Kuklis, Ferencevych Take Hook Mountain Half Marathon Titles

Tim Kuklis of Mount Kisco won the men’s division and Christina Ferencevych of Rivervale scored her second half marathon title in two years at the 25th annual George Wodicka Hook Mountain Half Marathon and 5K Run. The race was held on Sunday April 6 at Rockland Lake State Park in Congers, NY.

Kuklis, 32, ran the hilly 13.1-mile course in 1:16:32, a pace of 5:51 per mile. Ferencevych, 26, finished in 1:34:08, beating her 2013 race time by 16 seconds.

The race, sponsored by the Rockland Road Runners, had a combined total 531 finishers. The half marathon had 301 finishers and the 5K had 230 finishers. All half-marathon finishers received a medal of an antique, silver tone that illustrates the iconic Hook Mountain overlooking the Hudson River.

Jonathan Farrell, president of the Rockland Road Runners, ran the half marathon for the first time. He said, “I’ve never received more support from other runners who were also running the race.” Farrell, 30, placed fourth overall with a time of 1:24:47.

Efraim Shaw, 19, of Monsey was the first Rockland resident to finish the half marathon in 1:18:29. Carol Guzinski, 47, of Garnerville was the first woman to finish the half marathon in 1:39:40.

Orlando Rivera, 28, of Pomona, NY won the 5K in 17:23. Lauren Cullen, 33, of Ossining, NY won the 5K female division in 19:43.

The race raised over $75,000 for United Hospice of Rockland.

The race is named for George Wodicka, longtime Rockland Road Runners member, retired NYPD and veteran marathoner. George was called the guru of Rockland Lake because he always had sensible advice about running. He lost his battle with cancer on November 2, 1996, the night before his favorite race, the New York City Marathon.

Photographs are courtesy of Ken Shelton Photography. To view all race day photographs, visit http://www2.backprint.com/kenshelton/124317

For more information about Rockland Road Runners, visit http://www.rocklandroadrunners.org/