Bryan Burns, Times Staff Writer
Monday, January 3, 2011
strong winds for road runners race
Local runners took to the roads and shell paths at Emerson Point Park in Palmetto the day after Christmas to claim numerous awards at the 10th annual Manatee River Run Road Runners Club of America Florida Five-Mile State Championship, which had more than 400 participants.
Battling brutal wind gusts throughout, Brian Lester had the fastest time among Pinellas County participants. Lester, 52 of St. Petersburg, ran the course in 30:29 to place first in the grand masters category. He was seventh overall.
Claiming the senior grand masters division was Albert Wieringa of St. Petersburg. Wieringa, 64, crossed the finish line in 33:14 and was one of three local runners to finish in the top 20 after placing 19th overall.
Don Ardell, another St. Petersburg resident, was first among veteran grand masters runners. Ardell, 72, ran 35:10 to win his age group.
In the men's 13- to 15-year-old division, Treasure Island's Hunter McCann placed first by more than a minute. McCann, 14, crossed the finish line in 31:27. He was 10th overall.
Dunedin's Bonnie Theall was the lone female resident from Pinellas to claim an age group championship. Theall, 65, edged her nearest competitor by four seconds to win in 48:03.
Other local runners who placed in the top three in their age group included: (F25-29) Christine Kiernan-Ortiz, St. Petersburg, 36:44 (second); (M35-39) David Shiner, St. Petersburg, 42:30 (third); (F40-45) Christine Moorby, South Pasadena, 40:39 (second); (F55-59) Karen Alexeev, Gulfport, 43:48 (second); (M55-59) Dan McClenathan, St. Petersburg, 37:38 (third); (M70-74) Jack Keefe, St. Petersburg, 47:43 (second); (M75-79) Ben Fudge, St. Pete Beach, 51:19 (second).
Darren Brown, 25, was the overall race champion after covering the course in 25:29.
Beth August, 36, was the women's champion with a time of 33:10.
TEAM UNDER PRESSURE 5K
Palm Harbor resident Tim Shaver brought in the new year with a second-place finish at the Team Under Pressure 5K in Clearwater on New Year's Day.
Shaver, 32, completed the race in 22:09 to cross the finish line five seconds after men's champion Herman Nieuwendaal (22:04) of Riverview. Shaver was the top runner in the men's 30-39 group.
Also placing in the top five was 68-year-old Clearwater resident James Ladig, who finished the race in 23 minutes. He won the men's 60-69 division.
Sara Gill was an age group winner as well. Gill, 29 of Clearwater, was the top runner in the women's 20-29 division with a time of 27:52.
Andrea Kavouklis of Pittsburgh was the overall champion as well as the women's champion after breaking the tape in 21:54. She won by 10 seconds.
The race had 59 competitors.
DE LEON SPRINGS HALF MARATHON
Mark Blitz of Clearwater was the top local participant at the 27th annual De Leon Springs Half Marathon on Sunday.
Blitz completed the race in one hour, 52 minutes. He placed 12th in the men's 45-49 division and was 76th overall.
David Sainer also had a good showing at the De Leon Springs Half Marathon. Sainer, 39 of St. Petersburg, clocked in at 2:03:46 to come in 16th in the men's 35-39 division. She was 138th overall.
Jutta Merilainen of Batawa, Ontario, claimed the overall race championship in a time of 1:23:26. Ole Hjelle of DeLand was the men's winner and second overall to Merilainen after running 1:24:17.
In the 5K race held the same day as the half-marathon, Mary Blitz of Clearwater came in sixth place in the women's 45-49 division. Blitz, 49, crossed the finish line in 31:24.
Karan Singh of Apopka was the overall winner in 17:07. The women's champion was Arley Rempel of Fenwick, Ottawa, in 19:45.
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