Bridgton race: For Annika, running is natural

TOP FEMALE FINISHER — Annika Pfitzinger, 21, of Auckland, New Zealand was the fastest female in the 38th running of the Bridgton 4 on the Fourth in 22:32. (Rivet Photo)

TOP FEMALE FINISHER — Annika Pfitzinger, 21, of Auckland, New Zealand was the fastest female in the 38th running of the Bridgton 4 on the Fourth in 22:32. (Rivet Photo)

Annika Pfitzinger hopes to one day follow in her parents’ footsteps.

The 21-year-old from Auckland, New Zealand ran Bridgton’s four-miler in 22 minutes, 32 seconds to be the seventh competitor to cross the finish line on the Fourth.

Her dad represented the United States in the marathon at the 1984 and 1988 Olympics while her mother represented New Zealand in 1988 in the 3000 meters.

“Since both of my parents were runners, running came naturally as a sport I could do. My parents never really pushed me into running, but it came quite naturally and they have always been very supportive,” she told Bridgton Race Director Jim Cossey. “I haven’t made it to the Olympics yet, but I hope to one day and that’s what I’ll be training for the next few years. I will probably be a 5000 or 10,000m runner. I’m not quite sure if I’ll quite make it up to the marathon like my dad!”

So, how did a New Zealander land in Bridgton, Maine, on the Fourth of July?

Annika was born in Exeter, New Hampshire and lived for a few years in Massachusetts before moving to her mom’s native country when she was five years old.

Annika and her boyfriend, along with other New Zealand athletes, arrived in the States in April to race and train. She spent six weeks racing track (1,500m) in California before moving on to Boulder, Colorado, where she underwent “altitude training” for the first time. Then, it was off to Canada where she competed in a 5000m national championship race and finished sixth overall.

Being near the East Coast, Annika decided to make a trip to Boston. For 15 years, her parents lived “around that area” and Annika wanted to see their old stomping grounds.

“I was lucky enough to be able to stay with some friends that my dad used to race against. They have a cottage on Lake Sebago and mentioned that they were doing the 4 on the Fourth (their youngest son won his age group),” she said. “I wanted to do one last road race before going home so I decided to race, as well!”

And race, she did. Annika was a full two minutes faster than her closest female competitor.

“I really enjoyed the race. It was a lot of fun and a great way to start my first Fourth of July in America after being away 16 years!” she said. “I’d really love to race next year and have a go at that record if I’m able to come over!”

Annika is back in New Zealand now and will be competing in the National Cross Country Championships in a month.

“Coming back to winter was a bit of a shock after coming from the beautiful United States summer!” she added.

