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The Oklahoma City Landrunners brought more than 112 people to the Arbuckles to Ardmore Race for Mercy.
And that was just the people they could count.
Each member of the unmistakable group wore a green wristband to identify each other in the record pack of racers at the A2A Sunday. The Landrunners were just one of the many groups that found the A2A worthy of their effort, and in some cases, their travel and money.
“We had 112 on two buses and we don’t know how many drove on their own,” Landrunners member Chuck Mikkelson said. “It’s fun and we love the bus trip down.”
Like several other runners from the Oklahoma City and Tulsa areas, Mikkelson, 50, said that the group uses the A2A as a prep course for the Oklahoma City Memorial Marathon on May 1.
In his fourth year with the Landrunners, Maurice Lee, 57, said the group brought even more than last year because of the quality of the A2A.
“There’s more than enough aid stations and they bend over backwards for us,” Lee said.
That attitude wasn’t just on display during the race. When a group from Wayne State (Mich.) University pulled into Ardmore late Saturday night due to bus troubles, it had missed its opportunity to register at least eight of its athletes. Working on a short night’s sleep, the group of college kids and coaches were still able to get everyone signed up and put on a show at the top of the 5K and half-marathon charts.
Each year, WSU cross country athletes take a southern spring break trip via charter bus. This year, 27-year-old coach Matthew Fecht, the winner of the Valero Fast Half-Marathon, drove with his team 25 hours to Beaumont, Texas, and stayed there for a week before stopping to run the A2A on the way back to Detroit.
Fecht made the A2A a specific stop on the Wayne State spring break schedule. Twelve ran the half-marathon and three ran the 5K, with none placing lower than 14th in their division (male or female).
“It was obviously a tough workout,” he said of the high winds and heat. “But back home it’s probably snowing and 30 degrees.”
Running beside the law
The Ardmore Police Department’s SWAT team withstood the harsh running conditions on Sunday, too. Nine officers spread out between the half-marathon and the 5K agreed to run the A2A.
The Oklahoma City Landrunners brought more than 112 people to the Arbuckles to Ardmore Race for Mercy.
And that was just the people they could count.
Each member of the unmistakable group wore a green wristband to identify each other in the record pack of racers at the A2A Sunday. The Landrunners were just one of the many groups that found the A2A worthy of their effort, and in some cases, their travel and money.
“We had 112 on two buses and we don’t know how many drove on their own,” Landrunners member Chuck Mikkelson said. “It’s fun and we love the bus trip down.”
Like several other runners from the Oklahoma City and Tulsa areas, Mikkelson, 50, said that the group uses the A2A as a prep course for the Oklahoma City Memorial Marathon on May 1.
In his fourth year with the Landrunners, Maurice Lee, 57, said the group brought even more than last year because of the quality of the A2A.
“There’s more than enough aid stations and they bend over backwards for us,” Lee said.
That attitude wasn’t just on display during the race. When a group from Wayne State (Mich.) University pulled into Ardmore late Saturday night due to bus troubles, it had missed its opportunity to register at least eight of its athletes. Working on a short night’s sleep, the group of college kids and coaches were still able to get everyone signed up and put on a show at the top of the 5K and half-marathon charts.
Each year, WSU cross country athletes take a southern spring break trip via charter bus. This year, 27-year-old coach Matthew Fecht, the winner of the Valero Fast Half-Marathon, drove with his team 25 hours to Beaumont, Texas, and stayed there for a week before stopping to run the A2A on the way back to Detroit.
Fecht made the A2A a specific stop on the Wayne State spring break schedule. Twelve ran the half-marathon and three ran the 5K, with none placing lower than 14th in their division (male or female).
“It was obviously a tough workout,” he said of the high winds and heat. “But back home it’s probably snowing and 30 degrees.”
Running beside the law
The Ardmore Police Department’s SWAT team withstood the harsh running conditions on Sunday, too. Nine officers spread out between the half-marathon and the 5K agreed to run the A2A.
“We had five participate last year and thought it would be a good idea to participate as a team because we have a physical fitness team every year,” Corporal Barry Antwine, 35, said. “We thought as a team effort we could come out and not only represent A2A but the Ardmore Police Department SWAT team.
“It shows that we keep ourselves fit and mentally sound, so when the time does come we’re prepared.”
Corporal Claude Henry, 27, has been a member of the SWAT team for two months. He said that the solidarity the team showed in running together transfers into the field.
“It’s the way it always is,” Henry said. “We keep a close relationship so that we know what to expect out of each other.”
What’s next for Washer?
Courtney Washer never let anything hold her back. Not wind or a disability.
The 31-year-old Sherman native finished the A2A 5K last year in a wheelchair. This time, however, Washer took it up several notches, finishing the half-marathon as the only wheelchair competitor.
The longer distance proved to be quite the challenge for Washer, but it wasn’t one she hadn’t face before. She’s done seven marathons in a hand-cycle wheelchair, in which she moves pedals with her hands, and three half-marathons and a few 5Ks in the racing chair, which is build lower to the ground and takes “a lot more effort” according to Washer.
