Runners of All Ages Take Part in Gordon's Fighting 400 5K

Nearly 100 runners and walkers took to the streets of Gordon on Memorial Day weekend as the Gordon Fire Company hosted its annual Fighting 400 5K on Sunday, May 24, 2026.
The event, which benefits the Gordon Fire Company, drew participants of all ages who navigated the challenging course through the borough, featuring a mix of flat sections and hills before finishing at the community park.

Leading the way overall was Owen Mentzer, 15, of Ashland, who captured the men's overall title with a winning time of 18:44.27. Mentzer's performance earned him the top overall finish among the 103 participants.

Deneen Reese, 42, was the first female across the finish line, claiming the women's overall title with a time of 21:08.25 and placing eighth overall.

The race featured strong competition throughout the field, with Matthew O. finishing second overall in 19:22.27 and Victor Hanley of Barnesville placing third overall in 19:32.95. Gavin Jago of Ashland and Jason Montemuro of Ashland rounded out the overall top five finishers.

Several local runners turned in standout performances across the age divisions. Gordon's Genevieve Dando continued her strong history in the event by winning the Female 14-19 division in 21:57.30, while Ashland's Joey Tokarczyk captured second place in the Male 14-19 division with a time of 19:49.26.

Other age-group winners included Colton Lindenmuth (Male 13 & Under), Autumn Pedron (Female 20-29), Robert Bainbridge (Male 30-39), Samantha Monck (Female 30-39), Ryan Setlock (Male 40-49), Kelly Donchak (Female 40-49), Jason Sotlock (Male 50-59), Mary Ann Houser (Female 50-59), Craig Lowshert (Male 60-69), Ruth Cope (Female 60-69), Ralph Buchspics (Male 70 & Over), and Peggy Gradwell (Female 70 & Over).

(Pictures below the results)

Fighting 400 5K Race Results

Male Overall Winners

Place	Name	City	Bib No.	Age	Overall	Total Time
1	Owen Mentzer	Ashland PA	240	15	1	18:44.27

Female Overall Winners

Place	Name	City	Bib No.	Age	Overall	Total Time
1	Deneen Reese		300	42	8	21:08.25

Male 13 and Under

Place	Name	City	Bib No.	Age	Overall	Total Time
1	Colton Lindenmuth		315	7	20	25:06.56
2	Teddy Tokarczyk	Ashland PA	281	11	21	25:25.97
3	Robert Rose		295	8	28	26:10.46
4	Declan Sullivan	Ashland PA	276	11	52	31:47.77
5	Koda Quick		323	7	57	32:36.45

Female 13 and Under

Place	Name	City	Bib No.	Age	Overall	Total Time
1	Grace Murphy		307	10	25	25:55.22
2	Mary Anderson	Ashland PA	206	13	41	28:51.61
3	Dakota Dumboski	Auburn PA	221	13	42	28:52.43
4	Ellianna Slimmer	Ashland PA	272	9	44	29:54.19
5	Gretchen Tomtishen		317	8	48	30:39.93
6	Brynn Seasock		293	12	51	31:20.68
7	Emma Cuttic	Frackville PA	217	12	53	31:49.94
8	J Catirowe		296	10	65	35:41.23
9	Ryler Ench		320	12	67	36:04.31
10	Kennedy Dando	Gordon PA	219	12	68	36:19.39
11	Rylee Sullivan	Ashland PA	277	8	69	36:54.63
12	Skyler Rocje		299	7	72	38:09.52
13	Lucy Anderson	Ashland PA	205	10	73	38:52.32
14	Quinn Sabaday	Ringtown PA	268	9	75	39:34.86
15	Mckenna Carduff		310	10	78	40:15.69
16	Audrey Rex	Frackville PA	265	11	79	40:27.51
17	Raegan Houser	Ashland PA	232	8	80	40:32.11

Male 14 to 19

Place	Name	City	Bib No.	Age	Overall	Total Time
1	Victor Hanley	Barnesville PA	227	19	3	19:32.95
2	Joey Tokarczyk	Ashland PA	280	14	5	19:49.26
3	Cameron Jones	Ringtown PA	235	16	7	20:07.14

Female 14 to 19

Place	Name	City	Bib No.	Age	Overall	Total Time
1	Genevieve Dando	Gordon PA	218	15	10	21:57.30
2	Kaitlynn Menuchak	Ashland PA	241	17	36	27:01.93
3	Cecelia Rau	Gordon PA	261	18	86	42:43.24

Male 20 to 29

Place	Name	City	Bib No.	Age	Overall	Total Time
1	Matthew O		294	23	2	19:22.27
2	Gavin Jago	Ashland PA	234	21	4	19:39.85
3	Jason Montemuro	Ashland PA	244	28	6	19:59.69
4	Matthew Schachte	Ashland PA	270	22	9	21:16.46
5	Colin Ahrensfield	Ashland PA	204	27	11	22:27.71
6	Luke Volmert	Columbia IL	282	26	14	23:10.35
7	Brady Salukas	Gordon PA	269	22	23	25:48.54
8	Evan Houser	Gordon PA	229	22	61	34:00.11
9	William Joyce	Ashland PA	236	22	70	37:50.88