AGE CATEGORY TOP FINISHERS

Top Bridgton Men

Dominic Vernazza, 17, 23:53

Nicholas Quasnitschka, 22, 25:48

Top Bridgton Women

Kimberly Rivet, 25, 31:41

Laura Pulito, 19, 31:55

Overall Top 5 men and women excluded from their age divisions

FEMALE AGE CATEGORY WINNERS

Female: 10 and Under

Karoline Hartner, 10, Pepperell, MA, 36:06

Rebecca Herzberg, 10, Denmark, 37:30

Shelby-Lynne Sheldrick, 10, Sebago, 40:32

Kaela Dillow, 10, Litchfield, NH, 41:09

Amaia Ariail, 10, Harrison, 41:47

Paige Adams, 10, Highlands Ranch, CO, 41:50

Ovella Ariail, 9, Harrison, 41:50

Evan Barth, 8, Harrison, 41:54

Isabella Rocamboli, 8, Needham, MA, 42:00

Rachel Conover, 9, Harrison, 42:18

Female: Ages 11-13

Mia Turkington, 12, Poland, 30:06

Lydia Palmer, 12, Harrison, 32:26

Merys Carty, 11, Sweden, 32:36

Emily Carty, 13, Sweden, 32:37

Ella Glassman, 13, Denmark, 34:22

Katherine New, 13, Melrose, MA, 34:54

Anya Hooper, 11, Harrison, 35:17

Hadley McPhee, 12, Harrison, 35:31

Zoe Cooper, 11, Sweden, 36:45

Ali Soucy, 12, Tolland, CT, 37:08

Female: Ages 14-18

Julia Partridge, 17, West Springfield, MA, 28:19

Samatha Friborg, 16, Harrison, 28:36

Ally Freifeld, 14, Denmark, 31:08

Allison Merola, 18, Powell, OH, 31:29

Madeline Roberts, 18, Falmouth, 31:56

Molly Retik, 14, Harrison, 32:01

Laura McManamy, 17, Newburyport, MA, 32:29

Maddie Partridge, 18, Southborough, MA, 32:57

Carolyn McShea, 18, Winnetka, IL, 33:11

Female: Ages 19-24

Alisha Simon, 21, Denmark, 26:25

Abby Arace, 20, Denmark, 26:59

Song Kim, 21, Lewiston, 27:24

Kerry Strader, 22, Denmark, 27:46

Tayla Robbins, 20, Raymond, 28:24

Heidi Tyler, 19, Harrison, 28:54

Karolina Kosela, 23, Harrison, 29:13

Sarah Kopaciewicz, 22, West Newbury, MA, 29:59

Malina Kelderman, 22, Harrison, 30:13

Kate Ditchburn, 21, Harrison, 30:45

Female: Ages 25-29

Rachel Reardon, 27, New York, NY, 26:08

Amanda Ivey, 26, Oxford, 27:08

Christie Rogers, 26, Brookline, MA, 31:03

Whitney Pulsifer, 29, Norwell, MA, 31:13

Kimberly Rivet, 25, Bridgton, 31:17

Katherine Diaz-MacInnis, 26, Brooklyn, NY, 31:47

Alex Brazier, 28, Cambridge, MA, 33:06

Sara Dolny, 25, Poland, 33:29

Kristin Reenock, 29, New York, NY, 33:36

Jessica Needham, 27, Harrison, 33:50

Female: Ages 30-34

Erin Saulnier, 31, South Hamilton, MA, 27:40

Catherine Gelinas, 30, Cheshire, CT, 29:26

Erin Plummer, 31, Naples, 30:02

Annie Dennett, 31, New York, NY, 30:16

Jessica Engle, 32, Seekonk, MA, 30:37

Elizabeth Jacobson, 34, North Yarmouth, 30:38

Holly Foss, 30, Center Conway, NH, 30:41

Katie Abendroth-Dunn, 34, Natick, MA, 31:00

Lizzie Resnick, 33, Quincy, MA, 31:21

Hallory Haley, 30, Dover, NH, 32:33

Female: Ages 35-39

Kathryn Hatch, 38, Lexington, MA, 26:22

Erin Callahan, 36, Brockton, MA, 27:38

