2025 Oak Tree Results
Click here for Results & updated course and age group records!
2025 OAK TREE 5K RESULTS
2025 OAK TREE HALF MARATHON RESULTS
2025 Oak Tree Race
There were 518 finishers in the 21st Oak Tree Half Marathon & 5K that took place in Geneseo on August 31, 2025. This was just slightly down from last year’s 20th anniversary race which had 28 more finishers.
Each male/female winner took home a Genesee Valley grown Oak Tree to plant. There are 84 more Oak Trees growing throughout the region thanks to the Oak Tree Race.
The Oak Tree, which benefits Genesee Valley Conservancy, is a fundraiser for the local land conservation the not-for-profit does, working to protect habitat, open space, and farmland in the Genesee Valley. The Conservancy currently protects over 39,000 acres of land, including 3,000 along the Oak Tree courses.
This year, the Oak Tree 5k was the main event as it was a featured race on both the Greater Rochester Running Club’s Rochester Runner of the Year Series and on the USATF Niagara Region’s Grand Prix and Runner of the Year Series, drawing top talent from across New York. Like last year, several new records were set by this year’s top notch competition.
Oak Tree Half Marathon
There were 156 finishers in the Oak Tree Half Marathon this year, in what can only be described as perfect weather for the course.
Geneseo’s own John Schnitter took the overall title this year, running 1:16:30 and in doing so, setting a new course record for 35-39 year olds by 20 seconds. Schnitter was the only runner to sustain a sub-6 minute pace on the course this year. In second, and masters winner, Justin Duchnick (Springwater) ran 1:18:46. In third, Thomas Riccardi (Marietta) ran 1:19:26. Just one other male, Bryant Farley, went under 1:20:00 this year, running 1:19:36 on a challenging course, that while it is very scenic, has some tremendous hills to climb.
On the women’s side Kimberly Mills (Oakfield) took her first victory at Oak Tree in 1:29:12. She was followed by Taylor Heschke (Appleton) in 1:30:36. In third, Emily Caldwell (Hamburg) finished in 1:37:36.
Half Age Groups
Just three new age group course records were set in this year’s half marathon. For the men, John Schnitter (37) set a new 35-39 record of 1:16:30, a 20 second drop in the previous record which stood since 2006. Schnitter was the only male to lower an age group record this year.
Two women set new age group records this year. Christine Federation (61) set a new 60-64 record with her 1:45:09, lowering the record that has stood since 2007 by nine minutes. Lisa Bice (57) ran a 1:39:29, setting a new 55-59 group record by 19 seconds in a record that was also previously last set in 2007.
Oak Tree 5k
There were 362 finishers in the Oak Tree 5k. All were bested by Thomas Appenheimer (Buffalo) who ran a 14:51, setting a new course record by seven seconds. The previous record of 14:58 was set just last year. In second place Patrick Klinger (Niagara Falls) also ran under last year’s course record, finishing in 14:55. Rounding out the top three was Lee Beruber (Syracuse) who ran 15:15. Only one other runner, Humberto Wallace, held a sub-5min per mile pace for the course, running a 15:27 (4:59min/mile).
On the women’s side, Gabrille Orie (Orchard Park) successfully defended last year’s course record setting victory with a time of 16:46. In second, Trisha Byler (Honeoye Falls) ran a 17:15 and ten seconds back, Lindsay Piraino (Rush) ran 17:25 to finish third. Piraino is a two time Oak Tree Half Champion (‘22, ’23) with her course best being 1:25:34.
5k Age Groups
In keeping with last year’s complete disruption of age group records, when the men set 11 of 14 age group records, eight new age-group records were set this year. Thomas Appenheimer (24) ran 14:51 to set a new course record and 20-24 record, dropping 7 seconds from the previous record set last year. In the 25-29 age group Humberto Wallace (27) ran 15:27, dropping 6 seconds from the previous record. Lee Berube (35) ran a 15:15, dropping the 35-39 record by 28 seconds. David Rappleyea (40) set a new 40-44 year old record by running a 16:57, taking one second off the previous record. Mark Andrews (54) dropped the 50-54 age group record by running a 16:46, a full minute and 21 seconds faster. John McMahon (59) re-set the 55-59 age group record that he set last year, dropping 7 seconds to 17:21. Jose Fuentes (61) ran a 17:20 to set the new 60-64 record by 2:13, the largest drop for an age group record this year. Finally, Tim Dwyer (65) set a new 65-69 record by running 19:34, dropping 32 seconds.
On the women’s side, *just* five new age group records were set compared to six set last year. Katie Cobos (24) ran 18:10 in the 20-24 group, dropping 5 seconds on a record that stood since 2009. Jenn Spitzer (34) re-set her own record set in 2024 by 13 seconds running an 18:28. Elizabeth Matthews (45) set a new 45-49 age group record of 20:31, dropping 23 seconds. Ginny Sackett (61) nabbed a second age group record in the 50-54 group, running 24:38, dropping 1 second off this group. Sackett also holds the 50-54 group record she set in 2015 as a 51 year old. Finally, Colleen Newman (65) ran a 26:26 to set a new 65-69 record dropping 49 seconds.
Results
For errors on the race results or any other issues/comments, please email Ben at oaktree@geneseevalleyconservancy.org