3rd Annual Summer Biathlon at the Altoona Rifle and Pistol Club: July 19, 2003
by Race Directors Doug Hoover and Sonja Hinish

The third annual Summer Biathlon at the Altoona Rifle and Pistol Club in Blair County, Pennsylvania was held on Saturday.  73 athletes competed, including 28 women and 45 men.

Williamsburg's Sonja Hinish led the women's field as she covered the course in 22:38 and hit all ten targets, giving her an adjusted time of 18:53.    In an extremely close race for second place, Laura Beach of Curryville and Stephanie Blackstone of Everett covered the course in 23:13 and 22:48, respectively.  But, Beach hit one more target than Blackstone, giving her an adjusted time of 22:13 compared to Blackstone's 22:18.  The story of the day in the women's race was the strong contingent of Junior women.  Seven of the top-10 and ten of the top-20 finishers in the women's race were 19 or younger:  Hinish (1), Blackstone (3), Lauren Gates (4), Megan Duffett (6), Bridget Campbell (7), Anna Kobb (8), Marcia Itle (9), and Emily Rose (11), Cassie Niebel (13), and Jessica Conrad (18).  Julianne Daley of Maine was the top Master finisher as she took fifth overall.  Beach was the top Open woman.

Hinish broke the Overall as well as Junior course records.  Also in the Junior category, Blackstone and Gates became the second and third fastest all-time.  Beach became the third fastest woman on the course as well as the second fastest in the 20-29 age group all-time.  In the 30-39 age group, Jennifer Cunningham moved into third on the all-time list.  Julianne Daley broke the age-group record in the 40-49 age group.  Debi Page and Karen Hazenstab, moved into first and second all-time in the 50-59 age group.  In addition, Hinish, Beach, Blackstone, Gates, Daley, Duffett, Bridget Campbell, and Anna Kobb all moved into the top-10 Overall All-Time list.  Three women improved on their own previous personal bests on the course:  Brenda Donoughe, Karen Hazenstab, and Debi Page.  Finally, congratulations to Jan Miles, who is the only woman who has competed in all three Summer Biathlons at Altoona.

Williamsburg's Doug Hoover won the men's race, covering the course in 19:06 and missing two targets for an adjusted time of 16:06.  Altoona's Todd Yarnell took second, running the course in 19:52 and hitting 6 targets for an adjusted time of 18:07.  Ben Niebel of Centre Hall ran very strong but hit just two targets to finish third in 18:18 overall.  He was the top Junior.  Gary Stiner of Maine was the top Master finisher, finishing sixth overall as he was the only competitor other than Hinish to hit all ten targets.

There were also numerous records broken in the men's race.  Hoover's time of 16:06 tied the existing course record.  (However, it should be noted that when Danny Fink ran the existing course record in 1999 he did it using international targets at 40 meters.)  Ben Niebel and Neal Trump moved into second and third on the Junior list.  Gary Stiner broke the course record in the 40-49 age group.  Finally, in the 50-59 age group three men went under the previous course record:  Ed Myers, Jack DeSousa, and Jack Hazenstab.  They now stand at 1-2-3, respectively, in that age group.  On the overall list, Hoover, Todd Yarnell, Niebel, Trump, and Jon Cutright all moved onto the top-10 list.  Eleven men ran personal bests on the course:  James Beveridge, John Donoughe, Jack Hazenstab, Hoover, Rowdy Kagarise, Andy Keegan, Steve Korte Jr, Richard Merritts, Ed Myers, Kenneth Smithmyer, and Gary Stiner.  Finally, thanks and congratulations to Ed O'Rourke, who is the only man to have completed all three Summer Biathlon at Altoona.

