Blue Mountain Eagle
Wednesday, June 13, 2018
A9
WEDNESDAY
June 13, 2018
Going for gold
44 participate in Gold Rush Run & Walk
By Angel Carpenter
Blue Mountain Eagle
ark Kerstens was the first
male to cross the finish
line in Saturday’s Gold
Rush Run & Walk, which kicked
off day two of the ’62 Days Cele-
bration in Canyon City.
“It’s so fun coming to ’62 Days and
running in this race,” said Kerstens,
who lived in the area three years ago
and now resides in Coos Bay. He fin-
ished the 5k race with a time of 20:23.
“It was a great introduction to the
area, and it was a really fun course,”
said Audrey Wheatcraft of Corval-
lis, who ran the race for the first
time, and was the first female to fin-
ish. Her recorded time was 24:15.
Twelve-year-old Grant Hall,
who has been racing in the Gold
Rush Run since age 5, was third to
cross the finish line, after his dad,
Dr. Dave Hall.
“It was fun,” Grant said. “I like
how uneven it is and how hard it is
to do it.”
Organizer Hugh Snook of Salem
said it was the 20th running on the
course, which takes participants
from Washington Street to Highway
395 and to Humbolt Street. Runners
and walkers then face the steep in-
cline of Rebel Hill Road before fin-
ishing at the start.
“I was impressed that we had a
good turnout race morning in spite
of the rain,” Snook said.
Heavy rain held off until noon.
The fastest woman over age 40
was Sheila Comer of Canyon City.
The fastest man over age 40 was Dr.
Zac Bailey of John Day.
The youngest participants were
Noxi Long and Sam Bailey.
M
Eagle photos/Angel Carpenter
Gold Rush Run & Walk participants make their start on Washington Street in Canyon City.
2018 Gold Rush Run & Walk top 10
NAME
Mark Kerstens
David Hall
Grant Hall
Kevin Nelson
Jeff Nelson
Logan Breshears
Sinu Cletus
Audrey Wheatcroft
Katie Nicolato
Sheila Comer
CITY
Coos Bay
John Day
John Day
John Day
John Day
Canyon City
Salem
Coos Bay
John Day
Canyon City
TIME
20:23
21:17
22:19
22:20
23:30
23:38
23:49
24:15
25:11
26:08
PLACE
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
AGE GROUP
M20-29
M30-39
M10-14
M50-59
M30-39
M20-29
M20-29
W20-29
W20-29
W40-49
A dog named Baby finished the race with owner
Morgan Randleas of Canyon City.
Tammy Bremner of Canyon
City removes Mt. Vernon
resident Tammy McKenna’s
racing information after
she crosses the finish line.
Jim Soupir of Prairie City is
in back.
Mark Kerstens, center, gives Audrey Wheatcroft a high-
five after the Gold Rush Run & Walk. Kerstens was the
first male finisher, and Wheatcroft was the first female
finisher.
Prospector softball players receive state recognition
Blue Mountain Eagle
Three Grant Union Pros-
pector softball players were
selected for 3A All-Oregon
honors.
Prospector senior catcher
Brianna Zweygardt, a Prai-
rie City student athlete, was
named to the First Team.
Grant Union senior Mariah
Moulton, pitcher/infield, was
named to the Second Team.
Grant Union senior Cody Jo
Madden, pitcher, was given
honorable mention.
The teams were voted on
by league representatives on
June 1 at the State meeting.
The 3A Oregon Softball
State Chair Tracy Cleaver
said only First Team All-
League/Conference winners
are considered at the State
meeting.
Three Prospectors, Brian-
na Zweygardt, Whitney Mc-
Clellan and Cody Jo Madden,
also played in the 3A Senior
All-Star Games on June 3 at
the Oregon State University
softball complex. There were
27 girls from five different
leagues/conferences playing.
Contributed photo
Contributed photos/Tanni Wenger Photography
Brianna
Zweygardt
Mariah
Moulton
Cody Jo
Madden
A group of 3A senior All-Stars gather after their game June
3 at the Oregon State Softball Complex in Corvallis. Grant
Union Prospectors in the photo are Brianna Zweygardt, third
from left in the middle row, and Cody Jo Madden and Whitney
McClellan, front row, second and third from left. Prospector
assistant coach Lance Zweygardt is second from left in the
back row with head coach Zach Williams to his right.