Heidi Wall, 38, Harrison, 31:27

Sarah Parks, 36, Bellingham, MA, 32:09

Kara Mason, 35, Chelmsford, MA, 32:29

Katy Smith, 36, W. Whately, MA, 32:54

Amy Diller Kelsey, 39, North Bridgton, 33:13

Sasha Worsham, 36, Maplewood, NJ, 33:16

Tobie Feigenbaum, 39, Harrison, 33:56

Anita Gauntlett, 39, Shirley, MA, 34:09

Female: Ages 40-44

Kim Morrison, 44, Whitinsville, MA, 29:26

Natasha Leighton, 40, Naples, 29:36

Sarah Wilson, 40, Center Lovell, 30:32

Tammy Drew-Hoidal, 44, Falmouth, 31:10

Bridget Dehmler, 42, Fairport, NY, 31:47

Misty Brown, 42, Harrison, 31:53

Molly Sebo, 43, Roslindale, MA, 32:05

Christine Curley, 42, Millis, MA, 32:20

Tessa Bollinger, 44, Harrison, 33:15

Darci Hamm, 40, Norway, 34:17

Female: Ages 45-49

Terry Ballou, 46, Conway, NH, 26:04

Stacy Landry, 48, Greenwood Village, CO, 28:48

Denise Curry, 48, Windham, 29:16

Mary Hatch, 45, Murfreesboro, TN, 30:49

Kristen Charette, 49, Fryeburg, 32:21

Kristina Stevens, 45, Bethel, 33:34

Nicole Avery, 49, Scarborough, 34:27

Dawn Lennon, 46, Winchester, MA, 34:38

Barbara Violette, 47, Monmouth, 34:41

Pam Capasso, 49, Williamstown, NJ, 34:43

Female: Ages 50-54

Karyn Bristol, 50, Hopewell, NJ, 28:30

Natalie Partridge, 52, West Springfield, MA, 29:17

Kimberly Gluck, 50, Newton, MA, 29:50

Wenda Saunders, 50, Naples, 30:55

Sharon Morrow, 51, Whitinsville, MA, 31:13

Virginia Gill, 50, Jackson, NH, 31:40

Dawn Hunt, 53, The Villages, FL, 32:24

Lynne Pierce, 50, North Attleboro, MA, 32:59

Pamela Moulton, 53, North Bridgton, 33:00

Ellen Hart, 52, Cumberland, 33:12

Female: Ages 55-59

Jeanne Hackett, 55, Scarborough, 30:11

Martha McManamy, 57, Newburyport, MA, 31:44

Kathy Masterson, 57, North Andover, MA, 33:22

Helen McCrady, 57, West Roxbury, MA, 35:26

Madeleine Ryan, 56, Glen, NH, 36:47

Ann Klein, 57, Reading, MA, 36:56

Beverly Bedell, 55, Center Lovell, 37:30

Janet Sheffield, 57, Groton, MA, 38:12

Mary Beth Wiig, 55, Denmark, 38:34

Annellen Pulsifer, 56, Norwell, MA, 38:41

Female: Ages 60-64

Sally Sundborg, 64, Harrison, 32:36

Linda Davis, 64, South Casco, 34:35

Anne Haglof, 60, Harwich, MA, 34:55

Marla Keefe, 60, Casco, 36:25

Jean Miller, 60, Pleasant Valley, CT, 36:58

Barbara Morrissette, 60, Norway, 37:02

Ann Whealler, 60, Cohasset, MA, 37:11

Nancy Kluck, 61, Bridgton, 38:41

Deborah Larson, 60, South Paris, 39:24

Sara Griesemer, 61, Sunderland, MA, 41:46

Female: Ages 65-69

Michele Zelenka, 66, Bridgton, 37:49

Faye Gagnon, 69, Portsmouth, NH, 38:30

Hazel Rojas, 66, Venice, CA, 38:35

Judith Moland, 68, Litchfield, NH, 40:05

Yvette Knight, 68, New Gloucester, 40:10

Elaine Geeslin, 69, Naples, FL, 44:30

Tricia Linton, 69, Holliston, MA, 51:12

Rachel Pickus, 65, Sebago, 51:32

