Summer Sizzler #19 - 5K
August 18th, 2010

    Cameron Cook Breaks Through, Joins Hall of Fame

 Rogina Modestow Earns Ninth Lifetime Title

On June 9^th fifteen year old Cameron Cook, in his Summer Sizzler 5K season debut, took second place in 20:47 behind Luis Reynosa (20:25).  Two weeks later the Renaissance School sophomore, after an errant turn on the challenging Harrier cross country course, was third in 21:34 behind Spencer Beaver (21:13) and Jacob Mueller (21:20).  On July 21^st Cameron improved his time to 20:09 but was 3^rd again behind Kenyans Glarius Rop (17:53) and Jeptui Cherutich (19:18), nationally ranked runners competing for American International College.  Two weeks later he again posted a 20:09 clocking, only to finish 2^nd again, this time behind GSH master ace Paul Fratini (18:56). 

Today, after confidently predicting a 19:40 during the race signup, Cameron broke from the pack at the sound of the starting bell to earn his first Summer Sizzler victory, a determined wire to wire win.  His time?  An impressive 19:40.  Thus he becomes the newest member of the Summer Sizzler Hall of Fame. 

Fellow 15 year old Mike Andre was second in 20:46 while EORC teammate Spencer Beaver was 3^rd in 21:06.  Harrier Brian McCarthy was the 1^st master (over 40) in 21:36, with GSH teammate Doug Bielefeld capturing the senior (over 50) title in 24:28. The host club continued the men’s age division sweep with Harrier Brian Goddu taking veteran (over 60) honors in 25:39 (after another excellent job marking the course with flour) and Aloha State’s newest resident Charlie Towse (via Westfield) winning the grand veteran (over 70) crown in 27:07.  Cameron of course was the 1^st junior (under 20).

Rogina Modestow won her 4^th race of the season in a solid 23:47, a Pete’s speed rating mark of 79.  She now has nine lifetime Summer Sizzzler victories and moves into a tie for 13^th spot with fellow Harrier Colleen Cummings.  Rogina was also the 1^st master, with Meredith Marciano the top senior in 26:54 and Caitlin McCarthy 1^st junior in 27:04, just edging Paulina Modestow (27:06).

Two races remain on the 2010 Summer Sizzler Schedule.  Next week, August 25^th will be the final race on the 8 kilometer road course, followed by the final 5K cross country race on September 1^st, after which there will be the traditional Pizza Party at the Red Rose.