More than a thousand take on Hyner Mountain!

HYNER, PA – More than a thousand people from 22 states, Washington, D.C. and Canada competed Saturday in the 16th Hyner View Trail Challenge. Runners took off under overcast skies and cool temperatures – just what they like to see. And, with the exception of a few scrapes and bruises, the day went off without a hitch, thanks to great planning from race organizers, the PA Trail Dogs, and great execution from volunteers, emergency responders and other supporters.

The 50K race got underway at 8 a.m., and the 25K, the larger of the two events, followed at 9 o’clock. In pre-race remarks, Race Director Craig Fleming asked participants to remember Carl Undercofler, who he said was both a trail race participant and trail volunteer. Affectionately called ‘the Godfather of Trail Running’ by the trail running community, the 83-year-old suffered an apparent heart attack during last year’s race. Carl’s son, Scott, and daughter-in-law, Lisa, from Parker, Colorado, competed in this year’s 25K in his memory, along with, as Fleming said, a thousand members of his trail family. Race participants had the opportunity to ring a bell organizers had positioned just below Hyner View, as a tribute, and many runners wore special “Godfather” t-shirts.

Well-known competitor Matt Lipsey of Harrisburg made quick work out of the 25K course, turning in a time of two hours, five minutes. The 32-year-old wasn’t able to compete last year due to health issues, but is back in action and tearing up the trails, and Hyner is a course he loves. He won the 25K in 2019 and 2017, and placed second in 2018 (there was no race in 2020 due to the pandemic).

“It felt good to be back and running again,” said Lipsey. “It was a different course this year, but pound-for-pound, it was right on par and just as much of a beat-down as the old course was.”

“I did a lot of thinking about Carl out there,” added Lipsey. “As Craig said, Carl did a lot of work on the entire Hyner trail.”

Chris Lewars, 34, of Broomall, PA, finished in second place, with a time of 2:28, followed by 36-year-old Russell Kalbach of Wayne, PA, who finished in 2:31. Seasoned runner Justin Beatty of South Williamsport was the only local runner in the top ten. The 43-year-old finished tenth with a time of 2:40.

Katie O’Regan, 37, of Lititz, PA, was the first female finisher and eighth overall in the 25K, with a time of 2:40. Katie Sick, 30, of Millville, PA, was the second-place female and 16th overall, with a time of 2:47. She was followed by Lisa Fisher, 38, of Cogan Station, who was 26th overall with a time of 3:00.

Jared Burdick, of Fayetteville, New York, was the first to complete the 50K, turning in a time of four hours, 20 minutes. It was the 35-year-old’s first Hyner Challenge, and he said he really liked the course and will be back.
Second place went to Andrew Simpson, 33, of York, PA, with a time of 4:28, followed by Benjamin Linne, who finished in 4:31. The 24-year-old from Joppa, Maryland, also finished third in last year’s 50K. Emanual King of Mill Hall finished in fourth-place and was the only local top-ten finisher. The 24-year-old turned in a time of 4:40.

Miquela Ingalls, 32, of State College, was the first female to finish the 50K and 17th overall, with a time of 5:20. Second female finisher was Amanda Debevc, 44, of Chagrin Falls, Ohio, who was 48th overall with a time of 5:57, followed by Lauren Cenci, 25, of State College, who came in about 30 seconds later.

In all, there were 1,007 finishers, as 738 people completed the 25K, and 269 finished the 50K race.

“This is always a real community effort,” said Fleming of the race. “We had a very successful day, there were no injuries and everyone had a good time. We’re very grateful to the emergency responders – Renovo, South Renovo and Chapman Township Volunteer Fire Companies, and Renovo EMS, and a group from the Clinton County Search and Rescue. They’re top-notch, very professional, and it puts my mind at ease that the runners are in good hands with them overseeing the course.”

“Also part of this community effort is our volunteers, who do everything from getting the trail ready, to registering participants, to staffing check stations along the course, and more. We’re also grateful for the support of the Renovo area churches, who bake all of the desserts for our after-race meal, to Wildfires Barbeque, who prepares the food, and New Trail Brewing Company, who brings the beer.”

The Hyner View Trail Challenge is Clinton County’s largest trail race. For more information on this and other PA Trail Dogs events, visit www.patraildogs.com.