Weather perfect for annual race
Karen Peterson
Marina Kestner-Pavlock, 8, refuels after placing fourth in the 12-and-under 1-mile Buttercup Run on Saturday in Arlee.
Karen Peterson
Runners take off from the starting line.
Karen Peterson
Chris Dunbar of Great Falls won the half-marathon with a time of 1:22:07.
Karen Peterson
Karen Peterson/Valley Journal Proud finishers Kathleen Tanner, 7, and Eva Burton, 5, hold their medals.
Karen Peterson
Karen Peterson
Karen Peterson
Karen Peterson
Karen Peterson
Karen Peterson
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ARLEE – On one of the nicest days anyone could remember in the history of the race, 2016 Buttercup Run participants took off from the starting lines on Saturday.
“It’s just a beautiful day,” said Tony Hoyt, race coordinator, of the blue sky and 60-plus degree temperatures. In years past, folks ran in cold rain and sometimes snow.
People from all over the country participated in the race along with many locals from Lake County in courses that varied from a 1-mile fun run to a half marathon.
“We even had one from Alaska,” Hoyt said.
Dixon Head coach Aleacia Landon brought her track team composed of fourth through eighth-grade students to the race.
“We use this as a training event each year,” she said.
The race was coordinated by the Friends of Arlee School, which is a nonprofit organization that works to raise money for educational scholarships for students in the Arlee School District, explained Joe Weydt, secretary of Friends of Arlee Schools.
Each year, race proceeds are divided up between three to nine scholarship applicants that might not be at the top of their class as far as grades, but still need scholarship opportunities.
It might be a few weeks before all the revenue is totaled, but race coordinators are estimating that the event brought in an average amount of money compared to years past — about $10,000 — with many donations from individuals and businesses along with race registration fees.
The organization also provides teachers with money to help pay for school supplies so they don’t have to dig into their own pockets. A small portion of race proceeds help with that project.
Many people volunteered to make the race possible including the Arlee High School’s National Honor Society.
“We think this is a really good way to get the community together,” said senior Megan Schick, NHS secretary.
A complete list of winners can be found at https://competitivetiming.com/my-results.
For the men’s half-marathon, Chris Dunbar from Great Falls took first with 1:22:07. Shaun Kendall of Missoula finished second with 1:34:09, and Richard Everett of Missoula placed third with 1:44:33.
In the women’s half-marathon, Bonnie Doerfler of Polson took first place with 1:50:58, Nicole Jarvis of Charlo took second with 1:51:16, and Sara McAllister of Missoula took third with 1:52:11.
In the 10K women’s walk, Carolyn Mirisch of Missoula placed first with 1:25:03.56. Lorraine Hermiston of Plains took second with 1:25:03.60, and Lacey Hermiston of Dillon placed third with 1:25:03.69.
In the 10K men’s walk, Jeff Hughes of Missoula took first with 1:31:46, and Allen Lindgren of Arlee placed second with 1:52:02.
In the 10K women’s run, Adelle Donohue of Polson took first with 53:13, Jami Fitzgerald of Huson placed second with 53:29, and Kelsi Camp of Missoula took third with 56:07.
In the 10K men’s run, Ted Etter of Missoula took first at 49:32, Greg Zell of Kalispell placed second with 52:17, and Ryan Hardy of Polson took third with 53:35.
In the 5K female run, Kit Tanner of Missoula took first with 15:28, Anne Tanner of Missoula placed second with 22:12, and Mariah Earhart of Butte took third with 23:47.
In the 5K male race, Colin Elverud of Dixon took first with 20:28, Robert Earhart placed second with 22:44, and Teague McElwee of Polson took third with 22:53.
In the one-mile female run, Amy Pavlock of Missoula took first with 8:44, Traci Smith of Kalispell placed second with 9:40, and Ashley Ferlan of Plains took third with 11:25.
In the one-mile male run, Thor Pavlock-Moses of Missoula took first with 8:44, Larenz Smallboy of Arlee placed second with 9:28, and Rook Smith of Kalispell took third with 9:40.
