Familiar names top 5K finishers

One outgoing college standout and another one getting ready to begin a career at the next level captured first place in the Mike Rokicki Memorial 5K Run/Walk on Tuesday, an event which kicked off Greencastle’s Annual Independence Day Celebration.

Former Cloverdale and DePauw University standout Claudia Monnett as the overall women’s running winner, finishing the course in 21:15.

Recent South Putnam graduate Kieffer Vittetow, who will run for the University of Indianapolis this fall, won the overall men’s title in 16:04. Vittetow also won the race last year, but was able to cut 24 seconds off his winning time from 2016.

The “5K Walk Men’s Champion” title was awarded to 44-year-old Chad Menke of Greencastle with a time of 39:46. Joanne Allee, 67 of Quincy, Ind., retained her title of the 5K Walk Women’s Division Champion with a time of 38:57.

Rod Weinschenk of the Greencastle Parks and Recreation Department, sponsor of the event, was pleased with the turnout.

“We would like to thank Phyllis, Ryan and Gretyl Rokicki and the Rokicki Foundation, who again graciously sponsored this year’s 5K event in memory of Mike Rokicki, who served as a longtime city councilman and was a large supporter of the Greencastle Parks and Recreation Department,” Weinschenk said. “We would like extend a heartfelt ‘muchas gracias’ to the DePauw University Servicio en las Americas students, who helped manage our finish line. Another special thank you goes out to both Cecilia Pohlar and Whitney Weinschenk who have manner our 1 and 2-mile water stops for 14 years straight.”

Beginning and ending in Robe-Ann Park, this year’s event was the 26th Annual Castle Classic foot race organized by the Greencastle Parks and Recreation Department, which is the spark that ignites the annual Friends of the Park Association of Putnam County’s Celebrate “4” Independence Day Celebration. Ninety-five runners and walkers took to the streets of Greencastle early Tuesday morning, along with another 14 participants who followed in the Annual Firecracker Fun Run.

“In closing, the Greencastle Parks and Recreation Department would like to extend an early invitation to everyone to mark your calendars for the 27th annual running of the Mike Rokicki Memorial 5K Road Run/Walk, which will be held on Wed., July 4, 2018,” Weinschenk said.

