The Christmas Rush 5k and 10k

Silver Strider online presents 

Dave Sherman Memorial Series Final Race

Sponsored by Anonymous Co-sponsors

Jerry Dietrich – Series Director
with photos by Bruce Fisher

Kent – 12/09/23

Brent White and myself arrived early in order to set up our canopy and table to arrange the trophies we would be presenting. The possibility of rain was on everyone’s mind. What a surprise to find Mark Hendricksen waiting for us. He anticipated our needs by setting up a canopy and table for us.

The morning temperature was in the mid-thirties, moving to 38 degrees by the time the race started. Runners ignored the chilly weather, standing in small groups in the registration area, chatting nervously about their plans for the race and in some cases, renewing friendships.

The Championship

Some of the elite runners were already on the course by 8:30, warming up for the 10k race, which was designated as the Silver Strider State Championship. The 10k was scheduled to start 10 minutes before the 5k.

As the runners lined up for start of the 10k I saw Northwest legend, Uli Steidl, standing in the front row. In all the years I’d been coming to this race, I had never seen him here before. Then it dawned on me. Could he have turned 50? Could he be a Silver Strider? Time passes and we all get older. If Uli is now 50, forget the race and just give him the trophy.

Suddenly, the 10k runners were off. The field of 157 runners started smoothly. As soon as the 10k runners cleared the area, the 5k runners began to jam the starting area, filling the street and some of the adjoining parking lot.

The 5k start was a little slower start for those in the middle and back of the pack. It took about a minute for the 428 runners to cross the start line.

Meanwhile, the 10k was going well until just past the 5 mile mark when the runners approached the bridge. Ed Heckard, the overwhelming favorite to win the men’s 75-79 title tripped and fell on a bridge support and struck his head. John Phillips, the top runner over 80, stopped to see if he was okay, then continued.

Ed was up and running again having lost some valuable time. With only a small bump to show for his mishap, he was still able to win his age group by almost 9 minutes.

It turned out that Uli was now a 51 year old Silver Strider. He finished 3 minutes ahead of speedy Michael Lynes.

The Series

The Christmas Rush races were a fitting finish for the Dave Sherman Memorial Series. The Silver Strider turnout was great to the delight of the Race Director. The flat course traditionally yielded fast times, ideal for the championship.

The Series ending was very competitive. The final totals revealed a tie in the women’s 80-84 age group necessitating the tiebreaker. The Women’s 75-79 needed a double tiebreaker when the top two women ended the Series with the same number of points and races. We had our all-time highest number of perfect 80 point scores. Four women, Edythe Hulet, Judy Fisher, Louise Mihay and Kimmer Muenz all reached 80 points. Three men also reached 80 points. They were Jerry Dietrich, John Phillips and Keith Lerew.

Championship results

As far as the Championship 10k race was concerned, we had the following 10k Male Champions.
Men 50-54, Uli Steidl  35:53, was the 1st Silver Strider to finish.
Men 55-59, Michael Lynes  38:52
Men 60-64, Dan Friesen  40:55
Men 65-69, Keith Lerew  41:24
Men 70-74, David Crawford  45:15
Men 75-79, Ed Heckard  57:44
Men 80-84, John Phillips  55:47
It was the greatest field of elite men runners over 50 in Washington history. Steidl, Friesen, Lerew, Crawford and Phillips are all now ranked #1, in the TOP IO rankings. Lynes and Heckard are ranked #2. The TOP IO for 2023 will be finalized on January 1st and the Super Athletes for 2023, will be designated.

The Women’s Champions.
Women 50-54, Diane Haensel  47:51
Women 55-59, Mary Robbins  47:40, was 1st female Silver Strider.
Women 60-64, Kelly Cogswell  58:32
Women 65-69, Mary Kate McGee  57:01
Women 70-74, Rebecca Hare, 68:13
Women 75-79, Diane Martin, 82:11
Women 80-84, Judy Fisher,  69:31
It was certainly a strong showing by our Women.

The following runners became dual Champions by added the 10k title to the 5k title they won at the Runderland 5k in September.
Keith Lerew, State Champion at 5k and 10k.
Ed Heckard, State Champion at 5k and 10k.
John Phillips, State Champion at 5k and 10k.
Diane Martin, State Champion at 5k and 10k.

Congratulations to all.
Note: The 10k Championship for 2024 will be at the Rhody Run in May.
The 5k Championship for 2024 will be at the Kent Cornucopia race in July.

To see the final standings for the Dave Sherman Memorial Series, click on Dave’s Series on the menu bar.

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Here are the complete results by Bruce Fisher

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