‘Chip’ breaks tie between Comet SQs at Firecracker 5K

By John Burbridge

sports@charlescitypress.com

CHARLES CITY — The first photo-finish to determine a race came in the late 19th Century.

Race technology has advanced a tad since then, and at Thursday’s Charley Western Trail Firecracker 5K, it broke a tie between two accomplished Charles City Comet runners.

As if they had this planned all along, incoming seniors Xander Graeser and Nick Williams — both of whom will by vying for a place among select company when they go for their fourth cross country state-qualifying berths this fall — ran shoulder to shoulder throughout the morning race like they were already in training-partner mode for the forthcoming XC season, and crossed the finish line “simultaneously” to pace the pack.

I quote with ironic reference to simultaneously because virtually nothing in this physical world happens “simultaneously” — and the chip-tracking tech employed in the 22nd-annual race further emphasized that when it awarded Williams the overall winner with a time of 18 minutes, 41.0 seconds; Graeser was runner up (18:41.2).

While Graeser and Williams are entering the homestretches of their high school careers, another runner is about to begin one.

Eighth-grader Meghan Korbel paced the female field with a time of 21:36 ahead of female runner-up Elise Dykstra (22:03).

For the first time in race history, the race started on the Charles City High School track, where the runners did a lap before venturing out onto and back-and-forth along the Charley Western Trail adjacent to the track and high school before returning to the track where runners did a reverse loop to the start/finish inflatable arc.

Proceeds from the race go to CWT upgrades.

Charley Western Trail
Firecracker 5K

July 4

Top 3 Placers

MALE OVERALL — 1. Nick Williams 18:41.0, 2. Xander Graeser 18:41.2, 3. Jacob Buss 19:19.

FEMALE OVERALL — 1. Meghan Korbel 21:36, 2. Elise Dykstra 22:03, 3. Payton Reams 24:11.

14-&-UNDER MALE — 1. Liam Dawravoo 20:52, 2. Cooper Mahnesmith 23:39, 3. Nick Williams 25:13.

14-&-UNDER FEMALE — 1. Camryn Molstead 27:35, 2. Remington Wadsworth 28:27, 3. Renley Havey 30:36.

15-19 MALE — 1. Graeser, 2. Jordin Ritter 19:43, 3. Talan Weber 21:02.

15-19 FEMALE — 1. Dykstra, 2. Olivia Beaune 25:17, 3. Cici Herrick 25:18.

20-29 MALE — 1. Nicholas Heying 19:56, 2. Austin Staudt 28:30.

20-29 FEMALE — 1. Reams, 2. Gloria Noll 27:56, 3. Sydney Fullerton 37:15.

30-39 MALE — 1. Buss, 2. Brett Freeseman 22:31, 3. Ben Swartzrock 23:04.

30-39 FEMALE — 1. Katie McIntire 26:59, 2. Renae Taylor 28:10, 3. Danielle Rippentrop 28:33.

40-49 MALE — 1. Matt Williams 22:32, 2. Scott Hansen 23:53, 3. Shane Behrendsen 25:08.

40-49 FEMALE — 1. Megan Blickenderfer 24:40, 2. Lesley Dawravoo 27:23, 3. Anila Kloberdanz 31:43.

50-59 MALE — 1. Chad McKeag 24:40, 2. Brian Watkins 25:09, 3. Edgar Hervent 26:34.

50-59 FEMALE — 1. Jenna Haglund 24:55, 2. Jobyna Johnston 32:00, 3. Krista Noah 34:33.

60-69 MALE — 1. Keith Dykstra 23:50, 2. Douglas Beauchamp 25:37, 3. Mark Miller 27:03.

60-69 FEMALE — 1. Laura Wallace 30:47, 2. Leslie Northrop 34:32.

70-&-OVER MALE — 1. Bruce Eldridge 29:40, 2. David Fedler 29:49.