 minutes.

2001- Year 26

Kevin Collins, a week after running a 2:20 marathon at the USA championship in NYC, enters the Stockade-athon at the coaxing of his mother and surges from Conway and Flynn at the 5K mark before pulling away to an easy victory in 47:35. Bryan's draws clear of Beth Stalker, (the master's course record holder), early in the race to comfortably win her second women's title in 56:51. Betz wins her 4th age-graded championship edging Bob Giambalvo 52, of Delhi NY.

2002-Year 27

Chris Hartshorne, a native New Zealander who took a job at Schenectady GE, emerged from a lead pack of 5, including two established names in US distance running, Kevin Collins and Jerry Lawson, to win the championship in his initial attempt. One of the closest races in Stockade-athon history was decided when Hartshorne made a final surge around Iroquois Lake to hold off Collins by a mere 11 seconds. Lori Hewig took a record 7th title but first as a master runner. Diane Legare, 51 who owns 24 Canadian records in the 40 and 50 year age groups, took the Age-graded championship while finishing second women overall to Hewig. 980 participants running in near perfect 60-degree temperatures completed a slightly different course that was altered due to road construction on Upper State Street.

2003-Year 28

Kevin Collins preparing for the US Olympic marathon trials wins his third championship in 47:29. Debra Springer wins her second women's crown after pulling away from Bryans on the State Street Hill. Senior Bill Borla from Torrington CT runs 56:10 but has to settle for the runner up spot in the Age-graded division as Milton Ontario's Ed Whitlock wins the title 6 weeks after becoming the first 70 year old to run under 3 hours in a marathon at the Toronto Waterfront. The course changes from the prior year are made permanent after positive consultation with the runners in an on-line survey.

2004- Year 29

Dalton does it again, for the 6th time, becoming at age 46, the first masters runner to win the men's title. He runs 48:59 and beats Mike Slinskey, whose race is compromised by the fact that he missed his Thruway exit driving from Wappinger Falls and was sprinting toward the starting line when the horn sounds. Kara-Lynne Kerr, a 26 year old Albany Medical student debuts in 56:24 for the women's title. Whitlock repeats as age-graded champion and runs 58:57 at age 73 for a 99% age-graded score, highest in race history.

2005-Year 30

On the verge of retiring from competitive running after years of 100 mile training weeks, Kevin Collins squeezes out one last men's championship, his fourth, by running away from Jamie Rodriguez and Fouly Salem in 47:22. Jessica Manzer, a recent graduate from Middlebury Vermont where she earned division 3 All-American status all 4 years, wins the women's race in 56:19. The field tops 1100 for the first time since 1984, enticed by perfect weather and a gift performance shirt to commemorate the 30th anniversary. New England Runner covers the race for its prestigious Race of the Year Award as the Stockade-athon makes the front cover.

2006-Year 31

The eternally young Ed Whitlock wins his 4th consecutive Age-graded title over Diane Legare as both Canadians set 5-year age group world records on the Stockade-thon course. Fred Joslyn, who will graduate the following month from Cortland State, draws a bead on former collegiate teammate Chuck Terry near the 7-mile mark and pulls away to win his first championship in 47:40. Eight men run sub 50:15 as Andrew Allstadt passes Terry in the final 100 yards to secure the runner-up spot. Kerr takes her second championship in 56:48 despite reducing her training to meet the demands of her medical studies. 1100 plus finish for the second straight year in a light mist that begins halfway through the race.

Champion historical footnotes:

* Mark Mindel, the original course designer and 3-time champion is the only runner to run and finish the Stockade-athon each year since the inaugural event in 1976. Mindel also won the Montreal Marathon in 1979.

* Barry Brown, the 1980 Stockade-athon champion and master's course record holder ran a 2:15:15 PR at the Twin Cities Marathon in 1984 at age 40. His time established an American record at the distance for a master's athlete.

* Jerry Lawson, 3-time champion and course record holder has run 3 marathons in sub 2:10:30. The only other American born runners to accomplish this feat are Bill Rodgers, and Alberto Salazar.

* Tom Carter and Mary Rybinski are the only runners to win the Stockade-athon and the Boilermaker 15K road races. Carter was victorious at the Boilermaker in 1979 (47:15) and the Stockade-athon in 1983. Rybinski won the Stockade-athon in 1980 and completed the double with a victory in the 1981 Boilermaker (54:49).

* Tom Dalton and Emily Bryans are the only runners to win the Corporate Challenge event in Albany 5 consecutive times. Dalton has won 13 titles and Bryans is 6 for 6 and holds the women's course record.

* Ellen Predmore (Weglarz) is the only runner to win the Stockade-athon 4- consecutive years (1980-1984). In 1984 she ran a PR 2:40:42 marathon at the inaugural Women's Olympic Trials to finish 35th.

* Lisa Vaill, a 2-time champion ran a PR 2:38:05 to finish 10th in the 1990 NYC Marathon. Her marathon time is the fastest among Stockade-athon women's champions.

* Kevin Collins, a 4-time champion ran a 2:15 marathon at the 2003 World Championships in Paris and finished 12th at the 2004 Men's Olympic Trials.

* Margret Betz, a 4-time age/gender graded champion at the Stockade-athon has run a time considered world class (90% +) on five occasions and set 6 American USATF single-age records for the 15K distance.

Last Updated on 12 November 2008