5K RUN EVENT

Men’s 19 and Under

Overall 5K Men’s Winner: Kieffer Vittetow, Cloverdale 16:04

1. Jonah Sanders, Greencastle, 20:57

2. Charlie Menzel, Greencastle, 22:11

3. Matthew Goodpastor, Fillmore, 22:16

4. Tyler Adams, Greencastle, 23:50

5. Landen Clark, Greencastle , 25:36

6. Evan Monnett, Greencastle, 28:17

7. Wilson Hecko, Greencastle, 28:53

8. Nathan Long, Greencastle, 29:14

9. Nate Monnett, Greencastle, 29:19

10. Leinitus Lennox, Phoenix, AZ, 38:17

11. Dylan Favres, Phoenix, AZ, 38:20

Men’s 20-29

1. Klayton Vittetow, Lafayette, 21:05

2. Will Bond, Indianapolis, 21:14

Men’s 30-39

1. Josh Kolling, Greencastle, 37:50

Men’s 40-49

1. Drew Brattain, Greencastle, 20:42

2. Brett Hecko, Seattle, WA, 22:25

3. Ben Irwin, Phoenix, AZ, 28:44

4. Justin Long, Greencastle, 29:13

5. Chris Skillern, Coatesville, 38:03

Men’s 50-59

1. Andreas Maher, Greencastle, 19:34

2. Gary Stevens, Greencastle, 22:18

3. Jay Albright, Greencastle, 28:16

4. Jim Watt, Roachdale, 29:41

5. Toshiyuki Mozawa Greencastle, 32:44

6. Chris Geering, St. Louis, MO, 32:52

Men’s 60 and Over

1. Jeff McCall, Greencastle, 23:06

2. John Fallis, Hagerstown, 23:30

3. John Mace, Fillmore, 26:31

4. Joe Leichty, Greencastle, 27:34

5. Ken Kirkpatrick, Greencastle, 30:00

6. John Bean, Greencastle, 30:53

7. Keith Henderson, Coatesville, 44:28

Women’s 19andUnder

1. Lilly Vittetow, Cloverdale, 24:13

2. Allysa Menke, Greencastle, 26:03

3. Lily Monnett, Greencastle, 26:09

4. Martha Geering, St. Louis, MO, 32:45

5. Tera Amis, Greencastle, 34:31

6. Barret Irwin, Phoenix, AZ, 39:03

7. Siddha Lennox, Phoenix, AZ, 39:03

8. Caitlyn Anderson, Greencastle, 41:39

Women’s 20-29

Overall 5K Women’s Winner: Claudia Monnett, Greencastle 21:15

1. Lexi Hardey, Greencastle, 41:38

Women’s 30-39

1. Courtney Kwon, Andover, MA, 22:44

2. Amber Hecko, Greencastle, 24:24

3. Molly Irwin, Los Angeles, CA 29:29

4. Sara Romalia, Greencastle, 37:33

5. Renee Kolling, Greencastle, 37:43

6. Yolanda Goodpastor Fillmore, 37:45

Women’s 40-49

1. Rebecka Howard, Greencastle, 25:42

2. Jane Best, Greencastle, 26:43

3. Janet Vaglia, Greencastle, 27:35

4. Cindy White, Greencastle, 30:32

5. Annie Weltz, Greencastle, 30:33

6. Windy Watt, Roachdale, 33:40

7. Amy Clark, Greencastle, 34:31

8. Megan Irwin, Phoenix, AZ, 39:03

Women’s 50-59

1. Julianne Rainbolt, St. Louis, MO, 24:04

2. Karen Singson, Greencastle, 26:21

3. Carla Yerkes, Crawfordsville, 29:01

4. Anna Kirkpatrick, Greencastle, 29:20

5. Tami VanRensselaer Fillmore, 35:58

Women’s 60 +

1. Holly Pritchett, Reelville, 27:55

2. Susan Stewart, Cloverdale, 44:18

5K WALK EVENT

Men’s 19 and Under

1. Gareth Geering, St. Louis, MO, 48:15

Men’s 20-29

1. David Dildine, Indianapolis, 57:24

Men’s 30-39

1. Matt Romalia, Greencastle, 43:34

Men’s 40-49

Overall Men’s Walk Winner: Chad Menke, Greencastle 39:46

1. Casey Renick, Greencastle, 45:31

2. Kenny Dunfee, Greencastle, 46:14

3. Russ Evans, Jr., Greencastle, 48:45

4. Mike Chadd, Greencastle, 54:40

Men’s 50-59

1. Guy Tincher, Rockville, 40:34

2. Gary Bowser, Greencastle, 42:38

3. Bob Campbell, Greencastle, 57:23

Men’s 60 and Over

1. Russell Evans, Greencastle, 42:50

2. Lee Stewart, Cloverdale, 44:40

Women’s 19 and Under

1. Nia Stewart, Indianapolis, 39:32

2. Isbel Monnett, Greencastle, 52:51

3. Emma Bodnarick, Greencastle, 52:52

4. Chloe Bodnarick, Greencastle, 53:00

Women’s 30-39

1. Elizabeth Adams, Greencastle, 51:08

Women’s 40-49

1. Jodi Menke, Greencastle, 39:46

2. Jennifer Dunfee, Greencastle, 46;14

3. Michelle Skillern, Coatesville, 48:25

4. Brandy Starks, Fillmore, 50:21

5. Amy Kies, Fillmore, 50:22

6. Kelly Jo Monnett, Greencastle, 52:44

7. Lisa Chadd, Greencastle , 54:34

8. Marcy Campbell, Greencastle, 57:44

Women’s 50–59

1. Carol Smith, Fillmore, 41:27

2. Ginger Bodnarick, Greencastle, 52:43

Women’s 60 and over

Overall 5K Women’s Winner: Joanne Allee, Quincy 38:57

1. Trudy Goodpastor, Fillmore, 43:30

2. Mary Reed, Cloverdale, dnf