Newton’s McDermott smashes record at Freedom Fun Run
By Daily News Staff
SULLY — Some tried to catch her, a few finished before her, but no female has ever run faster in the Sully Freedom Fun Run 5K race.
Casey McDermott of Newton, a current Drake student-athlete, crossed the finish line in 18:18, which smashed the previous record by more than one and a half minutes.
Then, true to Sully’s Fourth of July celebration of “Freedom, Family and Friends,” she found her mom, Cindy, on the race course and cheered her on until the finish.
Another record of 206 runners finished either the 1-mile or 5K race Saturday. The one mile race was won by Timothy Shepherd in 6:11.
The top female finisher was Leah Dykstra in 7:14. A total of 55 participants ran in the rain as the event took place.
The 5K, or 3.1 mile race, began around 8:20 a.m. with 149 participants. The race, which loops twice around the streets of Sully, was won by Nathan Buckheit of Pella in 17:05.
Chris Gallo took second in 17:08 and Morgan Parker came in third in 17:12.
After Casey McDermott, the second place female was Christina Cunningham in a time of 20:22, and Sarah Burnell finished in 20:28 to receive the third place female award.
Many local families spent the morning together during the race. The Veenstra family made matching orange T-shirts to remember and celebrate the life of Dewey Veenstra, who passed away last year. Brandon Veenstra, Sylvia Veenstra and Anson Veenstra were all age group award winners in the 5K.
Diana Scandridge, of Sully, watched her children Payton, Cooper and Hailey run the one mile race and then competed in the 5K.
The Lukehart family from Lynnville of Monty, Carol, Shaylin and Kemper all ran the one mile race. Heidi and Rachel Van Wyk, of Sully, joined together in the one mile race as well.
Julie Jones, of Sully, watched her son, Luke, run in the one mile, and then competed in the 5K. Sisters Cori and Miranda Rice of Lynnville competed in the one mile race and finished together.
Robin Gray, who was the second place winner in the male 60 and over category, ran with his daughter, Susie and son-in-law Jon. Both of them won in their age categories, Susie taking first place in the female 25-29 category in a time of 20:35, and Jon finishing second in the male 25-29 category with a time of 18:36.
Gage Vander Leest, Lynnville, ran in the one mile and his sister, Alexa, ran in the 5K.
Londa Schnell and son, Riley, of Kellogg, both finished the 5K as did Cory and Shawna Tice of Sully.
Brothers Blake and Riley Rozendaal both finished the 5K. Ruth Jansen, of Sully, brought her son, Luke, to the race to compete together.
Many other local runners, Lynnville-Sully cross country members and people from out of town enjoyed the morning of competition.
Race results
One-mile run
1. Timothy Shepherd 6:11; 2. Keegan Fitzsimmons 6:11; 3. Chase Jansen 6:16; 4. Leah Dystra 7:14; 5. Joseph Bailey 7:15; 6. Peter Bailey 7:35; 7. Austin Newell 7:44; 8. Taylor Van De Krol 7:44; 9. Joel Vos 7:51; 10. Karli Roozemboom 8:08; 11. Joshua Fopma 8:24; 12. Erika Van Wyk 8:26; 13. Joshua Bailey 8:26; 14. Lydia Van Ee 8:27; 15. Brian Gidding 8:28; 16. Kyle Terlouw 8:29; 17. Hannah Van Wyk 8:33; 18. Payton Scandridge 8:37; 19. Lynelle DeBruin 8:52; 20. Connor Fraker-8:57.
5K run
1. Nathan Buchheit 17:05; 2. Chris Gallo 17:08; 3. Morgan Parker 17:12; 4. Jim Hackett 17:22; 5. Corey Fitzsimmons 17:42; 6. Kyle Morhead 17:48; 7. Chris Cauman 18:16; 8. Casey McDermott 18:18; 9. Henry Francis 18:20; 10. Jon Dyck 18:36; 11. Darin Schuknecht 18:40; 12. Skyler Giddings 18:57; 13. Bill Trettin 18:58; 14. Stephen Fyfe 19:01; 15. Jack Menner 19:17; 16. Andy Sneller 19:21; 17. Timothy Shepherd 19:31; 18. Jake Bennet 19:35; 19. Mike Buchheit 19:42; 20. Reggie Hoegh 19:56.
