Van paces field in Billy Mills Fun Run 5K

SAULT STE. MARIE - Curt Van jumped out to a lead at this year's Billy Mills 10K Fun Run, and kept it, finishing first overall with a time of 35:05.2.

Van's main competition on the day came from Dan Drowski of Lowell Mich. Droski finished second overall, and won the Master's Division, finishing in 36:23.40.

John Harvey of Sault, Ont., won the men's 16-19 division in a time of 37:10.80, while Kalvin Hartwig of the Sault and Carl Morrison were second and third, respectively.

In the 20-29 year old division, Jacob Kuereng of the Sault finished in 37:15.00 to place top among the field. Randy Vining, also of the Sault, won the 30-39 year old division in 44:53.80, while Eric Morgan of Brimley was second, and Scott Kivi of the Sault was third.

Sven Heikkinen was the top finisher among racers 40-49, winning in 55:52.10, while Brent Cook of Jekyll Island, Ga., was the winner in the 50-59 age group with a time of 55:23.00.

For the women in the 10K race, 52-year old Marge Meincke of Sault, Ont., was the race's top finisher, touring the course in 51:47.5, while 50-year old Eileein Forestall, also of Sault, Ont., was the winner of the Master's division, with a time of 55:21.6.

Jocelyn Sawasky of Kinross was the top finisher among women 20-29, winning in 55:14.50, while Bonnie Mayer of the Sault won the 30-39 year old division in 58:58.30. Robin DeBlake, of Jekyll Island, Ga., was the 50-59 winner, running the race in 1:01.04.

In the 5K run, Stephen Eles of the Sault was the overall winner (15:58.5), while Peter Lobert of Sault, Ont., was the winner (20:19.1).

In the 12-and-under division, Zach Mayer of the Sault ran to victory (23:35.2), while Keith Swandson of Brimley was tops in the 13-15 age group (20:00.7). Craig Tessmer of Paggett Mich., won the 16-19 division (17:52.00), while Scott Hosie topped the field in the 20-29 year old division (16:11.1).

In the 30-39 year old division, Frank King of Sault, Ont., finished first (18:49), while Terry Myers was first in the 40-49 year old group (22:19.3).

Dennis Klebba was the top finisher in the 50-59 age group (25:23.5), and Pete Spieles of Hessel was the fastest among the 60-over racers (25:50.4).

In the women's 5K, Stephanie Riedel of Eau Claire, Wis., was the overall winner. She finished first in 19:17.5, while Melanie Droskie of Lowell, Mich., was the Master's division winner in 22:12.8.

Jessica Marble was the winner of the girl's 12-under division (28:22.3), while Brittany Ockenfels of the Sault was first in the women's 13-15 year old division (22:00.1). In the 16-19 year old division, Stephanie Ostrenya of Escanaba took the top spot (21:03.6).

Among those 20-29 years old, Sarah Eles of the Sault proved to be the fastest, winning in 22:26.9, while Tammy Schroeder of the Sault won the 30-39 division (25:11.3). In the 40-49 age group, Patricia Badger of the Sault was the winner (24:54.3), while Rebecca LeBlanc of Kincheloe won the 60-over division (40:16.5).

In the Youth Mile, Katya Klebba was the fastest girl in the 6-8 year old division (8:19.1), while Kimberly Jodoin was the first finisher among 9-10 year olds (8:55.8). Both girls are from Sault Ste. Marie.

Bradley MacArthur of the Sault was the winner of the boy's 6-8 year old division (9:02.6), while Jeremy Goetz was first among 9-10 year old boys (6:43.3). Kyle TenEyck of the Sault was the winner in the 11-12 year old division (6:54.5).

Five-year old Kinzie Heikkinen was the winner of the tot-trot, while Miles Droski (3) was second and Autumn Eles (2) was third.