Runners encounterclassic conditions

It was indeed a classic spring day for the Spring Classic.

Runners of all ages, abilities and motivations gathered to compete in the Cape Road Runners annual Spring Classic at the West Park Mall on Saturday.

The event, contested in perfect weather conditions, featured a 5K run, a 5K fitness walk and a youth 1K run.

"We've had some cooler weather in the past; it was even spitting snow a couple of years ago," Ken Peters, president of the Road Runners and the Spring Classic race director, said, "but this weather today is just awesome."

A field of 142 men, women and children participated in the Spring Classic, which donates a large share of its proceeds to benefit local law enforcement agencies.

Bryan Kelpe, 24, of Cape Girardeau captured the overall title in the men's division.

"I was hoping to go for the course record, but I was a little off it today," Kelpe said, after missing the record by 20 seconds with a time of 16:53.

Overall female winner was Jackson native Jill Becker, who competed in track and cross country at Jackson High School and Missouri Southern University. Becker, a teacher at Dexter High School, was timed at 20:53.

"I've been training for marathons and half-marathons," Becker said, "and I wasn't really expecting to run that fast, but I had a pretty good time."

Glen Harper of Sikeston, participating in his third race of the year, finished strong.

That, in itself, is not necessarily newsworthy except for the fact that he is 81 years old.

Harper, who is limited to walking the course now, said he participates for the sake of his health.

"I ran in high school and college," said Harper, a World War II veteran, "then I started again when I was 60."

One of the younger runners, Logan Davis, 11, chose to run in the 5K race rather than the youth 1K.

"My dad said the kids' race was too easy for me," said Logan, who finished second in his age group with a time of 23:48.

Logan's dad is Notre Dame Regional High School track and cross country coach Bill Davis.