Mark Wehrman ran 35:30 to win the 10K.
HOWELL (8/18/06) - Ashley Gardynik romped unafraid through a cemetery toward the end of the 29th annual Melon Run 5K, knowing her rivals had less than a ghost of chance of ending her three-year win streak.

Gardynik, 18, a Howell High School graduate who now attends Saginaw Valley State University, jumped out to a big early lead. But as she entered the graveyard midway through the second mile, Katie Singer, 26, of Detroit, crept up on her.

Singer didn't say boo, but she pushed Gardynik to her limits as they raced through the tombstones. "She passed me at the two-mile mark, then I passed her back down the final stretch," Gardynik said.

Turns out Singer was competing in the 10K, whose course consists of two loops of the 5K. So Gardynik's streak wasn't in jeopardy. She finished in 19:53, 14 seconds ahead of Stephanie Giegler, 18, of Brighton. Kelly Passino, 28, of Howell, took third (21:20). Maggy Zidar, 56, of Pontiac was first masters woman and fifth overall in 22:24.

"It has a few rolling hills, but nothing tragic," Gardynik said of the course, which starts and finishes on a steep slope in Howell City Park. She won here with a 20:35 in 2004 and 19:31 last year.

Katie Singer won her first 10K in 41:11
Singer continued to capture the women's 10K in 41:11, her first win ever. "I went out way too hard and slowed down quite a bit at the end," she said. "I kept expecting someone to fly by, but no one did."

Laura Portis, 19, of Kalamazoo, almost caught Singer, finishing five seconds back in 41:16. Mary Dorazio, 38, of Brighton, took third in 44:09. Fourth in 45:30 was masters queen Julie Ledford, 43, of Howell.

Steve Walke, 24, of Marshall, repeated as men's 5K champ in 16:36, topping Patrick Wehrman, 25, of Pinckney (16:53) and P.J. Blain, 19, of Flint (16:57).

"I beat my time last year (16:42)," Walke said. "I've been training hard, putting in some long runs and doing speedwork."

Mark Wehrman, 19, of Pinckney, claimed the 10K in 35:30. Next came Ryan Grau, 19, of Kalamazoo (36:09) and Jason Pridmore, 24, of South Lyon (36:12).

Wehrman finished fifth in the 10K last year. "Training with my Eastern Michigan (University) team, I've improved a lot," he said.

Top masters were Virginio Martinez, 45, of Jackson, in the 5K (18:04) and Michael Suski, 45, of Grand Blanc in the 10K (39:43).

Complete results can be found at www.gaultracemanagement.com. MR