This year’s Stampede — the 5K and 10K walk and run sponsored by Frontier Days — drew record numbers, says Race Director Steve Sawyer. In fact, they had to cut off registrations before race day when they hit their maximum of 850, since they had run out of shirts.
“It was great and we’re expecting even more next year with the 50th anniversary of Frontier Days,” Sawyer says.
Leaders near the finish of the 5K, including overall winner, Landon Samp, checking his watch.
Landon Samp, who runs track at Prospect High School, was the overall 5K winner, coming in with a time of 16:08, while Amy Bartay of Mount Prospect was overall female runner, with a time of 18:55. Adam Procknow of Cary was the overall winner in the 10K with a time of 35:54 and Mandy Kompanowski, who ran at Saint Viator High School, was the top female, coming in with a time of 41:42.
Volunteers Luanne Eisenhardt, John Paschal and Kathy Thompson man a water station.
Runners of all ages participated and from many of the surrounding suburbs, but Katelyn Kiner came the furthest. She has run in the Stampede since she was in seventh grade and this year she took first place in her age group, women ages 30-34, with a time of 24:01. Apparently, she experienced little jet lag after flying in from Strasbourg, France.
Mark Rouse, owner of Runner’s High ‘n’ Tri in Arlington Heights, served again this year as host for the packet-pickup. An avid runner himself, he has points to a number of factors why the Stampede has endured.
“It’s the hometown race,” Rouse says. “People are in town for the holiday and they sign up to do it. They like to jump in with family and friends and make it an annual event.”
Race Director Steve Sawyer talks to runners before the start.
Sawyer says runners like the fact that course is flat and weaves them through the surrounding neighborhood. They also like it because it is a chip-timed event, provided again by J3 Timing, based in Hanover Park.
He also credits the many running groups in the area who support the race — both with runners and volunteers — including experienced runners from the Alpine Runners from Lake Zurich, the Busse Woods Running Club, and many former members of the Arlington Trotters Running Club, as well as members of Prospect’s track team, and other high school and middle school runners.
“It takes a village to put on an event like the Stampede,” Sawyer says, “and everyone that helps as volunteers puts forth a great effort to make it happen.”
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