Willie's Run for the Environment is Oct. 17
Those who knew Jackson Hole's Willie Neal realize that the 19-year-old Sun Valley Ski Education Foundation Nordic skier was also enthusiastic about environmental causes.
Wood River High School senior Daniel Sundali, a teammate of Neal's on the SVSEF team, was inspired by Neal's passions and memory in creating the first "Willie's Run for the Environment" as his senior project at the Hailey school.
The 5-kilometer (3.1-mile) trail run is scheduled for Saturday, Oct. 17 at Hulen Meadows Park north of Ketchum. It is being held in memory of Neal, who was killed on Father's Day June 21, 2009 while roller skiing in Maine.
All proceeds will go to the Willie Neal Environmental Awareness Fund, said Sundali. "Willie was one of the nicest people I've ever known—the way he was, the way he treated people. I wanted to do something in his memory as my senior project," said Sundali, 17.
The Elephant's Perch in Ketchum will accept advance registrations ($20 individuals, $50 per family up to 5 members). Day-of-race registrations will also be accepted. There will be a kids' 10-and-under race around the park at 10 a.m., then the main event will occur about 10:30 a.m. on Oct. 17.
Foothills 5k welcomes 45 runners
Carey High School's To the Max vocal group will receive proceeds from the Foothill 5-kilometer (3.1-mile) Fun Run and Walk Saturday, Sept. 26 in Carey. There were over 45 runners and walkers.
Participants included kids 12-and-under in pre-race short sprints. Carey City crew sponsored the event. Saturday's winners were Shane Bingham in a personal-best time of 19:16, and Andrea Bingham (20:25).
Results by age class:
Women 51-and-over: 1—Ellen Judd 29:01. 2—Laurie Ellsworth 29:30. 3—Karma Bingham 32:24. 4—Vicky Reay 39:12.
Women 41-50: 1—Betty Adamson 34:59.
Men 31-40: 1—Robert Van Every 23:17. 2—Lane Kirkland 25:21. Women: 1—Andrea Bingham 20:25. 2—Evelyn Williams 21:38. 3—Danielle Versis 31:42. 4—Shawna Parke 38:03.
Men 21-30: 1—Jordan Blanchard 20:46. 2—Colt Sweeten 23:41. 3—Patrick Hendrix 24:06. 4—Matt Harmon 26:50. Women: 1—Jessica Hatch 30:48. 2—Erica Cook 30:54.
Men 13-20: 1—Shane Bingham 19:16. 2—Brad Peck 20:58. 3—Nathaniel Van Every 22:07. 4—Blair Peck 27:11. 5—Alex Ramsey 27:53. 6—Bryson Van Every 32:54. Women: 1—Jaide Parke 23:02. 2—Micaela Adamson 27:08. 3—Jessica Parke 27:09. 4—Amy Ellsworth 27:13. 5—Charmaine Kirkland 28:17. 6—Lilly Rivera 28:50. 7—Daphne Kirkland 35:10. 8—Morgan Parke 35:17.
Boys 12-and-under: 1—Joe Parke and Bayley Bingham 25:55. 2—Payson Bingham 26:25. Girls: 1—Shayla Adamson 31:40. 2—Athona Versis 32:51. 3—Paige Koudelka 35:08. 4—Jaicee Parke 39:40. 5—Felicity Black 39:46.
Women's 5k walk: 1—Tasha Parke 42:05. 2—Ranae Adamson 43:17. 3—Elizabeth Van Every 46:07. 4—Kathleen Lee 46:08. 5—Rebekah Harmon 46:09. 6—Chantele Styhl 48:46.
Holt hired as Utes Nordic ski coach
The University of Utah ski team on Aug. 27 announced the hiring of Ketchum's Abi Holt as head Nordic coach. The news was posted Sept. 16 on The Community School Web site. Holt is a graduate of The Community School of Sun Valley.
Holt arrived at Utah from Hollyburn Ski Club in Vancouver, B.C., Canada. There she spent a year as the first-ever head coach for the club. She coached Hollyburn's first four athletes to qualify for the national championships. Three were named to the B.C. Provincial Development Squad.
In addition to working with Utah skiers for the 2009-10 season, former Sun Valley Ski Education Foundation (SVSEF) Nordic national champion Holt will also serve as a wax technician for the U.S. Ski Team.
Prior to Hollyburn, Holt spent five years as the SVSEF assistant Nordic program director and ski coach.
"I think we have a great team and I am excited to work with collegiate athletes who are focused on their racing," Holt said. "There is a ton of great energy on this team and everyone is raring to go."
Holt has been coaching for nine years. She has coached six U.S. National Junior champions and one National champion. She coached three winters in Europe with the U.S. Ski Team at the J1 Scandinavian Championships, Scando Cup and Europa Cup.
Holt was a three-time national champion and a 17-time Junior All-American for the Sun Valley Nordic team. She spent four years racing at Dartmouth College in New Hampshire, earning All-America honors in addition to being a two-time team captain.
Aicher second in IGA Tournament of Champions
Bigwood Golf Course men's club champion Shawn Aicher finished second in the Men's Champions Flight Sunday at the conclusion of the Idaho Golf Association's 36-hole stroke play Tournament of Champions at Sun Valley Golf Course. There were 107 players on a sunny weekend, featuring mild temperatures in the 70s.
