Right on The Money

I've got to give some credit to Mark Colpoys, the Director of Marketing for Fleet Feet Chicago. When queried last week by yours truly to predict the winners of Saturday's Soldier Field 10-miler, Mark didn't hesitate. "Picks to win: Jessica Langford, Jeff Jonaitis" topped his e-mail reply. Well,Langford, 36, of Rockford, won handily on the women's side with an awesome 58:51, easily besting Murphee Hayes, 34, of Marathon, NY (gotta love that town's name), who clocked 1:01:02. In the men's race, Jonaitis, 27, of Tinley Park, known fondly as "JJ" in local running circles, edged always-tough Jack Kafel, 32, of River Forest, 50:40 to 50:42. You can find all the results at www.chicagoaa.com. It looks like Kafel is rounding into form to defend his title at the Community Bank of Elmhurst 4 on the 4th (July 4), but JJ never has run that race.