Matt Lipsey takes Sixth Straight Sproul Trail Event
Photo Courtesy Clinton County Tourism
For the sixth straight year, Matt Lipsey, an Elk County native now living in the Harrisburg area, came out on top at the annual Sproul 10K trail challenge this past weekend in Hyner. More than 300 people from six states converged on Western Clinton County for the event, arguably one of the toughest 10Ks in PA.
Hosted by the PA Trail Dogs, the trail challenge takes people through Sproul State Forest, starting at the Western Clinton County Sportsman’s Club in Hyner. The course burns a three-mile path up McCloskey mountain, and then brings racers on a blistering, 3.7 mile downhill track back down to the finish.
While it was his sixth time to win the event, the 28-year-old Lipsey turned in his best time ever, finishing the course in just 46 minutes, 44 seconds, shaving nearly two minutes off his 2017 time. Ben Robinson, 24, of Lehman, PA, placed second, with a time of 47:59, followed by John Johnson, 46, of Ulster, PA, at 50:42. Local Dan Lorah, 22, of Lock Haven was fourth, with a time of 51:46. A couple of other local racers, Joshus Ely, 33, of Jersey Shore placed eighth, and Dylan Geraty, 21, of Mill Hall, rounded out the top 10 finishers.
The first female finisher is also a familiar name in the trail challenge community. Meira Minard, 45, of State College completed the course in 59 minutes, 24 seconds and finished fifteenth overall. Minard was the top female finisher last year as well, with a time of 59:12.
Mild temperatures and partly cloudy skies Saturday made for near perfect race day weather. In all, 295 people, ranging in age from 7 to 78, finished the event.
