By Steve Marcinkowski, RunMichigan.com

Aside from the Olympic Games beginning this past weekend in London, there were many races closer to home which had impressive performances.

In Southgate, the 3rd annual Southgate Heritage Half Eight road race took place on Friday, July 27. As part of the Southgate Heritage Days, which is in its 38th year, this festival celebrated the city of Southgate.

The female overall winner was Natalie Webb of New Boston with a time of 25:03 for the 4 mile course. Second place female, Kayla Gagnon finished 9th overall in 26:22. Williamston’s Travis Barczak was the male overall champion in 22:39. Finishing behind Barczak was Lawrence Jajou of Lambertville in 24:15.

As part of the Lake Charlevoix Venetian Festival, the Drenth Memorial Foot Race and Ryan Shay Mile races are fast becoming a Northern Michigan tradition. On Saturday, the Jeff Drenth Memorial Foot Race featured a 5K and 10K, which ran along the channel that connects Lake Charlevoix to Lake Michigan.

In the 5K, Big Rapids' Ryan Chute took home the overall title. Chute, a member of the Ferris State track and field and cross country teams, won in a time of 15:13. Scotty Albaugh, current University of Michigan Wolverine, finished two seconds ahead of third place finisher Eric Buday of Charlevoix. Albaugh and Buday's times were 15:53 and 15:55, respectively.

Kathryn Fluehr of Naples, Florida won the women’s 5K race in an impressive 17:25. Second place belonged to Kirsten Olling of Breckenridge with her time of 17:30. Finishing in a close third was Emma Drenth, current Michigan State Spartan in 17:35.

The 10K male overall winner was Steve Matuszak of Caro, MI. Matuszak won in 36:31. Finishing in second, male masters winner and RunMichigan.com co-owner, John Brabbs finished in a time of 37:46. Female overall winner, Samantha Westveer of Grand Rapids finished the 10K course in 38:25. Bridget Tschappet of Highlands Ranch, Colorado was the second place female to cross the line in 39:34.

Also on Saturday, the Ryan Shay Memorial Mile was an invite only mile race with impressive times from the men and women. Prize money awarded was $1,000 for the first place male and female. $500 was awarded to second place while $250 was for third.

In the men’s race, the final quarter mile was anyone’s race to win. Daniel Clark pulled away in the final few meters taking the title. Clark’s time of 3:58.67 narrowly defeated second place finisher, Liam Boylan-Pett who ran 3:59.53. Boylan-Pett recently competed at the US Track and Field Olympic Trials in the 800 and 1500 meter runs. Peter Van Der Westheizen was the third place finisher in 4:00.39, nearly breaking the 4 minute mark.

For the women, it was a three woman race at the 800 meter mark. The lead pack of Heather Kampf, Ashley Miller and Ashley Higginson battled back and forth to the final strides. Kampf went on to win the women’s field in a course record time of 4:31.83. Second and third was decided by a mere 4-tenths. Miller’s time of 4:33.53 held off Higginson in 4:33.92.