2002 results here

Weather conditions for the second annual YAKIMA RIVER CANYON MARATHON (YRCM) were ideal. Overcast skies, air temperatures in the 50's and light winds on Saturday, April 6, 2002, made for good running in the scenic canyon.

At the start in Ellensburg, WA, one wheelchair participant and 347 runners and walkers listened to Fenny Roberts, a marathoner from Salem, OR, sing the national anthem. Boy Scouts from Troop 493 of Ellensburg displayed the USA colors and those of Canada, United Kingdom, New Guinea and Australia.....countries that had runners in the race. Jose Nebrida of Chicago who would carry a US flag while running the marathon was introduced. He is well on the way to completing his goal of carrying the American flag as he runs a marathon in all 50 states and DC within two years of the 9/11 attack.

At 7:55 a.m., Jerry Martin, 54, from Greenacres, WA (near Spokane) began his wheelchair race. Following two Yakima City Poilice motorcycle escorts, he reached the finish line at the south end of the canyon in 2 hours, 15 minutes and 55 seconds. Joe Henderson, the renowned running speaker and author, counted down the final seconds to the 8:00 a.m. start for the runners and walkers....and the whistle from an adjacent Burlington Northern Santa Fe locomotive was the signal for the race to begin. First-time marathoner Jose Garcia, 32, of Yakima immediately took the lead and increased his time and distance cushion as he followed his motorcycle escorts.....briefly to the north and east and then southward to and through the deep, hilly canyon. Jose, a high school track coach, was the winner in a time of 2:29:43, a course record. In second and third places were Chris Morlan, 34, of Spokane who ran a 2:36:10 and Tom St Clair, 36, of Yakima who had a 2:39:16 finishing time. These two runners also broke the 2001 course record of 2:42:56. Stan Holman, 37, of Carson, WA, was fourth (2:43:43), and Brian Stoner, 35, of Issaquah was fifth (2:52:53).

Not far behind in 13th place overall and winner for the women was Marlene Farrell, 26, of Snoqualmie Pass, WA, a graduate student at Central Washington University in Ellensburg. Her time of 3:10:00 broke the course record of 3:19:12 set by Carol Stuhley in 2001. The second through fifth women finishers were: Lindsey Shank, 19, Wenatchee, 3:12:04; Carol Stuhley, 39, Yakima, 3:17:32; Eva Lust, 32, Yakima, 3:17:34; Susan Haws, 30, Seattle, 3:17:42.

Cliff Banister, 41, of Pendleton, OR, finished in 8th position, the last sub three hour runner with a 2:59:22. He was the first men's Master and the first 40-44M finisher. Susan Gallas, 41, of Seattle was the first women's Master and first 40-44F with a finishing time of 3:25:32.

Mel Preedy of Ravensdale was four days short of his 69th birthday. As one of the oldest runners in the race, he finished in a fast time of 3:33:54 to break his course record by ten minutes. He captured the first place award in the 65-69M division and placed 53rd of 346 runners and walkers. Larry Carroll, 62, of Liberty Lake, WA, was first again in his age group with a 3:20:37.

The last time Eb Engelmann, 60, of Salem, OR, qualified for the Boston Marathon he wasn't accepted because the race was on an uncertified course. On our certified course, he ran a 3:27:10, a qualifying time with almost 13 minutes to spare. He can be Boston-bound in 2003 if he chooses to go.

Gunhild Swanson, 57, of Spokane had a good race. She finished with a 3:38:40 which broke her course record by four minutes and placed her first in the 55-59F division.

Jeff Hagen, 54, from Yakima ran a 3:50:47 marathon and was delighted with his "reverse split." (He ran the second half of the marathon faster than the first half!!)

In the first mile, I could tell that I was going to have a slow run. Keith Wood, 73, the oldest runner in the race, went out of sight early.....so I just relaxed and enjoyed the event with its marvelous scenery, friends on the course, and the great volunteers at the aid stations. There were a lot of interesting sights. The river was swollen with snow melt water being released for irrigation in the Yakima Valley. Migrating tree swallows were moving upstream and feeding on gnats from the river. The hills were turning green with new grass. The riverside shrubs and trees were leafing out, and sage buttercups were blooming on hillsides....a sure sign that spring had come to the canyon.

At Mile 21, I caught and passed Keith Wood. The race was on! If I could run to the summit of the Roza Dam Hill, I might have a chance, but it wasn't meant to be. I pressed, and my leg cramps pressed back. He passed me halfway up the long hill and ran the downside faster than I did.....beating me with a 4:34:21 for first 70-74M. I finished in 4:37:56, second 70-74M and 225th of 346 runners and walkers.

As a co-director of the marathon, I was pleased at how well things went. We had a great co-director (Lenore Dolphin), super marathon committee and many friendly and helpful volunteers whose collective efforts resulted in a very successful marathon.

The Yakima YMCA Service Group provided Friday night's pasta feed, and the Selah Lions and Kiwanis Clubs served the awards ceremony meal on Saturday.

