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

29th Annual Turkey Run -15K/10K/5K Runs

Herrin, IL -- November 29, 2009

Results @ River to River Runers: (http://rrr.olm.net/results/tt09oar15.htm), (http://rrr.olm.net/results/tt09oar10.htm), (http://rrr.olm.net/results/tt09oar5.htm)

21 November, 2009 was the day of the 29th Annual Turkey Run in Herrin, Illinois.  The weather cooperated with lots of sun and a starting temperature of 48 degrees with a light breeze.  This course is a 5K loop around the town starting and ending near the Civic Center.  The gun went off with the 5K runners in front, 10K folks in the middle group and the 15K contestants in the back group. 

I felt good coming into this race and was using it as a last hard workout prior to the upcoming St. Jude half marathon.  All went well until the 6 mile mark of the race when I felt something "grab" along my right lower hamstring area.  As I was in third place overall at this point, I decided to shorten my stride and attempt to hold my position.  My 7th and 8th mile splits slowed considerably but I was able to pick it up during the last mile and finish with a respectable time.  My training partner Delbert Marriott ran a solid race and finished strong behind Carbondale's Brian Baillie.   ---KHammes

Top 5 Overall Male Winners:  15K

1. Brian Baillie, 27, Carbondale, Illinois               51:51
2. Delbert Marriott, 40, Sikeston, MO                59:36
3. Kevin Hammes, 44, Scott City, MO              1:00:04
4. Casey Prosise, 34, Nashville, Illinois              1:00:45
5. Ronnie Dunn, 48, Paducah, KY                     1:01:21

Top 5 Overall Female Winners:  15K

1. Jenna Griffith, 39, Marion, Ill                       1:04:10
2. Leah Schell, 29, Cape Girardeau, MO        1:11:14
3. Heidi Rasmussen, 34, Carbondale, Ill          1:12:34
4. Barbie Ambuehl, 45, Kinmundy, Ill              1:17:54
5. Julie Arendt, 37, Carbondale, Ill                  1:21:24

Top 5 Overall Winners:  10K

1. Austin Pryor, 15, Eldorado, Illinois               38:54
2. Arthur Waddle, 46, Dexter, MO                  39:05
3. Dylan Gibson, 14, Carbondale, Illinois          41:28
4. Mike Crouch, 47, Walnut Hill, Illinois           42:45
5. Lacy Colson, 17, Carbondale, Illinois           44:04

Top 5 Overall Female Winners:  10K

1. Lacy Colson, 17, Carbondale, Ill                44:04;  Impressive as she was top 5 OA in 10K
2. Samantha Thierry, 19, O'Fallon, Ill             49:32
3. Joanna Bean, 14, Carterville, Ill                  50:55
4. Puma Pattumma, 29, Carterville, Ill             56:17
5. Jennifer Miller-Louw, 30, Murphysboro      56:24

Top 5 Overall Male Winners: 5K

1. Barry Parks, 18, Eldorado, Illinois               17:27
2. Jordan Jones, 19, Salem, Illinois                   17:33
3. Brad Blakey, 36, Herrin, Illinois                   17:38
4. Scott Gill, 45, Marion, Illinois                       19:23
5. Nathaniel Huffman, 19, Carbondale, Ill         20:19

Top 5 Overall Female Winners:  5K

1. Marla Rathjen, 48, Jacob, Ill                      21:37
2. Lisa Gibson, 45, Carbondale, Ill                22:32
3. Emily Bleyer, 14, Carbondale                    23:19
4. Sandy Tuttle, 46, Harrisburg, Ill                 23:27
5. Sue Kramer, 55, Creal Springs, Ill             23:28

Good race for 3-5 positions as only 9 seconds separated these women.  Some excellent master's runners.

-Submitted by KHammes

Kevin Hammes (11), Delbert Marriott (center), Brian Baillie (45).



