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The Top 10 Men and Women Runners in Alumni History
Much like the disclaimer on my Top 10 Teams page, I will note that this is a very subjective list, and while I try to be as objective and scientific as possible, there is an element of bias that enters into any undertaking of this nature. Personally, I'm biased towards longevity and consistency, and these rankings reflect that bias in some ways. I am recognizing my own personal bias, but that doesn't mean I've done anything to correct it. So, please feel free to let me know where I screwed up.
Rankings are loosely based on a few criteria: wins, top 10 and top 30 finishes, highest place achieved, a runner's best time (PR), and whether or not the runner scored for any winning teams. (I did not include top 30 finishes as a criteria for women, due to lack of participation and results in some of the early years of the race.) I also included another category for "intangibles," which I basically used as a plus/minus thing: either you have it or you don't. It has nothing to do with the type of person or runner you are; rather, it simply reflects whether the runner has made a lasting impact on the history of the Alumni Run. In all, six men and six women got checks for "intangibles," though two of the men so designated failed to make the list anyway, and two of the women have been bumped in recent years.
Men's Top 10
10. Andy Kohlbrenner (PR '81) Never won, but finished second an amazing four times, and has racked up eight top 10s and 16 top 30s to go with a sparkling 14:46 PR, making him one of only seven men to have run under 15 minutes.
9. Tim Cox (Suff '91) The erstwhile Mounties star has seven top 10s and nine top 30s to his credit, and scored for the winning 1995 team. His win in 2006 capped a string of four consecutive top 3 finishes.
8. Pat Chambers (AM '76) One of only three runners to have competed in every Alumni Run, Chambers won the inaugural race in 1983 and added six other top 10 finishes among his ten top 30s. Also, he was a scoring member for all eight of Albertus' championship teams.
7. Todd Sinclair (NR '80) A two-time race winner, Sinclair placed in the top 10 five times, and broke 15 minutes twice, including a PR of 14:44, the fifth-fastest time in race history.
6. Paul Sklar (CS '89) Another two-time champion, Sklar amassed an impressive seven top 10s, and headlined both of South's winning teams. His 15:00 in winning the 1993 race is tenth-fastest ever.
5. Brian Crowley (AM '82) A vital cog in the Magnus machine, Crowley scored for six of the eight Albertus winners. His 15:09 PR won him the 1990 edition, and his 19 top 30 finishes rank second all-time.
4. John Trautmann (MW '86) The former national champion won three times and led the Crusaders to their only team title in 1988. No one has come within 25 seconds of his course record of 14:08, set back in 1994.
3. George Buckheit (AM '75) The race's first two-time winner, Buckheit has twice cracked the 15-minute barrier, including his 14:36 in 1985 that stands as the second-fastest time in race history. In addition to scoring for all eight of Albertus' title teams, his ten top 10s and 15 top 30s tie him for second and fourth, respectively, all-time.
2. Jamie Kempton (AM '76) An individual title is all that is missing from his amazing resume. He has run 25 of the 26 Alumni races to date and finished in the top 10 an incredible 23 times, scoring for seven of Albertus' eight titles. He has three second-place finishes and five third-place finishes. He has more than twice as many top 10s as the second man on the list (Buckheit), and his 14:54 PR makes him the seventh-fastest Alumni runner ever.
1. Art Gunther (TZ '89) His claim to the top spot cannot be denied any longer. He holds Alumni records for wins (seven), consecutive wins (three), and sub-15:00 performances (four). He also counts two seconds (to Trautmann) among his ten top 10s, and has totaled twelve top 30 finishes.
Honorable Mention Larry Beckerle (AM '73): Another of the Big Three, he has eight top 30s and finished as high as fifth in 1983; scored for two winning teams. Walt Johnston (Suff '68): The eldest of the Big Three, the pioneer of the Rockland track scene has two top 30 finishes. Dave Dominguez (NR '93): The 2002 winner has three top 10s and an impressive 15:03 to his credit. Mike Morris (CN '96): Eight top 10s and twelve top 30s (in thirteen years!), he has finished third twice while leading the Rams to six titles; his PR is 15:22. Frank Visingardi (Nan '86): Just one top 10, but his 15 top 30s tie him with Buckheit and Andy Kohlbrenner for third-most ever, and he sports a solid 15:34 PR. Mike Kohlbrenner (PR '76): Seven top 10s and twelve top 30s; he finished fifth overall in 1988. Tom McCarney (CN '93): Eight top 10s, including a third and two fourths; thirteen top 30s, and seven team titles--all in only 16 years of eligibility. Jim Trautmann (MW '90): He doesn't get the same recognition as his older brother, but the numbers don't lie: six top 10 finishes, eight times in the top 30, and a PR of 15:09. Finished second overall in 1998.
Women's Top 10
10. Meghan Howell (Suff '99) She started slowly, missing the top 10 in 1999 and missing the race completely in 2000. Since then, however, she has racked up six top 10s, including a second and two thirds, emerging as a perennial contender.
9. Dawn Newsome (CS '86) A three-time team champion, the eldest Newsome sibling has eight top 10 finishes to her credit, including two third-place showings.
8. Linda Pederson-Higgins (Nan '80) Eleven top 10 finishes, four team titles, and an impressive 18:40 to finish third overall in 1995.
7. Kim Newsome (CS '89) Her twelfth top 10s is second all-time, trailing only the incomparable Julianne Littman. She has finished as high as third twice and scored for three team champions.
6. Nancy Sayre (NR '86) The Red Raiders standout counts two individual titles among her three top 10 finishes; her 19:03 in 1986 was, at the time, a race record.
5. Suzanne LaBurt (MW '81) A late comer to the Alumni scene, in the past nine years she has reeled off a record nine consecutive top 10 finishes--including two seconds and three thirds--and has helped the Lady Crusaders to six team titles.
4. Debbie Grant-Marshall (Ram '83) The former Olympic Trials finalist has her ranking hurt by running only two races. However, she did win them both, including a course-record 17:03 in 1995.
3. Patti Zodda (Nan '88) Her eight top 10s tie her for fifth all-time (with Dawn Newsome, and Rita Keahon); she has an impressive five second-place finishes and a PR of 18:42 in 1990, during one of her four team titles. She has run in 21 straight Alumni races, never missing a race for which she was eligible.
2. Rita Keahon (Nan '83) The first woman under 19 minutes in 1989, she became the first under 18 minutes a year later. In addition to her two course records, she boasts a record four titles, eight top 10s, and two team victories.
1. Julianne Littmann (MW '95) She has been eligible for fourteen alumni races and has run thirteen times, never placing lower than sixth. Her seven individual titles are a women's record; her five consecutive wins an all-gender record. Her 13 top 10s are a women's record as well. Her 17:17 in 2001 is the second-fastest ever. She has led the Lady Crusaders to six team wins.
Honorable Mention Sue (Gulla) Lanoce (PR '83): She has run a women's record 25 of the 26 Alumni races to date. Her four top 10's include a third in 1985, and she scored in two of the Pirates' team victories. Aileen O'Shea (PR '83): The only female in the 1983 race, she repeated with a win in 1984 in leading the Lady Pirates to the first-ever women's title. Lauren Tuchband-Cullen (Nan '98): threatening the list, with one win and five top 10s. Bethany Crenshaw (Wayne Valley '95): One of only two women to break 18 minutes twice. Katie Baloga (NFA '92): Two top 10s, including an individual title, and an impressive 18:03 PR. Diane Iriarte (PR '83): Three top 10s for two championship teams.
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