The 33rd running of the City of Roses Half Marathon/5K races were contested on Sunday, September 15, 2013. The weather gods must have decided to give the competitors a break following their 2012 water-logged races as the day dawned with a crisp morning temperature of 51 degees with a negligible wind. The author has competed in many COR half marathons/5Ks and the 2013 edition was as good as he can ever remember.
The half marathon race took on a different flavor this year. The usual 30-under speedsters were not in attendance thus providing an opportunity for the veterans of the road races as well as some of the newer distance runners in the area to shine.
Overall winners of the 2013 City of Roses Half Marathon were Kevin Hammes and Liz Beck with finishing times of 1:21:05 and 1:35:30, respectively.
 |
| Overall Winner: Kevin Hammes. |
 |
| Female Overall Winner: Liz Beck with the Southern Illinois ageless wonder Gary Holda. |
The top 5 men finishers all came in under the 90 min mark and included several of the local up-and-comers in the distance events including Andy Johnson, Daniel Kear and Ross McFerren. These guys are training hard and I look for each to continue posting impressive times in the half marathon/marathon distances in the future.
 |
| Second Overall: Andy Johnson. |
 |
| Third Overall: Caleb Zustiak. |
 |
| Fourth Overall: Daniel Kear. |
 |
| Fifth Overall: Ross McFerron. |
The top 5 women were an eclectic bunch with placers in their teens as well as the Master's categories. All of the top 5 women completed the course in 1:43:09 or better.
 |
| Second OA Female: Jennifer Perkins. |
 |
| Third OA Female: Jenna Griffith. |
 |
Fourth OA Female: Zhao Ni Dirnberger.
|
 |
| Fifth OA Female: Chelli Jannin. |
Master's Winners: Mark Bochantin and Carol Winter were the Master's Champions with finishing times of 1:30:23 and 1:47:17.
 |
| Masters Winners: Carol Winter and Mark Bochantin. |
Two elite wheelchair racers also raced the half marathon course. Local favorite Zach Young lined up against Memphis, Tennessee's John Payne and they both impressed the crowd and runners with their tenacity during the hilly middle portion of the course. Zach crossed the finish line in 1:13:27. John followed shortly in 1:16:38.
 |
| Zach Young conquers the hill at Veterans Parkway. |
Top 10 Men
1. Kevin Hammes (48) - 1:21:05
2. Andrew Johnson (38) - 1:22:50
3. Caleb Zustiak (36) - 1:23:33
4. Daniel Kear (27) - 1:26:01
5. Ross McFerren (31) - 1:29:28
6. Mark Bochantin (50) - 1:30:23 *Master's Champion
7. Paul Schell (44) - 1:31:49
8. Tripp Logan (36) - 1:32:35
9. Adam Daugheetee (29) - 1:32:44
10. Doug Ambler (43) - 1:33:12
Other notable times: Gary Holda (64) - 1:34:50
Top 10 Women
1. Liz Beck (42) - 1:35:30
2. Jennifer Perkins (33) - 1:38:05
3. Jenna Griffith (42) - 1:38:47
4. Zhao Ni Dirnberger (19) - 1:39:43
5. Chellie Jannin (40) - 1:43:09
6. Lauren McDamara (24) - 1:43:47
7. Carol Winter (51) - 1:47:17 *Master's Champion
8. Shawna Till (42) - 1:47:33
9. Ashley Smith (27) - 1:48:39
10. Jennifer Murphy (36) - 1:49:06
HALF MARATHON OVERALL AND AGE GROUP WINNERS
|
MALE OVERALL: Kevin Hammes (1:21:05)
|
|
FEMALE OVERALL: Liz Beck (1:35:30)
|
01-19
|
Trey Moss (1:34:31)
|
|
01-19
|
|
20-24
|
|
|
20-24
|
Laura McDamara (1:43:47)
|
25-29
|
Adam Daughhetee (1:32:44)
|
|
25-29
|
Ashley Smith (1:48:39)
|
30-34
|
Brad Mueth (1:42:14)
|
|
30-34
|
Shawna Robinson (1:54:45)
|
35-39
|
Tripp Logan (1:32:35)
|
|
35-39
|
Jennifer Murphy (1:49:06)
|
40-44
|
Paul Schell (1:31:49)
|
|
40-44
|
Shawna Till (1:47:33)
|
45-49
|
Tomoaki Nomi (1:34:27)
|
|
45-49
|
Julie Woody (1:51:38)
|
50-54
|
Steve Schaffner (1:35:26)
|
|
50-54
|
Paula Castleman (1:51:03)
|
55-59
|
Gregory Harrison (1:52:20)
|
|
55-59
|
|
60-64
|
Gary Holda (1:34:50)
|
|
60-64
|
Renee Brown (2:26:11)
|
The 5K route remained the same as in 2012 with an out-and-back trip up the Osage Trail north with the turn around point in the Walden Park subdivision. The half-marathon route had been changed and now took the runners for an extended tour of the county roads north and west of Cape Girardeau. The starting and finishing points for both races were the Osage Center parking areas as the Cape Road Runners had their Jaguar timing system set up on the west side of the Osage Center.
The 5K winners were Paul Fliege and Lisa Georger who completed the course in times of 18:27 and 21:44 respectively. Both competitors are "known entities" in the running community and Paul was using this race as a tune-up for his upcoming marathon race in Milwaukee, Wisconsin in early October.
5K OVERALL AND AGE GROUP WINNERS
|
MALE OVERALL: Paul Fliege (18:27)
|
|
FEMALE OVERALL: Lisa Georger (21:44)
|
01-19
|
Jacob Haight (28:52)
|
|
01-19
|
Emily Damba (27:30)
|
20-24
|
Desmond Howard (19:10)
|
|
20-24
|
Kelsey Woody (29:48)
|
25-29
|
Sam Woody (22:36)
|
|
25-29
|
Libby Kemp (28:06)
|
30-34
|
Joshua Govreau (22:44)
|
|
30-34
|
Shannon Tucker (24:33)
|
35-39
|
Jon Pennington (21:56)
|
|
35-39
|
Deanna Lemings (30:27)
|
40-44
|
Kenneth Naegar (21:50)
|
|
40-44
|
Kathy Walz (25:11)
|
45-49
|
Duane Emmons (22:03)
|
|
45-49
|
Shelia Haertling (23:19)
|
50-54
|
Kevin Bramlett (18:58)
|
|
50-54
|
Suzanne Garoian (25:43)
|
55-59
|
Dan Thomas (22:39)
|
|
55-59
|
Peggy Hill (28:28)
|
60-64
|
Thomas Muir (29:01)
|
|
60-64
|
Karen Stover (29:39)
|
65-99
|
Harry Kiefer (36:21)
|
|
65-99
|
|
--KHammes
 |
Second OA Kevin Bramlett and OA Winner Paul Fliege grab
a quick pre-race photo op. |
 |
| OA Female Winner Lisa Georger takes her place on the starting line. |
