SEMO RUNNERS


SEMO Running was established in 2011 to provide a history of running and road racing in the Southeast Missouri area. The site is intended to be for and by any and all area runners. If you would like to post your own "personal experience" of any race, please Comment. SEMO Running asks only two things: (1) be respectful of other runners by not posting any negative personal comments, and (2) please sign your name, or commonly known nickname, to your post.


Sunday, April 29, 2012

2012 Steamboat Triathlon

Cape Girardeau, MO -- April 29, 2012 (Results @ SplitMaster Timing: http://www.splitmastertiming.com/assets/Steamboat%20Tri%20Final%20Time%202.pdf )

April 29, 2012 was a beautiful Spring day and over 200 athletes of all abilities came together at the Cape Bubble for the Steamboat Triathlon, one of Cape's two annual multisport events.  The Steamboat Triathlon has a history of jumpstarting the outdoor triathlon season for many of the multisport athletes in the Cape Girardeau area.

Over 200 individuals and teams prepare for the start of the 2012 Steamboat Triathlon. (photo from Brigitte Kinnaman)

Race Director Patrick Watson did a great job organizing the event and, as with most outdoor activities, surprises come up at the last minute.  Downtown construction on Broadway Street forced a minor change to the run portion of the triathlon and the bike course was also altered from 2011.  Many athletes took advantage of the change in the biking course from last year and cranked out some incredible times on the 15.5 mile course. 

This race consists of a 450 meter swim in the Cape Bubble pool then moves outside for a 15.5 mile bike course and finishes off with a 5 mile run down and around the river area of Cape Girardeau.   OK.  Enough of the preliminary information.  Now for the race results.
__________________________________________________________________________________

Jay Orr............The amount of time it took to read his name was approx 1/2 of one second.  What?  Why does that matter?  Well, as Paul Harvey used to say, "And now for the rest of the story."

Jay Orr, who resides in the St. Louis, Missouri area, is a former collegiate distance runner and now a seasoned Master's multisport competitor.  He competes for the strong Swim,Bike,Run team in the St. Louis area. 

Most people who compete in the triathlon scene knows exactly who he is as he consistently finishes at/near the top of standings in his races.  Jay likes to compete in the Steamboat Triathlon.  I am not sure how many times he has competed but I do know it is at least 6 times.  Why?  Because he has been the runner-up at this event 5 times prior to this year.  He was back again in 2012 working to capture the elusive title of Overall Champion.  And this year he accomplished his goal.  And what a finish it was with Jay's elapsed time from start to finish an exceptional 1:16:56.9.  One half of one second back was Andrew Person of Kirkwood, MO with a chip-time elapsed time of 1:16:57.4.  Amazing!

Jay Orr makes a haul by adding awards for fastest bike and run split to his Overall win. (photo from Brigitte Kinnaman)

The women's overall title was also a good battle.  Jennifer Meyer of St. Louis, Missouri came in first with a time of 1:28:37 to edge out Cape Girardeau's "premier" lady triathlete Brigitte Kinnaman who posted an elapsed time of 1:29:41.  Both of these women finished in the top 20 overall finishers in this deep and talented field.

Overall Female: Jennifer Meyer. (photo from Jennifer Meyer)

Female Second Place Overall and top local female finisher Brigitte Kinnaman.

The top local male finisher from the Cape Girardeau area was Taylor Vaughan.  He finished 6th overall and first in his age group with a time of 1:22:50 and looks to be primed for another strong triathlon season in 2012.

6th Overall and top local male finisher Taylor Vaughan prepares to dismount as he heads
into the transition area to begin his run.

Overall Relay Team Winners: Team Hoops for Life -- Barbara Mueller (swim), Shannon Aldridge (bike),
and Kevin Hammes (run).

One half of one second.  Transition time adjustments, not slowing to take water at a water stop, one small hesitation prior to beginning another portion of a three event competition.  There are alot of ways to make up or lose one second.  Congratulations to Jay for finding the one additional second he needed to win the title.  Great job to him and the scores of other athletes who competed in the 2012 edition of the Steamboat Triathlon.  It was a great success.   The newly formed SEMO Tri Team of Cape Girardeau and the St. Louis based Swim/Bike/Run team both competed well as indicated by the many impressive individual times with many age-group winners from each respective team.

Top 20 Overall Finishers:  2012 Steamboat Triathlon
  1. Jay Orr, St. Louis, MO  1:16:56.9
  2. Andrew Person, Kirkwood, MO  1:16:57.4
  3. Michael Ross, Paducah, KY   1:20:03
  4. Elias Hunerdosse, La Harpe, IL  1:21:00
  5. Kyle Ryan, Paducah, KY  1:22:33
  6. Taylor Vaughan, Cape Girardeau, MO  1:22:50
  7. Randy Murdick, Imperial, MO  1:23:52
  8. Doug Havlin, St. Louis, MO  1:24:36
  9. William Moore, Paducah, KY  1:25:22
  10. Chris Beuer, Eureka, MO  1:26:06
  11. Matthew Parris, St. Charles, MO  1:27:20
  12. David Welker, Cape Girardeau, MO  1:27:59
  13. Team Hoops For Life (Mueller-Aldridge-Hammes)  1:28:25
  14. Ken Pettry, Ballwin, MO  1:28:32
  15. Jennifer Meyer, St. Louis, MO  1:28:37
  16. Jason Banderman, Cape Girardeau, MO  1:28:57
  17. Steve Sterling, Paducah, KY  1:29:12
  18. Dennis Kempf, Jackson, MO  1:29:15
  19. Chris Martin, St. Louis, MO  1:29:19
  20. Brigitte Kinnaman, Cape Girardeau, MO  1:29:41

