Sproul 10K, Little Loggers Trail Fest Get Adults, Kids Out In Clinton County

RecordStaffJuly 19, 2020Last Updated: July 19, 2020

4 minutes read

Jane Kone of Howard and trail friend Carl Undercofler of Woodland make their way to the first check station during the Sproul 10K. Both are regular participants in local trail challenges and, at age 82, Undercofler can usually say he’s the most senior racer! Photo courtesy Clinton County Tourism Ageny

SUMMERSON MOUNTAIN – With temperatures in the 90s this weekend, there wasn’t a cooler place to be than in the woods in Clinton County. So, it was no surprise that the PA Trail Dogs trail running group hosted a fantastic, 13th annual Sproul 10K trail race Saturday, then, along with co-sponsor ReVibe Outdoors, turned kids 12 and under loose for an exciting and fun, 3rd annual Little Loggers trail race Sunday.

Both events were held on private land atop Summerson Mountain in Chapman Township, and race director Craig Fleming thanked Tom and Becky Charles for their willingness to host the races on their property.

“We can’t say enough about the Charles’ for allowing us on their property,” said Fleming. “Due to COVID-19 staff reductions at the state level, we were unable to secure a permit to hold this year’s Sproul 10K on our traditional course in Sproul State Forest. PA Trail Dog member John Shaffer came up with the solution when he talked to his family about using their land for the event, and we’re very grateful.”

Fleming said PA Trail Dog members worked to create the courses for both races. “We used some of the same course for both events, and the trails were both beautiful and challenging. The 10K – a little more than six miles – had a few steep up- and down-hills and rocky terrain, logging roads and some single-track trail. The Little Loggers course was just under three miles in length and we made sure the kids faced some challenges as well. Participants of both races also got to enjoy a scenic vista.”

With precautions in place and respect for peoples’ space, both events went off without a hitch and gave people an opportunity to enjoy a day outside. A number of those who ran the Sproul 10K event returned the next day to volunteer for the Little Loggers race.

On Saturday, 30-year-old Matt Lipsey of Harrisburg tore up the course, crossing the finish line first in just 42 minutes, 46 seconds. No stranger to setting the pace in the local trail racing scene, Lipsey says he’s always impressed with the challenging races the PA Trail Dogs offer.

“This was a good time to test yourself and see friends from the trail community,” said Lipsey. “In the face of adversity, I can’t say enough about Craig and his team – it was a totally new trail, but these guys really have a nice formula for making a great race.”

Second place finish went to Gabriel Rodriguez, 42 of Seven Valleys, PA, who finished in 43:55. Tristan Amell, age 16, of Coudersport was third, with a time of 45:07, followed by Dan Lorah, 24, of Lock Haven at 45:20, and Lee Strappello of James Creek, PA, with a time of 46:28.

About 140 men and 90 women, ranging in age from 10 to 82, completed the Sproul 10K. Samantha Tregea, 31, of Harrisburg was the first female to cross the finish line, coming in 28th overall with a time of 58 minutes, 57 seconds.

While parents or a big brother or sister were permitted to run with their child, the Little Loggers trail race is all about the youngsters 12 and under, with an emphasis on giving kids an opportunity to participate in a trail challenge set up just like an adult race.

Brothers and best buddies, from left, Max and Cael Dorman, Tyler Hillyer and Quinn Dorman, all of Renovo, take five for a photo just before Sunday’s Little Loggers race. Cael, 11, finished 15th; Hillyer, also 11, 34th; Quinn, age 9, finished 48th; and his little brother Max, 7, came in 55th. Photo courtesy Clinton County Tourism Agnecy

More than 100 children ages 3 to 12 took on that challenge Sunday. There was also a good dose of fun involved, as volunteers – dressed as pirates, a Viking and dinosaur and a fairy – squirted runners with super-soaker squirt guns as they made their way along the course.

Ten-year-old Jonathan Gasper of Bellefonte finished the race first, with a time of 23 minutes, 49 seconds. Gasper, who placed fourth last year, said he had a great time, despite skinning his knee. He said he’d have finished the course faster, except he took the opportunity to “talk a lot” with fellow racer, nine-year-old Gunther Kull of Danville, who kept things neck-and-neck and finished second, just two seconds behind Gasper. James Lovell, 10, of Elmira, New York was third with a time of 24:21; 10-year-old Lukas Easton of Trout Run was fourth, in 25:46; and Aiden Lape, also 10, of Jersey Shore, rounded out the top five, with a time of 26:51. Clara Clark, 11, of Emporium, was the first girl across the finish line and ninth overall, with a time of 28 minutes.

“In the midst of what’s been a difficult year for adults and kids alike, we were thrilled to be able to hold our Little Loggers event again for 2020,” said Little Loggers co-Race Director Tania Jacobsen of race co-sponsor ReVibe Outdoors. “Giving these kids the opportunity to get outdoors and experience the challenges and freedoms of trail running in the fresh mountain air among their peers and families has been such a pleasure for all of us over the past three years, but especially this year. We hope it provide some inspiration for kids and families to continue enjoying quality time outdoors together.”

Full results from both races can be found at falconracetiming.com. For more on races hosted by the PA Trail Dogs, visit the PA Trail Dogs Facebook page, and for information on ReVibe Outdoors and the Little Loggers Trail Fest, visit revibegear.com.