Over 200 participants show up to compete in second annual Run the Park

Josh Barnett - Sports Editor

This year's second annual Run the Park 5K road race was a big success, nearly doubling last year's outcome. Over 200 participants showed up on Saturday, November 13 to run or walk the 3.1 mile course around the Versailles State Park.

The race was divided up into several different age groups ranging from 14 years old and under to 60 and over. Several awards were given out to the participants including to the first place male and female overall runners and walkers, first place walker in each age group, top male and female masters runners and top three in each running division.

Last years individual winner and course record holder Cecil Franke was the winner again this year running a time of 15:19, more than 1:00 in front of second place Steve Ahaus who ran a time of 16:33. The top female runner to finish was Jayme Kennedy placing 21 overall in a time of 20:30. The male winners in each age group were Bradley Fortuna-18:44 (14-under), Brandon Welt- 16:41 (15-19), Steve Ahaus- 16:33 (20-29), Ronnie McAlister- 17:57 (30-39), Leo Turchyn- 17:41 (40-49), David Creech 20:13 (50-59) and Paul Weldishofer- 23:56 (60-over).

The top female runners in each age division were Caitlyn Bowman- 20:57 (14-under), Anya Ault- 21:14 (15-19), Michelle Cobourn- 26:08 (20-29), Camille Boyken 24:22 (30-39), Pam McClure- 23:18 (40-49), Carol Norris- 27:41 (50-59) and Merle Hines- 25:02 (60-over).

Steve Black was the top male walker completing the course in 31:34. The top female walker was Alecia Fryman who walked the course in 38:35. The male award winners in each age group were Steve Patrick- 41:27 (30-39), John Irrgang- 36:44 (40-49), Dennis Richardson- 36:07 (50-59) and Gerald Laswell- 39:14 (60-over). The award female award winners in each age division were Kaylan Winters- 47:15 (14-under), Sara Powers- 43:17 (20-29), Teresa Patrick- 41:27 (30-39), Tammi Wintz- 38:35 (40-49), Brenda Armbrecht- 39:57 (50-59) and Marsha Mosier- 45:38 (60-over).

The proceeds from the Run the Park are going to South Ripley's Cross Country Program, Shop with a Cop, the Relay For Life and Girls on the Run, who brought over 60 runners to compete in the race. The Run the Park committee is already putting together plans for next year's run the park. For more information or results from this year's race go to www.geocities.com/runthepark.

JCD Junior High teams play two games last week

Josh Barnett - Sports Editor

Last Tuesday night (Nov. 16), Jac-Cen-Del junior high boys teams traveled to Batesville to take on the Bulldogs. Both the seventh and eighth grade teams lost to the Bulldogs.

In the seventh grade the Eagles lost 34-19. JCD was led in scoring by Dan Harlemert with 9 points followed by Trent Tucker with 7, Brandon Wilhoit with 2 and Ethan Harmeyer with one.

In the eighth grade game the Eagles were leading Batesville at halftime 17-13, but JCD managed to score just 4 points in the entire third quarter and let the Bulldogs cut the lead to just one. Batesville outscored the Eagles 13-8 in the final quarter to get the 33-29 victory. "We made some mental mistakes during the last three minutes and that cost us the game," stated JCD coach David Espinda.

Matt Gehl led the Eagles in scoring with 9 points followed by Tim Arnett with 8, Dylan Taylor with 6, Blake Sutton with 4 and Jake Gaither with 2.

Last Thursday the teams hosted the Trojans from East Central. The seventh graders lost by a score of 33-21. Harlemert led with 8 points followed by Shane Adams with 4, Ryan Schuler with 3 and Mike Luers, Tucker and Harmeyer with 2 points each.

In the eighth grade game the Eagles defeated the Trojans by a score of 33-21.

Gehl led all scorers with 14 points followed by Arnett with 9, Sutton with 8 and Gerald Hardesty with 6.