Columbus 10K

(Columbus, OH, 06-08-08) Despite one of the warmest days ever in Central Ohio in early June, the 31st annual Columbus 10K drew another outstanding field to downtown Columbus as the runners toed the starting line by the Ohio State House for the “Oldest Road Race in Columbus”.

A pack of fifteen runners went out together for the first mile. The lead pack included three of the Ohio men who ran in last falls’ U.S. Men’s Olympic Marathon Team Trials, Canfield’s Matthew Folk and Columbus Running Company team members Josh Ordway and Jim Jurcevich. Also, in the lead pack were Cincinnati’s Taylor Williams, Donni Warner and Derrick Butler, Athens Craig Leon, Troy’s Jason Lokwatom, Westlake’s Brian Gallagher, Austintown’s Nick Kruse, Pataskala’ Eric Hamner, Delaware’s Nate Ritz, Westerville’s Matt DeLeon and Dustin Whitehair. The pack would start to separate as they hit the two mile mark by German Village’s Schiller Park and after entering the bike trail along the Scioto River just past the 5km mark Folk and Leon would start to pull away from the pack.

Folk who has won the race three times since 2000 and Leon a recent graduate and standout runner at Ohio University would emerge all alone from the bike trail at the four and a half mile mark. Folk and Leon would run side by side up the Main Street hill and up High Street. Folk used the down hill finish to City Hall to pull away from Leon in the final 600 meters to defend his 2007 title to win in 31:30. Leon took home the second place US Saving Bond in 31:39.

Taylor Williams (32:32) edged fellow Earth Drummers teammate Donnie Warner by four second as he took home the bronze in 32:32. Jason Lokwatom (32:50) and Derrick Butler (33:10) captured the final two US Saving Bonds. Brian Gallagher (33:14), Nick Kruse (33:25), Matt DeLeon (33:33) and Josh Ordway (33:38) rounded out the top ten.

RUNOHIO - Second Sole teammates New Albany’s Lyndsi Benedict and Blacklick’s Melissa Converse set the early pace with Cincinnati’s Karen Berling, Columbus’ Becki Michael, Pickerington’s Liz Trapp just off the pace as they looped around downtown before heading to German Village. The second pack of women included Powell’s Sharon Hathaway, Columbus Christine Collins and Upper Arlington’s Nancy Jeggle.

Three time defending champion Lyndsi Benedict would pull away from teammate Melissa Converse, who was part of the winning Women’s USATF Club Cross Country National Championship RUNOHIO - Second Sole team, before the half way point and cruise to her fourth victory in 36:47. Converse (38:24) held off Karen Berling (38:40) for runner up honors. Becki Michael who ran in the U.S. Women’s Olympic Marathon Trials six weeks earlier placed fourth in 39:51. Liz Trapp (40:05), Sharon Hathaway (41:33), Nancy Juggle (41:54) and Christine Collins (43:10) rounded out the top eight.

Kirkland’s Brian Stern (35:51) finished nineteenth overall to edged Groveport’s Robert Moore (36:11) for the top US Saving Bonds for masters. Brunswick’s Ron Dorfeld (36:58), Cleveland’s Ben Szporluk (37:23) and Hilliard’s Jo Patrick (37:40) were the next master runners to cross the finish line in front of Columbus City Hall.

Marion’s Erika Anderson (47:22) won the women’s master title. Gahanna’s Elizabeth Gleason (49:05) and Nashport’s Rebecca Woods (49:12) finished next.

In a very competitive grand master race Jackson’s George Sellers (38:03) nipped Cincinnati’s Pete Beckman (38:09) for the crown. Mansfield’s Brad Ingram (39:30) finished third.

Westerville’s Marilyn Hundley (52:26) won the women’s grand master top prize.

Englewood’s Nick Zindorf (42:33) and East Canton’s Glenn Gailey (45:51) took home the first two senior awards.

Hilliard’s Velma Matuszewski (1:04:22) won the women’s senior gold.

Don Hammond (59:35) top the 70 and over age group.

Heath’s 82-year-young Ken Alpeter (1:10:18) was the oldest finisher.

Inaugural race winner, Matt McGowan, team up with Jim Jurcevich to direct this year’s event. Next year Jurcevich and the Columbus Running Company will take over directing the race with McGowan’s assistance. McGowan has served as race director for the past eighteen years. Jeff McGowan and RunTimeSystems provided the computer finish line management with help from cross country coaches at Watterson, DeSales and Whetstone High Schools.

Helping make this year’s Columbus 10K possible were: RUNOHIO, RunTimeSystems, Columbus Running Company, The Columbus Recreation and Parks Department, Upper Arlington’s Great Harvest Bread Company, CD 101 radio station, Arnold 5K and the RUNOHIO Grand Prix.

Many of the runners after the race headed a few blocks down the road to enjoy the 47th annual Columbus Arts Festival.

If you won an award and did not get it Sunday, you can pick it up at the Dublin Columbus Running Company store.

Complete results are listed under the RUNOHIO Results section – http://www.runohio.com

View a Photo Gallery Here: http://runohio.com/view_gallery/2008-columbus-10k

The race is looking for additional sponsorship to keep this downtown event alive. If you would like to be a product or financial sponsor please contact the owners of the Columbus Running Company at one of their three stores – Dublin, Pickerington or Westerville.

Check out the Columbus Dispatch Weekender article preview of the race and Josh Ordway –

http://www.dispatch.com/live/content/weekender/stories/2008/...

Check out Steve Blackledge’s article about the race in the Columbus Dispatch Sports section –

http://www.dispatch.com/live/content/sports/stories/2008/06/...