Seventh Annual King of the Mountain Race Sees High Turnout

CLEARFIELD - The King of the Mountain race, which benefits Habitat for Humanity, got off to a good start with 49 preregistered participants when the registration tables opened at eleven in the morning. By time the race started there were 89 registered slots, not including those who didn't show, but including three who competed twice.

“We'll make $8 to $10 thousand, hard to figure on this event depending on the number of riders,” said John Farr, president of theClearfield County Habitat for Humanity board. “It costs us $50 thousand to build a house so this is a real important fraction of that.”

The money came predominately from sponsors and registration fees.

Competitors started off at the Lawrence Township Fire Company #1 on Mill Road. From there each bicyclist would ride up the four lanes and continue on for five miles up the 1,000 feet ascent of Rockton Mountain. People came from Virgina to Erie to attend with ages ranging from 13 to 74.

“When you get to the top and push it as far as you can. Kind of feels like you want to throw up, but it is worth it. It is a rewarding experience if you can push yourself,” Jeremy Condon of Clearfield.

There were three divisions that were further split between gender and age group: mountain bike, road bike and tandem. Despite the three divisions no tandem bicycle competitors made an appearance this year all most racers fell into either the mountain or road bicyclers.

Jim and Zak Dieringer and Chris Mohney competed twice this year. All three did this by riding up first in one division before speeding back down the mountain to hop on their other bicycle for a repeat run.

“The first ride felt really good. The second ride hurt. The second time hurt a lot,” said Mohney, a resident of Clearfield.

His first trip up was with his road bike, and the second with his mountain bike. He described it as a personal challenge to see if he could do it again as it is something he does most years.

Both Mohney and Dieringer Cycles were sponsors for the event.

There were awards handed out besides the medals for the bracket and overall winners. The 60+ winners got checks from the Clearfield County Area Agency on Aging for the dollar amount of their ages. Josh Adachi, 14, of Altoona for who this was his third bicycle race ever. The youth rider award was handed out by Mike Butler who first noticed Adachi at the Tour de Susquehanna. According to Josh's mother he had been very ill for months the previous two years, and it wasn't till this year he was well enough to start competing.

Adachi came in fourth in the 19 and under bracket.

All riders received a give away shirt. The top three fastest men and women received $200, $100 and $50 for first, second and third places respectively with first place also receiving a one of a kind jersey as well.

Results for the top three in each division:
(Place: Name, age - time)

Road Bike
*Men
First: Jeffrey Miller, 41 – 17:33
Second: Olivier Rolin, 27 – 18:35
Third: Chad Swanger, 20 – 19:22

*Women
First: Donja Lang, 20 – 21:20
Second: Aimee Kemick, 44 – 26:29
Third: Marianne Mekis, 50 - 26:44

Mountain Bikes
*Men
First: Zak Dieringer, 36 – 22:53
Second: Nichael Foreman, 54 – 26:25
Third: Jeremy Condon, 32 – 28:07

*Women
First: Sharon Yost, 46 – 38:16
Second: Marcia Frantz, 47 – 46:50
Markay Boalich, 52 – 48:17