No Breaks at the Bumper Run



Shelby Twp (2/7) - Crystal clear  conditions welcomed runners to the 2004
Bumper Run at Stoney Creek MetroPark. This was the 10th annual edition of
this event, and to commemorate the special occasion, the race was held on
a Saturday for the first time, allowing more runners to participate.  The
event has traditionally been hosted on Wednesday evenings at the park,
and will return to that format again next year.



A field of 44 runners toed the line in the mid-20 degree temps, with
winds gusting off the frozen lake adjacent to the starting line.  The
course is one clockwise 6 mile loop of the lake, and the chilly breeze
challenged runners for the first 3 miles of the course before they
finally found relief, and it actually became quite warm for many who felt
a need to peel off a layer or two with the wind behind them and the sun
in their faces.



Rick Straughen, coach at Utica Eisenhower High School, said he was
surprised by how his body responded, in light of the inconsistent
training he has experienced, due to a combination of a busy schedule, and
the difficult winter training conditions.  Justin Desilets, brother of
Jordan Desilets of Eastern Michigan, who broke the 4 minute mile at the
Meyo Invitational at Notre Dame the same day, finished a strong second in
35:54, with Mark Neal of Rochester Hills 27 seconds back in third.  It
was a much improved result for Mark over the previous year at this race,
where he broke his arm in a nasty fall just several hundred meters from
the finish line.



Deanna Skelay  ran unchallenged in the women's race, even leading most of
the men through the first before settling into a solid pace she would
maintain through the finish in 43:08.  Finishing second was Jackie Russo,
37 ticks behind.  Kathy Spatafora and Kara Yeacker followed in a virtual
dead heat for third in 51:09 in one of the best finishes of the day.



Results:



Men - 

1. Rick Straughen        23        35:28

2. Justin Desilets        24        35:54

3. Mark Neal        42        36:21

4. Kenny White        16        37:59

5. Adam Richmond        15        40:29

6. Dr. Feldman        22        40:50

7. Greg Thomas        35        41:37

8. Christian Hanser        31        42:56

9. Ryan Shay        39        43:01

10. Adam Finkleberry        22        43:29

11. Jim Fitch        64        44:23

12. Leonard Brockmann         41        44:44

13.  Dale Lazowski         27         46:10

14. Jack Smith        48        48:28

15. Eric Nordlie        37        48:42

16. Jason Gradinal        26        48:43

17. Ken Davenport        50        49:15

18. Werner Eckardt        42        51:20

19. Jeremy Loveday        30        51:37

20. Greg Padley        50        51:38

21. Jim Karner        65        51:49

22. Jim Nardi                42:09

23. Jim Gilroy        57        52:12

24. ???                53:15

24. Allen White        45        53:48

25.  Jerry Watson        51        55:21

26. Kavel Singh        26        62:47

27. Geir Gronstad        39        64:03

28. Tom Cameron        55        65:00

29. Tom Wrobel        47        69:16



Women - 

1. Deanna Skelay     36    43:08

2. Jackie Russo        44    43:45

3. Kathy Spatafora        20        51:09

4. Kara Yeacker        19        51:09

5. Julie Richmond        43        52:59

6. Kayla Doan        14        53:14

7. Brenda Loveday        34        54:08

8. Nver Atsalaris                61:38

9. Dena Papangelis        44        61:38

9. Christina Baker        40        55:17

10. Shirley Kussner        66        70:00

11. Erika Erich                78:00