Article Contributed on: 7/10/2006 12:42:30 PM
It was a familiar sight at the finish line of the 25 th annual Freedom Run: amid the waving flags and volunteers scurrying to finish stuffing goodie bags,
Bob Weiner, 41, of Evergreen, was the first to complete the men's 5K run, with a time of 16:16.
Weiner is becoming a regular favorite at the Freedom Run; he came in second last year, only a week after winning the Slacker Half Marathon, and won the Freedom Run in 2004. Weiner's finish was followed closely by Andrew Hoffman, 22, of Bailey, with a time of 16:27 and Derek Leidigh, 22, of Greenwood Village, who finished third with a time of 16:36. Leidigh won last year's Freedom Run. The top women's 5K run finishers included a few familiar faces as well. Brandy Erholtz, 28, of Bailey, finished first with a time of 18:22. Second place went to Conifer track standout, Jen Webers, 17, with a time of 19:47, and the third place finisher was Deborah Davies, 32, of Denver. Davies finished in 20:03.
The Freedom Run, a Fourth of July tradition in Evergreen, began 25 years ago as part of Evergreen's Summerfest celebration. The first Freedom Run saw 605 participants, aided by nearly three hundred race-day registrants. This year's race had over 1200 people registered, two-thirds participating in the 5K run, while the other third participated in the 5K walk/racewalk. All proceeds of the race, provided primarily by the businesses and individuals who serve as race sponsors, benefit Mt. Evans Hospice and Home Health Care. Mt. Evans has been providing hospice and home health care to mountain-area residents since 1980, along with other services including respite for family caregivers, transportation to medical appointments, and bereavement support.
Top finisher in the men's 5K walk/racewalk was Michael Blanchard, 45, of Castle Rock, with a time of 27:48. Blanchard won last year's racewalk portion of the Freedom Run, as well. Second place went to Daryl Meyers, 63, of Brighton. Meyers finished in 31:13. And the third place finisher was Fred Buchwald, 43, of Evergreen, with a time of 34:23. The top women's walk/racewalk finisher was Patty Gehrke, 41, of Arvada. Gehrke's time was 30:06. Following Gehrke were Carolyn Fleck, 43, of Aurora, who finished in 31:26 and Sally Richards, 53, of Evergreen, with a time of 31:46.