Despite the heat, rock steady 11-year-old Caleb Nelson again demonstrated his mastery of pace, winning the jogger’s mile for the third week in a row at last week’s Kiwanis All-Comers Track Meet by being just one second off his predicted time.
Even so, this time he shared that honor with the equally best-guessed Mark Ulloa.
More obviously exciting to the early crowd of spectators at the July 31 event, meet organizer Paul Benton said, was up coming eighth-grader Alex Miller, who lapped the field while keeping just a few steps ahead of high school junior Sean Lindsey, a varsity cross country runner. Miller finished in a comfortable (for him) but definitely not-jogging 5:22 — just two seconds off his predicted time.
The Dennon girls, Darya (8) and Karina (10), were outstanding as usual, Benton said, winning four races each.
New stars this week were the Hungerford sisters: 9-year-old Grace won four events (including a fast 1:26 in the 400-meters), and 11-year-old Claire won two, though close rival Emma Greathouse tied her in the 100-meter dash.
Setting rivalry aside, Grace, Claire and Emma then teamed up with Avery Johnson (12) to win the 12-and-under heat of the climactic 4×100 relay, leaving the boy’s team in their wake.
Also notable were Evie Beals (3), Ashton Cargill (5) and Ava Hammond (6), who each one three events.
And tiny 3-year-old Greta Gerbeck again ran an inspiring 400-meters, Benton said, finishing with a big grin in 2:37 — just 15 seconds behind the 8-and-under winner, her speedy sister, Inez (6).
In the boys’ heats, Howard Howlett (9) was again dominant with five firsts — though Matthew Knight tied him in the 200-meters.
Liam Boyce (6) and Bobby Dunn (10) each won four events, with Dunn turning in especially fast times.
The Haizlip boys seemed to be everywhere, Benton said, as Cole (8) won three races, Owen (5) won twice (including a tie with Chase Knapp in the 100-meters), and Milo (10) took second place twice.
Even more impressive, the organizer added, were the Fixter brothers: 3-year-old Noah won three races and 7-year-old Austin won four — plus a second place in the 400-meters.
Possibly the most exhilarating race of the evening came at the end, as, in near darkness, one 4×100 relay team of BIXC (high school cross country team) runners edged out the other by less than a second.
For complete race results, visit bainbridgereview.com.
The Kiwanis All-Comers meets continue for two more weeks, Mondays at 6:30 p.m. at the Bainbridge High School track.
At the last meet (Aug. 14), the Kiwanis Club will award trophies to the individuals who have won the most races in the first five weeks (through Aug. 7).
Be at the high school track between 6 and 6:15 p.m. to register.
