NEW SCOTLAND — Shamus Nally crossed the finish line at the Indian Ladder Trail Run 15 kilometer race like a conquering warrior.

Mud and sweat covered parts of his body as he broke the tape to win the nine-mile race in just under an hour.

Nally, who graduated from Burnt Hills High School in June, finished the race in 59:50, running over a rugged off-road course through Thacher Park.
"In trail racing, a lot of the parts of the trail you have to have a single track," said the race’s co-director Chuck Tanner. "On a lot of the parts of the trail, it’s mano y mano."

Nally looked like he won his hand-to-hand combat as he finished the race about two minutes ahead of Josh Merlis of Albany. Merlis, 23, of Albany finished the race in 1:01.54.

Nick Willey, 18, of Clifton Park was close behind, finishing with a time of 1:01.59.

Lori Hewig, 45, of Saratoga was the top female finisher. She broke the tape in 1:08.51 and finished 16th overall.

Liz Montgomery, 18, of Glenville was the second female finisher, clocking in at 1:12:39 and Alice Thomas, 42, of Westerlo was third in 1:14:08.

The finish of the 15-kilometer race was not the end of Nally’s day as he competed in the 3.5-mile run that began just two hours after the start of the 15-kilometer run.

And Nally put together an-other impressive run, finishing second, getting edged out by Guilderland High School running sensation Brian Rhodes-Devey.

Rhodes-Devey, who did not run in the 15K, ran a time of 20:59 and Nally finished in 21:11.
"We have some caliber of athletes that can do that," Tanner said. "But, in fact, with the kids’ races, we want to keep the event enjoyable."

Shaun Horan, 23, of Clifton Park finished third with a time of 21:16.

Mary Town, 22, of Troy was the top female finisher, coming in at 31:19 and 16th overall. Maria Christman, 26, of Rexford was second with a time of 32:15. Susanna Burr, 25, of Albany was third with a time of 32:39.

Trail run pioneer

The Indian Ladder Trail Run is 11 years old — one of the first trail runs. This year 276 runners competed — including a bus full from the Western Massachusetts Running Club.
"Trail running is growing in popularity," Tanner said.

Tanner said that the Indian Ladder Run is 99 percent off-road.
"There is no traffic safety is-sue," Tanner said.

The race was founded by Jim Gilmer, who addressed the runners before the 15-kilometer race began.

Gilmer passed the torch to Tanner and Mike Kelly.

Tanner competes in local races and makes his living as a Guilderland police officer.

Gilmer is the director of the GHI Corporate Challenge that takes place in Albany.
"It’s one of the biggest corporate road races," Tanner said. "He’s a very busy man."

The Indian Ladder race gets a big boost from Chris Fallon and other workers at Thacher Park.
"Chris and Jim have a nice partnership," Tanner said. "They expanded it and refined it over the years.

Other trail races have popped up in the area but this is one of the oldest.

However, the first, Tanner said, was started by Guilderland High School physical education teacher and cross-country coach Bob Oates. Oates held a bunch of races at Tawasentha Park.
"Runners had to cross the Normanskill and sometimes it would be up to their waists," Tanner said. "Then they had to climb up that big hill."

The Indian Ladder Trail Run was sponsored by the Hudson Mohawk Road Runners Club and there was a chicken barbecue after all the racers had finished.

Tanner said the day was delightful; he hopes the event will continue to grow.
"We’re hoping to get more local sponsorship," he said.

15-kilometer race

Willey was the top runner in the one-to-19 age group. Joel Frost-Tift, 17, of Averill Park was second in the group with a time of 1:02:14. Tony Martini, 17, of Atlamont was third.

Montgomery topped the female one-to-19 age category. Emily Graville, 18, of Ballston Lake was second in 1:26.19 and Andrea Hollinger, 17, of Averill Park was third.

Merlis was tops in the 20-to-24 age group. Tom O’Grady, 20, of Albany was second and Kevin Kelly, 24, of Weehawken, N.J. was third.

Jessica Dunton, 22, of Lebanon Springs was the winner of the 20-to-24 age group. She finished the race in 1:15 and was followed by Heidi Charpentier, 22, of Bennington, Vt. Karen Ruozzi, 23, of Albany was third in the age group.

