By By SCOTT NOVAK / Vigilant/Argus
Notre Dame runners are starting to build quite a reputation at Steve's Run.
The Fighting Irish swept the men's and women's overall titles at the 32nd annual event held on Saturday.
Molly Huddle captured here first 10K championship, however, she is no stranger to the winner's circle as she won the 5K title in 2004.
Huddle ran a time of 38:21 to easily outdistance runner-up Elizabeth Herndon of Washington University in St. Louis.
Huddle, who is an All-American at Notre Dame, will return this year to run indoor and outdoor track for the Fighting Irish. She has used up her cross country eligibility.
"I like the course," Huddle said. "The heat was no fun."
Notre Dame's Kurt Benninger, who hails from Canada, toured the course in 33:14 to edge out teammate Aaron Crague, who ran 33:22.
"We always want a Notre Dame runner to win," Benninger said. "We have won it the last few years. Our team was pretty good last year and will be pretty good this year, so you want to make sure you win up here."
Benninger returns as the Fighting Irish's top runner on the cross country squad. He finished eighth at the NCAA finals a year ago.
He said that he would like to win an NCAA championship this year and make the Canadian Olympic team in 2008 before hopefully turning professional.
The 5K titles also went to collegiate runners.
Kyle Perry of Brigham Young University captured the men's title with a time of 15:57. Daniel Clark of Jackson finished second with a time of 15:58.
Perry, who is working in South Bend, Ind. this summer, is no stranger to running with the Notre Dame bunch.
"It was fun to run with the Notre Dame guys because we have come to Notre Dame every now and then," Perry said. "We are all friends. And one of the Notre Dame runners is from Utah."
Kate Pentak, who is from Worthington, Ohio, won the 5K championship in her first trip to Dowagiac.
Pentak, who runs for Washington University, posted a time of 19:59.
Krissi Ernst of Mishawaka, Ind. was second with a time of 20:13.
"It was great, a good course," Pentak said. "I was happy (with my time)."
More than 1,200 people competed in the event despite hot and humid conditions.
Among those competing were 20 members of the Class of 1986, of which the late Steve Briegel, for whom the race is named, took part. The class had its 20th reunion on Saturday evening.
According to Race Director Ron Gunn, nearly 1,000 people pre-registered for the race.
Steve's Run
Saturday, July 30
10K Top 10 Males
1. Kurt Benninger, South Bend, Ind., 33:14; 2. Aaron Crague, Schererville, Ind., 33:22; 3. Mike Fout, LaPorte, Ind., 33:49; 4. Michael Popejoy, 33:53; 5. Jonathan, Three Rivers, 34:30; 6. Jaurice Dye, Elkhart, Ind., 34:36; 7. Bobby Moldovan Fort Wayne, Ind., 34:43; 8. Adam Dohm, Niles, 35:00; 9. Matt Sicilia, Grand Rapids, 35:29; 10. James Millar, Granger, Ind., 35:34
10K Male Age Division Winners
