In Celebration of Champions

Our January blog is taking a look back at the persistent, the dedicated, the resolute, the inspired.  We celebrate the culmination of what makes the Platte River Fitness Series a series, the Points Competition and the Finisher’s Challenge.  In both, there is reward in simply showing up.  An athlete doesn’t have to be the fastest or the most talented to end the season as a champion.  Those that keep showing up for our races keep the PRFS alive so that its work can touch the lives of new athletes, and our races can keep doing so much good in the world.  I am profoundly grateful to the heart and “sole” of our community.  Congratulations!

Those designated as Ultimate Finishers have completed EVERY PRFS event in 2024, including the two-month long virtual challenge.  In 2024, that included nineteen opportunities and nineteen goals to work toward.  The 2024 Ultimate Finishers are, in no particular order: Charles Hayes, Jared Lage, Casey Roy, Jeff Bargell, Wayne Wallace, Jack Miettenen, Paige Fear, Kisha Arnold, Malinda Hayes, Linda Kramer, Renee Hahn, Kristy Lage and Sharon Sewald.  Finisher’s Honorable Mention acknowledges that sometimes life takes a turn or two we didn’t expect and that we don’t have to be perfect to deserve recognition.  These athletes completed all but one or two of 2024’s nineteen events.  Our 2024 Finisher’s Honorable Mention athletes are: Zach Merritt, Travis Veal, Bob Veal, Denice Louder, Brandi Hild, Nichelle Nichelson, Stacy Totherow, Liz Brown, Cheryl Uhrmacher and Ronda Veal.

The Points Competition is structured to reward three important things, participation, the willingness to take on more challenge and the effort it takes to improve your talent.  Athletes earn participation points, which increase with longer distances and more challenging events and placing points for the top eight at each race in each age group.

Here are your 2024 Points Competition Champions and the Top Ten in all age groups.

Men’s Overall:  Champion Jeff Bargell, Runner-up Casey Roy, Third Place Jack Miettenen

Women’s Overall:  Champion Malinda Hayes, Runner-up Kristy Lage, Third Place Linda Kramer

Boy’s 12 & under:  Champion Paul Jacobson, Runner-up Sam Carlson, Third Place Britton Blomstedt, 4th Parker Doughty, 5th Wesley Carlson, 6th Jackson Doughty, 7th Noah Klug, 8th Trax Vigil, 9th Wade Daugherty, and 10th Tobias Vigil.

Girl’s 12 & under:  Champion Paisley Brown, Runner-up Bryar Jensen, Third Alma Carlson, 4th Rinlee Blomstedt, 5th Trinity Volkmer, 6th London Blomstedt, 7th Kendall Phipps, 8th Emri Dent, 9th Monroe Brown, 10th Tenley Seamann.

Boy’s 13-19:  Champion Billy Tolstedt, Runner-up Jayden Tillman, Third Axel Blomstedt, 4th Carter Stewart, 5th, Jarrett Miles, 6th Jace Kackmeister, 7th Jordan Arensdorf, 8th James Davis, 9th-10th Memphis Goodwin, William Manning and Ezra McConnell.

Girst 13-19:  Champion Carlee Tillman, Runner-up Lachelle Benitez-Cedillo, Third Kaisley Phipps, 4th Kenedi Creasman, 5th Ashley Robertson, 6th Ellie Blakely, 7th Mary Nielsen, 8th Kori McClain, 9th Elliana Robertson, tied for 10th Jana Bourgeous, Zoe Johnson and Livia Jones.

Men’s 20-29:  Champion Reece Foust, Runner-up Tevin Ouderkirk, Third John Guethlein, 4th Shane Burkey, 5th Trevor Entz, 6th Matt Hahn, 7th Trey Robertson, 8th Austin Anthony, 9th Christian Diaz, 10th Joshua Smith.

Women’s 20-29:  Champion Autumn Schleicher, Runner-up Evey Choat, Third Mickayla Griffiths, 4th Paige Fear, 5th Anna Griffiths, 6th Rachel Williams, 7th Ashley Tolstedt, 8th Mariah Bottom, 9th Lexi Anthony, 10th Kylin Brooks.