“I enjoyed it, it was a different, but good course,” she said. “It was different mostly because of the wind ... and another 10 miles.”
Washer said she may take on the marathon next year. Hopefully, the conditions will be better.
“That wind was horrible,” she said. “I kept stopping and thinking maybe if I stop for a little bit it’ll stop.
“I wanted to make it in under five (hours) but I didn’t care once I saw the finish line.”
Washer finished in 4 hours, 42 minutes and 45 seconds. Mission accomplished.
Erik K. Horne
221-6522
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Arbuckles to Ardmore Race for Mercy
Sunday
Top 25 finishers in each race (male and female)
Complete race results at dgroadracing.com
Bar Nothin’ Marathon
Male (name, city, time)
1, Joel Stansloski, Tulsa, 2:51.11; 2, Gary Krugger, Edinboro, Pa., 3:03.59; 3, Rich Walker, San Antonio, 3:17.40; 4, Dave Emerson, Coppell, Texas, 3:22.37; 5, Gregg Walchli, Woodinville, Wash., 3:28.29; 6, Ian Campbell, Edmond, 3:29.34; 7, Peter-Michael Seidel, Dallas, 3:30.36; 8, Josh Billings, Sulphur, 3:34.25; 9, Bobby Howe, McKinney, Texas, 3:34.39; 10, Richard Hirst, Calera, 3:35.3; 11, Jim Santora, New Canaan, Conn., 3:37.19; 12, Jason Hammel, Calera, 3:37.54; 13, George Rehmet, Daly City, Calif., 3:44.01; 14, David Price, Yukon, 3:44.41; 15, Kenny McCleary, West Lafayette, Ind.; 3:45.29; 16, James Reed, Fort Worth, 3:46.00; 17, Joseph Parizek, Yukon, 3:46.22; 18, Rick Orr, Ardmore, 3:48.22; 19, Spencer Kinsey, Alma, Ark.; 3:50.34; 20, Robert Lopex, Seattle, 3:51.58; 21, Karl Leitz, Jersey City, N.J.; 3:54.10; 22, Elliot Rivera, New York, 3:54.09; 23, Joseph Sullivan, Norman, 3:54.09; 24, Michael Underwod, Denton, 3:59.13; 25, John Battaliou, Oklahoma City, 3:59.41
Female
1, Aya Takeichi, Jersey City, N.J., 3:41.02; 2, Lori Davis, Tulsa, 3:45.40; Cindy Lewandowski, Sartell, Minn., 3:46.02; 4, Lia Kinsey, Alma, Ark., 3:47.33; 5, Bekki Manville, Colorado Springs, Colo., 3:50.30; 6, Yoshiko Jo, Swarthmore, Pa., 3:54.10; 7, Marilyn Campbell, Edmond, 4:02.26; 8, Karna Strunk, Oklahoma City, 4:12.57; 9, Debra Anglin, Houston, 4:13.51; 10, Peggy Mowbray, Charlottesville, Va., 4:15.51; 11, Jennifer Westerhaver, Woodward, 4:17.23; 12, Lara Ciston, Edmond, 4:19.42; 13, Traci Tate, Sherman, 4:20.20; 14, Kim Gray, Arlington, 4:22.25; 15, Dianna Sulser, Denison, 4:28.25; 16, Genieve Taylor, Midwest City, 4:36.16; 17, Heidi Hebblethwaite, Newallaa, 4:37.42; 18, Hannah MacBeth, Wichita, Kan., 4:38.02; 19, Angela Owen, Ardmore, 4:42.30; 20, Linda Rust, Cedar Park, Texas, 4:44.20; 21, Cheri Pompeo, Woodinville, Wash., 4:45.16; 22, Tara Lusher, Round Rock, Texas, 4:45.53; 23, Joni Pinkley, Broken Arrow, 4:46.22; 24, Nichole Willingham, Fort Worth, 4:49.06; 25, Cheryl Ballard, Oklahoma City, 4:55.41
Valero Fast Half-Marathon (16.1 miles)
Male