4-H sharpshooters will head to state competition
Boys seeking
donations for trip
By Angel Carpenter
Blue Mountain Eagle
A group of three 4-H
sharpshooters, Logan Na-
mitz, Cody Bowden and
Trevor Gabbard, will compete
at the state level on Monday
through Wednesday, June 18-
20, in Albany.
They are seeking dona-
tions for their three-day trip.
Bowden, who was named a
4-H ambassador, will be in
Albany for five days for train-
ing in that role.
After participating in three
months of qualifying rounds
in a mail-in tournament, with
a different course of fire each
month, the group was invited
to the state competition.
The boys shoot using a .22
rifle and a pistol for the com-
petition. Their coaches are
Steve and Brenda Namitz.
Steve said the boys were
troopers during the winter
months of shooting at the
Bear Creek Range in harsh
weather conditions.
“We had to call practice a
couple of times due to white-
Contributed photo
Grant County 4-H sharpshooters, from left, Trevor
Gabbard, Cody Bowden and Logan Namitz have qualified
for the state-level 4-H shooting competition in Albany.
outs, but for the most part, we
were able to get our shoots
in,” he said, adding they of-
ten had a bonfire to warm up
between shoots.
Some of their competitors
on the west side, by contrast,
practice at indoor shooting
ranges.
Bowden, 16, is the squad
captain, and is in the ad-
vanced division. Logan Na-
mitz, 14, and Gabbard, 12,
are in the intermediate divi-
sion.
Namitz and Bowden will
add a hunting competition,
which includes rifle, pistol
and archery, to their events
at state.
“Cody has been shooting
with the 4-H program now
for approximately six years
and helps provide leadership
and mentoring to the younger
shooters,” Steve Namitz said.
“Over the years, Cody has
received several champion
and reserve champion place-
ments for his age bracket at
the county level.”
Reid and Brady Dole-Wy-
llie have also been a part of
the group and won ribbons
in the qualifying rounds, and
more youths join during the
summer months.
Steve Namitz said Gab-
bard has been impressive as
a first-year shooter and is
the most-improved shooter
over the course of the mail-in
tournament.
Gabbard said he enjoys
that the program allows him
to be with his friends to
shoot.
“It’s going to be fun to go
and compete with other peo-
ple from different places,”
he said. “I’m proud of my
team.”
Steve Namitz said there
are excellent leaders making
a difference with the youth of
the community.
“I believe the 4-H shoot-
ing sports program is a great
educational tool that teaches
life skills and safe firearm be-
havior,” he said. “The county
has a great shooting sports
program whether your inter-
est is rifle, pistol, archery or
shotgun.”
He lauded the members of
the Bear Creek Range who
allow them to use their facil-
ity.
“I’m really proud of what
these boys have accom-
plished and look forward to
moving on to the state com-
petition,” he said.
To sponsor the team with
a donation, call Brenda Na-
mitz at 541-620-2803 or
Teri Bowden at 541-575-
2112. Donations may also be
dropped off at A Flower Shop
N More in John Day.
Eagle file photo
Junior golfer Clyde Holliday chips the ball onto the green
at last year’s Grant County Junior Golf clinic at the John
Day Golf Club, as instructor Ron Lundbom, left, claps and
Madelyn, Eliza and Max Bailey and Riddick Hutchison look
on. The lessons begin June 18 this year.
Grant County Junior
Golf starts June 18
Blue Mountain Eagle
Grant County Junior Golf
will be offered three days a
week starting Monday, June
18, at the John Day Golf
Course.
Coach Ron Lundbom
announced the lessons for
boys and girls ages 8-18
will be offered on Mondays,
Wednesdays and Fridays for
two weeks. Clubs are avail-
able, and the cost is $30 per
person.
A golf scramble and ice
cream party will be held on
June 19, the final day.
For more information,
call Lundbom at 541-575-
1850 (at John Day NAPA) or
541-620-0427. The John Day
Golf Club number is 541-575-
0170.