BERNE — As the runners for the Fox Creek 5K lined up at the starting line, the skies opened up.

For the first time in the event’s history, rain fell upon the competitors but it didn’t dampen spirits.
"Many runners don’t mind," said race director Jim Hamilton. "A little rain cools you down."

It also didn’t deter athletes from showing up. The 103 runners that finished the race set a record.
"It was the largest number of runners we’ve had to date," Hamilton said. "The largest in the past was 97 or 98."

A hometown boy won the race. Ryan Walter, 21, of Delanson, a Berne-Knox-Westerlo graduate, clocked a time of 16:28.
"He won last year," Hamilton said. "He’s a past winner; it’s good he came back."

Ryan Pezzulo, 17, of Ballston Spa, was second in 16:41.

Walter and Pezzulo were engaged in a battle for the top spot.
"Pezzulo led for a good portion of the race with Ryan trailing close behind him," Hamilton said. "He [Pezzulo] had the first mile in 5:06, which is a good pace. I’m not sure where Ryan passed him. Ryan came on strong and pulled away from him."

Hamilton found out that Walter passed Pezzullo in the third mile.

Jessica Manzer, 23, of Palatine Bridge was the women’s winner. The former Canajoharie High School and Middlebury College runner finished in a time of 18:14, good enough for seventh overall. Her time was the fastest ever run by a woman in the race.
"She was a significant runner in Section II some years ago," Hamilton said. "She was a very strong local runner and she came back."

Molly Pezzulo, 13, of Ballston Spa was the second female finisher. She clocked a time of 19:56 to finish ninth overall.

Rounding out the men’s top five were Nathan Hoffman, 27, of Slingerlands, who finished in 17:29. Sean Pezzulo, 14, of Ballston Spa, was fourth in a time of 17:43, and Macky Lloyd, 16, of Voorheesville, was fifth in 17:56.

Chelsea Corr, 22, of East Greenbush, was the third female finisher in a time of 20:55. Sarah Furman, 18, of West Berne, was fourth in a time of 21:44 and Kendall Bunzey, 19, Berne was fifth in 22 minutes.

There were some changes to the race this year. For one, it was run later than usual. It was a couple of weeks later to coincide with the Berne Heritage Day celebration that was scheduled for later in the day but was rained out.

Hamilton also changed the course design. The biggest change was he avoided a hill that was in the first half-mile of the race.
"People liked the course," Hamilton said. "One local runner told me that she missed the hill. She said, ‘This is Berne. People can run a flat race anywhere.’ But several of the reactions I got were good."

With the course change comes new records. Walter’s time was not the fastest in the history of the race. Chuck Terry still holds the race’s all-time record. He set the record in 2004 with a time of 16:04.
"Ryan ran a good, strong time," Hamilton said. "Manzer also ran the fastest time run in the race by almost a minute."

The race also featured runners from out-of-state, including some far-flung places such as Mississippi, Virginia, and Kentucky.

Charlie Souter, 49, of Charlottesville, Va., ran in a road race in his 25th different state. He has a goal to run a race in all 50 states before he turns 50. Hamilton said. Souter finished 15th in a time of 21:08 at the Fox Creek 5K.
"He heard about the race and called me and asked if it was a good race," Hamilton said. "I told him, ‘Yeah, it’s a great race."