Published: July 03, 2008 11:26 pm            

Fast Track Mile expects high turnout

TERRE HAUTE — A Fourth of July tradition, the 26th Fast Track Mile sponsored by the Wabash Valley Roadrunners Club, will hit the pavement of Wabash Avenue through downtown Terre Haute bright and early this morning.

A potential record number of runners are expected, including participants from such locales as Brazil, Linton, Sullivan, Vincennes, Marshall Ill., Paris Ill., Louisville, Ky. and Portland Ore. already pre-registered.

“The past two races have had over 400 entrants,” according to race director David Williams. “As of Wednesday, we had over 280 runners pre-registered. A rule of thumb is you double that the day of the race. We probably won’t do that, but we expect to be over 400.”

Race day registration and packet pick up is at 7 a.m. at Gilbert Park (14th and Wabash). The race will start at Fourth St. and Wabash and conclude at Gilbert Park. The women’s race is at 8:15 a.m., followed by the men’s race and co-ed walk at 8:30.

Free parking is available for competitors at the downtown parking garage near Seventh and Wabash. Please enter off the Ohio Street entrance.

All proceeds from the race go to the WVRR scholarship program. This years' six scholarship recipients all received $500 scholarships. They include Mark Lighthizer (Sullivan), Andrew Sullivan (Terre Haute South), Zach Mayhew (Terre Haute North), Chad Braun (Terre Haute North), Thia Flinn (West Vigo) and Jordan Mauer (Northview).

Sullivan, a recent graduate of Terre Haute South, was the winner of the 2006 men’s Fast Track mile. Other talented runners entered as of Wednesday were a pair of former Terre Haute North standouts, Nick Dason and 2007 women’s race winner Kayla Alexander.

Also part of the race will be the high school and middle school division competition with awards going to the male and female division winners.

School teams must consist of four members, with the lowest cumulative time winning $250 for their school running program. The second place team will win $100.

The next WVRR event is the Kid’s Triathlon at Deming Park on July 12.



Fast track Mile 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.

        

• Click to discuss this story with other readers on our forums.