WILKES-BARRE – Mike Litvinov was expecting a battle from Chris Wadas – a runner who usually defeats him – in Sunday’s River Street 3-Mile Run at the Jewish Community Center. But Wadas was a no-show. And Litvinov, 21, from Drums, scored an easy, wire-to-wire win in 14 minutes and 58 seconds. Dave Marra, 20, of East Stroudsburg, finished second, 1 minute, 56 seconds behind Litvinov. Mike McDade, 19, of Wilkes-Barre, placed third, nine seconds behind Marra. “I was wishing that Chris would have been here today,” said Litvinov, who runs track and cross country for Bloomsburg University, where he will be a fifth-year senior in the fall. “He usually beats me. I was hoping to see just how well I would have done against him today.” Litvinov, who scored a seventh-place finish for Bloomsburg in the Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference in the 10K run in 2008, said he didn’t hear anyone near him throughout the entire race. “When I reached the turnaround (at the Martz Bus Terminal, just off Old River Road), I could see that I had about a 150-meter lead. I was never really challenged the entire way,” he said. The women’s race was a different story. Wendy Patton, who hadn’t raced competitively since the Fourth of July in the Wilkes-Barre YMCA 3-miler because of a stress fracture, scored a three-second win over Ellen Krantz-Buskovitz, 36, of Mayfield. Patton’s winning time was 19:01. Jen Heck, 37, of West Wyoming, finished third, 35 seconds behind Krantz-Buskovitz. “This was my first race in over nine months,” said Patton, 41, of Swoyersville. “It was hot. But I felt OK.” Kratz-Buskovitz, who won the Winter’s End 4.5-miler (the first leg of the Wyoming Valley Striders Triple Crown) at Penn State Wilkes-Barre on March 22, was breathing down Patton’s back throughout the entire race. “We were pretty close the entire way,” said Patton. “At the turnaround, she was right on my tail. And she was right behind me coming into the home stretch. I tried to finish as hard as I could. And I was able to hold her off.”

1. Mike Litvinov, 21, Drums, 14:58
2. Dave Marra, 20, E. Stroudsburg, 16:54
3. Mike McDade, 19, Wilkes-Barre, 17:03
4. Brian Thomas, 39, Tunkhannock, 17:13
5. Dave Costanza, 21, Dickson City, 17:34
6. Mike Lisnock, 36, Berwick, 17:36
7. John Zawadski, 37, Plymouth, 17:44
8. James Deon, 23, Wilkes-Barre, 17:56
9. Cristian Triana, 19, Boundbrook, N.J., 18:07
10. Greg Bassham, 50, Mountain Top, 18:16

Age group winners:
14 & under:
1. Bennett Williams, Kingston, 21:50.

15-19:
1. Mike McDade, Wilkes-Barre, 17:03

20-29:
1. Dave Marra, E. Stroudsburg, 16:54; 2. Dave Costanza, Dickson City, 17:34

30-34:
1. Joe Dowd, Pittston, 20:56; 2. Robert Cook, Wilkes-Barre, 29:11

35-39:
1. Brian Thomas, Tunkhannock, 17:13; 2. Mike Lisnock, Berwick, 17:36

40-44:
None.

45-49:
1. George Dunbar, Old Forge, 19:23; 2. Joe Kichilinsky, Wyoming, 19:25.

50-59:
1. Greg Bassham, Mountain Top, 18:16; 2. Dave Jiunta, Pittston, 18:32

60-69:
1. Rich Chase, Larksville, 19:44; 2. Ron Rawls, Mountain Top, 23:19

70 & over:
1. Mike Fay, Hazleton, 24:16.

Top 3 female finishers

1. Wendy Patton, Swoyersville, 19:01
2. Ellen Krantz - Buskovitz, 36, Mayfield, 19:04
3. Jen Heck, 27, W. Wyoming, 19:39 Female award winners:
Age group winners:

14 & under: 1. Marissa Metric, Hanover Twp., 26:32

15-19:
None

20-29:
1. Coleen Spring, Binghamton, N.Y., 20:23; 2. Katherine Hasett, Kingston, 24:58

30-34:
1. Kerry Bawadski, Plymouth, 21:11; 2. Marianne McGroarty, Mountain Top, 21:29

35-39:
1. Ellen Kratz-Buskovitz, Mayfield, 19:04; 2. Jen Heck, W. Wyoming, 19:39

40-44:
1. Cathy Stanski, Drums, 24:45; 2. Cheri Balmer, Dallas, 25:16

45-49:
1. Shivon O’Donnell, Dallas, 32:29

50-59:
1. Diane Mamary, Hanover Twp., 27:35

60 & 0ver:
None

Field: 71 finishers

3-Mile Racewalk

First male finisher: Tom Cheffins, 54, Carlisle, 29:48.
First female finisher: Mary Castello, 48, Nanticoke, 35:14

Field: 17 finishers.

Officials starter and finishing judge: Vince P. Wojnar. Pace car: Art Shuman. Timing: Vince A. Wojnar (Wyoming Valley Striders). Results: Insta Results. Race director: Bill Buzza.