HOMETOWN HEROES: LOCAL RUNNERS TO CARRY OLYMPIC TORCH

All the Olympic torchbearers admit being somewhat nervous about their relay run Monday but say they are up to the challenge.

"I wasn't chosen for my athletic ability," said Jeff Krantz. "I'm not a natural."

Krantz is just one of 25 "community heroes" chosen by the Area Wide United Way to carry the Olympic flame through Cape Girardeau County. Another six people were chosen by Coca-Cola to carry the flame.

"I've always been a fan of the Olympics," Kevin Leathers said, adding that he remembers watching the games as a child. "I've always followed the (Games), but never thought I'd be part of it."

As the first relay runner, Leathers now has a chance to participate in the Olympic Games. He will carry the flame from the train up the courthouse steps.

Each runner must carry the three-pound torch for one kilometer, or about six-tenths of a mile. The torch should arrive in downtown Cape Girardeau about 1 p.m. Monday.

It will stop for a short ceremony at the Common Pleas Courthouse before heading on its journey through the county. Cyclists will carry the flame from Jackson to Fruitland along Highway 61.

Area runners in order of their participation are:

Kevin Leathers

Running a torch seems like a natural thing for Kevin Leathers, 31.

The sport of running has been his hobby for about 15 years; he often organizes runs for the Cape Road Runners. "I just like promoting the sport," he said.

Leathers works as a sales representative for Deluxe Corp., in Cape Girardeau. His wife, Karen, nominated him for the torch run. He will carry the flame from the railroad up the courthouse steps.

Ike Hammonds

Hammonds, 37, is an officer with the Cape Girardeau Police Department. He has worked for the department for three years but was a reserve officer previously. Hammonds was nominated by the fifth-grade classes at May Greene School where he teaches GREAT classes in gang and drug awareness. He also is a member of the Community Caring Council neighborhood advisory board for the school.

Jeffrey Krantz

Krantz, who will be 42 in July, says he wasn't nominated for his athletic ability. "It's obvious that it wasn't for athletics," he said. "But I've been training. It will be an effort for me."

Krantz is the planning director at Southeast Missouri Hospital and serves on the United Way Board of Directors. He was the Community Volunteer of the Year for 1995 and is a member of CHART.

Kathie Brennan

Brennan, 40, never thought she'd have a chance to carry the Olympic flame, but she'll carry it Monday as a Coca-Cola torchbearer. "I'm humbled to do it," she said. "I'll be holding history in my hands."

Brennan is the principal's secretary at Cape Girardeau Central High School. She also is a volunteer for the Cape Girardeau Convention and Visitors Bureau, Girl Scout leader, and president of the PTA at Schultz School. For the last nine years, she has been a chapter adviser for the Sigma Sigma Sigma sorority at Southeast Missouri State University.

Malinda Harris

Harris, who teaches At-Risk students at the Kennett Middle School, will pass the torch to her mother during the relay. Harris coaches the community swim team at Kennett and the Tumbling Tribe, a gymnastics team. She also is a member of the La Femme club and cheerleading sponsor at the school.

Eky Jo Combs

Combs, 53, is an Adult Basic Education teacher at the Dunklin County Jail. She started the class eight years ago and has been teaching ever since. She is a lifetime member of the Girl Scouts, has been a church youth director and children's choir director. She has also served as chairman of the Delta Children's Home. "Every person dreams of being in the Olympics, but we all can't compete," she said. "Being a torchbearer will be my chance to be part of the Olympics."

Jerry Combs

Jerry Combs will receive the torch from his wife, Eky. He is president of Baker Implement Co., a farm equipment dealer. He completed the New York City Marathon in 1988. The Combs family is interrupting a vacation to participate in the relay.

Kayse Lenox

Lenox is a student at Dexter schools

why is she a torchbearer?

Jan McFerron

McFerron, 39, is a secretary at First Baptist Church in Advance. She was selected for her volunteer work at the church. She is a choir member and occasionally directs the musicians.