1, Matthew Fecht, Warren, Mich., 1:13.41; 2, Alexander Townsend, Detroit, 1:14.36; 3, Tim Marshall, Wichita, Kan., 1:14.43; 4, Jason Smith, Detroit, 1:15.00; 5, Phillip Baldick, Macomb, Mich., 1:18.32; 6, James Maloney, Wyandotte, Mich., 1:19.44; 7, Jason Cook, Norman, 1:19.50; 8, Casey Kreger, Lawton, 1:22.43; 9, Tyler Johnson, Dallas, 1:26.16; 10, Norman Bradsher, Ardmore, 1:26.36; 11, Jordan Sinclair, Lewisville, Texas, 1:26.45; 12, Gerald Jackson, Carrollton, Texas, 1:29.16; 13, Roger Lemmons, Edmond, 1:29.37; 14, Jason Tilton, Oklahoma City, 1:29.38; 15, Tommy Swanson, Krum, Texas, 1:29.41; 16, Dandy O’Conner, Bethany, 1:29.46; 19, Timothy Fischer, Nichols Hills, 1:30 03; 18, David Hague, Keller, Texas, 1:30.04; 19, Paul Lotter, Stratford, 1:30.06; 20, Dan Hopper, Austin, 1:30.29; 21, Brian Baleno, Alpharetta, Ga.; 1:32.18; 22, Kiet Hoang, Flower Mound, Texas, 1:33.40; 23, Joe Davis, Ardmore, 1:34.19; 24, Ryan Gibson, Ardmore, 1:35.38; 25, Christopher Marshall, Lawton, 1:35.43
Female
1, Jen Rock, Macomb, Mich.; 1:26.47; 2, Ashley Johnson, Dallas, 1:29.24; 3, Terri Cassel, Tulsa, 1:30.41; 4, Kristen Rosenau, Oklahoma City, 1:33.16; Lynn Unrau, Park City, Kan., 1:33.51; 6, Robin Coolsaet, Grosse Ile, Mich., 1:34.07; 7, Katie Kramer, Oklahoma City, 1:34.29; 8, Olivia Kwiatkowksi, Shelby Twp., Mich., 9, Rachel Bandrow, Orion, Mich., 1:40.12; 10, Deana Knight, Norman, 1:41.09; 11, Kayla Gagnon, Riverview, Mich., 1:42.01; 12, Samantha Kaufman, Orion, Mich.; 1:42.59; 13, Allie Garrison, Henderson, 1:44.30; 14, Michele Barton, Sterling Heights, Mich., 1:46.07; 15, Kelly Emmert, Oklahoma City, 1:47.09; 16, Megan Irwin, Oklahoma City, 1:47.09; 17, Heather Warren, Edmond, 1:48.07; 18, Courtney Lemmons, Edmond, 1:49.21; 19, Amber Harper, Ardmore, 1:49.53; 20, Vanessa Richartz, Norman, 1:50.11; 21, Amber Boley, Wylie, Texas, 1:50.21; 22, Anitra Garcia-Gardner, Wylie, Texas, 1:50.58; 23, Mary Mikkelson, Oklahoma City, 1:52.16; 24, Terra Rowe, Yukon, 1:52.45; 25, Kelsey Bennett, Oklahoma City, 1:53.02
Carter County Dodge 5K
Male
1, Nick Jackson, Washington, Mich., 15:54; 2, Matthew Dewey, Canton, Mich., 16:06; 3, Bradley Vincent, Ray, Mich., 16:26; 4, Kiplimo Chemirmir, Lubbock, 18:18; 5, Trenton McFatridge, Ardmore, 19:09; 6, Teal Carlock, Dallas, 19:26; 7, Dylan Idleman, Madill, 19:38; 8, Chris Gray, Overbrook, 20:03; 9, Gareth Wood, Stonewall, 20:05; 10, Bryce Smith, Ardmore, 20:10; 11, Jackson Daube, 20:15; 12, Jon Van Order, Ardmore, 21:10; 13, Jeremiah Pearce, Ardmore, 21:32; 14, Elijah McPhail, Ardmore, 21:43; 15, Robert McKay, Wilson, 21:52; 16, James Gallardo, Dallas, 22:06; 17, Kennedy Cassel, Tulsa, 22:18; 18, Jason Frankum, Marietta, 22:27; 19, Josh Voth, Norman, 22:17; 20, Jorge Rodriguez, Ardmore, 22:31; 21, Brandon Rupp, Broken Bow, 22:52; 22, Chris Trammell, Ardmore, 22:53; 23, Josh Norton, Tulsa, 22:57; 24, Dustin Smith, McKinney, Texas, 23:11; 25, Larry Greathouse, Ardmore, 23:24
Female
1, Makayla Miller, Ardmore, 19:33; 2, Madie Gray, Overbrook, 21:59; 3, Meagan Pope, Boswell, 21:59; 4, Ashton Widhelm, Ardmore, 22:44; 5, Chelsi Norris, Ardmore, 22:44; 6, Katie Bilsbury, Ardmore, 23:34; 7, Christi Daube, Ardmore, 23:34; 8, Abby Bilsbury, Ardmore, 23:50; 9, Carly Hunt, Ardmore, 24:02; 10, Kyleigh Norris, Ardmore, 24:05; 11, Sarah Beth Hannah, Ardmore, 24:20; 12, Darian Barnes, Overbrok, 24:21; 13, Savannah Donica, Ardmore, 24:25; 14, Wendy Thompson, Wynnewood, 24:29; 15, Jennifer Poulin, Sulphur, 24:41; 16, Linda McCay, Wilson, 23:43; 17, Sarah Langford, Ardmore, 24:45; 18, Kristie, Chaney, Ardmore, 24:53; 19, Celia Caro, Springer, 25:14; 20, Sierra Parker, Burneyville, 25:20; 21, Meredith Morris, Ardmore, 25:34; 22, Katie Nix, Ardmore, 25:36; 23, Hannah Ross, Lone Grove, 25:47; 24, Kalee Howell, Ardmore, 26:02; 25, Savannah Pfau, Ardmore, 26:06
