Uniontown’s Ethan Syner Dominates 29th Annual Falcon 5K

Uniontown senior Ethan Syner clinched victory in the 29th annual Falcon 5K held on October 7, 2023, at Brownsville Area High School. Syner finished the race with a time of 17:55, securing his win just 11 seconds ahead of teammate Logan Davis, who clocked in at 18:06. The competition showcased remarkable performances from various runners, including Brock Mace from McClellandtown, who took third place with a time of 18:45.

In the men’s division, the Red Raiders saw Matthew Page finish fourth in 19:12, while West Greene freshman Joel Grimes rounded out the top five with a time of 19:33.

Women’s Race Highlights

The women’s race was equally competitive, with Uniontown sophomore Charley Murtha emerging victorious in 21:12. Her teammate Hannah Foster followed closely, finishing second in 23:40. Areli Caldwell from Brownsville secured third place with a time of 24:20.

In addition to the traditional 5K run, the event featured a 5K walk, with George Zubeck from Leisenring winning in 39:09. For the women’s walk, Correna Smithburger from Farmington finished first with a time of 43:01. Jace McKennen from Allison claimed second place overall in the men’s walk, finishing in 44:28, while Maris Seto took second in the women’s category with a time of 44:46.

Age Group Winners and Community Impact

The Falcon 5K also recognized top performers across various age groups. Delaney Ridge won the women’s 13-and-under award in 28:03, and seven-year-old Marcus Mihalsky topped the men’s 13-and-under category with a time of 39:15. In the 14-to-16 age group, Page triumphed in the men’s division, while Uniontown’s Addison Caruso won the women’s with a time of 24:33.

The event saw further participation from Eli Zahuranic, who won the 14-to-17 men’s age group in 20:12, and Eryka Hacnkey, who finished first among females in the same category with a time of 25:03. Other age group winners included Josh Zahuranic (Men: 20-29, 25:01), Abigail Vomish (Women: 20-29, 26:07), Richard Black (Men: 30-39, 23:31), Jerrod Murtha (Men: 40-49, 21:22), and Meghan Reilly-Best (Women: 40-49, 33:26).

The Falcon 5K not only showcased athletic talent but also served as a fundraiser benefiting the Brownsville cross country team, reinforcing community support for local sports initiatives.