By Joey Peterson —
Over 150 participants took part in the eleventh annual Blue Devil Run/Walk this year. Participants had the choice of running or walking a 5K and running a 10K. The run started off the Homecoming festivities for the day as University of Wisconsin–Stout students and community members took to the course around 9 a.m.
Everybody had a different reason for running the race. For some people it was to get into shape, for others it was to stay in shape and it could have also been to beat a specific time or to achieve a personal best. Some just wanted to have fun with one another. The race had its mix of different skill levels; there were the highly competitive runners, the casual runners and the walkers.
The run started and ended at the fitness center. However, the race course took the runners through parts of Menomonie and onto the Stokke and Red Cedar Trail. Participants running the 10K followed a loop on the Red Cedar Trail before returning to Stokke Trail and continuing on the same course as the 5K participants. Once the runners reached the end of the trail, they turned back towards downtown Menomonie before turning to head through the middle of campus and to the finish line.
The top two finishers in the 5K, Mark Knutson (Fr, Cameron, Wis.) and Tyler Henkemeyer (Sr, Menomonie, Wis.), are both in the running club on campus. “It went really well,” said Knutson, who took first place overall in the 5K. He averaged five-minutes and fifty-nine seconds per mile, with a total time of eighteen-minutes thirty-four seconds. “It was a really nice course,” said Henkemeyer, who took second place behind Knutson.
Alex Zellinski (So, Menasha, Wis.), who won third overall in the 5K, agreed with the first and second place winners. “I saw it last year and decided to run this year” said Zellinski.
The weather conditions were a bit breezy and chilly at the start, but gradually warmed up by the end of the race.
Mitch Kempen (Sr, Little Chute, Wis.) also enjoyed running in the race. “It was really organized,” said Kempen. He also talked about the difficulty of the course ran by all the participants. “There was a big uphill climb on the bike trail,” said Kempen.
Overall, the race was another big success. Runners and walkers alike can’t wait for next year’s race. After the race Zellinski said, “It’s a beautiful day out, the sun is out, there was a good turnout and we got a cool T-shirt”
Top Finishers:
5K Male
1. Mark Knudtson (Cameron, Wis.)
2. Tyler Henkemeyer (Menomonie, Wis.)
3. Alex Zelinski (Menasha, Wis.)
5k Female
1. Pamela Onchuck (Menomonie, Wis.)
2. Angela Gauger (Menomonie, Wis.)
3. Anne Wespetal (Menomonie, Wis.)
10k Male
1. Matt Schauf (Wis.)
2. Adam Beston (Menomonie, Wis.)
3. Jeff McCalla (Elk Mound, Wis.)
10k Female
1. Jane Mahoney (Menomonie, Wis.)
2. Brittany Hoolihan (Menomonie, Wis.)
3. Marjolein Guerisma (Menomonie, Wis.)