Peggy Ryan, 69, Falmouth, 52:35

Kathleen Blanchard, 65, Nokomis, FL, 54:46

Female: Ages 70-74

Patricia McCue, 70, Bridgton, 47:14

Sandy Utterstrom, 70, Falmouth, 48:15

Joanne Diller, 74, North Bridgton, 54:25

Susan Cohen, 70, Swampscott, MA, 59:09

Female: Ages 75-79

Jane Gibbons, 77, Sweden, 57:29

Christine Curtis, 76, Bridgton, 58:34

Suzanne Federer, 75, Falmouth, 1:03.24

Pat Buckley, 76, Portland, 1:03.40

Hope Lewis, 79, Bridgton, 1:08.44

Female: Ages 80 and Over

Joan Wood, 80, Medfield, MA, 32:23

MALE AGE CATEGORY WINNERS

Male: 10 and Under

Braeden McPhee, 10, Harrison, 30:00

Ricky Lipsey, 10, Harrison, 32:31

Owen Tighe, 9, Cape Elizabeth, 32:36

Zach Vogel, 9, Bridgton, 32:49

Benjamin Sweet, 10, Saunderstown, RI, 32:52

Jake Hooper, 10, Harrison, 33:27

Gavin Kirn, 10, Harrison, 35:08

Wesley Martin, 8, Naples, 35:57

George Lepska, 10, Harrison, 36:36

Jaden Goodsell, 10, Harrison, 36:43

Male: Ages 11-13

Christopher Ratcliffe, 13, Carlisle, MA, 26:14

Ethan Desmarais, 13, Chester, NH, 27:49

Parker Jackson, 13, Waterford, 28:41

Tom Stikeleather, 12, Sebago, 30:14

Austin Osborn, 12, Harrison, 30:17

Charlie Brountas, 12, Sebago, 30:26

Austin Pineau, 13, Wellesley, MA, 30:46

William Dehmler, 13, Fairport, NY, 31:18

Clark Landry, 12, Greenwood Village, CO, 32:01

Wyatt Carlson, 11, Sebago, 32:05

Male: Ages 14-18

Nicholas Brown, 16, Madison, NE, 23:00

Mike Allara, 17, Sebago, 23:12

Patrick Carty, 16, Sweden, 23:45

Dominic Vernazza, 17, Bridgton, 23:53

TJ Rose, 17, Lovell, 24:02

Andrew Redlund, 18, Avon, CT, 24:26

Eric Hannes, 18, Fryeburg, 24:30

Kyle Richmond-Crosset, 17, Springfield, MA, 25:42

Henry Osborn, 14, Harrison, 25:50

Christian Bedell, 15, Center Lovell, 26:01

Male: Ages 19-24

Nate Richards, 19, Harrison, 22:16

Ben Tanoff, 21, Fryeburg, 22:56

Romeo Nkomo, 20, Waterford, 25:03

Nicholas Quasnitschka, 22, Bridgton, 25:43

Andrew Watson, 19, Denmark, 25:53

Eric Wold, 22, Freeport, 26:03

Joe Gareri, 22, Uxbridge, MA, 27:04

Alex Tsindos, 23, Fryeburg, 27:05

Adam Hrstich, 22, Harrison, 27:10

Kyle Storey, 22, Fryeburg, 27:18

Male: Ages 25-29

Kyle Hladik, 27, Augusta, 24:28

Jake Bobrow, 25, Waterford, 25:17

Tony Myatt, 27, Portland, 27:06

Christopher Shane, 25, Poland, 27:36

Chris Knortz, 25, Newark, DE, 27:42

David Ross, 29, China, 27:44

Alex Coburn, 26, Fryeburg, 27:46

Matthew Knortz, 27, Boston, MA, 28:21

Christopher Hutchinson, 28, Portland, 28:39

Adam Sheehan, 28, Harrison, 29:08

Male: Ages 30-34

Eric Rudolph, 30, Augusta, 22:41

David Woodruff, 33, Needham, MA, 23:42

David Manz, 30, Windham, 25:31

Todd Busha, 34, Cheshire, CT, 26:28

Kristopher MacCabe, 32, Augusta, 26:49

Nicholas Ernest, 34, West Baldwin, 26:57

