Olsen Pancoast, a well-established runner from BHS, outran all competitors at Saturday’s annual Chase the Leprechaun 5k run/walk at the BCC. He finished the course in 18:52.800. Sunny skies, slick paths  and a brisk wind enveloped the morning as 70 athletes took to the streets and sidewalks of Becker for the 3.1 mile trek. Walkers took off at 10 a.m. while runners disembarked a half hour later.  

 

Race organizer Tracey Otto and BCC Manager Jamie Cassidy ran the event from the parking lot while Gopher State Events set up their start and finish line equipment to record the times.

 

The fastest female was 22-year-old McKenzie Holt of St. Cloud, who finished in 19:24.080.   

 

The weather was ideal as temperatures hovered around 30º, following a couple of days of storms that wreaked havoc for path clearers. Ice on the course was an issue but Otto and Cassidy had plenty of volunteers on the streets ensuring all runners and walkers avoided the dangerous spots and stayed on course.

 

As the runners took to the starting line at 10:30 a.m., many of the contestants were seen wearing green clothing while some had leprechaun costumes. One family went all out, with the dad dressing in an inflated Scotsman costume, mom as an Irishman complete with a reddish beard and the two kids with matching green and white hats, shirts and ties.

 

Judy Meyer and her daughter, Emilie, from New Brighton got decked out in their emerald green  “Get Lucky’ sweatshirts while Judy wore shamrock headgear and Emilie a green hat with an embroidered shamrock. The Meyers heard about the 5K through a website and decided to make the 50-mile trek to Becker to join in the fun.

 

Medals were handed out to the top three in each of the following age groups, 10-19, 20-29, 30-39, 40-49, 50-59, 60+ for both males and females.

 

In the 10-19 men’s group, Pancoast was first, Calixto Larson (15 years old) was second (19:08.990 and Owen Roberts (10) of Big Lake took third (27:10.470.

 

In the 20-29 group, Michael Farr (25) of Becker took first (26:03.500) and Jamie Maeder (25) of Becker took second (39:57.850). There was no other runners in the age group.

 

In the 30-39 group, Marshall Nelson (36) of Stanchfield took first (21:51.300) while Travis Bukosky (37) of Princeton took second (23:00.000) and Jeff Petersen (37) of Clear Lake took third (26:13.720).

 

In the 40-49 group, Jeremy Larson (45) of Stanchfield took first (19:47.660) while Terry Driver (41) of Litchfield took second (32:22.320) and Dan Connolly (43) of Big Lake took third (33:49.850).

 

In the 50-59 age group, Jim Abfalter (52) of Big Lake took first (21:24.450) while Loren Finlayson (52) of Sauk Rapids took second (25:01.820) and Anthony Schlegel (53) of Zimmerman took third (26:07.550).

 

In the over 60 group, David Hartz (60) of Cold Spring took first (23:05.520) while Dave Belisle (60) of Somerset, WI took second (24:02.430) and Eric Hanson (71) of Becker took third (26:54.510).

 

In the women’s age group of 10-19, Audrey Myers (10) of Elk River took first (22:02.770) while Krista Paulson (15) of Becker took second ( 24:34.630) and Judy Meyer (11) took third (25:18.250).

 

In the 20-29 group, McKenzie Holt (22) of St. Cloud captured first place (19:24.080) while Monica Hamilton (26) of Pine River took home second place (1:15:35.460). There were no other runners in this age group.

 

In the 30-39 group, Amie Myers (37) of Elk River took first (22:02.770) while Shannon White (39)  of Big Lake took second (23:59.030) and Candice Hanson (35) of Becker took third (30:37.360).

 

In the 40-49 group, Jennifer Sjoberg (40) of Isanti took first (22:05.760) while Angela Jordahl (46) of Big Lake took second ( 23:33.260) and Trese Lund (40) of Pierz took third (26:35.750).

 

In the 50-59 group, Kari Pancoast (50) of Becker took first (31:58.820) while Denise Fenwick (58) of St. Cloud took second (33:14.110) and Michelle Shefveland (56) of Elk River took third (34:11.720).

 

There was only one over 60 women’s runner, so  Pauline Benke (71) of Wayzata took home the first place prize in 47:13.050.

 

After the last runners crossed the finish line, an awards ceremony was held outside the BCC, and hot chocolate was served to the chilly runners and spectators. Breads, oranges, bars and chocolate were also served.