It's Hird, Hopper at Elgin 10-Miler

Like the Ridge Run and Tower Trot, this was No. 34 for the Elgin Valley Fox Trot 10-mile. Monday's heat and humidity didn't stop a field of 682 finishers in the 10-mile and 878 in the accompanying 5K. Taking the 10, which includes some good hills and nice views of the Fox River, was Nick Hird, 27, from the Quad Cities area. He ran a 53:03. Second was Emisael Favela, 34, of Cicero, in 55:21, and third was garnered by Joshua Bland, 24, in 55:55. In the women's competition, Amanda Hopper, 26, won it in 1:04:07. Runner-up was a neighbor of mine, Alyson Fosnot, 20, of Villa Park, in 1:06:16. Third went to Jennifer Sagat, 29, in 1:06:50. In the 5K, Kyle Brady, 22, of Naperville, well-known to me from his win last year at the 4 on the 4th, took the victory in 15:29. Women's winneer was Lydla Wong, 22, in 19:04.