City of Roses Half Marathon/5K

Cape Girardeau, Missouri
September 20, 2009

Good crowd for the 2009 running of Cape's longest distance event.  Warm day and it will probably take it's toll on the participants.  I run the first three miles of the course in 17:43 attempting to maintain pace with the two leaders;  This mistake makes the rest of the race uncomfortable.  However, end up placing second overall to Jon Williams of Miami, Florida and pick up the Master's title in 1:22:33.  This is my fastest half-marathon to-date so happy with the result.  Williams runs 1:18:00.2 for a 5:57/mile pace.  Jenna Griffith of Marion, Illinois wins the overall female title with a 1:34:42 and Rosie Laughlin of Springfield, MO takes the Female Master's crown with a 1:35:29.  The final 5K of this course is a challenge and they definitely saved the biggest hills for the end.    - KHammes

2009 Spring Classic Run

The 2009 Spring Classic Run began and finished in the north  part of Cape's West Park Mall parking area with Mid-America Rehab acting as a major sponsor for the race.  The morning started off rainy and in the low 40's temperature-wise.  Fortunately, the rain stopped just before lining up for the start of this 3.30 mile route.  This year's race included a nasty uphill run up Blattner Drive during the 2nd mile.  People going out a little fast in the first mile often "pay the price" and even the most seasoned, trained runners find this part of the course challenging.  The race concludes with a run around the perimeter of the mall and finishes near Mid-America Rehab.

Cape Roadrunners provided the timing for this race.  Post-race amenities included all-you-could-eat pulled-pork burgers.  They were tasty.

Overall female/male winners were Lora Coots in 25:16 and Kevin Hammes with an 18:59 finish time.

Age-group Leaders:
15 & Under:    Male:  William Zoughaib- 22:15
20-24:               Male:  Joshua Lester-20:33////////////Female:  Stacy Dohogne- 31:10
25-29:               Male:  ----                        ///////////////////Female:  Jennifer Maroscher- 27:16
30-34:               Male:  Taylor Vaughan-22:19/////////Female:  Rachel Zahner- 26:29
35-39:               Male:  ----                             ////////////////Female:  Chellie Jannin- 26:18
40-44:               Male:  Tomoaki Nomi- 22:02/////////Female:  ----
45-49:               Male:  Steve Schmittzehe-21:43//////Female:  Paula Castleman- 27:01
50-54:               Male:  Paul Mell- 21:32//////////////////Female:  Becky Myracle- 32:18
55-59:               Male:  Mitch Gerber- 34:39
60-64:               Male:  Hugh Hammond- 37:34
65-69:               Male:  Ron Ruminer- 33:43
70+:                  Male:  Peter Blums- 28:22

--KHammes

2006 President's Day 5K - 14 February

Wynn McClellan of Jackson, MO torched the field on a windy February day as he completed a training run for the upcoming track and field season.

Kathryn Wyman edged out Jennifer Maroscher by just over a half second to take the OA Women's title.

Top 16 Finishers

1. Wynn McClellan - 16:40.5
2. Kevin Hammes - 17:28.6
3. Delbert Marriott - 18:17.4
4. Cody Moore - 19:16.2
5. Steve Schmittzehe - 19:39
6. Ethan Seyer - 20:00.1
7. BJ Smith - 20:08.2
8. Tomoaki Nomi - 20:14.8
9. Jason Banderman - 20:38.6
10. Robert Neal - 21:04.7
11. Adam Raines - 21:26.6
12. Dave Deisher - 22:18.2
13. Mitchel Gerber - 22:35.1
14. Danny McCrites - 22:57.3
15. Kathryn Wyman - 23:16.26 
16. Jennifer Marascher - 23:16.86

2008 Sikeston Rodeo Run

Sikeston, MO -- August 2, 2008
(Results @ Cape Road Runners: http://www.caperoadrunners.org/results.htm )

This 5K race during Rodeo week in Sikeston, Missouri has quickly become a local favorite.  The course is flat and very fast.  It always draws a good crowd and takes place just before the start of high school cross country season so all the young speedsters are ready to run.

This year's event took place on a typical hot, humid day in early August.  The air temperature was approximately 85 degrees prior to the start of the race with the heat index in the mid-90's.

Top 10 finishers in this race show many of the future stars in track and cross country in the SE Missouri region as well as several of the "gray beards" of the road circuit.

Logan Davis of Scott City took top honors with a sizzling 16:27
2nd:  Roy Leighton of Cape Girardeau with a 17:03
3rd:  Eric Schott of Cape Girardeau with a 17:08
4th:  Kevin Hammes of Scott City with a 17:25
5th:  Arthur Waddle of Dexter with a 17:45
6th:  Billy Leighton of Cape Girardeau with a 17:50
7th:  Ryan Johnson of Cape Girardeau with a 18:16
8th:  Glenn Stellhan with a 18:35
9th:  Nathan Uding with a 19:30
10th:  Brandon Shemonia of Scott City with a 19:57

Anyone who follows area running will recognize the talented young men in this top 10.  Many of them have gone on to set numerous school records at their respective high schools.  There is also a person in this group who can lay claim to being a collegiate national champion in the 10,000 meter run.  Arthur Waddle, who graduated from Poplar Bluff High School in the early 1980s still holds the 1 mile and 2 mile records at his alma mater.  He went on to run for Southeast Missouri State University and earned the title of Division II National Champion in the 10,000m run.

