Weaver and Cheung Win at Wissahickon Trail Classic

Daryl Weaver of Lancaster County made it two in a row, while in the women’s division Helen Cheung climbed all the way to first place at the 4th annual Wissahickon Trail Classic 10-K on June 6. Weaver improved his time by 25 seconds from his winning performance last year, while Cheung finished almost a minute and a half faster than last year.

Almost 450 runners participated in the 10-k race on a hilly course through the Wissahickon. Weaver was timed in 37:14 while Cheung finished in 44:59.

Weaver, who runs for the Rosemont Running Club, won by almost 30 seconds over second place finisher David Roche of Millington, PA. Cheung, who runs for the hometeam Wissahickon Wanderers, was also almost 30 seconds faster than the second place women’s finisher Jennifer Parisi of Pitman, New Jersey.

“Last year was my first time at the Wissahickon Trail Classic,” said Weaver. “I really liked the course so I came back again this year. It was a little more slippery this year, but I like it that way.”

Weaver does it all. He is a veteran of trail and road races as well as triathlons, adventure races and mountain bike races. He took over the lead about two miles into the course after the first big hill, and then just gradually pulled away from the field.”

Cheung’s victory was especially satisfying for a couple of reasons. She has been hampered by a hamstring pull since last summer and this was the first race where she has been able to pull out all stops. Secondly, Cheung has run all four Wissahickon Classics, and each year her performance has improved. Three years ago she finished quite far back, then two years ago she came in fourth, last year she was second. This year, she finished on top.

“I was worried about my injury at first, but then you end up concentrating on just not falling so you forget about it,” Cheung said.

The course was “very tough,” said Cheung. “It is hills and hills and hills. The last one up to Andorra was really hard. It was really steep. It was good to know the finish was only a mile away.”

Mike Dolan of Media finished first in the men’s 40-49 category in a time of 37:43. He was third overall. In the 50-59 men’s division, Jeff Hayes of Mt. Airy finished first (10th overall) in a time of 41:15.

Lauren Rhatigan of Ship Bottom, New Jersey, won the women’s 40-49 age group in a time of 48:20. She was 63rd overall. Bonnie Stoeckl of Pequea, PA, was top finisher in the women’s 50-59 division in a time of 56:10.

The trail race is organized by Phil Ranly of Philadelphia and the Wissahickon Wanderers Running Club. Complete results and photos can be obtained by going to the club web site www.wanderersrunningclub.org. The proceeds from the race are to benefit the Wissahickon Restoration Volunteers.

Twenty-five entrants participated as well in the 5k walk at the trail classic.