Menu
Reindeer runners wrap up season in style
McCOOK, Neb. — It may be December, but that didn’t deter nearly 50 runners and walkers from turning out for the 2017 Reindeer Run and Predictor Challenge on Saturday.
The cross-country style course wound through the trees, around the ponds and on the roadway, sending more than a few geese scattering at Barnett Park.
Tucker Gillespie led the field, claiming overall winner as well as the 19 and under men’s title.
Stacy Blomstedt won the women’s overall title along with the 30-39 women’s age division.
Top finishers for the 2017 Reindeer Run:
Women: 19 and under, Grace Cappel; 20-29, Kelsi Messinger; 30-39, Staci Blomstedt; 40-49, Shelly Wilkinson; 50-59, Martha Chmiel; 60 and over, Tess Brown
Men: 19 and under, Tucker Gillespie; 20-29, Junior Hollerich; 30-39, Jason Blomstedt; 40-49, Shane Wilkinson; 50-59, Ray Chmiel; 60 and over, Jim Olsen.
Prizes were also given to those who were able to predict how long it would take to cover the 3.1 miles…without wearing a watch or carrying a phone.
Caleb Wilkinson guessed closest, off by only 25 seconds.
The remaining top 10 guesstimates only varied by a minute, 30 seconds.
The Reindeer Run was the 12th of 12 events in the 2017 Republican River Fitness Series, which is sponsored by Community Hospital and the YMCA.
Participants are automatically part of the fitness series when they run or walk in any of the 12 events.
Points are given for participating in an event, as well as placing in the top five in each age division.
Awards will be given out at the series’ banquet on Jan. 27 to those who participated in at least nine events or placed in the top five of their age divisions. For more information or complete complete fitness series results, visit the RRFS website at www.republicanriverfitnessseries.