Going for gold

Published 12:20 pm Tuesday, June 12, 2018

Mark Kerstens was the first male to cross the finish line in Saturday’s Gold Rush Run & Walk, which kicked off day two of the ’62 Days Celebration in Canyon City.

“It’s so fun coming to ’62 Days and running in this race,” said Kerstens, who lived in the area three years ago and now resides in Coos Bay. He finished with a time of 20:23.

“It was a great introduction to the area, and it was a really fun course,” said Audrey Wheatcraft of Corvallis, who ran the race for the first time, and was the first female to finish. Her recorded time was 24:15.

Twelve-year-old Grant Hall, who has been racing in the Gold Rush Run since age 5, was third to cross the finish line, after his dad, Dr. Dave Hall.

“It was fun,” Grant said. “I like how uneven it is and how hard it is to do it.”

Organizer Hugh Snook of Salem said it was the 20th running on the course, which takes participants from Washington Street to Highway 395 and to Humbolt Street. Runners and walkers then face the steep incline of Rebel Hill Road before finishing at the start.

“I was impressed that we had a good turnout race morning in spite of the rain,” Snook said.

Heavy rain held off until noon.

The fastest woman over age 40 was Sheila Comer of Canyon City. The fastest man over age 40 was Dr. Zac Bailey of John Day.

The youngest participants were Noxi Long and Sam Bailey.

2018 Gold Rush Run & Walk results

Mark Kerstens, Coos Bay, 20:23, 1, M20-29

David Hall, John Day, 21:17, 2, M30-39

Grant Hall, John Day, 22:19, 3, M10-14

Kevin Nelson, John Day, 22:20, 4, M50-59

Jeff Nelson, John Day, 23:30, 5, M30-39

Logan Breshears, Canyon City, 23:38, 6, M20-29

Sinu Cletus, Salem, 23:49, 7, M20-29

Audrey Wheatcroft, Coos Bay, 24:15, 8, W20-29

Katie Nicolato, John Day, 25:11, 9, W20-29

Sheila Comer, Canyon City, 26:08, 10, W40-49

Amelia Hall, John Day, 26:09, 11, W10-14

Rosalinda Gonzalez, Canyon City, 26:17, 12, W20-29

Hannah Grist, Canyon City, 26:24, 13, W30-39

Max Bailey, Canyon City, 28:12, 14, M10-14

Zac Bailey, Canyon City, 28:12, 14, M40-49

Levi Manitsas, John Day, 28:27, 15, M40-49

Kathryn Manitsas, John Day, 28:27, 15, W40-49

Shanniyah Hall, John Day, 28:33, 16, W15-19

Hannah Smith, Canyon City, 28:59, 17, W20-29

Tammy McKenna, Mt, Vernon, 29:21, 18, W50-59

Eliza Bailey, Canyon City, 29:32, 19, W0-9

Russ Comer, Canyon City, 30:27, 20, M40-49

Ryan Joslin, Corvallis, 30:27, 20, M40-49

Sydney Brockway, John Day, 31:38, 21, W15-19

Elaine Livran, Canyon City, 32:16, 22, W60+

Mallory Davies, Canyon City, 32:54, 23, W20-29

Dana McLean, Seneca, 34:54, 24, W20-29

AshLee Brockway, John Day, 34:54, 24, W20-29

Janet Plocharsky, John Day, 36:15, 25, W50-59

Morgan Randleas, Canyon City, 41:42, 26, W0-9

Madelyn Bailey, Canyon City, 41:42, 26, W10-14

Chantel DesJardin, Prairie City, 45:55, 27, W20-29

Chip Grove, Canyon City, 48:15, 28, M40-49

Kim Grove, Canyon City, 48:15, 28, W40-49

Noxi Long, Seneca, 48:45, 29, W0-9

Kristin Long, Seneca, 48:45, 29, W50-59

Sam Bailey, Canyon City, 49:50, 30, M0-9

Heather Bailey, Canyon City, 50:54, 31, W30-39

Kim Randleas, Canyon City, 50:54, 31, W40-49

Jim Spell, John Day, 53:07, 32, M60+

Susan Church, John Day, 53:07, 32, W60+

Tracie Unterwegner, John Day, 53:07, 32, W60+

Ellen Jacobs, Baker City, 55:00, 33, W50-59

Gayle Hammond, Baker City, 55:00, 33, W60+