Faces from the big race in Albion

Photos by Tom Rivers

ALBION – It may have been a grueling event, running 10 miles on a hot summer day, but participants and the crowd along the course for the inaugural Metro 10 in Albion had a great time on Saturday, showing smiles and not grimaces.

The top photo shows runners after they completed their part of a relay. They are at the 5-mile mark.

Cheyanna Eagle, left, and Angela Tarricone sing the National Anthem. The two are members of the select chorus at Albion High School. Another student, Zach Shaffer, also sang the anthem. They were directed by Gary Simboli.

Orville Preston, a veteran from Albion, holds the flag while race directors Brian Krieger, center, and Thom Jennings observe a respectful silence. The two race directors then welcomed the runners to Albion and Orleans County.

The Albion Running Club put on the event, which pitted runners from Rochester vs. Buffalo for the Metro 10 Cup and bragging rights over which area is the better running community. Rochester took the title this year.

Jason McElwain, better known as “J-Mac,” is at the starting line with other runners on Route 31 near the front of the CRFS parking lot. J-Mac of Rochester was fifth overall with a time of 1:02. He first earned fame about a decade ago when he scored 20 points in the closing minutes for Greece Athena in a high school baskeball game. He is a highly functioning autistic amateur athlete who has run the Boston Marathon in under 3 hours.

Debbie Restivo of Albion is out on Main Street with a cow bell, cheering on the runners.

Jacki Mowers-Sciarabba, a client advocate and Just Friends coordinator for the Genesee-Orleans Ministry of Concern, has water ready for runners at the Mile 2 mark. The Ministry of Concern had many volunteers handing out water.

Girl Scouts have water and wet towels for runners at the Mile 6 mark. The Girl Scouts won $300 for the best water stop.

Members of the Albion Cross Country team were enthusiastic at Mile 9, trying to give the runners a boost with a mile to go.

Jose Quiros of Medina snaps a photo of a friend finishing the race at Bullard Park.

Pam Allen of Albion is dressed as a clown near the finish line. She was helping to promote a Vacation Bible School this week at the Albion Free Methodist Church.

Evan Steier and his father John of Albion were a team in the relay, which Evan running the first 5 miles and John completing the second leg of the course. (Evan actually kept running and finished the entire course.) They both ran for Buffalo. They are pictured in Bullard Park for the post-race party.

Up2Somethin’ , a popular party band from Rochester, entertains at Bullard. The seven-piece band includes Rickey Ellis on bass and vocals at right, and lead singer Evyn Grassl.

Schwenk’s Wine Cellars in Kent was one of four Orleans County wineries offering wine-tastings at the post-race celebration. Leonard Oakes Estate Winery in Medina, 810 Meadworks in Medina, and Salamaca Estate Winery in Murray also were at the event.

Runners were given a commemorative wine glass with the Metro 10 logo.

Jim Salmon of Barre, a radio host for WHAM 1180 in Rochester, gets ready to announce the winning running community: Rochester.

Some Rochester runners hold the Metro 10 Cup after Rochester was announced as the winning team for 2015. Matt Kistner of Albion, second from right, created the cup. He is a metal artist and welder. Thom Jennings, right, served as honorary captain for Rochester as well as co-race director.