Kremske, Todd Best at DeKalb Cornfest

It's been a year for bad corn, but it wasn't for good runners on Saturday at the 31st DeKalb Cornfest 10K, the farthest stop west on the Chicago Area Runners Association Runners' Choice Circuit. Temperunners in the finishing field of 564. Temperatures were tolerable with the mercury in the mid to high 70s, but humidity made it a tough go for many of the well-seasoned competitors in the field. Winning the battle from a strong lead pack was Dan Kremske, 23, of Woodstock, in 31:07.8. Second went to Patrick Geoghegan, 22, of Oak Park, in 31:40.35; and third went to Nick Hird, 28, of Naperville, in 32:05.65. Out-of-state women dominated as Melissa Todd, 37, of Timnath, CO, won in 35:51.8, followed by Megan Herrick, 26, of Flagstaff, AZ, in 36:25.25. Third was local standout Kristen Heckert, 25, of Lisle, who is gearing up for the Bank of America Chicago Marathon. She ran a 37:17.08. Age-group competition was fierce and deep up and down the results. I can't remember a Cornfest ever not having a top-tier field. I got to the finish line, but boy, was I spent. It was rough for me, and I think a lot of others. No one said it would be easy!