Serving Gogebic, Iron and Ontonagon Counties
Serving Gogebic, Iron and Ontonagon Counties
Jaclyn Waara of Iron River, left, and Donna Gering of Ironwood take part in the two-mile Bessemer Hometown Run Saturday. Waara edged Gering for the women’s title by less than a second.
BESSEMER — The 25th annual Bessemer Hometown Run was held Saturday as part of the Bessemer Blast 2013 weeklong celebration.
As the weather cooperated with no rain and temperatures in the mid 60s, 277 runners/walkers participated in the 10-kilometer run and 2-mile walk/run.
Dave Rowe, teacher at A.D. Johnston High School as well as a race participant, kicked off the race with the national anthem.
Winners included:
—Jared Joki, 15, of Ironwood, was the top male 2 miler with a time of 10:47.
—Jaclyn Waara, 19, of Iron River, was the top female 2 miler with a time of 12:37.
—Mike McPherson, 22, of Ironwood, was the top 10K male with a time of 36.04. This is the second straight year McPherson has won this event.
—Melissa Johnson-Schnyder, 46, of South Africa, was the top 10K female with a time of 43:26. This was a new course record for this age bracket.
—Matt Tingstad, 37, of Bessemer, was the top male in the stroller division with a time of 15:54.
—Tara Graham, 35, of Bessemer, was the top female in the stroller division with a time of 25:19.
Several age group records were also broken:
—Lee Fassett of Beloit Wis., set an age group record in the 2-mile race with a time of 16:32 in the 70-74 age bracket.
—Ironwood’s Donna Gering’s time of 12:37 in the 45-49 age group was a record.
—JoAnn Tingstad of Northville, set an age group record with a time of 31:25 in the 75-79 age group.
—Deb Kallunki-Gotham, of Bessemer, broke an age group record in the 10K with a time of 57:45 for the 60 to 64 year old bracket.
The Byrns family won the family with the largest number of participants prize at 14.
This was the fourth year of the Tot Trot which is a mini fun run for kids ages 0 to 8. There was another great turnout for this event.
“It is awesome to see the determination on the little ones’ faces as they run this event,” race director Lori Bennetts said. “I’d like to offer a huge thank you to all the volunteers who help in any fashion with this race. Without you this event would not be the success that it is.
“Thank you to all the participants, you make the Hometown Run what it is.
“I look forward to the 26th annual race.”
