Summer Sizzler #3 - 5K
April 28th, 2010

Women Reign on Cross Country Course

Carolyn Stocker Joins Hall of Fame while Betty Toms Matthews and Carol L’Esperance Topple Age Records

On a cool Spring evening Harrier women reigned supreme on the 5K cross country course.  Winning the race outright was Westfield High junior Carolyn Stocker who ran down early leader Rich Clark and outlasted father Wayne Stocker for an impressive 21:44 clocking in her debut on the challenging course.  Carolyn not only joins the Harrier Hall of Fame (all previous Summer Sizzler winners) but becomes the 4^th woman in the 31 year history of the series to win a Summer Sizzler outright. 

          Not to be outdone by the youngster, long time Harriers Betty Toms Matthews and Carol L’Esperance demonstrated the talent which led to numerous team victories in the early days of the Harrier women’s team.  With a steady 30:08 effort Betty chopped nearly eight minutes off the record for 57 year old women set just last year by GSHer Kathy Roberts (37:58), while Carol navigated the Forest Park trails in 28:52 to drop over nine minutes off the record for 60 year old women (38:02) set by SMAC runner Judy Scott eight years ago.  It’s the second course age record for Betty while Carol, who holds the women’s course record of 19:26, gains her seventh age record.  Both receive $50 gift certificates from Fast Feet for their efforts.

          In a small field, the home team took the top five places with Wayne following his daughter for 2^nd in 22:22 to win men’s open, masters and senior honors.  Rich Clark was next in those same divisions in 22:59, while Dan McNair was 3^rd male in 23:29.  Colleen Cummings was the second woman and 1^st master in 23:47 while Naomi Tetherly took 3^rd in 27:40