Published: July 03, 2009 09:40 pm         

Valley runners take to streets for today’s Fast Track Mile

TERRE HAUTE — More than 300 runners and walkers have already pre-registered for the 26th “running” of a Fourth of July tradition.

The Fast Track Mile, sponsored by the Wabash Valley Roadrunners club, begins near Third Street and Wabash Ave. Competitors will head east on Wabash to the finish line just past 14th Street, near the entrance to Gilbert Park. An awards ceremony will follow at the park.

The women’s one-mile race will start at 8:15 a.m., followed by the men’s race and coed walk at approximately 8:30.

Going for her third straight victory on the women’s side will by Kayla Alexander, a former Terre Haute North and current Indiana State athlete. On the men’s side, who knows? There has been a different winner in each of the last six races.

Entrants have been received from all over the Wabash Valley and beyond, according to WVRR race director Dave Williams.

Besides Terre Haute, runners will also be competing from Brazil, Paris (Ill.), Marshall (Ill.), Vincennes, Rockville, Clinton, Indianapolis, Newburgh, Linton, Sullivan, Waveland and many others. There will even be a foreign exchange student from Italy.

This year’s WVRR annual scholarship winners will be running in the race as well as several past scholarship winners.

The scholarship winners, earning $600 apiece, are Katie Mullican and Brianne Steppe (Terre Haute South), Brandon Query (Terre Haute North), Grant Tryon (Sullivan) and Malori Rudolph (North Vermillion).

All proceeds from the Fast Track Mile benefits the WVRR scholarship program.

Also competing will be high school and middle school teams in both male and female divisions.

A school team (four members) with the lowest cumulative time will win $250 for their school running program. The second place team will win $100. Team members are eligible for age group awards.

Check-in and late registration will be from 7 to 8 a.m. this morning at Gilbert Park. Free parking is available for runners at the downtown parking garage, but you must enter from Ohio Street.





Fast track winners

(formerly known as Mayor’s Cup Mile)

Overall male, female champions

1982 — Tony Nading and Denise Weinhoeft.

1983 — Tony Nading and Amanda Willhite.

1984 — Tony Nading and Teri Wiser.

1985 — Marty Jones and Teri Wiser.

1986 — Brad Cooper and Debbie Anderson.

1987 — Barry Schnieders and Meg McElroy.

1988 — Tony Nading and Meg McElroy.

1989 — Mike Eup and Meg (McElroy) Schnieders.

1990 — Todd Messer and Mellissa Utterback.

1991 — Kyle Hobbs and Meg (McElroy) Schnieders.

1992 — Darcy Jones and Christi Olson.

1993 — Chad McCullough and Ruth Ozmun.

1994 — Kevin Sullivan and Ruth Ozmun.

1995 — Chad Smith and Ruth Ozmun.

1996 — Chad Smith and Danelle Leaf.

1997 — Rick Sluder and Angie Menser.

1998 — Chad Contri and Michelle McIntosh.

1999 — Paul Risch and Alyssa Pittman.

2000 — Chad Contri and Angie Bruecker.

2001 — Jason Gunn and Angie Bruecker.

2002 — Chad Contri and Cassie Hunt.

2003 — Chad Contri and Cassie Hunt.

2004 — Dustin Strosnider and Cassie Hunt.

2005 — Jeff Simonich and Cassie Hunt.

2006 — Andrew Sullivan and Amy Hamilton.

2007 — Lucas Roscoe and Kayla Alexander.

2008 — Justin Kunz and Kayla Alexander.



What to know

Fast Track Mile

• When: Today

• Women’s race: 8:15 a.m.

• Men’s race: 8:30 a.m.

• Race begins near 3rd Street and Wabash Ave.

• Race ends near 14th Street and Wabash, near entrance to Gilbert Park