12-13: Kishan Balar, Valparaiso, Ind., 46:11; 14-15: Anton Crepisek, Osceola, Ind., 37:47; 16-18: Mike Fout, LaPorte , Ind., 33:49; 19-24: Kurt Benninger, South Bend, Ind., 33:14; 25-29: Aaron Crague, Schererville, Ind., 33:22; 30-34: Victor Mattson, Elkhart, Ind., 38:58; 35-39: Chris Kowalewski, South Bend, Ind., 40:49; 40-44: Andy Muchow, West Bloomfield, 38:11; 45-49: Charlie Fox, Plymouth, Ind., 35:36; 50-54: Timothy Emmett, Royal Oak, 39:45; 55-59: Ronald Ruffin, Detroit, 45:40; 60-64: Keith Bradley, Granger, Ind., 55:55; 65-69: George Gawthrop, Flushing, 50:28; 75-79: Hal Higdon, Long Beach, Ind., 1:27:20
10K Top 10 Females
1. Molly Huddle, South Bend, Ind., 38:21; 2. Elizabeth Herndon, Fort Wayne, Ind., 40:53; 3. Michaela Logue, South Bend, Ind., 41:10; 4. Crystina Martinez, Valparaiso, Ind., 41:18; 5. Lindsay Harkema, Okemos, 41:33; 6. Crystal Aburto Matinoz, Valparaiso, Ind., 41:52; 7. Alison Bishel, Valparaiso, Ind., 42:02; 8. Tyler Mulkin, St. Louis, 42:28; 9. Melinda Misch, Portage, Ind., 42:59; 10. Melissa Gymrek, Hobart, Ind., 43:16
10K Female Age Division Winners
14-15: Alyssa Adelsperger, Crown Point, Ind., 51:44; 16-18: Alison Bishel, Valparaiso, Ind., 42:02; 19-24: Molly Huddle, South Bend, Ind., 38:21; 25-29: Natalie Sandoval, South Bend, Ind., 47:51; 30-34: Cindy Steinbeck, Porter, Ind., 44:34; 35-39: Amy Preston, Brighton, 49:55; 40-44: Kelly Harris, Detroit, 45:54; 45-49: Carrie Barratt, New York, 46:45; 50-54: Jackie Blair, Detroit, 46:26; 55-59: Annette Boyce, Dowagiac, 55:05; 60-64: Cora Hill, Southfield, 1:09:38; 65-69: Mary Connolly, South Bend, Ind., 1:05:58
5K Top 10 Male Winners
1. Kyle Perry, Sandy, Utah, 15:57; 2. Daniel Clark, Jackson, 15:58; 3. Tyrel Jensen, South Bend, Ind., 16:02; 4. Paul Barrons, Kalamazoo, 16:08; 5. Daniel Bradley, South Bend, Ind., 16:09; 6. Justin Kowalski, Mishawaka, Ind., 16:25; 7. Jason Dorais, Pleasant Grove, VT., 16:40; 8. Jake Gillette, Niles, 17:01; 9. Joe McAvoy, Hillsdale, 17:10; 10. Matt Jones, Lagran, Ind., 17:40
5K Male Age Division Winners
7-9: Drew Hildebrandt, Granger, Ind., 23:21; 10-11: Andrew Kearney, Chesteron, Ind., 20:32; 12-13: Trevor Moore, Middlebury, Ind., 20:34; 14-15: Joe McAvoy, Hillsdale, 17:10: 16-18: William Dresser, Sturgis, 17:55; 19-24: Kyle Perry, Sandy, Utah, 15:57; 25-29: Paul Barrons, Kalamazoo, 16:08: 30-34: Mike Conley, St Paris, Ohio, 19:30; 35-39: Matt Jones, Lagran, Ind., 17:40; 40-44: Gregory Bennett, Chathan, Ill., 18:12; 45-49: Michael Method, Granger, Ind., 18:30; 50-54: Bill Thistlewaite, White Pigeon, 22:07; 55-59: Jim Morningstar, South Bend, Ind., 22:35; 60-64: Michael Hudson, Granger, Ind., 25:53; 65-69: Richard Brandleg, New Buffalo, 22:43; 70-74: Jerry Hoffman, South Bend, Ind., 32:12; 75-79: David Meyer, Kalamazoo, 31:45
5K Top 10 Female Winners
1. Kate Pentak, Worthington, Ohio, 19:59; 2. Krissi Ernst, Mishawaka, Ind., 20:13; 3. Emily Dean, Osceola, Ind., 20:39; 4. Megan O'Malley, South Bend, Ind., 20:52; 5. Torrie Eger, Buchanan, 21:34; 6. Lynda Wurzel, Berrien Center, 21:45; 7. Kelsey Kuehl, Stevensville, 21:55; 8. Shari Layne Edwards, Los Angeles, 21:56; 9. Sherry Fritz Niles, 22:02; 10. Madeline Goheen, Fort Wayne, Ind., 22:03
5K Female Age Division Winners
