Boilermaker 5K M80+: Martin Claims the Title in Utica

• Tony Martin, 80, wins in 45:28 (14:38/mi), taking 1st in the M80+ field.
• Daniel Jadlowski, 81, runner-up in 47:39 (15:20/mi) — just 2:11 behind the winner.
• Krishna Vadlamudi, 88, completes the field in 1:21:53 (26:21/mi) — the eldest of the three, finishing every meter of the 5K.

Three men lined up for the Boilermaker 5K in the M80+ field on a humid Saturday morning in Utica — 87% humidity even at 64°F makes for heavy air — and all three crossed the finish line. That alone is worth noting.

Tony Martin, 80, of Syracuse took the win in 45:28, running 14:38 per mile to hold off his Whitesboro neighbor Daniel Jadlowski. Jadlowski, a year older at 81, pushed the pace at 15:20/mi and finished in 47:39 — a gap of 2:11 separating the two, with Martin's steadier clip making the difference across the 3.1 miles.

Then there is Krishna Vadlamudi. The New Hartford resident is 88 years old, and he finished a 5K road race. His 1:21:53 at 26:21/mi reflects a man who showed up, toed the line, and kept moving until the end. In a field where every finisher deserves recognition, Vadlamudi's completion of the course is the quiet headline underneath the headline.