No Shortage of Talent at Kurtz 5K

Catching up continued . . .
Last year, the John Kurtz 5K race in Bensenville paid big money, but was somewhat of a joke because it really was 2.85 miles, although billed as a full 5K. This year, they kept the triple-loop format, but got the distance right. Actually, from the times posted for the July 16 evening race, the course may have been long. Who knows? At any rate, there were plenty of Fenton HS alums in the field, starting with winner Art Siemers, 35, now of Golden, Colo., who cruised the course in 15:32.6. Emisael Favela, 31, of Cicero, consistently one of the area's top runners, was second in 15:36.9, and Chris Siemers, 27, of Bensenville (Fenton alum and Art's brother), was third in 15:52.7. Elmhurst College coach Jim Akita, 27, of Elmhurst, was fourth in a nice 15:58.2. On the women's side, Denisa Costescu, 32, of Walled Lake, Mich., made the trip and took home a win in a modest 18:24.4. Karen Prisby, 23, of Wheaton, was next in 18:58.9, and Kristen West, 29, of Streamwood, was third in 19:47.3. Those times are what make me think the course might have been long. If anyone who ran reads this, put down your comments. One other note -- Jim Spivey, a Fenton grad and former Olympian, ran a 20:06. Spivey, 48, of Carol Stream, finished fifth in the men's 40-49 group. This event had about $5,000 in prize money, but had only 99 finishers. Comments???