Michael Brooks, 30, Sydney Nsw, MA, 27:17

Joe Brooks, 32, Pacific Palisades, CA, 27:25

Bobby Abendroth, 31, Boston, MA, 27:44

Zachary Dennett, 30, New York, NY, 28:06

Males: Ages 35-39

Ian Lanza, 37, Rochester, MN, 22:54

Jeffrey Lindy, 35, Brookline, MA, 24:05

Jesse Southwick, 38, Jamaica Plain, MA, 26:03

Dave Sheldrick, 39, Sebago, 26:21

Anton Kelsey, 38, North Bridgton, 27:02

Tim Parent, 39, Perkinsville, VT, 27:12

Shawn Harris, 36, Fairhaven, MA, 27:12

Christopher Terry, 36, Concord, MA, 27:37

Eldon Tapley, 39, Lewiston, 28:07

Shon Theriault, 39, Augusta, 28:31

Male: Ages 40-44

Kyle Rhoads, 44, Windham, 25:27

Joseph Wagnis, 41, Steep Falls, 26:21

Sean Libbey, 40, Deerfield, MA, 26:34

John Aselton, 44, Glastonbury, CT, 26:40

Gregory Desmarais, 42, Chester, NH, 26:49

Aaron Bilotta, 40, Jackson, WY, 27:25

James Carty, 44, Sweden, 27:59

Tom McKenney, 41, Augusta, 27:59

Ron Alger, 43, Haddam, CT, 28:14

Patrick Ridlon, 43, Casco, 28:36

Male: Ages 45-49

Darin Brown, 47, Madison, NE, 24:21

Arthur Bibeau, 46, Portland, 26:39

Sander Schultz, 48, Silver Spring, MD, 27:43

Wells Sampson, 48, Carlisle, MA, 28:10

Michael Mageles, 47, Denmark, 28:19

Mark W. Mageles, 47, Bridgton, 29:00

Thomas Girard, 46, Newbury, MA, 29:06

Les Kirkegaard, 48, Mount Airy, MD, 29:12

Steve Bioren, 47, Londonderry, NH, 29:46

Dave Fernandez, 47, Mansfield, MA, 30:06

Male: Ages 50-54

Tom Hathaway, 54, Poland, 24:17

Arno Bommer, 54, Houston, TX, 25:13

Ken Ross, 52, Boston, MA, 25:27

Martin Feeney, 51, Medway, MA, 26:24

Daniel Works, 53, Greene, MA, 27:03

Jim Kavanagh, 50, South Portland, 28:08

Glen Roy, 53, Naples, 28:09

Todd Crosset, 54, Springfield, MA, 28:37

Michael Shane, 51, Poland, 28:50

John Caughman, 52, Oak Ridge, TN, 28:58

Male: Ages 55-59

Jim Price, 56, Moorestown, NJ, 25:41

Billy Threadgold, 55, Carlisle, MA, 26:15

Larry Wold, 55, Freeport, 26:56

Paul Toohey, 56, Scarborough, 28:39

Bob Hunt, 59, The Villages, FL, 29:21

Paul Wood, 57, Keene, NH, 29:52

Rick Bernard, 55, South Portland, 30:13

Kim Sheffield, 59, Groton, MA, 30:44

Alan Sparn, 55, Madison, CT, 31:15

Peter Michael, 56, Lakeville, MA, 31:26

Male: Ages 60-64

John Barbour, 60, West Roxbury, MA, 24:43

Terry Miller, 62, Durham, NH, 33:02

Tom Getchell, 60, Scarborough, 33:31

Allen Hayes, 60, Bridgton, 33:39

Bruce Gobi, 60, Charlton, MA, 34:02

Helmut Volker, 61, Buckholz, Germany, 34:41

Chip Tuomi, 61, Harrison, 35:04

Jim Irwin, 60, Windham, NH, 36:09

John Siliski, 62, Waban, MA, 36:16

Don Slusser, 62, Monroeville, PA, 36:47

Male: Ages 65-69

Bill Reilly, 66, Brownfield, 27:49

Michael Sieron, 66, Buckfield, 30:26

David Juhlin, 66, Winfield, KS, 30:58

Alan Taylor, 66, North Bridgton, 31:52

Ronald Strout, 67, Windham, 32:32

