Wheeler paces Areva to Ten Miler team title; Cavaliere masters champ

Ryan Wheeler led a five-runner contingent from Areva that captured its third consecutive team championship in Saturday’s Virginia Ten Miler. That group, which often trains together at Lynchburg College over lunch breaks, also included masters champion Gregg Cavaliere, Brett Boman, Nathan Hottle and Eric Nelson.

“We all ran separately because we all run at different paces, but we all ran really strong today,” said Wheeler, last year’s runner-up to David Cheromei.

Cavaliere’s anticipated showdown with fellow 1993 Lynchburg College graduate Matt Richards, the 1994 Ten Miler champion, never developed.

“Matt was all-American in the 10,000 and I was all-American in cross country and 5,000 meters and 10,000 meters in track in the early 1990s,” said Cavaliere, who has finished as high as third in the Ten Miler.

Rather than by his former teammate, he was motivated by the strong race field in front of him.

“It’s nice to see this race doing well again, numbers-wise,” Cavaliere said. “It helps you I think, especially the last couple miles, when there’s a lot of people in front of you to gun for. (When) you pass one person and there’s another person to go get, it definitely helps you a lot.”

Heather Vozel had another theory on Cavaliere’s success.

“Actually, what made Gregg win, I mean do really well this year is because he has a fiancée now,” said, Vozel, who met Cavaliere on the Ten Miler course after a training run in September of 2007. “He talked to me for the first time in this parking lot.”

But she didn’t fall in love with him until she found out how fast he was.

Vozel ran a PR time of 1:31:28, closing the gap on her husband to be.

They plan to marry next July.

Color Guard runs deep, wide

For the ninth consecutive year, since the terrorist attacks on New York and Washington, D.C., in 2001, Marine Corps veteran and Double Iron Man record-setter Steve Bozeman carried the United States flag as part of the Patriotic Flags Color Guard that ran the Ten Miler course in unison. The troop carried15 flags that represented all branches of the military.

“We’re here eight years later after 9/11 letting the crowd know we are at war and the troops need our support no matter what the conditions,” he said. “(The crowd) is always happy to see us and we’re happy to see them.”

It also marked the 33rd consecutive out 36 Virginia Ten Milers for Bozeman. “It’s just a blessing to be able to get out here.”

Trio extends its streak to 36

Bill Fastabend, 72, of Lynchburg, Bill Draper, 81, of New Jersey, and Jim Montgomery, 75, of Daytona Beach, Fla., continued their amazing run of 36 consecutive Virginia Ten Miler finishes.

Fastabend finished in 1:39:26, faster than last fall, when he ran with an injury.

“My goal was to break 100 minutes, so I’m pleased,” Fastabend said. “It was a perfect day and the turnout was quite a bit higher than in previous years.”

Hometown crowd support keeps him lacing up his shoes year after year.

“Thirty six years ago, I had no idea I’d still be doing it in 2009,” Fastabend said. “It doesn’t feel that bad now that it’s over. It’s a challenging course with lots of ups and downs.”

Much like life itself.

As has been an ongoing trend, Draper, 81, finished nearly eight minutes slower than last year in 2:12:58.

“When I got to the half-way point, I thought to myself, ‘I used to be finished now,’” Draper said, noting he looks forward with joyful expectation to the finish line each year. “Once you get to the top of the hill,” it’s a walk in the park.

But he’s not over the hill just yet.

“I hope to have 20 years left in me,” said Draper, who hopes to run his 55th Ten Miler when he’s 100.

A group of third- through fifth-graders from Thomas Jefferson Elementary clad in orange shirts and representing the running group “Girls On The Run” joined Montgomery for the last three-quarters of a mile of the race, surrounding him like a flock of angels and shepherding him as he walked to the finish line.

“This is such a nice city with such nice people,” Montgomery said. “The hospitality here is wonderful.”