Mark Field, 27, of Cheshire, Mass. was first in the 25-to-29 age group, coming in at 1:04.36. Patrick Sorsby, 29, of Albany was second and David Newman, 25, of Albany was third.

Jeannine Salvo, 28, of New York City was first in the 30-to-34 age group, running to a time of 1:14.30. Larina Riley, 27, of West Sand Lake was second.

Matthew Martens, 32, of Albany was first in the 30-34 age group, clocking 1:21.31 for the course. Mike DeCaprio, 30, of Saratoga Springs was second and Gary Cunningham, 32, of Saratoga Springs was third.

Julie Monaco, 31, of Carrboro, N.C. was first in the 30-to-34 age category with a time of 1:25.58. Gabriel Holmes, 30, of Schenectady was second and Claudia Marin, 31, of Lexington, Ky. was third.

Jon Rocco, 38, of Colonie was first in the 35-to-39 age group, coming in with a time of 1:05.01. Lanaud Christopher, 37, of Guilderland was second and Bruce Beesle, 39, of Delmar was third.

Dawn Toronto, 36, of Guilderland was the top finisher in the 35-to-39 age category. She ran a time of 1:18.01.

Stephen Roberts, 40, of Dalton, Mass. topped the 40-to-44 age group, running a time of 1:03.31. Kent Sprotberry, 40, of Slingerlands was second and Tyronne Culepeppeer, 42, of Saratoga Springs was third.

Thomas won the 40-to-44 age group. She was followed by Donna Ruppel, 41, of Greenwich and Stephanie Ambrose, 44, of Lenox, Mass.

Bob Dion, 48, of Readsboro, Vt. was first in the 45-to-49 age group, finishing in 1:07.06. James Jacobs, 48, of Berne was second and John Kenny, 46, of Salem was third.

Nancy Taormina, 46, of Albany was first in the 45-to-49 age group, running to a time of 1:18:13. Nancy Briskie, 48, of Schenectady was second and Joan Brown, 47, of Niskayuna was third.

Paul Willey, 50, of Clifton Park was first in the 50-to-54 age category, finishing in 1:08:42. Peter Malinowski, 50, of Beverly, Mass. was second and Mark Kelsey, 54, of Greenwich was third.

Leigh Ann Smith, 50, of Coxsackie was first in the 50-to-54 age group. She completed the course in 1:29:18.

Seamus Hodgkinson, 56, of Glenmont was first in the 55-to-59 age group, running the course in a time of 1:21:07. Juergen Reher, 55, of Wyantskill was sec-ond and David Brown, 58, of Niskayuna was third.

Mary Collins-Finn, 56, of Menands was first in the 55-to-59 age group, running 1:38:01. Laura Clark, 58, of Saratoga Springs was second and Alice Carpenter, 55, of Delmar was third.

Eduardo Munoz, Jr., 62, of Olmstedville was the winner of the 60-to-64 age group, running to a time of 1:20.31. Thomas Adams, 60, of Rotterdam was second and Ray Lee, 63, of Halfmoon was third.

Anthony Scott, 66, of Fort Johnson was the winner of 65-to-69 age group with a time of 1:35:04. Chuck Jensen, 69, of Bennington, Vt. was second and Byron Lane, 67, of Saint James was third.

Ed Doucette, 75, of Bennington, Vt. was the winner of the 70-to-99 age group. He finished in 1:47:12 to edge out Daniel Wellner, 71, of Hillsdale.

5K finishers

Luke Caton, nine, of Clarksville won the one-to-10 age group in the five kilometer race. He ran the course in 39:52 to edge out Tristan Southerd, nine, of Malden Bridge.

Emma Hollinger, 10, of Averill Park was the winner in the one-to-10 age group. She finished the race in 35:42.

Chase Preite, 12, of North Adams, Mass. won the 11-to-12 age group in 34:21. Billy Platt, 12, of Hagaman was second and Brad Fellner, 12, of Schenectady was third.

Robert Hollinger, 13, of Averill Park was first in the 13-to-14 age group, running in 32:41. Denis Hurley III, 13, of Delmar was second and Jack Parisella, 13, of Schenectady was third.