Kenneth McFerron

The 39-year-old McFerron said carrying the torch flame will "bring me closer to being a part of the Olympic Games." He works at McFerron Farms in Advance and trains as a marathon runner. He will light a torch from the flame his wife carries.

Pedro Dimaguila

Dimaguila, 31, of Sikeston wanted to compete in the Olympic Games but was chosen to run a torch relay instead. "I guess this is a start," he said. Dimaguila works at Health Facilities Rehabilitation Services, a nursing home in Sikeston. He is not a runner but has been practicing daily. "I was out of breath the first time," he said.

Charlie Herbst

Herbst, 33, also was nominated by fifth-grade students at May Greene Elementary School. His torch will be on display at the school.

He has been a police officer in Cape Girardeau for six years. Herbst is involved in the Caring Communities projects at May Greene and Franklin schools. "I'm in good enough shape, but I've been preparing for it," he said, adding that he rides a bicycle for exercise.

H.W. Meyr

Carrying the torch will be a once-in-a-lifetime experience, Meyr said. "You can see how it connects the country. It shows the spirit of the Olympics." The 42-year-old Meyr was nominated by his wife and daughter. Meyr works at Harold Meyr Accounting in Cape Girardeau. He is a member of the Cape Road Runners and a former school board member at Trinity Lutheran School. "I'm not anybody special," he said. "I'm amazed at the excitement it's caused in the community."

Charlie Clippard

Clippard, 70, lives at the Missouri Veteran's Home and will carry the torch past Memorial Park Cemetery. He served in both World War II and Korea. He has been training for the relay and has competed in the Senior Olympics.

Andrew Bettag

Bettag, 14, is an eighth-grade student at Cape Girardeau Central Junior High School. He plays basketball and football at the school but is not a runner. "I just don't want it to blow out," he said. Bettag was nominated by his sister, Rachel.

Justin Johnson

Johnson, 15, was chosen as a torch runner through the Coca-Cola nominations. He is a freshman at Thomas W. Kelly High School in Benton and is a member of the FFA, track team, student council and Cape Girardeau Road Runners. He was nominated by his aunt, Geneva Jones of Sikeston.

Terry McDowell

McDowell is president of the Cape Road Runners and covers about 14 miles during his daily runs. McDowell finds time to run before and after work at Rust & Martin. "I've been doing it about 12 years, but not at that mileage," he said. He also is a member of the Cape Girardeau Chamber of Commerce, American Society of Interior Designers and volunteers with the American Cancer Society. "I think it's an exciting thing to do," he said of the torch relay. He will carry the flame into the city limits of Jackson.

Cindy Sprigg

Sprigg, 35, was nominated by her father's office in Hayti. She is a veterinarian at Cross Point Clinic in Cape Girardeau. "I'm just fulfilling a dream to be in the Olympics. Every kid either wants to be Miss America or in the Olympics," she said. "And Miss America is out of the question."

Sprigg is an avid runner and is a member of the Cape Road Runners and Christ Presbyterian Church. She runs about 20 or 30 miles a week, but is recovering from a knee injury.

Stan Essner

Carrying the torch is Stan Essner's reward for being a community volunteer. "There is nothing more satisfying than seeing a child catch their first fly ball, get their first hit, or make their first basket," he said. "This is one of the greatest thrills of my life."

Essner, 40, works at Lone Star Cement Co. as an electrician. He is a member of the Knights of Columbus, 4-H Club and coaches little league sports in the Benton area.

Shirley Essner

Shirley Essner, 42, knows that she's carrying the Olympic torch as a representative for both the state and the nation. She is a secretary and bookkeeper at St. Denis School in Benton. She is president of the Kelly Booster Club at Kelly High School, a 4-H leader and an officer in the Benton Women's Club.

Jack Watts

The physical endurance of a one kilometer run won't be a problem for Jack Watts. He's been cross-training for the Olympic relay to help recuperate from an earlier injury. "It's a lot of fun to be involved in the community and festivities," he said. Watts is a member of the Cape Road Runners Board of Directors and St. Vincent de Paul Church. He also is president of the SEMO Personnel Association. He works as an administrator at the Charleston Skilled Nursing and Rehabilitation Center. He was nominated by his wife, Barbara.

