TROY GRAD MATTHEW WILBER THIRD AT WINEGLASS MARATHON (2022-10-02)

BY BRIAN FEES
Southern Tier Sports Report
CORNING, N.Y. — Two weeks ago Spencer Friske didn’t even know he was going to be running the Guthrie Wineglass Marathon. On Sunday he was shattering the course record.

“I am really grateful,” the 28-year-old Philadelphia, Pennsylvania native said. “I actually entered this race like eight days ago. I emailed Sheila (Sutton), the race director and was like is there any way I can get a bid, because the race I was going to run had an issue.

“They were very generous that they let us in. We are from Philly and we’ve never been up here, it’s just awesome.”

Friske finished the race in 2:17.57, shattering the ole record of 2:20.19, set by Tim Chichester in 2017.

“I came here to run 2:18, it’s like the Olympic Trials time,” Friske said as he was fighting back the emotions. "It’s a dream come true.”

Nine seconds behind Friske, finishing in third place in 2:26.34 was Matthew Wilber, who now lives in Corning.

The Troy, Pa. graduate ran in high school, and his senior year in college at St. Bonaventure, and he’s been working with Mansfield University coach Mike Rohl, who helped him set a PR on Sunday to earn a spot on the podium.

“I had an interesting training cycle,” Wilber said. “I was going a certain direction with things and that kind of shifted five or six weeks ago. I started working with the head coach at Mansfield cross country and track and field Mike Rohl.

“I have been working with him since 2018. I just went to him and said how do you feel about trying to put something together in the next couple of weeks. I gave him a time to shoot for and he told me I think we can do that and we went for it.”

Lindsay Piraino ran the Wineglass Marathon in 2019, but didn’t have a winning time. On Sunday she was the women’s champion, crossing the line in 2:51.23.

“I had a plan and I stuck with it and I just ran my race,” she said. “It was fun seeing some other really good women out there. The support of the crowd was great. I had a lot of fun. I was smiling a lot, so that’s the goal.”

VALIDATION FOR FRISKE

Friske ran in college at Swarthmore College. For the 28-year-old college was a bit of a disappointment as he battled injuries.

“I ran at Swarthmore College, near Philly,” he said. “I was hurt a lot in college. I never ran anything I wanted to. It was a constant disappointment. My coach coached me, he believed in me, this is validation.”

For Friske winning the race on Sunday showed him that all the work he’s put in since college was worth it.

“It’s a validation,” he said. “This is the kind of sport you spend like 30 hours a week. It’s not like particularly fun and exciting. You never really know if it’s worth it. You spend a lot of time questioning it.”

And, Sunday gave him the answer, that his hard work was worth it. By the midway point it was becoming clear that Friske was on record pace.

“I knew I was close,” he said. “I didn’t know if it was going to be three seconds. I saw the 40 with like 100 to go and I was like oh man, I’m not a sprinter, but I gave what I had.”

Friske was at the race with his wife and his dog, and they made the trip to Corning after hearing good things about the race.

“I heard great things about the support,” he said. “The crowd was awesome, even in the rural areas. It’s a fast course. I was able to drive and come with my family.”

While Friske had never thought past Sunday, now he is thinking about returning next year to defend his title.

“I guess so,” he said. “I haven’t been thinking that far head, but if they’ll have me I’ll be back.”

ROCHESTER NATIVE WINS CLOSE TO HOME

For Piraino it’s not a long trip to Corning as she lives in Rochester. That gave her a chance to have family in the crowd to watch her race on Sunday.

“My husband, and my parents were out on the course also,” she said.

For Piraino it was special having family watch her win.

“It was great,” she said.

Piraino ran at Alfred University and then got into marathons after college.

“I started running late in high school and then ran in college at Alfred U, then I got into marathons as soon as I finished undergrad, so I’ve been doing it for about five years,” Piraino said.

FIRST TIME AT WINEGLASS IN 8 YEARS FOR WILBER

While Wilber lives in Corning, it’s been a while since he had run the Wineglass Marathon.

“This is the first time I’ve been here since 2014,” he said. “So, it’s been eight years and I’m getting a lot older. The field is a lot stronger now, the prize money is a lot more than it was back then.”

Going into the race Wilber had no real expectations on what he was going to do, he just went out and tried to run the best race he could.

“I didn’t have any expectations for anything other than try and run,” he said. “Get to the 20-mile mark and then try and race, whatever happens, happens.

“It’s always a function at these things on how the pace goes, and I’m just in my own world.”

TOP 10 FINISHERS

Finishing second behind Friske was Henry Williams of Ithaca. The rest of the top 10, following Wilber who was third, was Jared Burdick, Alexander Grout, Daniel Christiansen, Manuel Agudelo, Trever Reed, Dickson Mercer and Brandon Talisesky.

The female top 10 after Piraino was Jennifer Weston, Megan Bouton, of Campbell, N.Y., Laura Galeazzo, Tanya Porcellato, Kayla Campasino, Kelly Reese, Kimberly Mills, Eryn Milius and Julie Tower.

HALF MARATHON/5K

In the half marathon Robert Guidicipietro won the men’s race, while Roberta Groner won the female race in a record time of 1:12.47.

Nathan Triner won the 5K for the men, while Mirabella Sanford won the women’s race. 

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PHOTO CAPTION: Corning's Matthew Wilber crosses the finish line...PHOTOS BY BRIAN FEES