Photo: Janice Spodarek

LAINGSBURG (11/14/04) - Many of the 231 entrants wore multi-layers, expecting the 'Burg Run to be an iceberg. But windless sunshine and mild temperatures made for a balmy November day. The event, held on trails near Laingsburg High School, offers prep and college harriers one last cross country race before winter's onset. Not surprisingly, youth prevailed.

In the 5K Alec Womboldt, 15, from Dewitt, and Amanda Rudert, 17, from Mt. Pleasant, won men's and women's titles. Womboldt, a high school freshman who's run the 'Burg all five years it's been held, triumphed in 18:04 - not up to the 17:35 he ran last year. But he will take it

"I'm surprised," said Wombolt, who edged Mike Giuliani, 17, of Laingsburg, by four seconds. "I've won my age group before, but never overall," he said.

Rudert, a high school senior with a 19:30 PR, clocked 20:01, exactly one minute faster than second-place Peggy Zeeb, 46, of Colon.

"I wanted to go faster, but this is a good way to finish my cross season," Rudert said.

Donavon Hornbeck, 22, of St. Johns, claimed the 10K in 34:57. Chistopher Gregory, 24, of Portage followed in 35:24. Hornbeck, a recent Hope College graduate, took the lead about three miles into the race. "I thought he (Gregory) was going to catch me between four and five miles, because I was getting tired," Hornbeck said. "But I managed to hang on."

Janice Spodarek, 51, of Okemos won the women's 10K in 43:16, improving on her 43:42 winning time in 2002.

"Today was a lot nicer than two years ago, when it was windy and cold," she said.

Spodarek, this year's Playmakers Race Series women's grand masters queen, finished far ahead of runnerup Kelly Muizelaar, 29, of Grand Rapids (48:23). Sandy Smith, 45, of Davisburg (50:04) took third.

"Eight months ago, I fell off my bike and injured my spine," Smith said.

"Now I'm getting back into races, slowly."

Jerry Elliot, 68, of Grand Rapids, won the men's 5K walk (37:01). Lori Lynn Lindquist, 38, of Montrose, claimed the women's title (33:06).

For complete results, visit michiganrunner.net/results/searchable.html. MR