'Perfect' weather to circle Sunday Lake

WAKEFIELD - Callie Fischer, 18, of Green Bay, Wis., and Dave Hebert, 21, of Iron River, Mich., were the overall female and male winners, respectively, in the 37th Annual Sunday Lake Run/Walk on Friday.

Both runners said the race had "perfect" weather conditions and times were fast for many runners. Fischer finished the 2.8 mile course in 17:43 and Hebert was timed in a blazing 14:34.

Both runners said their training paid off for them. Fischer ran cross country and track for four years at Ashwaubenon High School and will do the same at the University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire starting this fall.

Hebert was a member of both the cross country and track teams at West Iron County High School and has run both sports for three years at the University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point.

"I've ran the race four times, but it's the first time I've won," Fischer said. "We've been visiting family here every year on the 4th of July. I ran next to the second place girl up to the hill, which I think is about one-half mile. Then I took the lead after the hill. I didn't know how close anyone was behind me. It was a good day."

Hebert felt he ran a "pretty good" race.

"I got the lead right away and got away from the people around me and I stayed up there," Hebert said. "I like this race because there's good people to run with and I'll definitely be back."

Hebert said this was the seventh Sunday Lake Run/Walk he's entered, but it was the first time he made it to the winner's circle. He said there were two other reasons he won.

"Ryan Holm is not in shape right now and Alan Peterson is not here," Hebert said.

In the Female Masters Division, Paulette Niemi, 46, of Ironwood was the winner in 18.32 and Scott Harma, 41, took the top spot in the Master Male Division with a time of 15.33.

In the Hand Cycle division, Dean Juntunen, of Mass City, could have eaten an early breakfast as he crossed the finish line in 11:16 in a race that started at 8 a.m.

Geneva Smiles, 35, of Ironwood was timed in 27.53 and was the winner of stroller division.

Most runners have a story at local races to go along with the actual running of the events and the Sunday Lake Run/Walk was no exception.

Wanda Scholl, Lisa Dellenbach and Roberta Nault, all of Milwaukee, recently lost their 74-year old mother, Bernadine (Brozzo) Kirkley, who was born in Wakefield and lived most of her life in Marenisco.

They buried their mother only days before the race but decided to enter to honor her memory as well as a celebration of her life.