---KHammes






Sunday, April 22, 2012

34th Annual Dogwood-Azalea Festival 5K

Charleston, MO -- April 22, 2012 (Results @ Fleet Feet St. Louis: http://www.ffstl2.com/races/dogwood-azaela/2012-overall.htm )

A few passing showers to wet eveyone down and a little wind to cool everyone off.  Not enough to deter one of the largest turnouts (242 finishers) in years.  A different year and a larger field does little to change the overall result.  Bryan Kelpe once again is first to cross the finish line.  Bryan claims the top spot for the third time in four years with a 16:53, knocking 11 seconds off his 2011 time.  Denver, Colorado's Ashley Blanchard proves that training at altitude has its benefits as she is the class of the female field finishing in 22:13.  With Southeast Missouri's only certified 5K course, chip timing, and overall organization, Wayne and Debbie Corse, as always, deliver a first-class event.
--KBramlett

OVERALL AND AGE GROUP WINNERS

MALE OVERALL: Bryan Kelpe (16:53)

FEMALE OVERALL: Ashley Blanchard (22:13)

00-09
Nathan Phelps (23:10)

00-09
Ricki Vaughan (30:30)
10-14
Gavin Walls (21:01)

10-14
Sophia Sjogren (27:02)
15-19
Alex McCrite (18:59)

15-19
Taylor Duenne (25:52)
20-24
Cody Green (18:22)

20-24
Jessie Duenne (25:22)
25-29
Ryan Heaton (21:07)

25-29
Ashley Spencer (23:55)
30-34
Brandon Heath (21:55)

30-34
Laura Logan (24:06)
35-39
Jason Renaud (21:10)

35-39
Myra Gunn (22:41)
40-44
Barry Ladd (20:31)

40-44
Sherry Austin (27:38)
45-49
Steve Schmittzehe (19:55)

45-49
Melanie Fraga (23:49)
50-54
Kevin Bramlett (18:36)

50-54
Jeanie Asher (23:52)
55-59
Bill Bird (25:08)

55-59
Mary Jane Whitehead (30:31)
60-64
Wayne Corse (22:10)

60-64
Marilyn Bell (32:02)
65-69
William James (33:45)

65-69
Pam Donofrio (46:41)
70-79
Ron Ruminer (27:47)

70-79
Peggy Griggs (38:17)
80-99
Bill Burlison (43:21)

80-99


Overall Winner Bryan Kelpe. (A couple more wins and they may have to name the
overall award "The Bryan Kelpe Trophy.)

Saturday, April 21, 2012

Illinois River to River Relay

Southern Illinois -- April 21, 2012 (Results @ Illinois River to River Relay: http://rrr.olm.net/results12.html)

In the realm of long-distance endurance races, the novelty of the Illinois River to River Relay is difficult to top.  Each year, over 300 teams of eight apply for 250 spots and the opportunity to race 80 miles across the southern tip of Illinois from the Mississippi to Ohio Rivers.  With nine major divisions and a dozen special divisions (including corporate, club, military, etc.), the event draws a diverse field of 2000 experienced, intermediate, and novice runners from across the country.

On race day, the teams gather at 6:15 a.m. on McGee Hill near Wolf Lake.  The first leg begins in thirty-minute waves.  Each runner will complete three legs consisting of distances between 2.5 and 4 miles.  The rolling course includes paved and unpaved roads, through rural areas, small towns, and Shawnee National Forest, finishing on the banks of the Ohio River in Golconda.  In between legs, many runners must pull double-duty by transporting teammates to and from the exchange areas. (Speaking of "double-duty", rumour is that Dale Earnhardt, Jr.'s pit crew has nothing on Marcy Ambler when it comes to changing a flat.)

This year, the SEMO area is represented by three quality teams.  The "Has Beens" compete in the challenging Open Division.  The collection of former collegiate teammates and friends bring home an impressive second place overall award finishing just minutes off the winning pace with a time of 7 hours, 35 minutes and 25 seconds.

The Has Beens featuring Danny Stults, Chad Sierman, Mark McNamara, Adam Shupe, Brandon Karcher,
and Jared Tanz.  (Photo from Danny Stults)

The Missouri Running Company Masters, running in the Masters Division, also claim a second place spot.  The men finish with a time of 9 hours, 22 minutes, and 3 seconds.  The Cape Road Runners Womens Team also turns in a solid performance.  Their 10 hour, 49 minute, 32 second time places them in the middle of the overall pack and fourth in the Womens Division.

Missouri Running Company Masters: Ron Rosati, Bill Kutz, Doug Ambler, Gene Magnus,
Joe Windeknecht, Steve Schmittzee, Dwayne Hadler, and Glen Williams.  (Photo from Glen Williams) 

Cape Road Runners Womens: Sarah Eftink, Chell Jannin, Jessica Rosati, Myra Gunn,
Roxanne Magnus, Melanie Neeling, Marcy Ambler, and Brigitte Kinnaman.  (Photo from Glen Williams)

For a chance to throw your rock into the Ohio, area runners are encouraged to include The Illinois River to River Relay on their "bucket list".
-KBramlett
Missouri Runnning Company provides banners for Masters and Womens Team vans. (Photo from Brigitte Kinnaman)