AT THE START - A total of 57 runners registered for Saturday’s inaugural Tawas Turkey Trot five-kilometer run in East Tawas. Pictured above is the start of the run at the East Tawas Community Center. - Photo by John Morris

Tawas runners win first Turkey Trot
by John Morris

EAST TAWAS - Two Tawas City runners were the overall men’s and women’s winners during the inaugural five-kilometer Tawas Turkey Trot, held Saturday in East Tawas.

Tyler Bischoff, 19, of Tawas City was the overall men’s winner in a time of 16 minutes, 23 seconds. Emily Short, 14, of Tawas City was the women’s winner in 22:47.
Both times are course records for the first year race. Bischoff is a freshman at Aquinas College and a 2007 Tawas Area High School graduate. Short is a freshman at Tawas Area High School.

Bischoff and Short have both run cross country for Tawas Area High School, coached by Chris Owens of Tawas City, race coordinator.

MEN’S WINNER - Tyler Bischoff of Tawas City was the overall men’s winner in 16:23 during Saturday’s inaugural Tawas Turkey Trot five-kilometer run. - Photo by John Morris

Owens is a member of the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society’s Team in Training. She told the runners her mother died seven years ago from blood cancer.

Owens will participate in January in a half marathon at Disney World in Florida and has set a fundraising goal of $3,500 for cancer research. The road race, which raised more than $1,000 Saturday, was a fundraiser toward that goal.

In all, a total of 57 runners and walkers registered to take part in Saturday’s Turkey Trot. The course began at the north parking lot of the East Tawas Community Center, wound through residential areas and to Tawas Lake before returning back to the community center parking lot.

The run also had three divisions for men and women.

WOMEN’S WINNER - Emily Short of Tawas City was the overall women’s winner in 22:47 during Saturday’s inaugural Tawas Turkey Trot five-kilometer run. - Photo by John Morris

In the men’s under 20 division, Guy Cotter won first place (third overall) in 18:57, Wayne Enzenberger was second (fourth overall) in 19:01 and Jordan Smith was third (fifth overall) in 19:20.

The men’s 20- to 40-year-old division had Len Weddell finishing first (second overall) in 17:08, Thomas Maxwell was second (seventh overall) in 21:08 and Tim Mielock was third (10th overall) in 22:26.

In the men’s 40 and older division, Reed Swanson was first (eighth overall) in 21:20, Daryl Bernard was second (ninth overall) in 21:31 and Tom Wascha was third (13th overall) in 23:14.

For the women, in the under 20 division, Chelsea Smith was first (second overall) in 23:10, Ashton Cotter was second (third overall) in 23:24 and Olivia Bolen was third (fifth overall) in 27:47.

In the men’s under 20 division, Guy Cotter won first place (third overall) in 18:57, Wayne Enzenberger was second (fourth overall) in 19:01 and Jordan Smith was third (fifth overall) in 19:20.

The men’s 20- to 40-year-old division had Len Weddell finishing first (second overall) in 17:08, Thomas Maxwell was second (seventh overall) in 21:08 and Tim Mielock was third (10th overall) in 22:26.

In the men’s 40 and older division, Reed Swanson was first (eighth overall) in 21:20, Daryl Bernard was second (ninth overall) in 21:31 and Tom Wascha was third (13th overall) in 23:14.

For the women, in the under 20 division, Chelsea Smith was first (second overall) in 23:10, Ashton Cotter was second (third overall) in 23:24 and Olivia Bolen was third (fifth overall) in 27:47.

The women’s 20- to 40-year-old division had Amy Short finishing first (fourth overall) in 23:55, Kristi Arnold was second (eighth overall) in 29:34 and Tammy Lutzke was third (12th overall) in 31:20.

In the women’s 40 and older division, Joan Wascha was first (11th overall), Mary Peacock was second (14th overall) in 32:29 and Patricia Bolen was third (18th overall) in 37:03.

Other race overall finishers for the men were Jacob Winn, sixth in 20:16; Trevor Mielock, 11th in 22:41; Matt Hughes, 12th in 23:10; Chadwick Fairbanks, 14th in 23:25; Nolan Klenow, 15th in 23:37; Dave Klenow, 16th in 23:41; Seth Coffing, 17th in 23:46; Mike Bergwall, 18th in 28:49; Bruce Bolen, 19th in 28:51; Butch Short, 20th in 29:40; John Lutzke, 21st in 31:21; Mark Vick, 22nd in 32:29; Matt Stonehouse, 23rd in 34:17, and Joe Maxwell, 24th in 48:32.

Race overall finishers for the women were Brittany Combs, sixth in 28:12; Amy Johnson, seventh in 29:33; Josie Short, ninth in 29:41; Rachel Gingerich, 10th in 29:44; Shelby Benoit, 13th in 32:27; Kayla Koenig, 15th in 33:28; Jennifer Owens, 16th in 36:04; Megan Hugo, 17th in 36:52; Jillian Owens, 19th in 38:31; Gina Vick, 20th in 38:44; Julie Look, 21st in 48:11; Jennifer Bolen, 22nd in 48:17; Megan Beckley, 23rd in 48:30, and Donna Beckley, 24th in 49:30.

Walking and finishing the course were Rhonda Look, Cathy Maxwell, Lynn Kosto and Brenda del Rio.