7-9: Emma Karls, Marshall, 30:03; 10-11: Amy Hildebrandt, Granger, Ind., 27:20; 12-13: Sarah Hildebrandt, Granger, Ind., 23:04; 14-15: Emily Dean, Osceola, Ind., 20:39, 16-18: Madeline Goheen, Fort Wayne, Ind., 22:03; 19-24: Kate Pentak, Worthington, Ohio, 19:59; 25-29: Fordowsa Maalin, St. Clair Shores, 24:58; 30-34: Sarah Pellico, South Bend, Ind., 23:33; 35-39: Lynda Wurzel, Berrien Center, 21:45; 40-44: Sherry Fritz, Niles, 22:02; 45-49: Christine Torres, Highland, Ind., 24:56; 5054: Karen Freeburn, Lawrence, 27:18; 55-59: Nikki Rector, South Bend, Ind., 26:11; 60-64: Barb Miller, Union, 32:03; 65-69: Judy Bodjack, St. Joseph, 28:21
5K Walk Top 10 Female Winners
1. Amanda Johnson, Morganfield, Ky., 30:53, 2. Julie Walker, Cassopolis, 31:01; 3. Nancy Nelson, Benton Harbor, 35:27; 4. Nancy Northrop, Dowagiac, 36:30; 5. Stacey Grimm, Niles, 38:22; 6. Donna Pisarsky, Berrien Springs, 40:55; 7. Kimberly Felton, St. Joseph, 41:09; 8. Lindsay Heidenreich, Dowagiac, 41:12; 9. Carol Markley, Granger, Ind., 41:15; 10. Sheri Harrell, Niles, 41:17
5K Walk Female Age Division Winners
7-9: Elsie Mae Jorgensen, Eau Claire, 47:41; 10-11: Natalie Dejong, Granger, Ind., 51:36; 12-13: Michala Froehlich, Dowagiac, 47:21; 16-18: Amanda Johnson, Morganfield, Ky., 30:53; 19-24: Julie Walker, Cassopolis, 31:01; 25-29: Miracle Foster, Romeo, 45:46; 30-34: Ronda Sullivan, Dowagiac, 46:14; 35-39: Sheri Harrell, Niles, 41:16; 40-44: Nancy Northrop, Dowagiac, 36:30; 45-49: Stacey Grimm, Niles, 38:22; 50-54: Nancy Nelson, Benton Harbor, 35:27; 55-59: Roberta Woodruff, Dowagiac, 44:50; 60-64: Donna Pisarsky, Berrien Springs, 40:45; 65-69: Mary McManus-Hochstetl, Ft. Wayne, Ind., 42:40; 70-74: Pat Ganger, Dowagiac, 58:04; 75-79: Janet Gwilt, Dowagiac, 46:14; 80-plus: Jan Pendergrass, Dowagiac, 1:06:12
5K Walk Top 10 Male Winners
1. Clarence Grimm, Niles, 26:18; 2. Douglas Johnson, Morganfield, Ky, 26:28; 3. David Barstis, Niles, 28:12; 4. Brad Howe, Niles, 31:01; 5. Jerry Fergason, Mishawaka, Ind., 34:19; 6. Patrick Blakesley, Bristol, Ind., 34:22; 7. Michael Garrard, South Bend, Ind., 35:19; 8. Philip Allen, Dowagiac, 38:55; 9. Richard Brychta, New Buffalo, 38:59; 10. Jim Harrell, Niles 39:30
5K Walk Male Age Division Winners
10-11: Brody Froehlich, Dowagiac, 48:36; 12-13: Paul Friedrich, Centennial, Colo., 44:11; 14-15: Thomas Churchill, Edwardsburg, 51:34; 16-18: Reggie Fritz, Dowagiac, 51:00; 19-24: Justin Peachey, Stevensville, 41:53; 25-29: Robert Kellogg, Niles, 44:09; 35-39: Craig Wiker, Dowagiac, 41:55; 40-44: David Barstis, Niles, 28:12; 45-49: Clarence Grimm, Niles, 26:18; 50-54: Jerry Fergason, Mishawaka, Ind., 34:19; 55-59: David Kulakowski, Granger, Ind., 43:42; 60-64: Philip Allen, Dowagiac, 38:55; 65-69: Charles Goodrich, Decatur, 47:29; 70-74: Ron Ganger, Dowagiac, 58:08; 75-79: Gordon Gwilt, Dowagiac, 48:58
Family/Corporate Winners
10K Run
Husband/Wife: Ken and Judy Nelson, 162:00
Father/Son: Joe and John Durand, 92:43
Mother/Son: Peggy and Neil Zeeb, 93:54
Father/Daughter: Dave Mahar and Lisa Viergutz, 99:42
Mother/Daughter: Carol and Elizabeth Herndon, 87:56
5K Run
Father/Son Neil and Matthew Bowman, 68:21
Mother/Son: Becky Shehorn and William Gresham, 49:20
Father/Daughter: Neil and Samantha Bowman, 82:00
Family: Hildebrandt, 163:27
Corporation: Disnetwork, 84:27
5K Walk
Father/Daughter: Douglas and Amanda Johnson, 57:21
Mother/Daughter: Janie and Amy Tarwacki, 103:03
Family: Froelich, 144:33
Other: Steve's Team: 510:04