Female 20 to 29

Place	Name	City	Bib No.	Age	Overall	Total Time
1	Autumn Pedron	Ashland PA	257	26	15	23:11.98
2	Anne Baney	Fleetwood PA	207	27	32	26:22.12
3	Courtney Burgard	Ashland PA	212	29	34	26:59.86
4	Anya Podsobinski	Gordon PA	259	20	62	34:00.66
5	Cassidy Navarro	Gordon PA	253	27	93	48:18.76
6	Kayla Witt	Kulpmont PA	292	28	97	56:01.71

Male 30 to 39

Place	Name	City	Bib No.	Age	Overall	Total Time
1	Robert Bainbridge		321	33	13	23:01.77
2	Kevin Cole		313	30	30	26:15.71
3	James Close	Saint Clair PA	214	30	37	27:12.96
4	Joe Catizone	Girardville PA	213	39	66	35:41.85
5	Gerald Roche	Ashland PA	266	39	71	38:09.26
6	Ricardo Navarro	Gordon PA	254	33	94	48:19.53
7	Eric Hughes		305	39	99	57:20.27

Female 30 to 39

Place	Name	City	Bib No.	Age	Overall	Total Time
1	Samantha Monck		311	36	18	24:24.13
2	Samantha Meulsky		312	39	22	25:41.99
3	Mckenzie Sterner	Schuylkill Haven PA	275	32	33	26:47.96
4	Megan Tomtishen		316	38	38	27:35.89
5	Amanda Whritenour	Ashland PA	290	39	45	30:18.68
6	Danielle Little	Catawissa PA	239	37	55	32:30.54
7	Anne Gwin	Auburn PA	224	34	76	40:01.36
8	Jenna Houser	Ashland PA	230	35	84	42:27.97
9	Caitlin Barnett		314	37	88	43:47.28
10	Veronica Brewer	Ashland PA	210	31	95	48:23.44
11	Jackie Hughes		304	38	98	57:19.20

Male 40 to 49

Place	Name	City	Bib No.	Age	Overall	Total Time
1	Ryan Setlock		319	43	16	23:30.15
2	Samuel Slimmer	Ashland PA	274	49	19	24:38.44
3	John Murphy		308	45	26	25:56.21
4	Matthew Reed	Westfield PA	264	47	27	26:03.95
5	Richard Menuchak	Ashland PA	242	44	35	27:01.71
6	Terry Beibleheimer	Milton PA	209	48	56	32:31.35
7	Todd Houser	Gordon PA	233	48	74	39:26.11
8	Joseph Gwin	Auburn PA	225	44	77	40:01.85
9	Andy Tokarczyk	Ashland PA	279	44	103	1:02:24.44

Female 40 to 49

Place	Name	City	Bib No.	Age	Overall	Total Time
1	Kelly Donchak		303	48	29	26:12.50
2	Kelly Slimmer	Ashland PA	273	47	46	30:32.22
3	Erin Reading	Ashland PA	263	44	47	30:36.51
4	Erin Anderson		318	44	49	30:54.62
5	Kari Nelson	Pottsville PA	255	44	50	31:11.57
6	Sheila Quick		322	46	59	33:10.16
7	Amanda Tokarczyk	Ashland PA	278	40	81	41:04.60
8	Dorthea Morgan	Danville PA	246	41	83	42:17.49
9	Angela Sabaday	Ringtown PA	267	44	90	47:03.51
10	Jennifer Rau	Gordon PA	262	49	96	55:07.46

Male 50 to 59

Place	Name	City	Bib No.	Age	Overall	Total Time
1	Jason Sotlock		298	54	17	23:36.48
2	Tim Moore	Brockton PA	245	52	24	25:49.47
3	Glenn Weist	Frackville PA	285	56	92	48:17.13
4	Rich Harris	Gordon PA	228	57	102	1:01:10.67

Female 50 to 59

Place	Name	City	Bib No.	Age	Overall	Total Time
1	Mary Ann Houser	Gordon PA	231	52	39	28:25.70
2	Theresa Mulhall	Shenandoah PA	252	54	58	32:53.36
3	Amy Wahalec-Clark	Ashland PA	283	54	89	46:31.46
4	Lori Weist	Frackville PA	286	56	91	48:15.49

Male 60 to 69

Place	Name	City	Bib No.	Age	Overall	Total Time
1	Craig Lowshert		302	62	12	22:36.24
2	Tim Conrad	Ashland PA	215	63	40	28:38.95
3	Dave Pedron	Pottsville PA	258	67	43	29:43.53
4	Bob Mulhall	Shenandoah PA	251	60	54	32:05.23
5	Russell Motsko	Frackville PA	248	63	82	41:54.60
6	Perry Harvey		309	63	87	43:26.45
7	Ed Hughes		306	61	100	57:43.95