A huge thank you goes out to all of the volunteers who helped to make this event a success:

Father Crosser
Frank Gaval
Jeff Gaval
Amanda Golden
David Greaser
Kevin Hazenstab
Tracy Hazenstab
Rod Hinish
Bill Hoover
Deb Hoover
Larry Miles
Carla Nelson
Mr. Niebel
Chuck Noble
Denise Nowlin
Donna Nowlin
Kelly Wike
Sam Winters
And numerous other people who lent a helping hand


SUMMER BIATHLON AT THE ALTOONA RIFLE AND PISTOL CLUB
BLAIR COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA
SATURDAY, JULY 19, 2003

OVERALL RESULTS

Pl.    Athlete              Gender    Raw Time  Prone     Standing   Final Time
                                                Hits        Hits
1      Hoover, Douglas        M        19.06      4          4        16.06
2      Yarnell, Todd          M        19.52      5          1        18.07
3      Niebel, Benjamin       M        19.03      1          1        18.18
4      Trump, Neal            M        21.05      5          3        18.20
5      Cutright, Jon          M        19.50      2          1        18.50
6      Hinish, Sonja          F        22.38      5          5        18.53
7      Stiner, Gary           M        23.29      5          5        19.44
8      Tran, Long             M        22.31      3          4        19.46
9      Merritts, Richard      M        21.48      4          2        19.48
10     Guissanie, Rob         M        20.47      1          1        20.02
11     Myers, Ed              M        23.11      5          3        20.26
12     Michael, Judd          M        21.59      4          0        20.59
13     Beveridge, James       M        23.00      5          1        21.15
14     Hanlon, Bill           M        23.14      3          2        21.29
15     Seckar, Luke           M        22.03      2          0        21.33
16     Weaver, Jesse          M        23.15      2          2        21.45
17     Dodson, Roger          M        24.19      4          3        21.49
18     Kagarise, Rowdy        M        24.45      3          4        22.00
19     Harris, Ray            M        23.02      2          1        22.02
20     Beach, Laura           F        23.13      2          1        22.13
21     Blackstone, Stephanie  F        22.48      2          0        22.18
22     Downs, Nick            M        23.06      1          1        22.21
23     Donoughe, John         M        24.42      5          2        22.27
24     Keegan, Andrew         M        25.39      5          3        22.54
25     Gates, Lauren          F        26.19      5          4        23.04
26     Long, Robert           M        26.02      4          3        23.32
27     Daley, Julianne        F        25.36      4          2        23.36
28     Duffett, Megan         F        25.53      2          3        23.53
29     DeSousa, Jack          M        27.18      5          4        24.03
30     Smithmyer, Kenneth     M        25.50      1          3        24.05
31     Hazenstab, Jack        M        26.51      5          3        24.06
32     Campbell, Bridget      F        24.07      0          0        24.07
33     Boyer, John            M        26.13      4          2        24.13
34     Kobb, Anna             F        25.45      2          2        24.15
35     Korte Sr, Steve        M        26.14      3          2        24.29
36     Itle, Marcia           F        26.22      4          1        24.52
37     Diedrich, David        M        25.52      4          0        24.52
38     McAninch. Steve        M        25.40      3          0        24.55
39     Sanders, Frank         M        27.00      3          2        25.15
40     Mitchell, Teressa      F        27.19      4          2        25.19
41     O'Rourke, Ed           M        27.05      5          1        25.20
42     Rose, Emily            F        26.39      2          1        25.39
43     Page, Debi             F        29.23      5          4        26.08
44     Cillo, Michael         M        28.20      4          2        26.20
45     Warren, Chad           M        28.06      3          2        26.21
46     Bowersox, Rodney       M        28.22      2          3        26.22
47     Cunningham, William    M        28.35      4          2        26.35
48     Kyle, Myron            M        29.29      3          4        26.44
49     Niebel, Cassie         F        27.48      2          1        26.48
50     Croyle, Jim            M        29.24      2          4        26.54
51     Gaval, Frank           M        28.29      4          1        26.59
52     George, James          M        29.32      3          3        27.17
53     Foose, Erin            F        29.09      3          1        27.54
54     Cunningham, Jennifer   F        29.42      3          2        27.57
55     Byrne, Michael         M        29.14      0          1        28.44
56     Shearer, Cindy         F        31.30      4          3        29.00
57     Keim, Judy             F        30.22      5          0        29.07
58     Conrad, Jessica        F        31.50      3          2        30.05
59     Donoughe, Brenda       F        30.22      0          0        30.22
60     Hinish, Trudy          F        31.54      2          1        30.54
61     Valentine, Jon         M        32.39      3          1        31.24
62     Hamilton, Wes          M        32.43      2          1        31.43
63     Donoughe, Vanessa      F        33.17      3          1        32.02
64     Hazenstab, Karen       F        33.15      0          2        32.15
65     Tran, Kim              F        34.12      3          1        32.57
66     Johnson, Charles       M        35.48      3          1        34.33
67     Korte Jr, Steve        M        36.51      4          1        35.21
68     Conrad, Kathleen       F        38.05      5          2        35.50
69     Miles, Jan             F        38.12      3          1        36.57
70     Miles, John            M        40.05      4          2        38.05
71     Myers, Susan           F        43.09      5          3        40.24
72     Keegan, Deborah        F        45.29      5          1        43.44
73     Heinrich, Julia        F        44.59      3          0        44.14


