At the Races

Pepsi 10K

September 15, 2007

This year’s running of this popular late summer event represented the largest 10K field ever assembled for an area race, as close to 400 runners blanketed Owensville Road.  This huge field helped vault this beneficiary event for the Special Olympics into the top 8 largest races in the area (there are 55 area races held annually).  Thanks to an all out promotion effort by Dave Zentmeyer and the organizational efforts of veteran volunteer director Carol Finch, this edition of this 24 year old race was one of the best to date.

Jason Buczyna was the first club member to cover the rolling course as he finished 2nd overall in 34:45.  Burkhard Spiekermann (35:56) and Hernan Garbini (36:00) continued their friendly age group rivalry as they were the next two CTC members into the chutes.  Fellow CTC member Joe Milby helped to round out this CTC 45-49 tandem, as he clocked an impressive 37:13.

CTC ace Eliza O’Connell legged out her first outright victory of the season with an impressive 39:19 clocking.  Lise Willingham was the next CTC finisher across the line as she also won her age group in 43:36. And speaking of age group champions, CTC members grabbed a pile of blue ribbons in their respective categories including Charlie Heaton (25-29), Leisa Gonnella (35-39), Rick Kwiatkowki (40-44) and Skip Mullaney (60-69).

Several other members had notable outings on this crisp and unseasonably cool late summer morning.  Richard Young, Jeff Stafford, Ed Russell, Jason Braunstein, Tom Wolanski, Chris Peterson, Jeff Cloud, Jim Bell, Kenny Ball, Tonya Jankunis, Ky Lindsay, Julia Bellis, Melissa McDowell, Frank Somerville, Jerri Emm, Bruce Schirmer, Noelle Davis, Sharon Balint, John Neill, Donna Charlebois, Jim Firster, Chuck Schmutz, Jim Hackett, and Sarah Defries all had excellent 6.2 mile runs.  

September 9, 2006

Veteran volunteer Race Director Carol Finch pulled off another dandy edition of this popular Fall Club classic.  The 23rd running of the Pepsi 10K was one of the largest as 240 folks traversed gently rolling Owensville Road as they started and finished their journey at Meriwether Lewis School.

CTC masters ace Burkhard Spiekermann was the first club finisher into the chutes as he clocked a sub 6:00 minute/mile performance (36:48).  Rick Kwiatkowski (38:24 P.R.), Herman Garbini (38:52), Lee Coppock (39:01) and Bob Wilder (41:32) rounded out the Top 5 for the CTC.

Andrea Wright followed up her great finish at the Women’s Four Miler with an impressive 39:53 victory.  Beth Cottone (40:17), Kristin Keller (41:43), Dawn Herrick (42:35) and Leisa Gonnella (44:14) rounded out the rest of the speedy CTC Top 5.

Club members spent tons of time on the awards platform as several CTC racers won their respective age groups.  In addition to Spiekermann, Kwiatkowski, Coppock, Cottone, Keller and Gonnella, the following members scored blue ribbons: Dave Krovetz, Cal Fowler, Wendy Golden, Armand Zambardi, Linda Owens and Jerri Emm.

All total 59 members crossed the finish line, which represented over 20% of the field and several of those folks had excellent races on this crisp fall morning:  Richard Young, Jim Bell, Aaron Bloomfield, Dan Brown, Mary Hagel, Frances Hersey, Paul Humphreys, George Gillies, John Neil, Pam Tetro, Michelle Co, Patti Clevenson, Chuck Lascano, Lisa Kwiatkowski, Butch Proctor, David Wilson, Marcia Kraft-Sayre, Henry Reeves, Jim Hackett, Neal Ammerman, and Wendell Golden.

As always, all of the proceeds from this well organized event were passed along to the fine folks of our area Special Olympics.

September 10, 2005

The area’s largest 10K race is also one of the best organized and runs over one of the best courses in the county.  Thanks to the excellent race coordinating efforts of veteran director Carol Finch and the continued support of the CTC and the fine folks from our area Special Olympics, over 200 runners were treated to a dandy of a race.

The racers traverse a safe and beautiful gently rolling course that starts and finishes at the legendary Meriwether Lewis School on Owensville Road in Ivy.  One of the only pitfalls of the scenic course is a gently downhill first mile that annually tempts many of the racers out to a very quick first split.  Despite the quick start, many of our members adjusted quite nicely and ran steady runs enroute to excellent finishing times.  Charlie Hurt (2nd overall in 34:36), Burkhard Spiekermann (4th in 36:26) and Mike Herrick (9th in 38:46) were the top 3 CTC members across the finish line and Beth Cottone (2nd overall in 40:07), Dawn Herrick (4th in 42:48) and Kristen Keller (6th in 42:56) were the top 3 CTC women into the chutes.  Many members scored impressive wins in their respective age groups including Spiekermann (45-49), Rick Kwiatkowski (40-44), Anthony Nappi (30-34), Cal Fowler (60-69), Peggy Mowbray (50-54), Roger Barron (70+) and Kerry Hendrix (40-44).

Many members claimed that with a nice cool morning and a favorable course, they were able to cruise to a solid finish.  Folks like Chris Sica, Dave Krovetz, Leisa Gonnella, Andrew Zapanta, Scott Smith, Michelle Huston, Joan Bienvenue, Andrew Hersey, Bobby Stokes, Barclay Bright, George Gillies, Chris Hays, Jim Horstkotte, Phil Halapin, Noelle Davis, Mark Newell, Jerry Emm, Dan Dunsmore, Vickie Marsh, Sharon Balint, Neal Ammerman, and Harry Freestone were among those who scored excellent times at this year’s Pepsi event. 

Finch and her volunteers are to be commended for hosting such a well-organized event, now in its 22nd year, and all of it benefiting our friends at Special Olympics.

September 11, 2004

Longtime CTC volunteer Carol Finch did her usual excellent job of coordinating the area’s largest 10K race as 220 runners were treated to a well-organized 6.2 event along rolling Owensville Road in Ivy.

Masters machine Burkhard Spiekermann was the first CTC member into the chutes (2nd overall) in his best outing in months (35:41).  He was quickly followed by fellow CTC Masters speedster Chris Samley, who finished in 35:49.  Lee Coppock, who scored a win in the 35 – 39 group, rounded out the top 3 for the CTC in 37:36.  Lise Willingham, who won her age group 40 – 44, was the first CTC female (and 2nd overall female) in 42:09.  Leisa Gonnella (42:39) and Dawn Zbell (44:31) and Kate Driscoll (44:32) were the next CTC members into the chutes.

All total close to 25% of the field came from the ranks of the CTC and several of them had solid outings including age group winners Cal Fowler (60-69), Armand Zambardi (70+), Ann Peery (45 – 49) and Kate Kohn (55 – 59), who joined Driscoll, Gonella, Spiekermann, Samley, Willingham and Coppock in the blue ribbon circle.  Other CTC times of note were sprinkled throughout the field including Skip Mullaney, Chris Sica, Rick Kwiatkowski, Glen Anderson, Paul Ferrer, Scott Smith, Dan Dunsmore, Derek Leach, Joan Bienvenue, George Gillies, Henry Reeves, Alice Fletcher, Harry Freestone, Mo Stevens and Wendell Golden.

Of particular note was Chris Peterson’s impressive two- mile P.R.  Not bad for a veteran CTC runner who has been racing for several years!