Hebert, Fischer repeat as Sunday Lake Run champs

WAKEFIELD – 258 runners and walkers got up early on the 4th of July to participate in the 38th annual Sunday Lake Run/Walk over the scenic 2.8 mile course on Saturday.

For the runners, they simply circle Sunday Lake and Dave Hebert, of Iron River, Mich., and Callie Fischer, of Green Bay, Wis., did it best. They were the top male and female runners overall.

Youth was served again in 2015 as Hebert and Fischer were repeat winners from 2014.

Hebert, 22, had his running battles with Ironwood's Alan Peterson in the past, but he is now the runner to beat in this event.

"I've been coming here for the last eight years," Hebert said. "There is always good competition such as Ryan Holm. He was second and we had a pretty good race and it was close at the end. I'm a little out of shape, but I ran better than I thought I would. I hope to keep coming back here."

He circled the lake in 14.43.

Many racers run for personal bests on their times and the enjoyment of running in a road race, but when a young person competes for the University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire in cross country and track, they have to be considered a big favorite in this event. Fischer combines all of the above with visiting family in our area each 4th of July.

"This race was similar to last year but a little hotter," Fischer said. "But we still ran in good conditions. I felt really good the whole way. But the girl that wound up behind me (Marissa Lane, 17:13) led the whole way and I needed a strong finish in the last 400 meters to win."

Fischer, 19, cruised around the course in 17:07.

Sandra Pera, of Wakefield, seems to enjoy road races a lot, because she enters so many of them. But she was also was a winner in masters female division on Saturday in a timing of 19:15.

Pera was happy to be a hometown winner.

"The race was great," Pera said. "We had nice weather and great conditions. It was a wonderful day. My running goal is to have a personal best and I was actually 15 seconds behind that. But my second goal is to win and I was able to do that."

In the masters male division, Larry Lapachin, 42, said he thought he had raced four times at Sunday Lake, but the last time was 25 years ago.

"I had today off from work, so I really wanted to run it again," Lapachin said. "I won 25 years ago, so I wanted to try it and run it again. It was a lot of fun. I'm glad they have a master's race, because it's hard to compete against 20-year olds."

Lapachin now lives in Rhinelander, but he formerly was an excellent long distance runner while attending Luther L. Wright High School. After being away for 25 years, Lapachin appears to still "have it" as he won in 16:08.

John Houle is now 44 years ago and living in Green Bay, Wis., but many in our area remember him as a very good athlete at Wakefield High School. But in the last 10-years, Houle has enjoyed the role of "dad" in the stroller division.

At first he pushed his son, Ethan, in a single stroller, but five years ago twin sons, Lucas and Andrew, were born and Houle now pushes a double stroller.

At first, Houle joked that it helped to have a motor on the double stroller, but Houle hopes there are other benefits to his stroller-pushing besides winning on Saturday.

"It keeps the kids involved and I hope they will start running," Houle said.

Results will be published in the Tuesday edition of the Daily Globe.