Around Iredell Sports

2007 Sep-26

Septuagenarian finishes what she started

By Larry Sullivan
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Mooresville’s Grace Hoglund must have had the feeling she was on a course all her own during earlier this month’s inaugural Historic Mooresville 5K.

In a way, she was.

At 72, Hoglund was the oldest by almost five years of any other of the 190 runners in the field of the inaugural race. And she took top finishing honors in her female age 70-90 division.

Never mind that Hoglund also logged in 170th among the total number of 170 runners who actually finished what they started. For her, it was a prize all to herself.

For the record, the event being used to benefit the literacy programs in the area features a total of 170 finishers broken down among 92 males and 76 females. Overall winners as well as the top runners in a number of age and gender age groups were all cited for their performances.

Immediate Mooresville area entries definitely made their respective presences felt, despite just coming up short in housing the attraction’s overall winner. Of the runners in the top 10, only three – including the one taking the checkered flag – didn’t hail from the host town’s pool of talent.

The distinction of finishing first in the field came courtesy of Charlotte’s William Shires, who toured the course that covered historic scenery through the downtown area and in the area known as the Mill Village in a finishing time of 17:42. The 42-year-old Shires topped the field overall while also winning his male age 40-44 age class, even though by taking the medalist honors he was unable to also wear those shoes as well.

Among the ladies, the fastest feet in the pack were those belonging to Mooresville’s Michele Hobson, who was a member of the female 35-39 age class. The 39-year-old Hobson banked home in a time of 21:51 that also put her in 26th place overall.

Also for the women, Conover’s Grace Ridley checked in as the runner up, while Mooresville’s Jean Hargett wound up third.

For the fellows, it was Mooresville’s Michael Coulter who made the loudest noise, lining up as the overall runner-up in a course completion time of 18:28. Olin’s Ryne Cooper wound up third among the menfolk overall.

Also placing in the top 10 from Mooresville included: Jonathan Cooley fourth; Justin Hardy fifth; Garrett Johnson sixth; Tyler Hardy seventh; Troy Homesley ninth; and Anthony Pastore 10th.

It was in a number of age divisions where Mooresville runners really stood out above the rest.

In the female 40-44 age bracket, it was an all hometown finish in each of the top three spots, as in order Mooresville’s Cyndi Richardson took first, followed by home mates Leeann Norris and Suzanne Farley.

In the female 50-54 class, Mooresville’s Judy Rubino was followed by local entries Pathe Marshall and Pam Seamon respectively, in second and third places.

It was a similar showing among the men in a number of age divisions.

In the youth ages 15-19 group, logging in with the top three showings were Mooresville’s Jonathan Cooley, Justin Hardy and Garrett Johnson.

In the male 45-49 class, hometown runners Robert Cole, Dean Hardy and Steve Hauser placed one-two-three, respectively.

Hoglund, the female 70-98 pacesetter, was joined by Mooresville’s Kathleen Poon in the female 65-69 age bracket, and Dennis Watson in the male 55-59 age class as those in their age groups also taking top honors in area that featured only one entry each.

Other age group top runners included:
Female Master, ages 40-98: Denver’s Peggy Reed first; Troutman’s Karen Robinson second; Mooresville’s Mariella Cook third.
Male Master, ages 40-98; Mt. Ulla’s Paul Walcheski first; Cornelius Chris Schmidtke second; Cornelius’ Erik Johnson third.
Female ages 1-14: Cornelius Kaycee Gass first; Mooresville’s Sydney Le Cras second; Mooresville’s Stephanie Cernuto third.
Male ages 1-14: Mooresville’s Michael Rupinski first; Mooresville’s Michael Forte second; Salisbury’s Rhys Little third.
Female ages 15-19: Mooresville’s Lauren Cates first; Davidson’s Beth Tevepaugh second.
Male ages 20-24: Cornelius’ Michael Spence first; Charlotte’s Kyle Pietila second.
Female ages 25-29: Mooresville’s Elizabeth Johnson first; Stanley’s Patricia Jackson second; Charlotte’s Kristina Hill third.
Male ages 25-29: Huntersville’s Patrick Auess first; Shelby’s Jason Morton second; Mooresville’s Chris Rippey third.
Female ages 30-34: Mooresville’s Leahanne Woods first; Charlotte’s Lindsey Cope second; Mooresville’s Leslie Bankirer third.
Male ages 30-34: Concord’s Martin Fisher first; Charlotte’s John West second; Mooresville’s Douglas Rodgers third.
Female ages 35-39: Statesville’s Cathy Moore first; Denver’s Susan Barner second; Cornelius Michele Hoheiser third.
Male ages 35-39: Troutman’s Paul Floyd first; Charlotte’s Robert Craig Jr., second; Statesville’s George Pettigrew third.
Male ages 4044: Cornelius Bobby Aswell Jr. first; Mooresville’s Chad Randolph second; Mooresville’s Matt Malaski third.
Female ages 45-49: Mooresville’s Vicki Scott first; Mooresville’s Jennifer Cage second; Charlotte’s Michele Gibbs third.
Male ages 50-54: Mooresville’s Dwight Hargett first; Mooresville’s Henry Peele second; Charlotte’s Jay Whilton third.
Female ages 55-59: Troutman’s Ann Partel first; Charlotte’s Terri Hefner second.
Male ages 60-64: Gastonia’s Jerry Sofley first; Charlotte’s Steve Austin second; Statesville’s Gary Butts third.
Male ages 65-69: Knoxville (TN)’s Jack Rowe first.

Prizes were awarded in the form of new running shoes and gift certificates Special prizes were also made available to the top runners who ran the race while carrying a book.

The race, on track if all goes well to become a regular scheduled annual stop on a course that is certified, started and ended in front of the Mooresville Public Library.

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