At the Races

Kiwanis 4th of July 5K

July 4, 2009

The best weather in the over two decade history of this popular holiday event treated over 300 folks to perfect racing conditions.  The results clearly showed that low humidity and cool temperatures equal fast times.  No less than 26 folks broke the elite 20 minute mark and another 15 broke 21 minutes.  Veteran CTC director Jay Wildemann had his usual fine corps of volunteers on hand as they helped provide the racers to one of the best organized events of the season.

Widely considered to be both a challenging yet rewarding course, the Forest Lakes venue provides the runners with a real mix of long uphills and steep downhills.  Lifelong CTC member Alec Lorenzoni led the field into the chutes with a P.R. 15:51.  Glen Bjerke (16:34) and Andrew Schroeder (16:45) rounded out the top 3 for the CTC.  Former Monticello star Holly Rich (19:48) finished 3rd overall female as she was the first CTC woman across the line, and she was quickly followed by fellow member Barb Wiggins (19:52).  Dawn Herrick rounded out the top 3 CTC women with a 20:31.

Several club members took home first place awards in their respective age divisions including:  Doug Bloor (17:40), Wiggins, Herrick, Jennifer Hochrein (21:00), Cal Fowler, (22:44), Sarah Grupp (23:00), John Atthowe (23:42), Erica Grupp (24:55), Connie Friend (28:29), and Wendell Golden (39:51).

Other CTC times of note were clocked by Lee Coppock, Roger Reynolds, Andrew Hersey, Ken Nail, Karen Duffy, Lisa Kwiatkowski, Trish Foley, David Kwiatkowski, Cathy Wicks, Karen Rich, Tom Hintz, George Rich, Vickie Marsh, and Mary Helen Hintz.

July 4, 2008

The CTC hosts several holiday races throughout the year and this popular event always draws one of the largest 5K fields of the summer.  This year was no different as close to 250 competitors crossed the finish line after an undulating tour of the Forest lakes neighborhoods. CTC member George Heeschen, who will be competing in his last collegiate X-Country season this fall, led the CTC contingency into the chutes as he clocked an impressive 17:10.  He was quickly followed by a pile of speedy master’s road burners:  Hernan Garbini (6^th in 17:22), Chris Samley (8^th in 17:29) and Burkhard Spiekermann (9^th in 17:37). Dawn Herrick was the first CTC female finisher as she ran an impressive 21:02 to finish 2^nd.  Fellow members Lise Willingham (6^th in 21:33), Pam Balcke (7^th in 21:50), Leisa Gonnella (9^th in 21:58) and Gina Courtney (10^th in 22:09) helped round out the top 10. The CTC was, as usual, well represented in the age group medal sweepstakes.  Gold medal winners included Spiekermann (50-54), Mike Stadniskey (17:42, 25-29), Lee Coppock (18:01, 40-44), Skip Mullaney (21:27, 65-69), Willingham (40-44), Balcke (45-49), Bethany Coppock (22:29, 15-19), Wendy Golden (23:49, 55-59), Connie Friend (30:00, 60-64), Roger Barron (31:01, 70-74), Wendell Golden (37:56, 80+). Other CTC times of note over this hilly course were clocked by Tommy Kinstle, Ed Russell, Cal Fowler, Paul Humphreys, Andrew Hersey, Cathy Wicks, Sheila Blackford, George Gillies, Peter Balcke, Doug Bloor, Sharon Balint, Paul Karweik, Adam Slate, Laurie Duxbury, Natalie Krovetz, Neal Ammerman, Sheila Ford, and Michelle Hogan. Longtime CTC member Jay Wildemann once again directed a dandy of an event as things ran smoothly throughout and, as always, all of the proceeds (over $4,000) were donated by the Kiwanis to our friends at Camp Holiday Trails.

July 4, 2007

One of the club’s most popular races is run over one of the fastest 5K courses on the circuit.  So, despite the heat and humidity that reigns on the runners for this holiday event, many of the participants score impressive times.  In fact, most years when the racing season comes to a close most of the fastest age group times of the year come out of this race.

Having run the course many times I would attribute this odd phenomenon to the long downhills that greet the runners at three different locations along the course.  In fact, I clocked a faster time at this event than I did on the flatter Free Union course on a cool New Year’s Day morning!

CTC collegiate speedster Brad O’Neil pulled away from the field of 300 and finished first into the chutes with an impressive 16:58 clock stopper.  Burkhard Spiekermann (4th overall, 17:30) and Doug Bloor (5th overall, 17:34) rounded out the CTC’s top three males. 

Ten Miler champ Andrea Wright was our first female member into the chutes as she was second overall (19:16) and only a scant 9 seconds behind AAA State Champion Rachel Rose.  Kristen Keller (20:21) and Dawn Herrick (21:03) rounded out the CTC’s top three.  We had several excellent age group contests including a three way battle between 45-49 year old speedsters Burkhard Spiekermann, Hernan Garbini, and Chris Samley.  A mere 11 seconds separated the speedy threesome, making this one of the most competitive age groups in the club.  Other outstanding CTC age group races were turned in by the following blue ribbon winners:  Lee Coppock (35-39), Lise Willingham (40-44), Wendy Golden (50-54), David Kwiatkowski (10 & Younger), Sandy Derr (60-64), Armand Zambardi (70-74), Beth Schmid (55-59), Nancy Fraser (70-74), Rich Barnett (65-69), Nancy Davis-Imhoff (65-69), and Wendell Golden (80+).  

The 50-54 age group race was also a hotly contested one as Wendy Golden out kicked fellow member Bev Wispelwey in the final quarter mile for a scant 4 second victory!

Other CTC times of note were turned in by Michael Kadick, Christian Defries, Sharon Balint, Tom Hintz, Michelle Bushrow, Eddie Karoliussen, Eric Smith, Nathan Rouse, Lisa Kwiatkowski, Robert Van Dyken, Charlie Bushrow, Randy Rains, Linda Owens, Alice Fletcher, Mary Fowler, Leah Foley, Sarah Collie, Bruce Schirmer, Alison Brent, and Leah Connor. 

As always, veteran volunteer Jay Wildemann and his corps of CTC volunteers organized and hosted an excellent race as all of us runners were treated to a traffic free and well-marked course with accurate results.  The CTC one again teamed with the fine folks at the Kiwanis club to help raise several thousand dollars for area causes.