Briarwood runners brave elements

RUNNING

Briarwood runners brave elements

By JACQUELINE FULMER 

NEWS SPECIAL WRITER

□ More photos, D8

More than 2,000 die-hard runners gathered at the southwest side of Briarwood Mall early Sunday to put themselves through the paces of the 10th annual Briarwood Run - races of five,10 and 20 kilometers.

Sponsored by The University of Michigan Medical Center, MedSport, M Care and Briarwood Mall, the run brings money to the Galens Medical Society. Galens helps support the needy children of Washtenaw County.

Of the 2,000-plus competitors, only about 1,300 crossed the finish line. High winds, dropping temperatures and drizzly rain forced many to drop out and contributed to the slow times of most of the runners.

The 5K race, which came out to 2 1/3 times around the mall, was taken by Mike White of Detroit. White, 22, ran it in 16:02.2 seconds. In the 19-under division, Eric Pahl of Canton took first place, fourth overall, with his time of 17:09.23. Douglas McKibbon of Ann Arbor was second in the division and sixth overall.

Four of the top five placers in the 5K race were in the 20-29 division. White was first, David Swarts of River Junction was almost 40 seconds behind him, Bob Mullen crossed the line 18 seconds later, and Ann Arbor’s Thomas Mussio took the fifth spot in 17:13.82.

The 5K women’s race was won easily by Terri Blewitt of Whitmore Lake in 20:10.04. Runner-up Carolyn Nicholson of Ypsilanti was 44 seconds behind.

The 10K race required almost a full lap around Briarwood before winding down State Street, onto Airport Drive, to Lohr Road, Eisenhower Boulevard, then finally back to State. Steve Underwood of Lansing edged Westland’s George Hudock by three-tenths of a second.

Underwood said his first mile split seemed off, so he picked up his pace to keep the lead. “After three miles there were three hills, and we were running straight into the wind,” he said. Underwood said the wind slowed everyone.

The women’s 10K winner was Kathy Werp of Ypsilanti with a time of 41:46.56. Ann Arbor’s Jackie Phillips was close behind, crossing in 41:59.52.

The longest race, the 20 kilometer run, was dominated by Greg Harger of Muncie, Ind., who is the assistant track coach at Ball State. Harger posted a 1:05:36.25, two minutes faster than last year’s winner, Len Peruki of Ann Arbor.

“I couldn’t touch Harger,” Peruki said. “I tried running with him, but he pulled away. I wish I’d won it like I did last year.”

The course was muddy from the eighth through the 11th miles, as was evident from the mud-splattered backs and legs of the competitors, but was well marked by local police and run volunteers.

Rebecca Price-Wilkin won the women’s 20K race in 1:16:51.77, three minutes faster than runner-19 Cindy Barber. Price-Wilkin was 31st overall in the 20K, beating out 297 other men and women. Liz Watch, a pre-race favorite and former Free-Press Marathon champion, took third with a time of 1:19.46.15.

Domino’s Pizza won the corporate team race.

Rebecca Price-Wilkin captured the women's 20-kilometer race.