John Blanchard, 67, Nokomis, FL, 32:43

Neal Graffam, 65, Sebago, 33:27

Gary Siebert, 66, Lewiston, 34:40

Micah Kraft, 65, Sweden, 35:14

Wayne Cadman, 65, Bridgton, 36:37

Male: Ages 70-74

John Perham, 71, Newton Upper Falls, MA, 37:03

Peter Gagnon, 70, Portsmouth, NH, 39:18

Wayne Lopez, 72, Scarborough, 40:12

Lloyd Watt, 72, Norway, 45:59

Michael McCue, 74, Bridgton, 46:46

Clay Johnson, 70, San Antonio, TX, 52:19

Bill Kelley, 70, Bridgton, 56:38

Dick Ramage, 71, Arcadia, CA, 57:00

Ed Talbot, 71, Mattapoisett, MA, 57:09

Jim Frenzo, 70, Naples, MA, 1:02.40

Male: Ages 75-79

John Howe, 79, Waterford, 37:50

Tony Federer, 75, Falmouth, 39:04

Bob Payne, 76, Raymond, 42:12

John Brooks, 77, Falmouth, 49:50

Fred Hammerle, 77, Bridgton, 51:27

David Croteau, 75, Bridgton, 56:39

Bill Warren, 77, Gorham, 57:20

George Brown, 76, Harrison, 1:00.52

Robert Johnson, 78, South Freeport, 1:15.14

Male: Ages 80 and Over

John Crowe, 87, Lovell, 1:06.12

Edward Curtis, 81, Bridgton, 1:11.02

CAMP DIVISION

Campers Top 10 Boys

Henry Osborn, 14, Owatonna, 25:50

Justin Baker, 15, Indian Acres, 26:21

John Dahlberg, 15, O-At-KA, 28:17

Liam Susswein, 15, Wigwam, 28:28

Mitchell Gill, 15, Owatonna, 28:39

Parker Jackson, 13, Wigwam, 28:41

Gavin Siegel, 16, Indian Acres, 28:49

Ryder Krassner, 16, Wigwam, 29:03

Tyler Winterbottom, 16, Owatonna, 29:08

Sam Swoap, 16, Owatonna, 29:16

Camp Team Results

Owatonna, 2:22.53 (Osborn, Gill, Winterbottom, Swoap, McPhee, Osborn, Andresen)

Wigwam, 2:27.47 (Susswein, Jackson, Krassner, Eng, Gomez, Katz, Mazzara)

O-AT-KA, 2:31.25 (Dahlberg, Stikeleather, Brountas, Hopkins, French, Carlson, Logan)

Indian Acres, 2:32.28 (Baker, Siegel, Perkins, Quirk, Bloom, Dominguez, Golub)

Bridgton Sports Camp, 2:41.51 (Vila, Cutry, Merales, Westerman, Levesque, Quain, Josephs)

Camp Owatonna won the Camp Cup for the 10th consecutive year.

Campers Top 10 Girls

Samatha Friborg, 14, Newfound, 29:27

Ally Freifeld, 14, Walden, 31:08

Molly Retik, 14, Pinecliffe, 32:01

Lydia Palmer, 12, Newfound

Annalee Greenspan, 15, Newfound

Ella Glassman, 13, Walden

Kathryn Lovegren, 16, Newfound

Elizabeth Mitchell, 14, Walden

Anya Hooper, 11, Newfound

Lindsay Clarke, 16, Newfound

Camp Team Results

Newfound, 2:46.13 (Friborg, Palmer, Greenspan, Lovegren, Hooper, Clarke, McPhee)

Pinecliffe, 2:59.31 (Retik, Freedman, Bressick, Milberg, Urken, Forman, Blauner)

Walden, 3:01.44 (Freifeld, Glassman, Mitchell, Weitzman, Young, Adler, Strauss)

Wyonegonic, 3:06.25 (Morse, Ordway, Devaney, Rohr, Simms, Bilyew-Conn, Carlson)

Forest Acres, 3:11.02 (Herzberg, Shecter, Weinberg, Ruder, Knutson, Clark, McCartin)

Tapawingo, 3:24.26 (Cooper, Howard, Riska, Gallagher, Achenbach, Mayo, Schaffer)