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 Women Who Rule . . . (The Roads) Michigan Runner's Top 25 Women Runners Robin Sarris Hallop May / June 2003 Michigan Runner
Choosing 25 top Michigan women runners from the last 25 years is a
daunting task. Our state has produced many great athletes, most of them
personal role models, so it is hard to trim the list. The tally here is completely subjective, based on my own eyewitness
account with additional input from "old-timers" who know Michigan
running history. My criteria were based on a combination of fast times,
Michigan Runner rankings in relative context, frequency of racing in the
state, and longevity of success. Many women named qualify in more than one of my arbitrary
categories, so I have placed them where I feel they fit best. Since I
couldn't in good conscience limit myself to 25, I cheated, adding
honorable-mentions to each group. There is no rank ordering here. I expect to hear spirited debate about
my choices, and apologize in advance as I'm sure I have overlooked
deserving individuals.
The Dominant Ones
Best known as the first woman to qualify for all six U.S. Olympic
Marathon Trials, Cindy raced regularly in Michigan from the time she
was a teenager through the 1980s, '90s and 2000s. She ran for the
Lincoln Parkettes, Lincoln Park High School and Eastern Michigan
University. Although Cindy now lives in Florida, she frequents Michigan
races in summers and is well-known as a double-Detroit Marathon
winner (1983 in 2:46:22, and 1996 in 2:43:36). She still wins many races
overall, even though she's competed as a master the last five years.
Cindy was Michigan Runner of the Year in 1983 (the first woman to win
the award) and Female Michigan Runner of the Year in 1990. She was
Boston Marathon women's masters champion in 1998.
During the '80s and early '90s, Willis raced just about every weekend --
sometimes twice a weekend -- and usually won. She raced well at
distances from 100 meters to the marathon, demonstrating her range
with overall wins in Ultimate Runner competitions at Jackson and in
Detroit Marathons (1988 in 2:41:49, 1989 in 2:38:22). Ella excelled in
the 10K as well, with mid-35-minute finishes. She was sometimes
criticized for her uneven pacing (she would go out extremely fast,
sometimes walk in the middle of a race, then go on to win). Ella was
Female Michigan Runner of the Year in 1984 and 1989. Honorable mention: Lisa Veneziano
The Marathoners
She was particularly strong in the longer distances, and
continued her career well into her 40s. Karen won the River Bank Run
25K in 1980 (1:38:00) and four Detroit Marathons (1979 in 2:44:29,
1982 in 2:45:05, 1984 in 2:43:00 and 1992 in 2:45:21 -- all Olympic
Trials-qualifying times). She was Michigan Runner of the Year in 1992
and '93.
An Olympic Marathon Trials qualifier, Laura has also run sub-17 5Ks on
the roads. The soon-to-be master has raced well at all distances since
the early 1990s, when her name began appearing in Michigan Runner's
Best of Times listings. She has been a repeat winner at many Detroit
area races. Honorable mentions: Kim Bruce, Mary Ann Dickerson, Ann Remmers, Kathy Kubicki Rink and Lori Stich.
The Masters
She was Runner's World magazine's 1992 Women's
Master Runner of the Year (placing second in 1991 and '93). Nancy
moved to Michigan in fall 1992 and has been Female Michigan Runner
of the Year, Masters Runner of the Year and most recently Senior
Runner of the Year 2002. _______________________________________________________
Tina was 1983 Boston Marathon masters queen. She
finished the 1986 Chicago Marathon in 2:58:42 and was Female
Michigan Runner of the Year at age 46 that year. Tina's career was
hampered in the '80s by a lawnmower accident. She still runs and her
name appears in results of races on the western side of the state. Honorable mentions: Charlene Catalina, Laurel Cihak, Laurie Decker, Monica Joyce, Brenda Lynch and Gania Rode.
The Old Timers
Alexa Kraft
Sue, whose racing career started early, ran for Eastern Michigan
University, where she was Midwest Athletic Conference cross country
champion in 1976, '77 and '78. She was also an Olympic Trials finalist during the '70s. From the early
'80s through the mid-'90s, Sue ranked high in races throughout the
state. She is now head coach of women's track and cross country at Ball State
University. Honorable mentions: Ann Forshee-Crane, Francie Kraker Goodridge, Karen McKeachie and Carol Poenisch.
Collegians Turned Roadrunners
Cathy Schmidt
After outstanding Dexter High School and U-M running careers, Cheri
took to the roads in the early-'90s. She ran a Frankenmuth 20K course-record 1:13:31 in 1988 and won the
Dexter-Ann Arbor Half-Marathon in a fast 1:16:56. _______________________________________________________
After running for U-M and then spending time in Boston, Lisa returned to
Michigan in the mid-'80s. In 1985 she set American 5-mile, 8K and 30K
records. During the same year, she won the Boston Marathon and
Cherry Blossom 10-miler, and was second at the Crim 10-miler. Lisa is also known for her three fourth-place finishes in U.S. Olympic
Marathon Trials. In 1986, her 5K (16:40), 10K (33:07), 15K (50:51), 10-
mile (54:46) and marathon (2:35:19) were the fastest by any woman in
Michigan.
