"Michigan's On-Line Running Source"
"Michigan's On-Line Running Source" |
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Shelby Twp (2/4) - Dry, fast conditions welcomed one of the largest
fields ever at the 4th annual Bumper Run at Stony Creek Metropark.
This race has always boasted a competitive, quality field of runners
on this roughly 6.4 mile loop, and this year was no exception. 33
year-old Jim Heebsh of Rochester overcame a fast start by birthday boy
Rick Straughen, 17, of Henry Ford II to take the overall spot by 7
seconds in 36:48. Straughen went out hard, but strong, chilly winds
on the backside of the park in the middle miles brought the leaders
together, and it was Heebsh who had the stronger finish to grab the
win. Probably the most impressive performance of the night, however, was put on by another 17 year-old, woman's winner Megan Fitzgerald of Sterling Heights Stevenson. Megan ran the entire race solo, finishing 4th overall in 37:35, only 47 seconds behind overall winner Heebsh, and nearly 4 MINUTES ahead of Marne Smiley, also of Stevenson. Megan has been a dynamo for Kevin Hanson's high school cross-country team, and has shown that she will be a competitor to look out for whenever she chooses to frequent the road racing scene, which might not be for a while, as she certainly has a promising college career awaiting her. After braving the beautiful-but-sometimes desolate, dark, and blustery loop around the lake, runners enjoyed Bruegger's Bagels, fruit, and other refreshments in the cozy confines of a heated shelter house. After winners were announced, a generous number of gift certificates donated by kind and supportive sponsors were raffled off, and winners were tickled to look forward to dinners at Bennigan's, Buddy's Pizza, AppleBee's, Steak & Ale, The Olive Garden, and Fuddrucker's. This run is held to commemorate a local runner being hit by a truck while running and his having lived to tell about it. It is put on in hopes of promoting awareness of safety and the dangers possible when both runners and drivers are reckless in their respective activities. Results: Men 1. Jim Heebsh 2. Rick Straughen 3. Perry Badia 4. Ken Price 5. Dan Horvath 6. Adam Feinstein 7. Jim Brehler 8. Martin Roehrle 9. Michael Maska 10. JR Falls Women 1. Megan Fitzgerald 2. Marna Smiley 3. Jenni Fitzgerald 4. Michelle Kinkela 5. Katie Terry 6. Ruthie Minnick 7. Becky Meier 8. Beth Dinkleman 9. Nancy Hanson 10. Lynda Kennedy For more information contact Don Richmond at [email protected] |
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