Gerwig, Sampson win Hotter Than Heck Run

Calhoun High School cross county runners Justin Gerwig and Anna Sampson won the men’s and women’s Hotter Than Heck Run at Calhoun County Park Saturday. Marty Owings and Mark Rooper took the walking titles.

Gerwig, a junior first year runner for the Red Devils, captured the men’s run with a time of 20:14 better than a minute faster than Spencer’s Brian Taylor, who limped in (he was fighting a knee injury) with a time of 21:44.

Taylor did get a major silver lining however as he virtually clinched the Calhoun Cup championship. With one race to go Taylor has a total of nine. That total assures him the title as long as he runs and finishes the season-ending Not Yet Done Run on Nov. 8.

The same can be said of Rooper in the men’s walk.

For Owings, she has clinched with five races and five first place finishes in the women’s walking challenge. Her biggest challenge in the season-ending event won’t be winning the Calhoun Cup but sweeping all-six races with first place finishes.
The women’s running division is still not decided with Sampson moving into position to challenge Calhoun Middle/High School cross country coach Melinda Fitzwater for the title. Sampson missed a couple of races early but has come back with a strong showing making it a race between her and her coach.

While Sampson was posting a 25:59 to capture the women’s title Fitzwater was taking fifth Saturday behind Sampson, Rochelle Gerwig, Monica Heiney and Maria Kisner.

On the men’s side Calhoun cross country runners fared well behind Gerwig and Taylor.
Anthony Richards, another first year runner for the Red Devils, was third with a career best 24:17. He was followed by Tom McColley at 25:09, Zach Hanshaw (another Calhoun runner who was battling a hip injury) at 28:21, William Baker (a member of the Calhoun Middle School team) at 27:22.

Duane “The Diesel” Haughey was next at 30:11. Tommy Nichols was next at 31:34 followed by David Overbay at 33:30 and Hunter Thomas at 50:42.

On the women’s side Fitzwater was followed by Nancy Updegrave at 37:25, Athena Wagoner at 38:55, Barbara Richards at 39:53 and Karrie Graffius at 51:20, Graffius completed the race despite large blisters on her feet incurred during the run.
Connie McColley was second in the women’s walking event with a time of 51:20.