Anna girl winner at Cairo Footrace
The 41st running of the Cairo Levee Footrace took place Saturday, Nov. 13, in Cairo.
The Cairo event is the oldest footrace in Southern Illinois. As always, there were two races: a 3.1-mile race and a 6.2-mile race.
On the men’s side of the 3.1-mile race, the overall winner was Austin Pryor, 16, of Eldorado, who won in a time of 18:16.
Another Eldorado Eagle, Ethan Harris, 16, took second place in a time of 18:31.
Third place was captured by a favorite of the Cairo Levee Footrace, 61-year-old Wayne Corse of Charleston, Mo., in a time of 23:16.
On the women’s side of the 3.1-mile race, the overall women’s winner was 10-year-old Clair Boget.
Clair is a 5th grade student from Anna. Clair won the race in a time of 28:25.
Second place in the women’s division was captured by 55-year-old Pam Lewis of Jackson, Mo., with a time of 29:50.
Third place went to 46-year-old Sandy Farrow of Jackson, Mo., in a time of 30:25.
This year’s youngest runner to finish the race also was the overall women’s winner, Clair Boget.
The oldest runner to finish was 74-year-old Anna Marie Spence in a course record time for her age group.
Other runners who finished either first or second in their age categories in the 3.1 mile race were:
Quantereis Nelson, Tyler Carlton, Dan Garrett, Jerry McSparin, Bob Whitehead, Richard Davenport, Fred Bernstein, Madi Bigler, Kiara Allen, Kelly Kelly, Heather Cox, Melissa Grosskreutz, Mary Jane Whitehead, Mildred Triantis and Linda Swoboda.
In the 6.2-mile race, the winner on the men’s side was Glen Walker, 40, of Paducah, in a time of 44:54.
Second place went to another footrace favorite, 57-year-old Dennis Feeley of West Frankfort in a time of 46:02.
Third place went to Joe Lustig, 27, of Effingham in a time of 47:22.
On the women’s side of the 6.2 mile race, the overall winner was Joyce McIntosh, 53, of Jackson, Mo., in a time of 48:37.
Two women ran to a close finish for second place, with Michelle Torre, 41, of Carbondale, edging Angela Reindehl, 42, of Carbondale, by one second.
The oldest runner in the 6.2 mile race was 72-year-old Peter Blums of Jackson, Mo., who won his age category.
The youngest runner in the 6.1-mile race was Brady Johnson, 16, of Wyatt, Mo., who also won his age category.
Other runners who finished either first or second in their age categories in the 6.2-mile race were:
Cody Sanders, Brent Connell, Phillip Habel, Robert Hearnes, Scott Ealy, William “Jay” Pittman, Ross Robey, Charlene Miller, Judy Panozzo and Ron Ruminer.
The annual Jack Tallman Health and Fitness Award, given to the person who works consistently to further a healthy lifestyle and shows consistent dedication to health was awarded to Tommy Ellis of Cairo.
Ellis was recognized for his contribution to the young people of Cairo through his coaching at the Cairo schools.