The Little Falls Spooky Sprint 5K took place on Sunday, October 19, 2025, at 160 Paterson Ave in Little Falls, NJ, bringing Halloween excitement to the running community with a festive and family-friendly 5K race. This annual event has become a beloved tradition, combining competitive racing with Halloween fun, as participants donned costumes and celebrated the spooky season while navigating the scenic USATF-sanctioned course through Little Falls Township.
Race Analysis and Results
Overall Winners and Top Performances
Men’s Overall Champion: Boris Shabovta of Little Falls, NJ claimed victory with an impressive time of 19:52.09, maintaining a strong 6:25 pace. At age 39, Shabovta achieved a solid 67.4% age-graded performance while embracing the Halloween spirit.
Women’s Overall Champion: Serena Rauscher of Fairfield, NJ dominated the women’s field with an outstanding time of 22:08.24, averaging a 7:08 pace. The 16-year-old achieved an impressive 65.2% age-graded performance.
Top Male Finishers
- Boris Shabovta (Little Falls, NJ) – 19:52.09, Age 39
- Jiayi Birkhoff (Kinnelon, NJ) – 19:54.70, Age 15
- John Gouveia (Little Falls, NJ) – 20:19.60, Age 59
- Mattias Fatzler (Little Falls, NJ) – 20:26.78, Age 15
- Zachary Damiano (Little Falls, NJ) – 20:27.41, Age 30
Top Female Finishers
- Serena Rauscher (Fairfield, NJ) – 22:08.24, Age 16
- Perla Esquivel (Little Falls, NJ) – 22:22.12, Age 34
- Francesca Pisano (Montclair, NJ) – 22:27.80, Age 13
- Amanda Barrezueta (Jersey City, NJ) – 22:33.65, Age 23
- Megan Rich (New York, NY) – 23:12.65, Age 29
Age Group Winners
Male Age Group Champions:
- M10-19: Jiayi Birkhoff (Kinnelon, NJ) – 19:54.70, Age 15
- M20-29: James Hrbek (Bloomingdale, NJ) – 22:32.32, Age 27
- M30-39: Zachary Damiano (Little Falls, NJ) – 20:27.41, Age 30
- M40-49: Justin Franciose – 21:16.15, Age 45
- M50-59: John Gouveia (Little Falls, NJ) – 20:19.60, Age 59
- M60-69: Michael Smurla (Cedar Grove, NJ) – 22:50.98, Age 62
Female Age Group Champions:
- F10-19: Francesca Pisano (Montclair, NJ) – 22:27.80, Age 13
- F20-29: Amanda Barrezueta (Jersey City, NJ) – 22:33.65, Age 23
- F30-39: Perla Esquivel (Little Falls, NJ) – 22:22.12, Age 34
- F40-49: Kate Hyde (Little Falls, NJ) – 24:07.71, Age 42
- F50-59: Yolanda P (Little Falls, NJ) – 26:39.73, Age 53
Local Heroes and Community Champions
Little Falls Representation: The hometown crowd showed strong support with multiple local finishers including:
- Boris Shabovta – Overall Male Champion
- John Gouveia – 3rd Overall Male, M50-59 Champion
- Mattias Fatzler – 4th Overall Male
- Zachary Damiano – 5th Overall Male, M30-39 Champion
- Perla Esquivel – 2nd Overall Female, F30-39 Champion
- Kate Hyde – F40-49 Champion
Youth Excellence
The race showcased outstanding youth participation with impressive performances:
- Jiayi Birkhoff (15): 2nd overall male with 19:54.70
- Mattias Fatzler (15): 4th overall male with 20:26.78
- Serena Rauscher (16): Overall female champion with 22:08.24
- Francesca Pisano (13): 3rd overall female with 22:27.80
- Logan Aristizabal (13): Strong 9th overall finish
Performance Statistics
- Winning Time: 19:52.09 (Boris Shabovta)
- Sub-21 Minute Finishers: 6 runners
- Sub-23 Minute Finishers: 14 runners
- Age Range: 7 to 62 years old
- Gender Split: 40 male, 10 female finishers
- Average Finish Time: Approximately 25 minutes
Family and Halloween Highlights
- Pataki Family: Andras (7th overall), Anna (33rd overall), and A. Pataki (42nd overall) showcased excellent family participation
- Damiano Brothers: Zachary (5th overall) and Luke (35th overall) both represented Little Falls with strong performances
- Rauscher Family: Serena (1st female) and Dylan (38th overall) demonstrated multi-generational racing
- Aristizabal Family: Logan (9th overall) and Steven (43rd overall) both finished strong
Costume Competition and Festive Atmosphere
True to its Halloween theme, the race featured an outstanding display of creativity with participants sporting elaborate costumes while maintaining competitive performances. The costume competition added an extra layer of excitement to the event, with awards recognizing the most creative, scariest, and funniest outfits alongside the traditional racing categories.
Masters Excellence
The veteran runners showed that age is no barrier to both competitive performance and Halloween creativity:
- John Gouveia (59): Impressive 3rd overall finish with 20:19.60
- Michael Smurla (62): Strong M60-69 champion with 22:50.98
- Mark McCormack (62): Solid performance representing Little Falls
Course and Conditions
The Little Falls USATF-sanctioned course provided a challenging yet accessible route through the township’s scenic neighborhoods, featuring gentle hills and tree-lined streets adorned with autumn foliage. Perfect October weather with cool temperatures and clear skies created ideal racing conditions, allowing participants to achieve strong performances while staying comfortable in their costumes. Chip timing by Tristate Timing ensured accurate results for all participants.
Notable Achievements
- Boris Shabovta’s dominant hometown victory in sub-20 minutes
- Outstanding youth participation with multiple teenagers in top 10
- Excellent costume creativity across all age groups
- Strong local Little Falls representation throughout the field
- Perfect weather conditions enhancing the race experience
- Successful fundraising for local Little Falls recreational initiatives
- Multi-generational family participation embracing the Halloween spirit
Community Impact
Beyond the athletic achievements and Halloween fun, the race successfully raised funds for enhancing Little Falls’ recreational facilities and programs. The event continues to strengthen community bonds while promoting health, fitness, and family participation in a festive, inclusive environment.
Congratulations to all the participants in the 2025 Little Falls Spooky Sprint! From Boris Shabovta’s commanding victory to the inspiring youth performances and creative Halloween costumes, the event successfully combined competitive racing with seasonal celebration. The race continues to set the standard for themed running events, proving that athletic achievement and Halloween fun can go hand in hand. We look forward to seeing even more creative costumes and impressive performances at next year’s Spooky Sprint!
