Sunday, March 16, 2003 -- Pittsburgh - South Park, PA
Larry Winschel St. Paddy's Day Run (iPO Event Id#: 5380)
Story by Jason Winschel

[Details] [Coverage] [Overall Results] [Pic Set 1] [Pic Set 2]
[2001 Coverage] [2002 Coverage]

And they're off!

As the sun rose high on the morning of Sunday March 16, 2003, it beheld a gathering throng in the parking lot of the South Park Children's Playground. The colorful crew was there to partake in the annual Larry Winschel St. Paddy's Day Run. After a treacherous winter, the runners found themselves competing in near record warm temperatures on the flat course that follows Corrigan Drive through the heart of South Park.

The race drew another large crowd this year. It has quickly become an annual pilgrimage for the Pankreas Racing Team, as well as family and friends of the late Larry Winschel, in whose honor the race was renamed last year. Larry died immediately after completing and winning the two-mile here in 2001. So it was, that after barking out the directions at the start line, race director Jim Lacey called for a moment of silence in honor of the man for whom this race has become a memorial.

Upon Jim's further commands, the crowd surged forward. Shawn Lively and Alex Winschel both established themselves out front early, and both dipped below six-minute mile pace en route to decisive victories in the 4.2 and two mile races respectively. Lively won the 4.2 mile race in a quick time of 25:09 to Rich Sandala's 27:37. Alex's 11:49 in the two-mile race bested runner-up Nick Boerio who crossed the line in 14:14. His victory came in a repeat performance of last year when he won the race in colder temperatures in a time of 12:16. Meantime, the one-mile race, while a bit tighter on paper, did not appear to have the same ferocity of competition as did its longer counterparts.

Eighty-three runners completed the race this year. Assistant race-director, Art Wiland, had his hands full trying to get times and names matched up at the finish line as the hordes poured through. All had a fine time on a day that was, as they all truly are, a great day for a run.

Race Director: Jim Lacey
Helper: Art Wiland, Terry Carskaddan
Kathleen Hickey, Richard Hickey
Temperature: 60 Degrees, Sunny Sky