321 runners compete in SL Heritage Festival 5K

Mon, Jun 22, 2009    to del.icio.us

A total of 321 runners took part in Saturday's Spring Lake Heritage Festival 5K Run/Walk, an increase of 80 runners over last year's event.

Grand Rapids' Kevin Bence, 20, paced the field as he won the run with a time of 16 minutes, 54 seconds. Muskegon's Nathan Vanduinen, 24, was second at 16:58, followed by Allendale's Nelson Kap, 25, who was third at 17:05.

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Jill Evers-Bowers of Kent City was the top female finisher and the 26th overall to cross the finish line at 20:41.

In the Masters categories, Grand Haven's Eric Hayward, 44, was the men's winner at 19:34, and Shelly Mattson of Grand Haven, 46, was the women's winner at 23:14.

Participants ranged in age from 6-year-olds Kaitlyn Tucker of Grand Haven and Mary Jane Peets of Spring Lake, to 77-year-old Wally Harris of Nunica.

Spring Lake's Blake Rottschafer, 19, who recently competed in the Div. 2 state track and field meet for the Lakers, was fourth overall with a time of 17:06.

Megan Josey, 21, also of Spring Lake, was the second female finisher at 20:52. Josey runs track and field at Ferris State University.