AGE GROUP RESULTS

Overall Women                Raw Time  Prone     Standing     Final Time
                                       Hits        Hits
1     Hinish, Sonja           22.38     5           5           18.53
2     Beach, Laura            23.13     2           1           22.13
3     Blackstone, Stephanie   22.48     2           0           22.18
                   
14-19 Age Group               
1     Gates, Lauren           26.19     5           4           23.04
2     Duffett, Megan          25.53     2           3           23.53
3     Campbell, Bridget       24.07     0           0           24.07
4     Kobb, Anna              25.45     2           2           24.15
5     Itle, Marcia            26.22     4           1           24.52
6     Rose, Emily             26.39     2           1           25.39
7     Niebel, Cassie          27.48     2           1           26.48
8     Conrad, Jessica         31.50     3           2           30.05
9     Tran, Kim               34.12     3           1           32.57
                         
20-29 Age Group               
1     Mitchell, Teressa       27.19     4           2           25.19
2     Foose, Erin             29.09     3           1           27.54
                   
30-39 Age Group               
1     Cunningham, Jennifer    29.42     3           2           27.57
2     Shearer, Cindy          31.30     4           3           29.00
3     Keim, Judy              30.22     5           0           29.07
4     Donoughe, Brenda        30.22     0           0           30.22
5     Donoughe, Vanessa       33.17     3           1           32.02
6     Conrad, Kathleen        38.05     5           2           35.50
                   
40-49 Age Group               
1     Daley, Julianne         25.36     4           2           23.36
2     Hinish, Trudy           31.54     2           1           30.54
3     Keegan, Deborah         45.29     5           1           43.44
4     Heinrich, Julia         44.59     3           0           44.14
                   
50-59 Age Group               
1     Page, Debi              29.23     5           4           26.08
2     Hazenstab, Karen        33.15     0           2           32.15
3     Miles, Jan              38.12     3           1           36.57
4     Myers, Susan            43.09     5           3           40.24
                   
Overall Men                Raw Time  Prone     Standing     Final Time
                                       Hits        Hits
1     Hoover, Douglas         19.06     4           4           16.06
2     Yarnell, Todd           19.52     5           1           18.07
3     Niebel, Benjamin        19.03     1           1           18.18
                   
14-19 Age Group               
1     Trump, Neal             21.05     5           3           18.20
2     Tran, Long              22.31     3           4           19.46
3     Merritts, Richard       21.48     4           2           19.48
4     Hanlon, Bill            23.14     3           2           21.29
5     Weaver, Jesse           23.15     2           2           21.45
6     Harris, Ray             23.02     2           1           22.02
                   
