Hird, Ryan Win Close Peapod Half-Madness 13.1

Close races on the men's and women's side made for exciting racing on Sunday in the Peapod Half-Madness 13.1 in Batavia. Nick Hird, 26, of Naperville won in 1:08:10 (5:10 pace), but close behind were second-place finisher Kyle Brady, 22, of Wheaton (winner of the Community Bank of Elmhurst 4 on the 3rd and DeKalb Cornfest 10K), who came in at 1:08:20, and defending champion Lars Juhl, 33, of Chicago, who was right in the mix at 1:08:26 for third. The women's race for first was equally tight as Suzanne Ryan, 36, of West Chicago, eeked out a victory in 1:22:07, with Jessica Hopkins, 25, of Lisle, grabbing second in 1:22:17. Third went to Cari Setzler, 32, of Wonder Lake, as she ran a 1:25:49. The accompanying 10K was won by Ryan Giuliano, 25, of Schaumburg, in 33:17. Brooke Bean, 31, of Geneva, was the women's victor in 45:49. The half-marathon had 982 finishers. The 10K had 222.