Emotional Day for Oak Tree Half Marathon and 5k Runners

GENESEO – Emotions ran high at Sunday’s Oak Tree 5K and half marathon held by the Genesee Valley Nature Conservancy.

Records were broken, families came together, and local rescue groups bonded over spectacular running courses in the Genesee Valley.

“I should be trying for a 2:13 marathon time,” said Kiplangat Tisia, 25, of Rochester, who smashed the previous course record for the half marathon with a time of 1:08:27, “I’m planning on running the Greater Niagara Falls half marathon next.”

The winner of the Oak Tree 5K, Josh Harter, of Avon, finished with a time of 16:55.

Mothers ran with their small children in specialized race strollers, sons and daughters ran alongside proud parents, and families ran together in memory of lost loved ones.

The day had special meaning for the Ohle family, who ran in honor of their father, Bill Ohle, who passed away while training for the half marathon. Bill and his family had originally planned to run together. The courageous siblings, Brian Ohle, Heather Ohle, and Shawna Ohle, with their friend Liz Andresen, all ran in memory of Bill, while their mother Connie proudly looked on.

Local volunteer first responders put together a field as well. Geneseo Fire and EMS put forth 12 firefighters and medics whose
professional ties were reinforced by long training and hard races. Tim Kelly of Geneseo Fire and EMS ran the half marathon, and Lenny Mack, Darcy Dewar Lynch, Sharon Leary, Kaitlyn Sullivan, Annamarie Centorinno, Matt Creamer, Richelle Pennington, Tobias Nobling, Emily Bressner, Rebecca May, and Laura Cook ran the 5K.

 

 

PHOTO CAPTION: Top – Kiplingat Tisia breaks the tape, finishing the course in record time. (Photo/ Conrad Baker)

Middle – From right to left: Liz Andresen, Brian Ohle, Heather Ohle, Shawna Ohle and Connie Ohle stand by a memorial to father and husband Bill Ohle. Image courtesy of David Simpson.

Bottom – Some of the fifteen runners of Geneseo Fire and EMS, pictured by one of their ambulances, which stood by at the event. Image courtesy of Lieutenant Sharon Leary.