Over 600 Runners from across the country joined in two races Saturday morning, a 10K starting at 8 am and a 5K Run/Walk following at 9:15.
Over 50 runners took the 15K Challenge and ran both events. The 15K Challenge was scored by adding the times of both the 10K and 5K, making the challenge of running two races back to back in under two hours.
The top two finishers in in the 15K Challenge, were Jason Harcum, Lillington, N.C., (1:01:56) and James Conley, Hamburg, Pa., (1:05:20).
Top Masters (over 40) runners Pedro Toledo, Titusville, (1:05:21), and Timothy Faucette, Key West (1:10:26).
Grand Masters in the 15K were, Bill Welzien, Sugarloaf Key, (1:22:32), and Pierre Beaulieu, Marathon, (1:25:11).
Senior Grand Masters (60+) 15K winners were Al Simmons, Bristol, Conn., (1:28:17), and Ken Leatherman, Long Key, Mich., (1:42:54)
Overall winners of the women’s 15K were, Marlene Persson, Deerfield Beach, (1:00:29) and Julie Hankin, West Chester PA, (1:03:13).
Female Masters 15K Winners, were, Tineke Rubio, Miami, (1:22:25), and Pat Kersey, Big Pine Key, (1:32:34).
Female Grand Masters Winners were Pat Richardson, of Brooklyn, Mich. (1:45:11) and Virginia Kopperl, Branchville, N.J., (1:49:42).
There were no Finishers in the Female Senior Grand Masters category.
In the men’s 10K Run, Steven Chadwick, 16, from Key Largo, was the overall winner in a time of (39:56), followed by Humberto Rubio, from Miami, (45:39).
Male Masters Winners were, Steve Freedman, Deerfield Beach, (47:04) and Seth Hudgins, Cudjoe Key, 46, (47:45). Male Grand Masters Winners were, Al Carlini, Venice, (52:21) and Roger Fisher, Oakville, ON, (52:32). Male Senior Grand Masters Winners, were, Andy Forberg, Key Colony Beach, (57:52), and, Steve McKeon, Marathon, (58:33).
The women’s 10K run winners were Helena Bursa, Big Pine Key, (44:17), and Naomi Valerdi, Marathon, (48:39).
Female Masters Winners were, Diane Williams, Avon by the Sea, N.J., (53:50), and Colleen Dunne, Key West, (54:52). Female Grand Masters Winners were Helga Rinneard, Orillia, ON, (55:12), and Lynn Gallagher, Key West, (58:59). Female Senior Grand Masters Winners were, Kathy Reif, Harbor Beach, Mich. (1:01:46) and, Kathryn Rummery, Marathon, (1:04:45)
Men’s 5K Run winners were, Andriy Nemesh, Franklin, Wis., (20:35) and, James Kidney, Marathon, (21:39).
Male Masters Winners were Daren Cassani, Key West, (22:36) and Wally Hernala, Ann Arbor, Mich. (23:07). Male Grand Masters Winners were, Paul Correia, Dartmouth, Mass., (24:39), and Mark Laudati, Winsted CT, (25:16). Male Senior Grand Masters Winners were, Gordon Weber, Islamorada, 28:57; and, Marc McCoy, Galena , Ill., (29:41).
Women’s 5K Run Winners wereSydney Michalak, Marathon, 21:45; and, Kate Dupre, Islamorada, (22:53).
Female Masters Winners were, Julie Cheon, Marathon, (24:02) and, Debra Illes, Islamorada, (26:34). Female Grand Masters Winners were Nancy Correia, Dartmouth, Mass., (27:32) and Erin Graf of South Portsmouth, Ky., (28:47). Female Senior Grand Masters Winners were, Linda Paraula, Barnegat, N.J., (33:14) and Gail Creech of Marathon, (35:37).
5K Walker overall female walker winner was Cory Walter, Marathon, (31:40) and for the men, Larry Ferguson, Summerland Key, (31:39) took top honors. Walkers were fast on this course with most overall winners walking under 40 Minutes.
A great many volunteers from many organizations helped with this event raising funds for KAIR (Keys Area Interdenominational Resources), 100 percent of the proceeds of this race go to KAIR.
KAIR is a non-profit organization providing food and emergency services to those in need in the middle Keys. KAIR seeks to serve those individuals and families in Marathon and the Florida Keys who have found themselves in crisis. Working in partnership with other agencies and organizations, every effort is made to return people to self-supporting, productive lives. Get more information on KAIR at http://www.kaironline.net.
Thanks to all the volunteers that made this event possible and the City of Marathon, County Sheriffs, Collectors Corner, Key West Southernmost Runners MCM timing and all the people and businesses that helped.