The top 5 women finishers in the 2008 Rodeo run were as follows:
1st:  Marissa Jones in 23:23
2nd:  Elizabeth Schlosser in 24:05
3rd:  Ellen Boucher in 25:44
4th:  Melanie Whitener in 26:05
5th:  Bonnie O'Reilly in 28:01

-KHammes

The 2008 Sikeston Rodeo Run would be my third attempt at a 5K, and the first I would run after making an effort to "train" specifically to run a race.  Several things would happen to fuel my addiction to this new hobby.  I had heard Art Waddle's name at the awards ceremony following The Jackson Homecomers 5K on July 22.  I had not seen or spoke to him since high school and was not aware he was still running.  Re-introduced myself this morning and started up what would be several years of fun and friendly competition when he moved into the 45-49 AG later in the year.

While no where near the front of the pack, the race went well.  I PRed (which most runners do in their 3rd 5K and first on a flat course), broke 22:00 minutes for the first time, and won my age group for the first time.  Amazed at how fast all these high school kids could motor in the heat and humidity.

Most memorable was the gentleman who called out to me after crossing the finish line to shake my hand and tell me nice race.  Later, while I was sitting alone on a picnic table, he came over and introduced himself as Wayne Corse.  Asked how long I had been running (a little over a month), and proceeded to take twenty minutes of his time to share valuable advise most newbies have to find out the hard way.  Needed to get some real running shoes (not the geriatric mall walkers I was wearing) or I would get shin splints.  Told me I had the potential to run a 5K in less than 20:00 (no way, I'm way too old already to ever be able to do that). Got several more bits of training advise and a suggestion to run the Dogwood-Azalea 5K for its flat and fast course (not to mention one of the best and most organized races in the area each and every year).

-KBramlett



21st Annual Capaha Classic 5K Run

July 12, 2008 was a typical hot, humid day in SE Missouri as 121 runners toed the line at beautiful Capaha Park in Cape Girardeau, MO for the 21st edition of the Capaha Classic 5K run.  As is usually the case in this race, the elite high school and collegiate runners show their talent to the thrill of spectators and other participants.

The overall male winners consisted of SE Missouri's XC team as they were evidently out for a "tempo run".  The overall female winners were a collection of the best of the best area high school distance runners.

Male Overall Winners                                 Female Overall Winners
1.  Brandon Karcher          16:15                    1.  Veronica Schabbing             19:34
2.  Brad Chronister            16:23                    2.  Hannah Blalock                    19:47
3.  Daniel Stults                  16:46                   3.  Tara Johnson                        22:02

Age Division Winners 
14 and Under:   Male:  Brandon Shemonia- 21:53          Female:  Taylor Dickerson- 24:05
15-19:              Male:  Travis Blalock- 16:59                 Female:   Jessica Banda-22:34
20-24:              Male:  Jared Milam-16:57                     Female:   Amy Guignon-24:01
25-29:              Male:  Charles Lawson- 24:14              Female:   Jennifer Lipe-30:56
30-34:              Male:  Mike Higgins-26:38                    Female:  Patty Merkley-27:19
35-39:              Male:  Glenn Stellhorn-19:24                 Female:  Chellie Jannin- 27:17
40-44:              Male:  Kevin Hammes-18:21                 Female:  Lora Coots- 24:37
45-49:              Male:  Johnny Vavak- 21:56                  Female:  Paula Castleman- 25:37
50-59:              Male:  Paul Mell- 21:18                         Female:  Peggy Hill- 33:19
60-69:              Male:  Tom Wallgren- 29:03                  Female:  Barbara Pumm- 33:00
70+  :               Male:  Peter Blums- 29:31

Good local race with nice awards.  Well set-up event.  If you enjoy running in warm weather, this is your race as it is nice and steamy year after year.

A special shout-out to Peter Blums, a true testament to the benefits to getting off the couch and "getting some miles in".  I enjoy watching you compete and hope to be doing so in my 70's.

--KHammes