2009 Popeye Race sets new record for attendance

</element><element id="paragraph-1" type="body"><![CDATA[Juli Koenegstein of Chester was the overall winner of the 2009 Popeye 5K Woman's Race with her time of 18.56 while Danny Stults of Stillwater, Oklahoma won the Men's Race with a time of 17:04.

Both names are most likely very familiar in the Chester running scene because Koenegstein was a Chester High School standout from 2001-2005, and then went on to excel at Southeast Missouri State University and Stults was also an elite runner at SEMO.

Likewise both runners got to know each other rather well at SEMO and have been dating for the past several years. Stults has spent a lot of time in Chester since he and Juli started dating and most local runners are familiar with the dynamic duo.

The 2009 Popeye race events, which included a 5K Race, 5K Competitive race-walk and a 1.5-Mile Fun Run, were very well attended this year, setting new records I attendance due, in part to the excellent running and training weather the past month and due to the fact that this year was the 30th Anniversary of the race.

In commemoration of the 30th Popeye Race several special features were added to the race itself, including a special ringer race t-shirt, a 2009 Popeye back pack and a special memorial tribute to the late Paul Hires. Hires was an avid Chester runner and gave significant time and energy to the Chester Running Club over the years.

In his memory the 2009 edition of the race t-shirt included a special memorial phrase on the left sleeve which read, "This race is memory of Paul Hires, Caring, Humorous, Fun-Loving, Gentleman, and Runner: 1922-2008." Pat Mulholland, Past Race Director, read a wonderful tribute to Mr. Hires after which he and Bob Platt, current Race Director, presented plaques to several Paul's family members who were present for the event.

Also during the post-race awards ceremony, plaques were presented to the three runners present who had competed in all 30 of the Popeye Race events over the years including Chester's own Bob Platt and Dale Nanney and Dennis Feely of West Frankfort.

There were 420 participants entered for the 2009 Popeye events including 216 in the 5K race, 72 in the 5K Competitive walk and 132 in the 1.5-Mile Fun Run.

The Top-5 overall finishers in the Male Division of the 5K Race include Danny Stults (1st, 17:04) from Stillwater, Oklahoma; Jake Prielipp (2nd, 17:45) from Carbondale; Devin Horner (3rd, 18:07) from Beecher, Illinois; Josh Scherle (4th, 18:45) from New Athens and Scott Ishman (5th, 19:06) from Carbondale.

The Top-5 overall finishers in the Female Division include Juli Koenegstein of Chester (1st, 18:56); Jennifer Wieman-Smi of Carbondale (2nd, 19:41); Lindsay Mueller of Steeleville (3rd, 21:35); Nancy Adams of Carterville (4th, 21:43) and Logan Luehr of Steeleville (5th, 22:12).

There were 18 runners currently or formerly from Chester who won trophies in their respective age groups in addition to Juli Koenegstein who won an overall award. There were 10 men and eight women who won age group awards and Koenegstein made the trophy winners group total 19 runners.

In the Male Division the winners included: Garret Alms (1st, 1-13, 22:44); Lane Gibbs, 2nd, 1-13, 23:14); Josh Cox (1st, 19-24, 20:15); Carmelo Chigo ( 3rd, 19-24, 21:32); Cory Usher (2nd, 25-29, 19:32); Brad Warhausen (1st, 35-39, 20:06); Ron Burke (1st, 40-44, 19:47); Rick Woods (3rd, 45-49, 23:02); Dele Nanney (2nd, 50-54, 20:39) and Bob Platt (3rd, 65-69, 25:34).

In the Female Division the winners included: Juli Koenegstein (1st overall, 18:56); McKenzi Rucker (1st,1-13, 25:34); Madison Conner (3rd, 1-13, 27:37); Emily Beers (2nd, 14-18, 40:41); Emily Arbeiter (2nd, 19-24, 25:56); Terri Franklin (2nd, 50-54, 29:09); Kathy Lowry (1st, 55-59, 28:42, * New Chester record); Linda Egge (3rd, 60-64, 31:02) and Julia Cowell (3rd, 65-69, 42:43).

There a total of 72 walkers entered in the 5K Competitive Race Walk. Of those, there were a total of nine Chester walkers who won trophies, four men and four women.

The overall winners of the race-walk were Larry Liszewski of St. Louis (33:41) in the Men's Division and Shirley Fearheiley of Harrisburg (32:43) in the Women's Division.

Chester winners in the Men's Division included: Brian Stallman (1st, 26-40, 41:16); Matt Keim (2nd, 26-40, 49:15); Shawn Crow (3rd, 26-40, 53:55) and Bill Cowell (2nd, 70-99, 39:45).

Chester winners in the Female Division included: Tori Homan (3rd, 25-29, 51:15); Barb Hennrich (1st, 35-39, 35:12); Seren Conner (3rd, 35-39, 38:05); Pam Horrell (3rd, 45-49, 43:26) and Rosemary Dashner (1st, 60-69, 43:11).

Each winner of an age group award received a nice 30th Annual Popeye Race trophy for their efforts along with their complimentary t-shirt and back pack.