Female wins overall honors for first time in race history

Female wins overall honors for first time in race history

Oct. 12, 2000

BY JIM THOMAS
Journal Sports Editor


	KARI DISTEFANO gets ready to cross the finish line on Saturday in the half-marathon race of the annual Mesa Verde-Cortez Indian Summer Run, sponsored by the Cortez Area Chamber of Commerce. Distefano became the first woman in the history of the race to win the race overall (male or female). She set a new women’s course record in the process with a time of 1 hour, 20 minutes, 18 seconds.

For the first time in the history of the Mesa Verde-Cortez Indian Summer Run, a woman is the overall winner of the half-marathon.

Kari Distefano covered the 12-mile distance in a time of 1 hour, 20 minutes, 18 seconds, setting a new course record for women. In addition to taking home an award for winning the race, she also took home an additional bonus of $125 ($100 for women’s course record, and $25 for Master’s record). She won her age group (40-49).

Sheena Carlswell was the second overall female placer in 1:27:26 and Mary Gonzales finished third in 1:29:42.

Erik Packard was the top overall male winner with a time of 1:21:02. Ryan Boysen finished second in 1:21:55 and Everett Begay third in 1:22:19.

Boysen had the winning time in his 20-29 age group. Begay finished behind him and Craig Hoffman placed third in 1:43:09, and Kevin Moore fourth 1:43:18.

Packard won his 30-39 age group. Marc Witkes took second in 1:24:31 while Kris Oyler came in third in 1:30:34, and Calvin Hadley took fourth 1:31:27, Brad Briner 1:40:13, Mike OMalley 1:40:13, Chester Atcitty 1:45:44, Vaughn Johnson 1:50:10, and Richard Pierce 1:52:02.

Roy Perales won the 40-49 age group in 1:27:36 while Terry Nakai placed second in 1:39:36 and Carl Wilcox third 1:41:38. Other placers were: Kevin Mullikin 1:43:25, Bell Stanley 1:44:09, Lee Zhonnie 1:45:18, Norman Jim 1:47:54, Ken Bellar 1:48:03, Keith Sellers 1:48:25, Mike Rutledge 2:04:07, and Freddy McDaniel 2:04:27.

Tom Maynard won the 50-59 backet in 1:23:40 while Keith Paris took second in 1:26:53, David Paul third 1:45:0 and John Bornfield 2:01:53. Warren Eaton won the 60-plus group in 1:57:38 while John Patton took second in 2:01:45.

Carlswell won her 20-29 age group. Drew Laufer placed second in 1:34:00 and Nikki Bergstrom third 1:41:06. Others in that class were: Anita Bower 1:51:05, Tammi Stanford 1:55:51, and Dana Berry 2:08:34.

Gonzales won her 30-39 age bracket. Alice Thomas placed second in 1:37:31 and Barbara Ann Richman third 1:44:40. Others were: Kari Pauley 1:44:45, Linda Paris 1:45:44, Robin Favreau 1:46:43, Diane Palmer 1:47:42, and Julie Smith 1:51:34. Linda Paul took second in the 40-49 age group (behind Distefano) in 2:21:49.

The half-marathon course took runners from the starting line on the eastern side of Point Lookout near the Mancos Valley Overlook inside the boundaries of Mesa Verde National Park. The runners then headed down the park entrance road down to where it meet U.S. Highway 160. They headed west on the highway toward Cortez to the finish line at Centennial Park.

There were no runners in the 0-19 male or female categories for the 5-Mile Race. Lenny Esson, with a clocking of 27 minutes, 02 seconds was the overall male winner. John Harris took second in 28:06 and Rich Hadley third in 29:59. Sonya Schubert was the overall female winner in 35:58. Henrietta Haven placed second in 37:05 and Heather Tarr third in 40:10.