McCall's Mark Rhoades (72-69 for 3-under-par 141) defeated Aicher (70-71 for 3-under-par 141) on the first playoff hole. Wood River High School golfer Crockett Stearns tied for 10th at 73-77 for 150, six-over-par. Others in the Men's Champions Flight were: 18—Carmen Bradley 81-76 for 157, +13. 24—Kevin Cincotta 83-79 for 162, +18.
Jean Lane Smith of Eagle (77-79 for 156, +10) won the Women's Champions Flight on the first playoff hole. Sun Valley's Brittain Palmedo placed fifth (80-85 for 165, +21). In Senior Men's, Walter Littenberg was 10th (81-76 for 157, +13).
Softball captain stages tournament for senior project
Wood River High School softball team captain Alex Lindbloom is holding a two-day Wood River Coed One-Pitch Softball Tournament Saturday and Sunday, Oct. 3-4 at Lions Park in Hailey. Lindbloom said she currently has 10 teams signed up for the slow-pitch tournament and has room for two more. Entry fee is $100 per team, with all proceeds going to the high school softball program. Games will start Saturday at 9 a.m., with the championship Sunday about 3 p.m. Call Lindbloom at 721-2280.
Women's Celebration runners in Boise
Among the 15th annual St. Luke's Women's Fitness Celebration 5-kilometer (3.1-mile) local run finishers Saturday in Boise were Suzanne Miller 24:32, Cyndy Garvin 25:21, Karlee Stagg 27:04, Barbie Crandlemire 30:24, Pam Pierce 31:05 and Susan Barton 33:36.
Give youth hockey a try
Find out how your child can benefit from ice hockey by attending a free "Learn to Skate Program," for young people ages 5-8 on Thursday, Oct. 1 from 5-5:50 p.m. and Sunday, Oct. 4 from 4-5 p.m. Location is Sun Valley Indoor Ice Rink.
The Sun Valley Youth Hockey Association (www.svyha.com) is sponsoring the free sessions and providing adult supervision for them. Your attendance is welcome at either or both sessions. Sun Valley Company will offer free skate rentals, and the Blaine County Recreation District will make sure hockey gear of all sizes is available for use.
Kids should bring a sports helmet of some type, and wear long pants, a long-sleeved shirt and winter gloves.
Nordic dryland training begins
The Blaine County Recreation District with its experienced instructors Tessa Westbrook and E.J. Harpham will offer moderately challenging workout sessions geared to preseason skiing. You can develop techniques, muscles and knowledge that is specific to Nordic skiing.
Classes are offered on Tuesdays from 5:15-6:15 p.m. Oct. 6 through Nov. 17, or on Thursdays from noon to 1 p.m. Oct. 8 through Nov. 19. The classes meet at The Community Campus south fields in Hailey. Cost is $65 for seven classes, or $10 per class for a drop-in rate. Call 788-2117 or visit bcrd.org for a form.
Chess winner in Pocatello
Blaine County School District teacher and coach Adam Porth won first place last weekend during the Idaho Chess Association's Eastern Idaho Open at Idaho State University in Pocatello.
Sign up for Sawtooth Cycle Challenge Oct. 2-4
Registrations are being accepted for the Sawtooth Cycle Challenge Friday through Sunday, Oct. 2-4. The three-day event is produced by Sawtooth Cycle Challenge, Inc. All proceeds go to the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society.
Organizers plan four rides ranging in difficulty from "fun" (from Sun Valley to Galena Summit, with a bus ride back) to "extreme" (150 miles from Idaho City to Sun Valley). Other rides are "century" (SV over Galena and back) and "metric" (SV to Galena Summit and back). All riders get a free meal Saturday, Oct. 3 in downtown Ketchum.
Visit Sawtoothcyclechallenge.blogspot.com or bluecirclesports.com.
Il Naso brings home the Bartender's Cup
Winning for the second time, Il Naso brought the Bartender's Cup trophy back to Ketchum Sunday at the end of the fourth annual 18-hole golf tournament at Bigwood Golf Course.
The Il Naso foursome of Dillon Witmer, Joel Evans, Hunter Pierpont and Riley Nash shot 57 to nip The Casino squad (59) of Sean Buckley, Dave Penn, Cody Lampl and Mark Belanger by two strokes. There were 11 teams in the tournament.
Long drive winners were Mike Gersack and Jolie Dunn. Closest to the pin was Murph.
Other teams and scores:
3—Sawtooth Club 60 (Cameron Leady, Brian Golden, Mike Gersack, Matt Kaufman. 4—Last year's champion Mahoney's 61 (Shaun Mahoney and Matt Mahoney).
5—Roosevelt Tavern 62 (Creighton Arias, Devon Hagberg, Chris Hangel, Frank Chaviras). 6—Bigwood Grill 65 (Jolie Dunn, Franny Hjort, Felix Gonzales, Sparky Anderson). 7—Pioneer Saloon 68 (Clif Neely, Stefanie Rowley, Garrett Godfrey, Ryan Enrico).
8—Rickshaw 70 (Josh Solly, Andreas Heaphy, Laura Williams, Rick Lethbridge). 9—Sushi on Second 71 (Brenda Johnson, Jill Roland, Jason Johnson, Roger Roland). 9—Cellar Pub 71 (Kristin Derrig, Billy Cook, Cody Proctor, Zach Venson). 11—Michel's Christiania 76 (Jackie Damerel, Ken Freiberg, Sean Strong, Sara Hjort).
