POTTER COUNTY MAN WINS GOD'S COUNTRY MARATHON

Christian Byler (center) won Saturday's God's Country Marathon by more than 24 minutes. Susan Kramer (right) was the first female finisher. That's Coudersport's Steve Sevinsky at left. Photos Courtesy of James Jones

There were as many stories as there were runners in last Saturday's 34th annual God's Country Marathon, as 180 men, women and teens braved the searing heat and choking humidity.

Headline performer was Christian Byler, a 24-year-old Harrison Valley runner who became the first God's Country competitor to win the God's Country race. He crossed the finish line in 2:42.38, far ahead of the runner-up, threetime God's Country champion Thomas Lipsie, 40, of Indiana, whose time was 3:06.42.

At the opposite end of the spectrum was Park Barner. Although he has shifted his competitive focus from running to horseshoe pitching - where he's a nationally-ranked ringer - Barner took his place at the starting line in Galeton and covered the much of the 26.2- mile course by walking.

In crossing the finish line, Barner joined marathon regular Paul Marraccini of Monongahela as the only two people to complete all 34 God's Country events.

Another story from Saturday's race was that of Coudersport pharmacist Christie (Buchanan) Keglovits.

Although she was advised not to run another marathon after completing the rugged Boston Marathon in late April, Keglovits couldn't resist the challenge.

The 38-year-old registered on the eve of the race, then went on to better her impressive time of 2007 with a 3:42.19, despite the punishing weather conditions and a headwind that she said deepened the challenge.

That was good enough for third place among women and 13th overall. The Women's Division champion was 43-yearold Susan Kramer of Harrisburg, with a 3:33.51.

Todd Schoonover, a technology professional and volunteer paramedic from Coudersport, celebrated his recent weight loss and fitness success by deciding to tackle Denton Hill for a once-in-a-lifetime run.

"It was about 50-50 running and walking, with a lot more walking toward the end, but I made it," said the 40-year-old Schoonover, who was one of the last of the 152 finishers.

Marraccini, a retired physical education teacher, mingled quietly with the runners as he cooled down after the rugged journey.

"This was one of the worst ever," he said of the weather conditions. "Most runners' time was off by probably 20 minutes or more. It was really wicked out there."

The 65-year-old still bested dozens of much younger entrants with a time of 4:15.04 to placed 32nd.

Coudersport Postmaster Steve Sevinsky hoped to crack the four-hour barrier and trained hard. However, as hot as the weather was within the first hour of the race, he knew that just finishing would be a feat.

Sevinsky, 49, came in at 4:21.07, placing 40th overall.

Running and walking along behind him was his big sister, Gloria Richardson, 59, who completed her first marathon and placed 135th.

Coudersport native Randy Pekarski, 36, came down from Western New York for his second God's Country run and placed a respectable 19th with a 3:54.26.

Also finishing the race were former Coudersport residents Craig Butler (18th) and Brian Buchsen (48th); James Maxson, 36, of Shinglehouse, 55th; William Daly, 47, of Coudersport, 77th; and Brittany Meise, 14, Coudersport, 145th.