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

Charleston Dogwood Azalea 5K Race 2008

Charleston, MO -- April 20, 2008
(Results @ Cape Road Runners: http://www.caperoadrunners.org/results.htm )

The 30th Dogwood Azalea run took place on a warm day with the town looking beautiful courtesy of all the fresh landscaping and azaleas in full bloom throughout the town. 

Men's Top Ten
This year's race was a fast one with Kevin Wheeler, 38, of Campbell, MO taking the overall crown with a sizzling 16:49.  This race was chip timed with mile splits;  Kevin ran nearly perfect splits of 5:25/5:26 and 5:25 ave pace for the last 1.1 miles to achieve his impressive win.  Following Wheeler across the finish line was Cape's Bryan Kelpe, age 30, who took second over Kennett, Missouri's Tyler Daugherty in a photo finish 17:01.7 to 17:01.8.   Chip timing did its job that day.  The 35 and over crowd took 6 of the top 10 spots.  Three men in the 35-39 age group and three from the 40-44 age group all finished in the top 10.  Rounding out the top ten placers were:


4:  Billy Leighton           -17:15
5:  Art Waddle              -17:23
6:  Chris Cone               -17:40
7:  Steve Lovell              -17:43
8:  Kevin Hammes         -17:45
9:  Jim Akins                  -18:08
10:John Russo                -18:27

Women's Overall Finishers:

Poplar Bluff's Joanne Huck, 24, won the overall female crown in a time of 19:50.  Second place went to 9 year old Marissa Jones of Sikeston, MO in 22:04.  Third place went to Charleston, MO resident Bethany Brown in 22:36.

182 runners finished this year's race.  Comprehensive results may be found on the Cape Road Runners website.

--submitted by KHammes

2007 Toy Box One Mile Run

Participants gathered on a windy day in November to run for a great cause.  The 2007 Toy Box run started at the corner of Capaha Park on Broadway Street and ran down to the Mississippi river area.  

Overall winners were Ryan Lane and Jessie Hahn.

Top 10 Male finishers:                                            Top 10 Female finishers:
Ryan Lane:                    4:25                                   Jessie Hahn:          6:24
Dillon Klaffner:              4:55                                   Adela Sams:          6:25
Arthur Waddle:             5:02                                   Hollie Adelmund:   6:36
Alex Schneider:             5:04                                   Jill Adelmund:        6:44
Billy Leighton:               5:05                                   Katie Bradshaw:    6:48
Roy Leighton:               5:10                                   Tara Probst:           6:56
Kevin Hammes:            5:14                                   Renae Bartels:        6:58
Neil Bradley:                5:25                                   Nicole Steck:          7:00
Johnny Vavak:              5:31                                   Sydney Denecke:   7:22
Tomoaki Nomi:            5:53                                   Anna Simminger:    7:42

A big thanks to all who participated and donated toys and money for the kids!
--KHammes

Country Classic 5K/8 Mile Race

Egyptian High School near Tamms, Illinois
(Results @ Cape Road Runners: http://www.caperoadrunners.org/results.htm )

Race director Danny McCrites puts on this enjoyable fall run.  Proceeds go to the local high school FFA program, I believe.  The 5K course is an out-and-back along blacktop roads with gentle rolling hills.  The 8 mile race starts on blacktop with the middle portion of the course on packed gravel and then ending on blacktop back to the school parking area.   The 8 mile course includes a nasty hill beginning around the 2 mile mark and essentially lasts until the 3.75 mile mark.

Overall 5K winners were Tonya Wendal in 36:42 and Kevin Hammes in 18:53. Age group winners included Jerri Shafer, Alex McCrite, Eric Tidwell, Roman Smith, Mark Wendel, Dr. Mitch Gerber and George Chapman. 

The 8 mile champs were Adela Sams with a time of 59:32  and Matt Mandrell with a 53:32 finish time.  Age group winners included Jennifer Burla, Paula Castleman, Kristie Milam, James Elser, Johnny Vavak, Ross Robey and Leslie Sheets. 

This is a nice course to run in the early fall and the scenery is beautiful.  Country classic is an appropriate name for this event.

-KHammes