Star-Spangled Island Run Memorable Indeed
GROSSE ILE (5/30/05) -- Old Glory was everywhere at the Memorial Day 8K Run, sponsored by Island Roadrunners and Total Runner.

Runners and walkers carried flags. Young women painted flags on their cheeks. And many people wore red, white and blue shorts and singlets.

The day also included two fighter jets that streaked across the sky while the race took place. Later, a World War II bomber buzzed the award ceremony. (No bombs were dropped.)

The 460 runners and walkers included more than two dozen veterans.

"This race brings out the patriot in everyone," said Jon Hodge, 20, of Grosse Ile. "It's one of my favorites."

Hodge, a Northwood University student who took fifth overall last year, won the men's 8K this year in 26:09. Hodge finished ahead of his friend, Joshua Stryker, 25, of Byron Center (26:30), an 800-meter specialist who coaches sprints and middle distance for the Northwood track team. "Jon went out really hard," Stryker said. "I knew he was going to do that. I reeled him a bit at the end. But he had it won.

"At the start I was running with Brian Olsen," Stryker continued. "He's a strong masters runner, so I knew he was a good guy to hang with. And I'm not a distance runner by trade. So I just tucked in, let Brian take me through two miles, and then went from there."

In finishing third overall in 27:11, Olsen, 44, of Jackson, beat David Watkins, 43, of Birmingham (28:28) for the masters crown.

"This is my second year here," said Olsen, who won the masters last year also. "My wife, Martha, and I liked it so much that we came back."

Valari Ambrose, 38, of Wyandotte, finished first among the women in 30:43. Next came Caralyn Smeltzer, 21, of Kalamazoo (32:40) and defending masters champ Becky Rudnicki (33:34), 41, of Oregon, Ohio, and Martha Olsen, 41, of Jackson (34:18).

It was Ambrose's first trip back to this race in more than two decades.

"I think I may have been in the eighth grade at that time," said Ambrose, who has now won three races in last eight months. "My family would just go out and do runs. Competing wasn't a high priority for me back then."

It became one. Ambrose went on to become the first four-year high- school cross country champ in state history, winning Class B titles for Riverview Gabriel Richard from 1981-84.

Winning grand masters (ages 50-59) titles were Gary Rizzo, 53, of Ann Arbor (29:46) and Donna Olson, 55, of Canton (36:13). Senior masters crowns went to Milford residents Doug Goodhue, 63, in 30:27, and Ellen Nitz, 64, in 40:34.

For more information about the Memorial Day 8K, go to www.islandroadrunners.net. MR