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Jesse Martin Memorial Run Continues to Grow BY JOANNE SMITH GETTYSBURG, PA-- The Jesse Martin Memorial Run is only in its second year and already it has undergone some major changes. The 5K run, which debuted in 1997, is held to remember Jesse Martin, a 1996 Gettysburg High School graduate and wrestling team member who was killed in a July 19, 1997 car accident. At the time of his death, Jesse was the top-ranked bull rider in the American Professional Rodeo Association. The biggest change to the Jesse Martin Memorial Run involved the course. In 1997 most of the 3.1 mile race was run at the old Gettysburg High School and parts of the battlefield bordering it. The 1998 race was held at the new Gettysburg High School, following the perimeter of the grassy athletic fields. A trip around the new track was placed in the middle of the course to give the runners a change of footing. This was a true cross-country course. It was nice from the spectators' perspective because they could see the runners most of the time. The 261 finishers enjoyed their new surroundings. The Jesse Martin Run was also the 1998 RRCA Pennsylvania 5K Cross-Country Championship. York, PA's Jeff Hines grabbed that title with a time of 14:58. The women's overall winner was Gettysburg native Steph Yingling who posted at time of 17:54. The race was held November 21. The other change was the addition of the Bench Press and Run. The male contestants benched their weight as many times as possible and then had 30 seconds deducted from their final 5K time for every rep they completed. The females benched 60 percent of their weight and then had their time adjusted. Gettysburg's Marty Fees beat 36 other men with 27 reps and an adjusted 5K time of 5:14. Biglerville, PA's Bonnie Rodgers was tops in a four woman field with 18 reps and an adjusted time of 12:34. The bench press and run was very competitive among the participants. It sparked a great deal of interest and is one aspect of the run that organizers expect to grow. The other awards divisions involved the entire Gettysburg High School and Middle School Wrestling Teams. All the high school wrestlers competed in the bench press and run while the middle school wrestlers ran the 5K only. Wade Shupe won the high school division with 22 reps and an adjusted time of 7:36 while the middle school race was won by Andy Maitland in 19:28. All proceeds from the Jesse Martin Memorial Run go to the Jesse Martin Memorial Scholarship Fund. The fund enables young wrestlers to attend wrestling camp in his name. This past summer 20 young men were awarded scholarships to attend camps at Iowa, Lock Haven, Edinboro and American Universities. The major sponsor of the Jesse Martin Memorial Run was Joyner Sportsmedicine Institute of Gettysburg. Secondary sponsors included Barrett Chiropractic, Davies, Kreisher & McCoy Insurance, Gettysburg Optimists, Strickland Enterprises, Tommy's Pizza, Winter's Welding, Gettysburg Agway, Gettysburg Mini Marts, Sidelines Sporting Goods, Kentucky Fried Chicken, Denny White DJ and Ryan Stouch Creative Design. GATORADE was the official drink of the Jesse Martin Memorial Run. A special thanks goes to the 45 volunteers who assisted in making the Jesse Martin Memorial Run a success once again. MALE Overall 1. Jeff Hines 14:58 14 and Under 1. Zack Deitz 18:29 15-18 1. Andrew Macneill 16:46 19-24 1. Ben O'Toole 18:24 25-29 1. Eric Mandell 41:35 30-34 1. Kevin Stover 15:18 35-39 1. Bill Chambers 15:44 40-44 1. Courtland Howard 17:53 45-49 1. Steve Miller 18:33 50-54 1. Mike Hileman 18:37 55-59 1. Ed Busch 18:07 60+ 1. Bob Packard 21:03 High School Wrestling Team Bench Press and Run (Time is computed by taking the number of times they benched their weight, and subtracting 30 seconds for each rep from their 5K time.) 1. Wade Shupe (22) 7:36 Middle School Wrestling Team Division 5K Only 1. Andy Maitland 19:28 Bench Press and Run (Time is computed by taking the number of times they benched their weight, and subtracting 30 seconds for each rep from their 5K time.) 1. Marty Fees (27) 5:14 FEMALE Overall 1. Stephanie Yingling 17:54 14 and Under 1. Eudez Catano 40:43 15-18 1. Crystal Dick 20:43 19-24 1. Emily Hess 19:10 25-29 1. Kelly Stover 19:04 30-34 1. Pattie Humes 22:15 35-39 1. Chris Curley 18:30 40-44 1. Laurie Eggleston 20:09 45-49 1. Lyn Weary 22:24 60+ 1. Kum Ye Tarapchak 26:11 Bench Press and Run (Time is computed by taking the number of times they benched 60% of their weight, and subtracting 30 seconds for each rep from their 5K time.) 1. Bonnie Rodgers (18) 12:34
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