6/10/2007

By SEAN PURCELL

Salina Journal

She was just 400 meters into the five-mile race of Saturday's Festival Fitness 5, and already the competitive juices were urging Sara Wells to go for more.

Soon, what had been a leisurely run with her family had turned into an inward competition for Wells.

Wells' time of 29 minutes, 46 seconds, was tops in the

women's five-mile field. It was Wells' fourth career five-mile win in the Festival Fitness 5 race, the most ever, and at the same put an end to the run of victories for Lindsborg native Julie Harding, who had captured the last three five-mile titles. Harding was second and Sheila Douglas third.

Complete race results were not available Saturday.

"I wasn't planning on running hard, but I just started going," Wells said. "I've always enjoyed running in this event."

Wells, a Salina native, is a former cross country and track standout at Sacred Heart High School, Colby Community College and Oklahoma State University. She earned NJCAA and NCAA All-America honors during her collegiate career.

Wells placed 20th in the 2000 NCAA Cross Country Championships and fourth in the 10,000 meters at the 2001 NCAA Track & Field Championships. She was a two-time All-American in 2001 at OSU -- the 5,000 meters indoors and 10,000 meters outdoors.

Wells, who is a physical therapist in Minneapolis, Minn., is also an accomplished professional runner. She won the 2003 National Marathon Championship and ran the 2007 Boston Marathon in a time of 2:54:07. She's a member of Team USA Minnesota, which works with post-collegiate American distance runners and strives to develop Olympians.

A 1997 graduate of Sacred Heart, Wells said she hasn't raced in the Festival Fitness 5 for "about seven years."

But being back in Salina evoked memories of past races.

"I grew up running in (the Festival Fitness 5)," she said. "I didn't know who was in the field this year, and I didn't come here to win, but once we started running I felt like going harder."

Like Wells, Cloud County Community College sophomore Johnny Shuping wasn't concerned about winning the men's five-mile run.

But win Shuping did, completing the course in 25 minutes to edge Kory Cool, who also took second place last year to defending champion Daniel Craig, who was third this year.

"It was just a great day," said Shuping, a native of Klenksdorp, South Africa. "I just came down here to enjoy the day and spend it with the wonderful people of Salina."

When word spread that Shuping would be competing in the Festival Fitness 5, many people thought he would try to break the five-mile record of 23:47 set in 1986 by Wichita's Curt Shellman.

Less than seven months ago, Shuping finished second at the NJCAA National Half-Marathon Classic in Wichita, and this spring was the NJCAA national champion in the 1,500-meters.

But Saturday, Shuping was running strictly for pleasure.

"It was a lot of fun," he said. "I just wanted to enjoy myself."

The women's two-mile title went to Jeanene Ehrlich of Salina. Salina South graduate Danielle Houltberg, who runs at Johnson County Community College, was second. Houltberg competed in the NJCAA national outdoor meet this spring.

A former distance runner at Kansas State, it had been "four to five years" since Ehlrich had run competitively.

"I have two kids and other things that are going on," she said. "I go out and walk a lot, and have thought about getting back into (competitive) racing."

Joe Moore won the men's two-mile race in a time of 9:24, just missing the race record of 9:23. Salina South senior-to-be Joey Thompson finished second. Thompson ran the mile and two mile in the Class 5A state meet last month in Wichita.

By SEAN PURCELL

Salina Journal

She was just 400 meters into the five-mile race of Saturday's Festival Fitness 5, and already the competitive juices were urging Salina nativen Sara Wells to go for more.

Soon, what had been a leisurely run with her family had turned into an inward competition for Wells.

Wells' time of 29 minutes, 46 seconds, was tops in the women's five-mile field. It was Wells' fourth career five-mile win in the Festival Fitness 5 race, the most ever, and at the same put an end to the run of victories for Lindsborg native Julie Harding, who had captured the last three five-mile titles. Harding was second and Sheila Douglas third.

Complete race results were not available Saturday.

"I wasn't planning on running hard, but I just started going," Wells said. "I've always enjoyed running in this event."

Wells, a Salina native, is a former cross country and track standout at Sacred Heart High School, Colby Community College and Oklahoma State University. She earned NJCAA and NCAA All-America honors during her collegiate career.

Wells placed 20th in the 2000 NCAA Cross Country Championships and fourth in the 10,000 meters at the 2001 NCAA Track & Field Championships. She was a two-time All-American in 2001 at OSU -- the 5,000 meters indoors and 10,000 meters outdoors.

Wells, who is a physical therapist in Minneapolis, Minn., is also an accomplished professional runner. She won the 2003 National Marathon Championship and ran the 2007 Boston Marathon in a time of 2:54:07. She's a member of Team USA Minnesota, which works with post-collegiate American distance runners and strives to develop Olympians.

Winning still it feels good, Wtoo, Wells admitted.

Wells' time of 29 minutes, 46 seconds, was tops in the women's five-mile field. It was Wells' fourth career five-mile win in the Festival Fitness 5 race, the most ever, and at the same put an end to the run of victories for Lindsborg native Julie Harding, who had captured the last three five-mile titles.

Harding's runner-up time was XXXXX. In third was Sheila Douglas in XXXXX.

A 1997 graduate of Sacred Heart, Wells said she hasn't raced in the Festival Fitness 5 for "about seven years."

She now lives in Minnesota.

But being back in Salina evoked memories of past races.

"I grew up running in (the Festival Fitness 5)," she said. "I didn't know who was the in the field this year, and I didn't come here to win, but once we started running I felt like going harder."

Like Wells, Cloud County Community College sophomore Johnny Shuping wasn't concerned about winning the men's five-mile run.

But win Shuping did, completing the course in right at 25 minutes to edge to -- edging Kory Cool, who also took second place last year to defending champion Drace winner Daniel Craig, who was third this year.

"It was just a great day," said Shuping, a native of Klenksdorp, South Africa. "I just came down here to enjoy the day and spend it with the wonderful people of Salina."

When word spread that Shuping would be competing in the Festival Fitness 5, many people thought he would try to break the five-mile record of 23:47 set in 1986 by Wichita's Curt Shellman.

Less than seven months ago, Shuping finished second at the NJCAA National Half-Marathon Classic in Wichita, and this spring was the NJCAA national champion in the 1,500-meters run.

But Saturdayon this occasion, Shuping was running strictly for pleasure.

"It was a lot of fun," he said. "I just wanted to enjoy myself."

The women's two-mile twomen's title went to Salinan Jeanene Ehrlich of Salina, who finished in XXXX. Salina South graduate High School's Danielle Houltberg, who runs at Johnson County Community College, was second. Houltberg competed in the NJCAA national outdoor meet this spring.

A former distance runner at Kansas State, it had been "four to five years" since Ehlrich had run competitively.

"I have two kids and other things that are going on," she said. "I go out and walk a lot, and have thought about getting back into (competitive) racing."

Joe Moore won the men's two-mile race in a time of 9:24, just missing the race record of 9:23. Salina South senior-to-be South senior-to-be Joey Thompson finished second, who will was second in xxxx. Thompson ran the mile and two mile in the Class 5A state meet last month in Wichita..

A former distance runner at Kansas State, University, it had been "four to five years" since Ehlrich had run competitively.

"I have two kids and other things that are going on," she said. "I go out and walk a lot, and have thought about getting back into (competitive) racing."