Bison Stampede raises funds for Dixon School
CHARLIE ELVERUD, who designed the Bison Stampede T-shirt, was first across the finish line.
"FRONT RUNNERS" take off on the Dixon Bison Stampede 5K. Pictured from left are Derek Walker, Reese Swensen, Lucy Metcalf, Jayna Hale, Abbi Wagner, Dylann Elverud and Kristy Porter. (Carolyn Hidy photos/Clark Fork Valley Press)
KATHY McENERY with running partner "Lil" and Pat Bristol on the Bench Road stretch of the 5K.
MATTHEW MARRINAN, Chelsey Bourdan stride out with their baby during the Bison Stampede 5K. This is 17-month-old’s second Stampede.
Sparkling spring morning, enthusiastic crowd, spirited runners, and mud — a great combination for the fifth annual Dixon Bison Stampede, bringing the community of Dixon together last Saturday.
The stampede and pancake breakfast is held each spring to raise funds for school projects. This year, benefits go toward upgrading the outside of the Early Learning Center, which houses the daycare and preschool. Principal Crista Anderson explained that the hundred year old facility needed old outdoor wiring safely covered, an extended roof, and updated playground equipment that didn’t need welded to keep it functional.
Both the 10K, and 5K thirty minutes later, started out easily enough, straight down the level, paved B Street, but then turned into a grueling muddy hill climb up Selow Creek Road to Bench Road, doubling back and ending back in front of the school. A final one-mile “fun run” topped off the morning,
Local gazelle-legged running star, 11 year-old Charlie Elverud was first across the finish line, smoking the 10K in 48:55. Two seconds behind her was friend and one-time teacher Mike Church, winning the age 18+ (male) 10K in 48:57. The two ran together the whole course.
“I told Charlie as we were on our way down the hill, ‘You decide when to start sprinting, and then I’m going to beat you’,” Mike said. “But once she took off, I couldn’t catch her.” In Mike’s defense, he was tugging a dog behind him, but still…
Charlie said she would always run along with her older brother Collin when he trained for track, starting at about age 7. “I like to run long distance,” she says, and must be an addict, as she ran another 10K in Thompson Falls the day before. For the Dixon track team, she runs the 1600m, 800m, 400m and does the long jump. She also loves soccer. On full display at the run was yet another of her talents, as she designed the t-shirt for the event. Charlie was the only under-18 youth running the 10K, and even though she mentioned her legs were sore, cheerfully sprinted the fun-run finale, as well.
Charlie’s 10-year-old sister Dylan Elverud won the under-18 5K (female) with 29:33. Derek Walker (12) won under-18 (male) 5K with 33:33. Other category winners were: 18+ (female) 10K Leigh Kenning (followed by an intrepid 69-year-old Pat Bristol in second place); 18+ (female) 5K Megan Williams; 18+ (male) 5K Paul Soukup.
Results:
Under 18 10K (female): Charlie Elverud 48:55
18+ 10K (female): Leigh Kenning 55:51; Pat Bristol (time not recorded); Liz Bassler 1:09:35; Kathy McEnery 1:10:57; Michele Conard 1:18:50; Kelly Bick 1:18:52; Chelsey Boudon 1:26:31.
Under 18 5K (female): Dylan Elverud 29:33; Jayna Hale 30:06; Katie Porter 34:04; Reese Swenson 42:58; Abbi Wagner 43:28; Kristy Porter 44:13; Lucy Metcalf 45:24; Adele Rannby 48:12; Rylee Swensen 48:13.
Under 18 5K (male): Derek Walker 33:33; Mark Ioli 34:14.
18+ 5K (female): Megan Williams 30:57; Shawna Olsen 34:21; Caitlin Webb 34:59; Crista Anderson 35:17; Judy Bilile 44:40; Betty Toczek 44:40; Ally Church 45:24; Kimberly McMillie 48:50.