20-29 Age Group               
1     Seckar, Luke            22.03     2           0           21.33
2     Sanders, Frank          27.00     3           2           25.15
3     Warren, Chad            28.06     3           2           26.21
4     Hamilton, Wes           32.43     2           1           31.43
5     Korte Jr, Steve         36.51     4           1           35.21
                   
30-39 Age Group               
1     Cutright, Jon           19.50     2           1           18.50
2     Guissanie, Rob          20.47     1           1           20.02
3     Beveridge, James        23.00     5           1           21.15
4     Dodson, Roger           24.19     4           3           21.49
5     Downs, Nick             23.06     1           1           22.21
6     Donoughe, John          24.42     5           2           22.27
7     Smithmyer, Kenneth      25.50     1           3           24.05
8     McAninch. Steve         25.40     3           0           24.55
9     Cunningham, William     28.35     4           2           26.35
10    Kyle, Myron             29.29     3           4           26.44
11    Miles, John             40.05     4           2           38.05
                   
40-49 Age Group               
1     Stiner, Gary            23.29     5           5           19.44
2     Michael, Judd           21.59     4           0           20.59
3     Kagarise, Rowdy         24.45     3           4           22.00
4     Keegan, Andrew          25.39     5           3           22.54
5     Long, Robert            26.02     4           3           23.32
6     Boyer, John             26.13     4           2           24.13
7     Diedrich, David         25.52     4           0           24.52
8     Cillo, Michael          28.20     4           2           26.20
9     George, James           29.32     3           3           27.17
10    Byrne, Michael          29.14     0           1           28.44
11    Valentine, Jon          32.39     3           1           31.24
12    Johnson, Charles        35.48     3           1           34.33
                   
50-59 Age Group               
1     Myers, Ed               23.11     5           3           20.26
2     DeSousa, Jack           27.18     5           4           24.03
3     Hazenstab, Jack         26.51     5           3           24.06
4     Korte Sr, Steve         26.14     3           2           24.29
5     O'Rourke, Ed            27.05     5           1           25.20
6     Bowersox, Rodney        28.22     2           3           26.22
7     Croyle, Jim             29.24     2           4           26.54
8     Gaval, Frank            28.29     4           1           26.59


The biathlon at Altoona was the second race of the Pennsylvania Biathlon Club Triple Crown Series.  The final race of the series is this Saturday, July 26, at Nescopeck, Pennsylvania.  For information on this race, contact Frank or Barb Gaval at 570-788-4219.  Thirteen people competed in both of the first two races.  No Junior men or women nor Open women have competed in a Match race in the series.  Therefore, anyone from one of these three groups who've competed in either of the first two races and who subsequently completes the match race at Nescopeck on July 26 will be eligible for the Match class award, using that race and your other best performance to determine your series average.  After the first two races the current standings are as follows:

MATCH WOMEN
1    Deb Keegan (Master)  46.53%  (100.00% & -6.94%)

MATCH MEN
1    Doug Hoover (Open)  108.30%  (108.56% & 108.03%)
2    Gary Stiner (Master)  93.70%  (100.13% & 87.27%)
3    Ed Myers (Master)  83.49%  (83.69% & 83.28%)
4    Andy Keegan (Master)  69.79%  (70.40% & 69.18%)
5    Frank Gaval (Master)  59.11%  (72.36% & 45.86%)

SPORT WOMEN
1    Julianne Daley (Master)  92.07%  (95.80% & 88.33%)
2    Cindy Shearer (Open)  75.25%  (87.71% & 62.78%)
3    Kim Tran (Junior)  59.07%  (74.04% & 44.09%)
4    Susan Myers (Master)  23.66%  (38.49% & 8.83%)

SPORT MEN
1    Neal Trump (Junior)  99.70%  (104.12% & 95.27%)
2    Long Tran (Junior)  90.24%  (93.39% & 87.08%)
3    Mike Cillo (Master)  57.96%  (66.35% & 49.57%)