Hoops for Life 5K

Cape Girardeau, MO -- July 24, 2010
(Results @ Cape Road Runners: http://www.caperoadrunners.org/results.htm )

Event raises about $7,500 for Pediatric Brain Tumor Research in memory of Sahara "Hoops" Aldridge as participaton grows to 325 on race day.  Wasn't enough for Race Director Shannon Aldridge to have us running the toughest, meanest 5K course in the area code; today he expects us to do it with the heat index pushing 90.  Kevin Hammes survives the hills and the heat to take first overall.  Cassie Kipper is the top female overall finisher.  Shannon does a great job in his rookie effort, and the event is sure grow each year.  Runners joined together to sing Happy Birthday to "Hoops" to cap off the morning.

-KBramlett



First Annual Hoops for Life 5K
(photo from Hoops for Life facebook page)

Event draws 325 participants
(photo from Hoops for Life facebook page)

Brandon Shemonia and Billy Leighton take overall winner Kevin Hammes
to the finish line. 

Happy Birthday "Hoops".
(photo from Hoops for Life facebook page)



Fight Back 5K / 10K

Cape Girardeau, MO -- April 10, 2010
(Results @ Cape Road Runners: http://www.caperoadrunners.org/results.htm )

Entered this race after three months of rehabbing an injured hamstring.  Testing my fitness prior to next week's Azalea Dogwood 5K run.  Beautiful day to run as weather is 55 degrees and sunny prior to the start of the 5K/10K races.  Beginning at Arena Park and running a 5K loop.  Bramlett running the 10K today so he gets to double up on the loop.  I feel good and run splits of 5:55/5:40/5:47/:28sec for a 17:50 finish and OA winner of 5K race.  Bramlett shakes off the pack during the middle of his second loop and wins the OA title in the 10K.  Great day for the CBEM team and we get some nice "goodies" in the bags for our efforts. 

 -KHammes

Scott Givens warms up the runners and walkers.  Where's the red, white and blue Uncle Sam duds?

Overall winners: Kevin Bramlett (10K) and Kevin Hammes (5K).



Southern Illinois 10K

April 2, 2011 was a great Spring morning for the running of the Southern Illinois 10K race.  This race is held in beautiful Crab Orchard National Wildlife Refuge located between Carbondale and Marion, Illinois in cooperation with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.  The route is familiar to many runners as it is the middle portion of the Fly with the Eagles Half Marathon course.  The course distance this year was just under 6.40 miles.

Kyle Monroe, a local ironman competitor, led this race from start to finish and gapped the second place finisher by over two minutes with his consistent splits.  This course consists of rolling hills and provides runners with a variety of running surfaces including blacktop, dirt trails and gravel roads.

Top 10 Overall Finishers:

1. Kyle Monroe, 27 Carbondale, Ill.  36:01
2. Kevin Hammes, 45 Scott City, MO 38:15
3. Blake Davenport, 23 39:05
4. Terry Okerson, 54 Metropolis, Ill  39:39
5. Austin Pryor, 17 Eldorado, Ill  39:39
6. Elijah McCormick, 15 Harrisburg, Ill  40:27
7. Gene Mesker, 52  40:43
8. Ethan Harris, 16    41:47
9. Jordan Craft, 29    41:49
10. Ron Moore, 42 Raleigh, Ill   42:11 

Overall Female Open Winners:

1. Karen Jackson, 22 Carbondale, Ill       44:08 and 13th overall finisher
2. Pamela Campbell, 52 Centralia, Ill       47:42 and 29th overall
3. Christine Reed, 25                               48:06 and 30th overall
4. Cheonae Kim, Murphysboro, Ill          49:14 and 32nd overall
5. Joanna Gilmore, 26 Carbondale, Ill      49:36 and 34th overall

Crab Orchard Wildlife Refuge, IL -- April 2, 2011
(Results @ River to River Runners: http://rrr.olm.net/results/si10k11oa.htm )

Psycho Wyco Run Toto Run 50K Trail Run

Cape Girardeau, Missouri native Bryan Kelpe placed first in the 2011 version of the Psycho Wyco Trail Run.  This race took place in Kansas.  Kelpe outran and outfoxed 90 other ultrarunners to complete the course in 4:31:06.  Bryan completed the 50K course more than 20 minutes ahead of the second place runner.