McPhatter family going strong

Frank McPhatter was the fourth man to have completed the first 30 Ten Milers before knee trouble forced him to break the string shortly after that. However, his three children (Lesley McPhatter (1:22.11 in the Ten Miler), Michael McPhatter (1:06.46 in the Ten miler) and Kristin Ogden (48:25 in the Four Miler) participated in the race. Three of Lesley’s girls also ran in either the Four Miler or the Amazing Mile Children’s Run.

Lesley McPhatter’s time was fast enough to claim the top spot in the 45 to 49-year-old age group. It was her 18th Virginia Ten Miler. Michael finished 51st overall. “I had a great day,” Lesley said. “I always love running this race and all my girls ran. It’s still a family affair.”

Beardsley, wife finish together

Guest of honor Dick Beardsley, best known for his runner-up finish in the 1982 Boston Marathon when he crossed the line two seconds behind Alberto Salazar in 2 hours, 8 minutes, 53 seconds, the fifth-fastest time in United States men’s marathon history, after being cut off by a motorcycle late in the race, completed his first Virginia Ten Miler running alongside his wife Jill, finishing in 1:43:09.

“We ran all the way together,” Beardsley said, noting Jill is getting ready for a half marathon in Canada next month. “We like to run together and she did great, especially with those hills and all. It’s a hilly course.”

Beardsley, 53, who had knee replacement surgery in January and back surgery two months ago, was happy to run at a slower pace than usual.

“I’m feeling good,” he said. “I’m back and running again, just not real fast yet.”

Tolsma accompanies daughter

Liberty University cross country and track and field coach Brant Tolsma, 59, ran his 10th Ten Miler with his daughter, Brenda Henderson, finishing simultaneously at 1:38:38.

“My goal was to break 1:40 and I did,” she said. “We had a good time. He was singing me hymns up the hills.”

Eight members of Tolsma’s LU team did the Ten or Four Miler as well, including Dan Hibbs, the overall Four Miler winner in 22:12.

Zealand finds her second wind

One of Tolsma’s former runners, Heather Zealand, was seventh , passing two women in the final mile and a half.

“With two miles to go, it was downhill and I tried to open up my stride,” said Zealand, who maintained her momentum on the climb to the finish.

She thrived in the cool, misty weather and with plenty of crowd support and musical accompaniment.

“It was perfect race conditions — maybe not so good for spectators, but great for runners,” Zealand said. “The bands were great and when you’re running by and people are cheering, it’s inspiring. It’s a great environment for a race.”

Jantomaso kids divide, conquer

For the first time, all seven of Marc and Cari Jantomaso's children competed on Saturday.

Noah Jantomaso, 13, won the Amazing Mile Children’s Run in 5 minutes, 25 seconds.

“It was fun,” Noah said. “We like it. I started off kind of slow because I was trying to go around all the other kids.”

Younger sister Charis, 11, placed second among girls and fifth overall out of 261 finishers in 6:07. She was followed closely by younger sister Sophia, 8, (sixth in 6:21) and brother Nehemiah, 6, (22nd in 6:51).

Older brother Justin Jantomaso won the 14-and-under division of the Four Miler and finished 12th overall in 25:55, edging Peaks View Pacers teammate Stephen Vernon (25:57).

Elijah Jantomaso, 10, missed the turn-off for the Four Miler finish line at Randolph College and had to go back, adding four minutes to his time. He still placed seventh out of 14 runners in the 10-and-under division in 40:17, right behind father Marc (40:05) who pushed his youngest child in a jogger stroller.

Forest females sweep Four Miler

Jefferson Forest junior cross country standout Leigha Schimmoeller led a 1-2-3 sweep by runners from Forest in the women’s Four Miler, winning in 27:38 followed by Abby May in 27:46.

R-C helpers turn out in droves

Of the more than 600 volunteers lending a hand at Saturday’s event, Randolph College accounted for approximately 50 at the Four Miler finish line, in spite of the fact that this was the school’s annual Parent’s Weekend.

The WildCats also had a strong showing from their cross country team, coached by Cat Phillips and Peter Sheldon, the 40 to 44 age division champion in 1:03:38.