Esson won the 20-29 group. Randy Anquiano took second in 31:47 while Duane Claw placed third 36:25. Others placing were: Lance Moore in 25:43, Ken Tarr in 40:12, and Brian Burke in 47:26. Tarr won her 20-29 age group. Brooke Piebusian placed second in 47:29. Lee Nash won the 30-39 Male division in 33:24. Paul Jones took second in 33:45 and Melvin Kee third in 37:42. Schubert won her 30-39 bracket. Haven came in second while Jenny Nunley placed third in 41:17. Others placing in that division were Ann Schwarting in 48:53, Amy Haukeness 57:49, and Lori Haukeness in 57:50.

Harris won his 40-49 age bracket while Hadley placed second. Ron Nez came in third in 31:15, followed by Jimmy Carl 34:14, Joe Smith 37:00, Gary Carnahan 38:58, Damon Rosenburg 40:22, Will Morris 43:31, John Bitsuie 47:42, Philip Quattlebaum 52:27, and Steve Gregg 55:26.

Chala Nettleton won the 40-49 group for females in 43:58. Susan Keck took second in 41:14 and Deb Hadley third in 49:48. Others were: Diane Quattlebaum 49:50, Leona Zhonnie 51:14, Annette Mullikin 51:24, and Cleo Gregg 55:26.

Doug Funk won the 50-59 male division in 32:17 while Steve Stovall placed second in 31:39, Bruce Spencer third 38:38 followed by Sam Eckart 39:55, Joe Keck 41:03, and Bob Bragg 46:08. Joyce Greenlee and Diane Weitzenkamp tied for first place in 50-59 female bracket with a time of 1:09:24. Harry Siebert won the 60-plus male division in 58:08.

The 5-mile run started at Four Seasons Greenhouse. Runners ended up at the finish at Centennial Park.

Tap Harris was the male overall winner for the 2-Mile Run/Walk Race in 11:33. Andrew Webster took second in 12:53 and Ian Mullican third 13:14. Janet Snyder was the female overall winner in 12:19. Gail LaDage placed second in 13:31 and Henrietta Lewis grabbed third in 16:42.

Elisa Mullikin won the 0-10 female division in 9:16:47. Melvin Tsosie was the top 6-10 male winner in 15:09. Justin Baacke placed second in 20:49 and Zach Morris third 25:36. Elisa Mullikin was the winner for the 6-10 female group in 16:47. Melvonna Tsosie won the 11-15 female division in 20:39. Webster won the 11-15 male division in 12:53. He was followed by Mullikin and Jason Boblitt in 29:20.

There were no participants in 16-19 male or female or 20-29 male brackets. Heather Skelton captured the 20-29 female division in 30:10. There were no male 30-39 competitors. Lewis won her 30-39 bracket while Becky Rutledge placed second in 17:40, LaShell Packard third 22:11, Kay Dimmick 26:29, and Cheryl Billie 27:11.

Snyder won her 40-49 division. Nita Welch was second in 17:08 and Colleen Bruns third in 17:15. Other placers were: Lorraine Boblitt 19:08, Treva Rosenburg 19:15, Sue Baacke 20:50, Robyn Bragg 24:29, Malinda Botwinis 24:38, Correen Becher 28:21, and Nancy Daves 30:11.

Harris won his 40-49 division. Rob Chotos crossed in second in 15:10 and George Baacke third 20:50. Francis Redhouse won the 50-59 male group in 15:49. In the 50-59 female group, LaDage was the winner. Reita Barber placed second in 23:26, Kay Clayton third in 24:39, and Lois Geer finished in 24:55, Jane Anderson 25:43 and Pat Mier 26:27. Inez Carter was the 60-plus winner in 25:01 while Esther Fiene grabbed second in 30:02. There were no male 60-plus entries.

Morris was the youngest competitor at age 6 while Fiene was the oldest at 74.

The 2-mile fun run/walk took participants around Centennial Park twice.

The annual event, sponsored by the Cortez Chamber of Commerce, this year celebrated the rebirth of Mesa Verde National Park which was ravaged earlier this summer by two wildfires.

Post-run activities and awards ceremony took place at the park. The top three placers in each category received awards. Ribbons were presented for various age group finishers.