Congratulations on this outstanding accomplishment.

--KHammes

HerrinFest 10K Road Race - May 31, 2010

Herrin, IL -- May 31, 2010
(Results @ River to River Runners: http://rrr.olm.net/results/hf10oa.htm )

I traveled to Herrin, Illinois to try out their 10K course.   It was one big loop and an essentially flat course.  Talked to Chris Herrin prior to the race.  Saw several other locals who would make the race interesting.  Day was warm but not excessively hot.  Ran a good race and able to hold 6 flat mile pace through nearly 4.5 miles of the race then held on.  Ended up finishing 3rd overall behind Chris H and a 24 y/o runner with a time of 37:35.  Good day overall and very nice plaques for top 5 finishers.  I would recommend this race for people looking for a fast, accurate 10K course.   

-KHammes

HerrinFest 10K May 31 2010

It was a beautiful Spring morning to celebrate the HerrinFest by running their 10K course.  This 10K course is contested in the middle of Herrin, Illinois on a one loop course and is essentially flat.

The 2010 edition brought 141 runners to the line and the pack was led from the beginning by local running star Chris Herren.

Top 10 Finishers:

1. Chris Herren,  26 from Harrisburg, Ill.  32:36
2. Tyler Keller, 23 from Anna, Ill.  36:20
3. Kevin Hammes, 44 from Scott City, MO  37:35
4. Terry Okerson, 53 from Metropolis, Ill.  38:08
5. James Woolridge, 47 from Herrin, Ill.  38:49
6. Dylan Gibson, 15 from Carbondale, Ill.  39:18
7. Kyle Adams, 15 from Carterville, Ill.  39:56
8. Brad Warhausen, 37 from Steeleville, Ill.  39:58
9. Scott Gill, Marion, 45 from Ill.  40:12
10. Jessica Vonhatten, 24 from Knoxville, TN.  40:20  * Top female finisher

Top 5 Women Finishers

1. Jessica Vonhatten, 24  Knoxville, TN.  40:20
2. Shanna Ambuehl, 22  Kinmundy, Ill.  42:53
3. Jenna Griffith, 39  Marion, Ill.  43:37
4. Katie Baillie, 28  Carbondale, Ill.  44:30
5. Lacie Gibson, 17 Carbondale, Ill.  45:02

This is a well organized race with very nice plaques awarded to the top finishers. 

-KHammes

2009 St. Jude Memphis Half Marathon

Went to Memphis for my first attempt at their Half Marathon race.  Nice set-up and temperature a brisk 32 degrees at race time but essentially no wind.  Begin in the first corral and out fast... too fast.  3 mile split of 18:31; 6 mile split of 37:30;  12 mile split of 1:17:03;  Break the line in 1:24:57.   Time is good for 30th place overall out of 3538 male runners and second in the Male age 40-44 group.  Beat the overall female runner by a whopping 20 seconds.  It was nip and tuck during the last 1.5 miles as I was finally able to pass her and hold on.

Male Overall Winners:  Half Marathon

1.  Matthew Albertson, 28, Clayton, MO  -------------------------1:13:12
2.  Christopher Winter, 27, Jackson, TN --------------------------1:13:29
3.  Daniel Roberts, 27, Monticello, KY   --------------------------1:14:34

Female Overall Winners:  Half Marathon

1.  Caroline Blatti, 35, Memphis, TN    ----------------------------1:25:17
2.  Angie Turner, 40, Hallsville, MO     ----------------------------1:26:33
3.  Candace Caveny, 39, Shilo, IL       ----------------------------1:27:14

Male Masters Winners:  (40 and Over)

1.  Jeff Haushalter, 42, Atlanta, GA      ----------------------------1:15:32
2.  Karl Lenser, 51, Conway, AR        ----------------------------1:19:02
3.  Mark Temme, 40, Memphis, TN    ----------------------------1:22:50

Cape Girardeau's Steve Schmittzehe finished the full marathon in 3:23 and qualified for the Boston Marathon.  Many, many other local runners ran in one of the three races held this weekend.  They had their choice of the 5K, half marathon or the full marathon.

---KHammes