At the pasta feed 19 of the 22 100 Marathon Club North America members registered to run the marathon were introduced. They were presented membership certificates to this club that was "born" at the inaugural YRCM on March 31, 2001. Runners with birthdays on April 5th and 7th were acknowledged. Eliot Collins came from New Jersey to wear bib #50 in honor of his 50th birthday on April 5th.

As he had done last year, Joe Henderson came from Eugene, OR, to speak at our pasta feed, to start the race the next morning, to announce all finishers as they crossed the line, and to help with the awards ceremony.

After a blessing said by Bill McCoy, our medical missionary runner from Papua, New Guinea, and the singing of God Bless America by Fenny Roberts, the awards ceremony started. Gifts of thanks for their support (framed pictures of the canyon) were given to the following people: Joe Henderson, Martin Rudow (editor of Northwest Runner magazine), Marty Wanless (sports marketer from Vancouver, BC), Nelsen Petersen (video producer from Lincoln, Nebraska), and Steve Christofferson (course photographer).

Next came the introductions of the Hard Core Runners Club members (sponsors of the marathon) and the YRCM committee.....and 50 Staters who came from 23 different states. Dean Rademaker from Springfield, IL, founder of the 50 States & DC Marathon Group and Bob Lehew from Tulsa, OK, president of the 50 States Marathon Club, were present. Then it was time to honor a very special group. There were 73 participants who competed in their first marathon on April 6th, and those present at the awards ceremony received a standing ovation and a first-timers "Completion Certificate."

Big Dave Carter and Roger Biggs, both of the 100 Marathon Club United Kingdom and North America and 50 Staters, plus Jack Brooks, a megamarathoner (50 completions), came from England and added an international flavor to our marathon. In like manner there were Sandra Cloughessy, 30, (her first marathon in 3:38:02) and Martyn Flahive (3:47:25) from Perth, Australia, Bill McCoy, 47, from New Guinea AND 19 of our Canadian friends. Big Dave wears a jesters costume of Union Jack flag material and carries a large flag when running. He couldn't be missed on the course as he ran his 495th marathon in the Yakima River Canyon!! He also has many tattoos and sported a new one on his right thigh of our YRCM logo.

Roger presented Lenore and me with a medallion from the original 100 Marathon Club (United Kingdom) for our efforts in forming the new 100 Marathon Club North America that has 83 members from the U.S., Canada, U.K., Germany and Sweden. Big Dave gave us our own "Big Dave" flag, and Lenore's daughter Jan presented her with a bouquet of two dozen red roses.

Tony Sagare, YRCM registrar, presented the awards to our winners. Jose Garcia and Jerry Martin were there to receive their framed canyon pictures. Age class awards went five deep in five year increments. Acryllic awards for the first three places and ribbons for fourth and fifth place were awarded to those present or mailed to those who were absent.

This year's marathon had a number of family groups on the course. The largest at three was Chris Morlan, 2nd place finisher, and his parents Gunhild and Jack Swanson, all of Spokane. Justin Moyer, 13, of Wellpinit, WA, youngest runner on the course, ran his first marathon in 4:30:47, 2nd 19 & Under Male. His mother, Janice Moyer, 45, ran her second marathon in 5:22:32.

Bill McCoy, 47, the medical missionary from Papua, New Guinea, ran a 3:58:30. His son, Josh McCoy, 22, of San Diego joined him in the race and ran a 3:52:08. It was his first marathon, and he took first place in the 20-24M group. They were accompanied by their friend Rob McBane, 40, from Rochester, MN. Rob ran a 4:22:41.

Runners weren't the only ones who came from far away places. Our thanks go to the following who traveled here to be a part of our successful second annual YRCM: Catherine Homenchuck, Burnaby, BC (music on the course); Jeff Stensland and family, Mt. Vernon (wheelchair transportation and drop bags); Ruth and Roelif Laughlin, Shoreline, WA (flowers and finish area); Lawrence Mecklenburg, Scott Lucke and family, Bremerton (transportation co-ordination etc.); Jan Stensland, Kensington, CA; Teresa Anderson, Seattle; Kathy Lehew, Tulsa, OK; and Bruce Katter, Edmonds. Jan, Teresa, Kathy and Bruce filled in wherever needed.

We were proud that Jose Nebrida chose our YAKIMA RIVER CANYON MARATHON for his WASHINGTON in his quest of carrying the American flag in a marathon in every state and DC in a two year period from September 11, 2001. Fenny Roberts finished her marathon in 4:45:55 and ran back on the course to accompany Jose as he finished his last five miles. In a pre-race article in the Yakima Herald Republic, sports writer Scott Sandsberry mentioned that those of us who became citizens the "easy way" (being born in the U.S.) some times take patriotism for granted. Neither Fenny nor Jose was born here. She sang the national anthem and God Bless America, Jose carried the American flag in our race, and both of them touched the hearts of all of us.

A second successful YAKIMA RIVER CANYON MARATHON is history. Come join us next year on April 5, 2003, for the third annual YAKIMA RIVER CANYON MARATHON, a race on one of the most beautiful courses in the world!

by Bob Dolphin

# # #