Melanie Weaver
Still a U-M record-holder at 10K (33:06), Melanie dominated running on
the west side of the state in the 1981-83 seasons, including a 36:42 10K
in 1981, a 58:24 15K at Traverse City's Cherry Festival and a 34:38 at
the Ludington Lakestride 10K in '83. She was a 1999 inductee into the
U-M Women's Track and Field Hall of Fame. Honorable mentions: Sue Fredricks Foster, Kathy Hadler, Amy
Legacki, Katie McGregor, Debbie Nowak, Sue Schroeder and Jill
Washburn.
The Youngsters
Seana, who started competing young for the Ann Arbor Track Club in
the early-'80s, ran successfully in high school and was a college All-
American. She has excelled on the roads since then, with several sub-
3:00 marathons, a 59-minute 10-mile at Crim (1997) and many wins to
her credit. _______________________________________________________
She won several national track
and cross country titles in the early-'80s. Mara, who came from a family of runners, is a practicing attorney who
still runs for fun today. _______________________________________________________ Honorable mentions: Stormi-Ann Guntch, Laura Matson Mykytok, Kelly McKillen and Kalin Toedebusch.
The Eighties
Cindy Reinhart
This Grand Rapids area standout was first state finisher at the 1985
River Bank 25K and overall winner at the Ludington Lakestride 10K and
Muskegon Seaway and Kalamazoo Borgess 5Ks. Pam's 1:16:08 at the
1987 Tulip Time 20K was the top women's time in Michigan that year. She dominated her 35-39 age group in 1989 at 5K (17:10), 10K (36:55)
and 25K (1:38:37).
She still raced occasionally into the late-'90s, turning in a 1:02:53 10-
mile and 37:44 10K in '98. _______________________________________________________ Honorable mentions: Miriam Boyd, Diane Bussa, Kari Chandler, Pam Clifford, Georgeanna Haviland, Karen Lutzke, Chantel Maury Best, Marcy Nesbitt Kossak, Martha Piper, Rebecca Price-Wilkin and Liz Watch (Storch).
The Nineties
The 1998 Michigan Runner of the Year competed for East Detroit High
School, Hillsdale College and Western Michigan University. Her '98 times included a 17:09 5K, 28:08 8K, 35:25 10K and 1:00:54 10-
mile. _______________________________________________________
Karen had a great career as a U-M athlete/coach and post-collegiate
runner. The nine-time Canadian national team member was 1997 Michigan
Female Runner of the Year, turning in a great season that included a top
state finish at the Crim 10-mile (57:04). _______________________________________________________
In 1992, this ex-U-M runner had the state's top times in the 5K (16:46),
8K (25:57), 10K (32:41), 15K (55:30) and 10-mile (55:20). ______________________________________________________ Honorable mentions: Diane DeBoer-Bunn and Mary Peruski.
Still Going Strong
The 1994 Michigan Runner of the Year and '95 Female Runner of the
Year is still at or near the front of about every race she runs. Ann ran a 1:13:35 representing the U.S. in the '94 World Half-Marathon
Championship, won the '95 Detroit Marathon (2:38:26) and qualified
twice for the Olympic Marathon Trials. _______________________________________________________
She still holds the Grandma's Half-Marathon course record (1:14:11 in
1995) and was a member of U.S. World Championship Half-Marathon
teams in 1995 and '96. In '99, Laurel ran a 57:31 10-mile. She is a five-time winner of the
Detroit Race for the Cure.
Up and Coming
Betsy ran the state's fastest 5K (16:44), 10K (34:58) and 10-mile (59:18)
last year, and kicked off this season winning the highly-competitive
Spectrum Health Irish Jig (16:41). ______________________________________________________ Honorable mentions: Mari Chandler, Sarah Plaxton and Amy Wing.
Where Are They Now?
In
'86, she placed second to Lisa Weidenbach in the Michigan Best of
Times list in the 5K (16:44), 10K (34:20), 15K (53:50), 10-mile (57:57)
and marathon (2:38:06). In the half-marathon (1:14:45) and 20K (1:16:27), she was first. Her '87
times included a 35:13 10K and 2:40 marathon. Laura moved to the
Washington, D.C. area after that. ______________________________________________________
During the '80s, Kayla was often an overall winner in distances from 5K
(17:29) to half-marathon (1:19:00), both in '88. She left Michigan for her residency as a physician in Ohio. _____________________________________________________ Honorable mentions: Donna Donakowski, Michelle Gillespe, Lynn Robins, Carol Shenck, Cathy Stachecki Paklaian and Celia Woodfill.
Her achievements last year, at age 46,
included a Road Runners Clubs of America National Masters 10K
Championship in 39:43. In addition to her writing, Robin is director of
human resources for the U-M College of Literature, Science and Arts.
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