SPRINGFIELD-Seventeen individuals braved a snowstorm last Saturday to compete in a 5K snowshoe race at Glimmerglass State Park.

The event, which was a qualifier for the Empire State Games to be held in February, was sponsored by the state Department of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation and the Empire State Games.

The top finisher was George Newsome of West Nyack, NY, who completed the course in 30 minutes and seven seconds.

Steve Page of Cooperstown was the top local finisher, finishing second, just three seconds behind Newsome.

The Harman family of Cooperstown made it a family affair, as the husband and wife team of Bill and Barbara, and Bill's daughter Jessica, all competed in the race. The Harman's have all won Gold medals at previous Empire State Games, and plan to attend again this year.

"Snowshoeing is a growing sport," Bill Harman said. "When we go to the Empire Games all the different age classes are filled and there are snowshoers everywhere you look.

Snowshoeing is a nice substitute for cross country running during the winter, and has been picked up by many area runners, according to Dr. Charles Hudson of Cooperstown, who organized Saturday's race.

Hudson, 63, also competed in the race, finishing 13th with a time of 42:11. Hudson was not the oldest competitor, however, as that honor went to 74-year-old John Meeks of South New Berlin, who finished 16th with a time of 51:49.

A complete list of competitors is as follows:

1. George Newsome, West Nyack (30:07); 2. Steve Page, Cooperstown (30:10); 3. Mike Rutledge, Milford (31:02); 4. Kim Newsome, West Nyack (Rockland); 5. Glenn Reeves, Whitesboro (33:03); 6. Lisa Reeves, Whitesboro (34:31); 7. Dawn Marinaccio, Greenwich, Conn. (34:49); 8. Bill Harman, Cooperstown (36:52); 9. Nathan Owens, Cherry Valley (38:31); 10. Dan Hooker, Elk Creek (40:08); 11. Jennifer Newsome, Macedon (40:22); 12. Barb Harman, Cooperstown (42:09); 13. Chuck Hudson, Cooperstown (42:11); 14. Jessica Harman, Cooperstown (48:03); Charles Endress, Laurens (51:30); 16. John Meeks, South New Berlin (51:49); 17. Barba Meeks, South New Berlin (66:36).

Hudson said he wanted to thank Dave Peterson and the Glimmerglass Park staff for their support in helping the race run smoothly.