Men’s 30-39:  Champion Zach Merritt, Runner-up Matt Welch, Third Charles Hayes, 4th Travis Veal, tied 5-6 Ryan Araujo and Nick Auwerda, 7th Kyle Bottom, 8th Jared Lage, 9th Jordan Vigil, 10th Jake Hasenauer.

Women’s 30-39:  Champion Sarah Nichols, Runner-up Mallory Johnson, Third Angela Johnson, 4th Cassie Hill, 5th Shreya Agrawal, 6th Alexandria Preitauer, 7th Emily Hasenauer, 8th Lyndsey Graves, 9th Jade Carlson, 10th Shelby Walther.

Men’s 40-49:  Champion Casey Roy, Runner-up Keith Hild, Third Martin Seme, 4th Eric Louder, 5th Ivan Mitchell, 6th Luke Johnson, 7th Kyle Craig, tied 8th -9th Jason Blomstedt and Tom Staton, 10th Chuck Rogers.

Women’s 40-49:  Champion Brandi Hild, Runner-up Heather George, Third Kandra Auwerda, 4th Kisha Arnold, 5th Amanda Tolstedt, 6th Nichelle Nichelson, 7th Denice Louder, 8th Amy Sabatka, 9th Ann Marie Blakely, 10th Veronica Wolf.

Men’s 50-59:  Champion Joel Jay, Runner-up Chadd Kohn, Third Troy Hahn, 4th Jamie Gastineau, 5th Ben Cooper, 6th Shawn McQuade, tied 7-8th Dan Frost and Travis Victory, tied 9-10 Shawn Kohl and Jared Wach.

Women’s 50-59:  Champion Malinda Hayes, Runner-up Linda Kramer, Third Stacy Totherow, 4th Renee Hahn, 5th Liz Brown, 6th Dixie Smeltzer, 7th Kari Christensen, 8th Allison Davis, 9th Cassie Mannon, 10th Deb O’Malley.

Men’s 60-69:  Champion Jeff Bargell, Runner-up Wayne Wallace, Third Bob Veal, 4th David Clouatre, 5th Bob McKain, 6th Humberto Gutierrez, 7th Leland Poppe, 8th Mark Cullinan, 9th Tim O’Neill, 10th Mark Bottom.

Women’s 60-69:  Champion Kristy Lage, Runner-up Lynn Lupomech, Third Cheryl Uhrmacher, 4th Sharon Sewald, 5th Lois Nansel, 6th Dee Tuenge, 7th Joyce Delgado, 8th Ronda Veal, 9th Nancy Deckert, 10th Jan Wright.

Men’s 70-79:  Champion Warren Cico, Runner-up Danny Delgado, Third Bill McKay, 4th Mark Empson, 5th Harlan Mekelburg, 6th Thomas Johnson.

Women’s 70-79:  Champion Barb Chamberlin, Runner-up Doris Davis, Third Sandy Adams, 4th Mary Jane Wahlmeier, 5th Cindee Windell, 6th Kay Tinkinson.

Men’s 80 & Over:  Champion Jack Miettenen, Runner-up Del Vanderwerff.

Each of these athletes is an example of our “Four Foundations”:  1. Everyone is an athlete, deserving of an opportunity to discover what that means for them.  These athletes come in all shapes, sizes, experiences, abilities and ambitions, but they are in every way, athletes.  2.  Human health means whole human health, and physical activity supports both improved physical well-being and mental well-being.  These people are helping us create a healthier community.  3.  Individual commitment to whole human health flourishes best with the support of a broader community, and these athletes are at the heart of our community and 4.  Whole human health requires an acknowledgement that we are hard-wired for connection and belonging, and that connection and belonging are essential to good health.  These athletes know they belong, and they are the first to extend an invitation, share some advice, and to let others know they belong in our community as well.  Congratulations to all of our 2024 winners!