Marathon raises more than $2,000 for Clark Fork HS
(Photo by MIKE HIGDON) Pictured from left to right are Tom Prez, Eric Jeffres, Becky Haag and Nellie Lutz-Wolfe, each of whom have Clark Fork High School ties and teamed up to clock a 3:35 at the Wampus Cat Marathon on Sunday. Prez is a retired teacher at Clark Fork, Becky Haag and Nellie are current teachers and Jeffres is an assistant coach for the football team.
(Photo by MIKE HIGDON) Wayne Foster, a 54 year-old from Spokane pictured at the start, won the second Wampus Cat Marathon with a time of 4:11.
CLARK FORK — From teenagers to octogenarians, more than 30 runners braved the heat and took part in the second Wampus Cat Marathon on Sunday, with team options and a half marathon and 5K run offered in the fundraising event.
Spokane’s Wayne Foster clocked four hours and 11 minutes to win the solo marathon, while James Kelly (14), Karrie Lynn Kelly (43), Cross Pilgram (16) and Christine Gwin (45) teamed up to win the relay in 3:19.
Elena Cigala-Fulgosi (50) won the half marathon in 1:34, while Clark Fork High School’s Michael Myers, 16, won the 5K in a time of 25 minutes.
The 5K race had junior high runners alongside an 86 year-old who was accompanied the whole way by a 12 year-old. Near them was 78 year-old race director Emory Clark, who ran with longtime local educator Bill Currie, a 75 year-old from Hope.
After expenses including shirts, medals, prizes, insurance, state permits, rentals of safety cones and signs, Clark Fork High School will receive more than $2,000 for the athletic and academic programs.
Local Eric Jeffres teamed with Tom Prez, Becky Haag and Nellie Lutz-Wolfe to finish the marathon in three hours and 35 minutes. Prez was a longtime teacher in Clark Fork, Haag and Lutz-Wolfe currently teach, and Jeffres helps coach the Wampus Cat football team.
Jeffres said the heat made things tough late in the race, but the scenery along Lake Pend Oreille made it worth it.
“It was a beautiful start to the race on Sunday and ended up really hot by the finish,” said Jeffres. “What a pretty run though. Our time was 3 hours 35 minutes. Next year I hear they are planning to do it in June for hopefully more runners and a little cooler weather.”