|
The following article is reprinted here with permission of The Wellington Enterprise Records tumble at 2009 5k 10k run On a cool morning perfect for runners, 20 records were broken in the Gary Jordan Annual Run at the Main Street Wellington Cheese Festival on Saturday, July 18. The 152 entries combined youth and experience with Annsley Eckert setting a new record in the 12 and under class and Marilyn Olsen posting a new record in the 70-79 class. Only 6 class records survived. Jamie Kuess, whose 5k record time, set in 2007, for 16-19 year olds was broken in 2009, recorded a 16:05 fastest time of the day and took a trophy and a new class record running the 20-29 age bracket. Chelsea Oswald clipped almost two minutes off the 5k record for women. 10k records and trophies were claimed by Gabrielle Wuensch and Devin Butcher. In a hotly contested bracket, the Big Cheese award went to John Crawford. Judge Tom Januzzi repeated his first place finish of 2008 with an easy win in a crowded bracket, but most of the first places finishes were posted by newcomers. Big Cheese winner, John Crawford, reported “I trained for this all year”, an ironic quote for a class of heavyweights wishing to be known as the Big Cheese. The most intense competition was in the women’s 13-15 and 16-19 age classes. Chelsea Oswald, in the 16-19 bracket posted an overall women’s record at 18:46, smashing the record previously held by Julie McCarthy who dominated the women’s brackets in 2007 and 2008. Marissa McHugh took first place in the most closely contested 13-15 bracket where the top four finishers all bested the previous record time. Weather plays an important role and Saturday’s event was similar to the cool race day in 2007 when many records were posted. Race organizer Gil Shellhouse expects several of the 2009 records to survive a while. “It will take another nice, cold morning to beat some of these times. The turnout was way beyond our most optimistic expectations, even though the pre-registration was the highest ever. It is fabulous to have so many people interested in running and in a healthy lifestyle.” Shellhouse has been a leader in the Wellington Dukes Runners Club and has developed the annual run into a primary fundraiser for the club. An anonymous runner commented on the water stations manned by WHS cheerleaders. Cheerleaders were offering bottles of cold water and encouragement to runners. “This is a nice little race -- with cheerleaders. What a deal!” Wellington Schools superintendent Francis Scruci, a runner himself, drove a Cub Cadet vehicle which led the runners on the 5k course. Providing another small town touch, teacher Dave Lengyl competed in the 5k 50-59 class (the “Januzzi bracket”) in the morning and then performed at the Gazebo later with rock group “Men of Steele”. Track coach Megan Kauffman ran the 5k and then worked with the other race volunteers after the race to post results. The race finish line is on the quarter mile track that rings the football field at the Dickson Street athletic field. The 2009 race witnessed several sprints and close finishes. It was a day that running felt good said several of the runners in many age brackets. The 2009 race was run on the same course used in recent years and is the basis for the Gary Jordan Annual Run records. 152 runners competed from over 25 different cities and towns in Ohio and other states. The 2009 run was the 9th run in the series which has become an anchor event in the Main Street Wellington Cheese Festival.
| |
|
If you have further questions, contact: | |
| Return to Main Street Wellington Main Site |
Site Hosting provided by Wrightsites.com