By Staff
DOWAGIAC – The 33rd annual running of "The Original Road and Trail Race," aka Steve's Run, is set for a 9 a.m. start on Saturday, July 28 in downtown Dowagiac.
More than 1,000 participants are expected to compete in the 10K run, 5K run and 5K walk. The Dogpatch Derby 1K fun run is also scheduled at 9:03 a.m. All races will start in historic downtown Dowagiac and end at Lion's Park.
All finishers will receive a custom designed T-shirt and more than 200 stained glass awards will be given to the top finishers in each age group. This year, Steve's Run Nike hooded sweat tops and Steve's Run Lands' End polo shirts will be awarded to participants who raise $100 or more in pledges.
The Original Road and Trail Race was renamed "Steve's Run" in memory of Steven Briegel, an SMC honors graduate who lost his fight against cancer in 1990. All funds raised, including 100 percent of the pledge monies, are donated to SMC's Steven Briegel Scholarship Fund and the Mayo Clinic Cancer Research Fund.
Notre Dame runners have been dominating the 10K and 5K running events and 2006 was no different.
The Fighting Irish swept the overall men's and women's titles last summer.
Molly Huddle, a former 5K champ, won the 10K women's race with a time of 38:21, which easily outdistanced Washington University (St. Louis, Mo) runner Elizabeth Herndon, who ran a 40:53.
Kurt Benninger was the men's champion as he ran a time of 33:14 to nip teammate Aaron Craque, who finished with a 33:22.
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.
Washington University's Kate Pentak took home top honors with a time of 19:59. Krissi Ernst of Mishawaka, Ind. finished second with a time of 20:13.
Entry information can be obtained at www.swmich.edu/fireup/stevesrun or at Southwestern Michigan College by calling 782-1209.