Paul Barrons wins third 5K run championship

Published 6:45 pm Thursday, August 2, 2007

By By SCOTT NOVAK / Edwardsburg Argus
It was nearly a photo finish for Steve's Run in the 5K race for men.
Former champion Paul Barrons of Kalamazoo literally nipped Justin Kowalewski of Mishawaka, Ind. by three seconds.
Barrons, 27, won his third Steve's Run 5K title, also winning in 2003 and 2004. He was second in 2005 and finished fourth last year.
"It was much better than last year," Barrons remarked about the weather conditions. "Last year it was like 90 and sunny. It was a little humid, but it was really nice, comfortable running weather.
"Other than that surprise at the finish line, it was a good race for me," Barrons continued. "I thought I was pretty far ahead. He (Kowalewski) must have really been coming up fast."
Alex Schmidtendorff of Three Rivers took third, while Niles' Jake Gillette finished fourth with a time of 16:28.
Rounding out the top five was Andrew Lawrick of Baroda.
Youngster Valerie Burns of Granger, Ind. was the women's 5K winner with a time of 18:18.
It was the second race win in a row for Burns, who will be a sophomore at Penn, won the Venetian River Run last weekend.
"I thought it was fun," Burns said of Steve's Run. "It is just my second road race. My favorite part was probably the cemetery."
Burns only took up distance running last year.
Finishing second was Amy Corrigan of Mason with a time of 20:04.
Sammy Mondry of Grand Rapids was third with Beth Werge of South Bend, Ind. and former Edwardsburg standout Ursula Taylor finishing fifth with a time of 20:33.
Edwardsburg's Kelsey Carlson finished ninth with a time of 21:42.
Steve's Run Top 10
5K Run Male
1. Paul Barrons, Kalamazoo 15:54
2. Justin Kowalewski, Mishawaka, Ind. 15:57
3. Alex Schmidtendorff, Three Rivers 16:11
4. Jake Gillette, Niles 16:20
5. Andrew Lawrick, Baroda 16:28
6. Michael Clements, Mishawaka, Ind. 16:33
7. Calon Naragon, Mishawaka, Ind. 16:38
8. Garett Bonk, Crown Point, Ind. 16:58
9. Christian Birky, Glenn 17:02
10. Ann Crepinsek, Osceola, Ind. 17:06
Age Division Winners
Male 7-9
1. Drew Hildebrandt, Granger, Ind. 23:20
Male 10-11
1. Korey Blasins, Three Rivers 19:05
Male 12-13
1. Alex Hess, Fort Wayne, Ind. 19:26
Male 14-15
1. Jay Marshall, Sturgis 17:27
Male 16-18
1. Garett Bonk, Crown Point, Ind. 16:58
Male 19-24
1. Justin Kowalewski, Mishawaka, Ind. 15:57
Male 25-29
1. Paul Barrons, Kalamazoo 15:54
Male 30-34
1. Brian Graber, Bristol, Ind. 18:35
Male 35-39
1. Matt Jones, Lagrange, Ind. 17:15
Male 40-44
1. Brett Hess, Fort Wayne, Ind. 18:43
Male 45-49
1. Bill Ammeson, St. Joseph, 21:18
Male 50-54
1. Marlin Howe, Niles, 19:58
Male 55-59
1. Winford Jones, Lagrange, Ind. 20:29
Male 60-64
1. Pete Perron, St. Joseph, 22:27
Male 65-69
1. Richard Brandley, New Buffalo, 21:26
Male 70-74
1. Dick Shank, Elkhart, Ind. 26:25
Male 75-79
1. David Meyer, Kalamazoo 30:59
Steve's Run Top 10
5K Run Female
1. Valerie Burns, Granger, Ind. 18:18
2. Amy Corrigan, Mason 20:04
3. Sammy Mondry, Grand Rapids 20:12
4. Beth Werge, South Bend, Ind. 20:32
5. Ursula Taylor, Chicago, Ill. 20:33
6. Jordan Mornout, Ft. Wayne, Ind. 21:05
7. Torrie Eger, Buchanan 21:11
8. Lynda Wurzel, Berrien Center 21:38
9. Kelsey Carlson, Edwardsburg 21:42
10. Kathy Vantine, Constantine 21:44
Age Division Winners
Female 7-9
1. Kyleigh Spearing, Frankfort, Ill. 29:21
Female 10- 11
1. Alyson Janiga, Hammond, Ind. 25:28
Female 12-13
1. Sammy Mondry, Grand Rapids 20:12
Female 14-15
1. Valerie Burns, Granger, Ind. 18:18
Female 16-18
1. Mandy Thiele, Stevensville 21:47
Female 19-24
1. Cortney Middleton, Stevensville 22:04
Female 25-29
1. Amy Corrigan, Mason 20:04
Female 30-34
1. Holly Mumaw, South Bend, Ind. 25:43
Female 35-39
1. Lisa Sumrak, Elkhart, Ind. 25:07
Female 40-44
1. Lynda Wurzel, Berrien Center 21:38
Female 45-49
1. Mary Klute, South Bend, Ind. 25:06
Female 50-54
1. Marlene Peterson, St Joseph 23:16
Female 55-59
1. Anne Economou, Granger, Ind. 29:33
Female 60-64
1. Charlotte Pode, Dowagiac 56:29
Female 65-69
1. Judy Bodjack, St. Joseph 27:58