Bells Lane 8K

Saturday, November 5, 2011, at Days Inn in Staunton

Race Highlights:

A field of 31 runners completed the Blue Ridge Road Runners’ inaugural Bells Lane 8K in Staunton on Saturday despite morning temperatures in the mid- to upper-30s.

Joey Capuano, a 15-year-old Fort Defiance freshman, won the approximately 5-mile race in 30:22.  Capuano led from the start, steadily extending his lead over runner-up Stephen Robbins to a winning margin of 2:32.  Robbins, 27, of Staunton, finished in 32:54, while men’s bronze medalist John Miller, 20, of Stuarts Draft, finished in 33:29.

In contrast to the men’s event, the women’s race was tightly contested.  Gold-medalist Tamara Stoops, 41, of Staunton, clocked a 38:20 time over the rolling hills of the out-and-back route, and was just 19 seconds ahead of runner-up Debra Gilbert, 53, of Raphine, who finished in 38:39.  Bronze medalist Melissa Simmons, 37, of Staunton, was just 9 seconds behind Gilbert in 38:48.

Selected by the Blue Ridge Road Runners for the group’s first adult race outside the confines of Gypsy Hill Park, Bells Lane (Route 793) runs through rolling pastureland on the northeastern side of Staunton.  Stretching nearly three miles between Commerce Road and the Woodrow Wilson Parkway near the I-81Exit #225 interchange, the scenic, quiet road has become a favorite training route for serious runners in the Staunton and Augusta County area.  Starting and finishing in the Days Inn parking lot overlooking I-81, competitors headed west the full length of Bells Lane to a turnaround mark near the Commerce Road intersection.

The race was the Blue Ridge Road Runners’ last of the 2011 year.  The group will next host their annual 2012 March Madness 5K in Gypsy Hill Park.  Information and entry forms for 2012 events will be available at the group’s website in early February.

2011 OVERALL CHAMPIONS:

Men:   Joey Capuano       30:22

Women: Tamara Stoops      38:20

NOTE: The overall champions receive special awards and therefore are not included in the age division competition.

Complete Age Division Results

Women’s 15-20 Results

1 Miller, Jessica          41:22

Women’s 21-30 Results

1 Coltrane, Elizabeth      43:27

2 Coltrane, Amelia         51:22

Women’s 31-40 Results

1 Simmons, Melissa         38:48

2 Hannon, Teresa           46:16

3 Huffer, Amy              47:49

4 Dovel, Christina         51:07

Women’s 41-50 Results

1 Gauerke, Kelly           42:59

2 Trainum, Elizabeth       44:29

3 Delikat, Beth            47:11

Women’s 51-60 Results

1 Gilbert, Debra           38:39

Boys’ 14 & Under Results

1 Yurish, Collin           35:39

Men’s 15-20 Results

1 Miller, John             33:29

Men’s 21-30 Results

1 Robbins, Stephen         32:54

2 Peters, Brett            37:43

Men’s 31-40 Results

1 Deitz, Andrew            37:36

Men’s 41-50 Results

1 Miller, Tom              33:36

2 Atkins, Jimmy            34:29

3 Tankard, Richard         35:20

4 Stallings, Russ          35:47

5 Wright, Ray              38:05

6 Hinegardner, Brian       38:52

7 Derrow, Brent            44:22

8 Hite, Patrick            44:46

9 Delikat, Andy            47:11

10 Mitchell, David          59:50

Men’s 51-60 Results

1 Garst, Mike              37:55

Men’s 61 & Over Results

1 Wood, Henry              51:43

2 Atkins, Roger            52:56

Complete Overall Final Results

1   Capuano, Joseph       30:22

2   Robbins, Stephen      32:54

3   Miller, John          33:29

4   Miller, Tom           33:36

5   Atkins, Jimmy         34:29

6   Tankard, Richard      35:20

7   Yurish, Collin        35:39

8   Stallings, Russ       35:47

9   Deitz, Andrew         37:36

10   Peters, Brett         37:43

11   Garst, Mike           37:55

12   Wright, Ray           38:05

13   Stoops, Tamara        38:20

14   Gilbert, Debra        38:39

15   Simmons, Melissa      38:48

16   Hinegardner, Brian    38:52

17   Miller, Jessica       41:22

18   Gauerke, Kelly        42:59

19   Coltrane, Elizabeth   43:27

20   Derrow, Brent         44:22

21   Trainum, Elizabeth    44:29

22   Hite, Patrick         44:46

23   Hannon, Teresa        46:16

24   Delikat, Beth         47:11

25   Delikat, Andy         47:11

26   Huffer, Amy           47:49

27   Dovel, Christina      51:07

28   Coltrane, Amelia      51:22

29   Wood, Henry           51:43

30   Atkins, Roger         52:56

31   Mitchell, David       59:50