Pamely Barry was first in the 13-to-14 age category, winning in 33:32. Katelyn Choiniere, 14, of Colonie was second.

Josh Thomas, 16, of Wynantskill won the 15-to-16 age group in 22:34. Sam Streater, 16, of Ghent was second and Justin McCarthy, 15, of North Adams, Mass. was third.

Hilary Edmunds, 16, of Voorheesville won the 15-to-16 age group with a time of 32:53. Janet Barry, 15, of Lenox, Mass. was second and Danielle Hiss, 16, of Burnt Hills was third.

Nally won the 18-to-19 group, edging out L.J. Catone, 17, of Valley Falls. Joe Choiniere, 19, of Colonie was third.

Horan won the 20-to-24 age category, beating Joseph Castellano, 21, of Irvington and Greg Tryson, 22, of Malden Bridge.

Jessica Dunton, 22, of Lebanon Springs won the 20-to-24 age group in 35:06. Anne Serdakoski, 23, of Richmond, R.I was second and Maureen Murphy, 22, of Albany was third.

Patrick Sorsby, 29, of Albany won the 25-to-29 age group in 34 minutes. Rian London, 26, of Boonton, N.J. was second and Al Testa, 27, of Albany was third.

Maria Christman, 26, of Rexford was first in the 25-to-29 age group. Susanna Burr, 25, of Albany was second and Gina Burnetter, 29, of Bearsville was third.

Larry Cauell, 31, of Saratoga was first in the 30-to-34 age group with a time of 36:17. John Carr, 32, of Albany was second and Billy Caton III, 34, of Clarksville was third.

The 30-to-34 age group was won by Nicole Robilotto, 34, of Albany in 39:22.

Brian Carter, 35, of Saratoga Springs won the 35-to-39 age group in 35:13. Kurt Swan, 35, of Albany was second and Robert Foulks, 37, of Albany was third.

Jill Frankoski, 37, of West Sand Lake was the top finisher in the 35-to-39 age group with a time of 39:22. Claudine Preite, 38, of North Adams, Mass. was second and Deirdre Keating, 37, of Clarksville was third.

Peter Constantakes, 41, of Albany won the 40-to-44 age category in 35:58. Denis Hurley Jr., 42, of Delmar was second and Brian McCarthy, 44, of North Adams, Mass. was third.

Jeannie Dunbar, 44, of Chatham, won the 40-to-44 age group with a time of 34:55. Mindy Mackesey, 41, of Altamont was second and Andrea Zahnleuter, 43, of Clifton Park was third.

The 45-to-49 age group was won by Thomas Rest, 45, of Ballston Spa in 30:21. Chris Burns, 49, Albany was second and John Dickson, 47, of Schenectady was third.

Karen Dott, 45, of Colonie topped the 45-to-49 age group in 35:07. Nancy Taormina, 46, of Albany was second and Thersa Brown, 46, of Rensselaer was third.

Paul Willey, 50, of Clifton Park won the 50-to-54 age group in 31:19. Paul Williams, 53, of Burnt Hills was second and Peter Gordon, 50, of Troy was third.

Donna Choiniere, 51, of Colonie won the 50-54 age group in 35:17. Bonnie Engelman, 52, of Rensselaer was second and Elaine Humphrey, 51, of Glenmont was third.

David Loux, 56, of Delmar won the 55-to-59 age group in 32:30 age group. Greg Rickes, 55, of Latham was second and John Meehan, 55, of Fort Edward was third.

Laura Clark, 58, of Saratoga Springs won the 55-to-59 age group in 50:27. She edged out Judy Dewey, 59, Chicopee, Mass.

Bob Massaro, 61, of Chicoppee, Mass. won the 60-to-64 age group in 37:26. Ray Lee, 63, of Halfmoon was second and Michael Connelly, 60, of Schenectady was third.

Jim Hotaling, 65, of Niverville was first in the 65-to-69 age group, finishing in 37:32. Tony Lucia, 67, of Agawam, Mass. was second.

Andy Keefe, 75, of Saratoga Springs won the 70-to-99 age group in 42:08. Donald McBain, 72, Wyantskill was second.