Rod Nobis

Nobis, 46, isn't worried about his portion of the torch run. He'd just like the chance to run it. "I just want to get it over," he said. "The hype is too much." Nobis, was nominated by his daughter, Nicole. Many of his relatives from Central Illinois will be in Cape Girardeau to see him carry the flame. Nobis works at FruCon Construction and is a member of the Cape Road Runners.

Sue Rees

Rees, 38, was nominated by her daughter, Erica, and niece, Jamie. She teaches gifted and learning disabled students at Nell Holcomb School and is a student council sponsor and substitute bus driver. The school threw her a surprise Olympic party earlier this month and started a fund to help her buy the torch she'll carry. "They gave me a banner and signed it and I got 300 cards. When I went home to read them I just cried," she said. Rees has been running for about nine years. She volunteers at the Missouri Veterans Home.

Debbie McKinney

McKinney, of Sikeston, was nominated to be a torch runner by her friend, Stan Essner. "It's neat to have a friend think that much of you," she said. "I can't describe the feeling." McKinney, who works at Florsheim Shoe Co., will carry the Olympic torch in memory of her son, Lynn, who died of leukemia last year.

Jill Kinder

Kinder, 23, was nominated by her pastor at Hanover Lutheran Church. She is a senior at Southeast Missouri State University and studies health promotions. "I think it's a great honor," she said. "Even though it's not an athletic event, it's neat to run because that's a sport." Kinder is a member of the Cape Girardeau Road Runners and teaches Sunday school classes at Hanover Lutheran Church.

Amanda Bollinger

Amanda Bollinger will carry her torch past her grandmother's house in Jackson. Bollinger's grandmother nominated her as a torch bearer.

Bollinger, 13, will attend Jackson Junior High School in the fall. She is a member of the Jackson First Baptist Church Youth Council and is active in a traveling softball league. She also is a member of the Fruitland 4-H club.

James Burke

Burke, 48, sells insurance and AAA memberships. He also coaches little league baseball and basketball and is Boy Scout troop leader. Burke, who lives in Jackson, is a member of the Cape Girardeau Chamber of Commerce and American Legion. He carried a torch during the 1994 Olympic Festival. He was nominated by his wife, Teri.

Gene Penzel

After carrying the torch Monday, Gene Penzel, 62, will compete Tuesday in the Missouri Senior Olympic games. He just completed a competition in Poplar Bluff.

Penzel, president of Penzel Construction Co. in Jackson, has won medals in the National Senior Sports Classic, Ironman Triathlon World Championship and Team USA World Championships. He is a member of the Cape Girardeau Industrial Recruitment Association and Jackson Industrial Development Co.

Joyce McIntosh

McIntosh, a nurse, personal trainer and aerobics instructor, says her torch run is dedicated to the physically fit.

She teaches aerobics at Main Street Fitness in Jackson and ran in the Boston Marathon earlier this year. "I can keep up," she said. "But I have to practice holding my arm up." Her sister carried the torch in Lake Placid, N.Y., during a past Olympic relay. McIntosh, 38, is a member of the Cape Road Runners.

Dennis Marchi

Marchi, 45, is well-known around town as a member of the United Way Board of Directors, president of the Chamber of Commerce and board member for the Salvation Army and St. Francis Hospital. He is manager of Schnucks Food & Drug store in Cape Girardeau.

Kacie Crites

Sports and athletic events are part of everyday life for Kacie Crites, a sixth-grade student at Jackson Middle School. Crites, 12, was nominated by her sister, Courtney. Although she has been a state basketball free-throw champion for two consecutive years, Kacie is also a member of youth soccer team and hopes to qualify for the Show-Me Games later this summer.

Other runners are Price Kellar of Battlefield and Carl Neising of Eureka.