Champions Run draws record participation

Rachel Thompson/News-Register##With Evergreen planes as a backdrop, Scott Kirkland, left, from Amity, and Julian Reyes, age 12, and his father, Beto Reyes of McMinnville, make their way along the scenic Champions Run course.

Rachel Thompson/News-Register##Hannah McKinley, left, of Newberg, Katy Freund of Carlton and Kaylee Johnson of Salem, all bakers at The Jory, accept their medals from volunteer Heather Acker. They agreed that conversing along the route made the run feel shorter.

Rachel Thompson/News-Register##John Frank and his wife, Rosika, smile as their daughter, Ellie Frank, one-and-a-half, admires the archway of balloons after the race; John took second in the 5K event. The family takes part in numerous 5Ks and 10Ks; Rosika pushed Ellie in her stroller for the 5K on Saturday. “We try to train her early. She loves to be chauffeured in 5Ks,” Rosika said. “This is our morning routine,” John said.

Rachel Thompson/News-Register##Kids pop the start/finish line balloons, a post-event tradition at the See Ya Later Foundation fundraiser. “This is their favorite part. Makes a lot less work for us!” said volunteer Danielle Desmond.

A record 219 runners participated in the fourth annual See Ya Later Foundation Champions Run for Heroes, held Saturday, Sept. 14, on the grounds of Evergreen Space & Aviation Museum.

The event, featuring 10K and 5K events, and kids’ run, is held each year on or about the anniversary of the Sept. 11 tragedies of 2001. Proceeds from the event were split evenly between McMinnville Police Department, McMinnville Fire District, and the Yamhill County Sheriff’s Office.

“This was so well done,” said Stephen Johnson of McMinnville, an experienced runner in team and marathon events. “This is great. Very nicely done. A lot of great causes,” said Johnson, running with his daughter-in-law Barbara Johnson, from Dayton in his first race in Oregon since moving to the area.

Participants also included Richard Verhoef, 75, of McMinnville, who walked in the 5K; 11 months ago Verhoef experienced cardiac arrest while being prepped for open heart surgery, and has been in steady recovery since.

Verhoef, 75, walked with “my heroes,” nurses Kim Bouvia and Cassie Stahl of Willamette Valley Medical Center’s cardiac rehabilitation department.

“They called me up three weeks ago to see if I felt up to it,” said Verhoef. “They’re just fabulous.”

“He’s come a long way, in very large part due to their encouragement,” said Verhoef’s daughter, Deborah Woodworth, who also ran in the event.

“It was a big deal for me, and it motivated me to try something bigger than what I thought I was capable of,” Verhoef said. He’s regularly been walking a mile or mile-and-half, and sustained that regimen to prepare.

“I felt great afterward, and during the event I had no problem conversing, which is a really good sign,” he said. He sees Stahl and Bouvia up to three times a week and will continue to do so as long as he feels the need.

Verhoef said, “Rehab, to me, is about as important as the surgery itself.”

Carmen Banke, foundation executive director, said, “We had over 30 volunteers almost at every corner so they’d know where to go. It was wonderful having the McMinnville High School band out to play the national anthem.

“The SYL Foundation will continue to inspire youth and encourage families, and we believe our local heroes will do the same,” Banke said.

Police Capt. Cully Desmond, one of the organizers, said, “This is only one of many events for See Ya Later. They do a good job.”

First to finish was 10K winner Jeff Farris of Lake Oswego, 35, in 38 minutes, 27 seconds. In second was Ed Wyller, 50, in 39:46 and Paul Struk, 49, of Beaverton was third in 45:33, Rounding out the top 10 were Miguel Corral, Jasper Farris, Davis Dixon, Matthew Gent, Marcus Krieg, Randy Grant, and Dan Withers

Jerry Nance of McMinnville was overall 5K men’s winner in 20:31, followed by John Frank, 35, of McMinnville, in 20:36. In third was Chris Crowell of McMinnville, 42, in 22:44. Rounding out the top 10 were Joshua Sullivan, Ashton Malloy, Nathan Bramlage, Steven Maxfield, Weston Maxfield, Peter Hansen, and Fidel Banuelos

In the women’s 5 K, Kristie Morton, 34, of West Sand Lake, N.Y., won in 20:40; Janae Zook, 30, of McMinnville, was second in 24:45; and Sarah Prout, 39, of McMinnville, took third in 25:16. Rounding out the top 10 were Audrey Traaen, Melissa Malloy, Melainie Willis, Melissa Morton, Autumn Baldwin, Meredith Maxwell, and Margaret Barry.

In the women’s 10K, Lora Mattsen, 66, of Newberg, led the field in 51:55, followed by Melissa Welsh, 46, in 55:14; and Debra Woodworth, McMinnville, in 57:57. Rounding out the top nine were Ann Marie Swearingen, Gairon Poole, Aliyah Ferry, Debbie Harmon Ferry, Stephanie Johnson, and Charmaine Berhorst.

In the kids’ race, McMinnville runners took first through third. Everett Zook, 3, won in 1:12, followed by Max Malloy, 11, in 1:47; in third was Elijah Mejia, 9, in 1:53. Rounding out the top 10 were Maverick Neubauer, 9; Cody Crocker, 5; Wesley Beam, 9; Ryker Marlatt, 5; Wyatt Beam, 10; Everett Martin, 7, and Andrew Zook, 1.