The fourth annual Cross Country Cup on Saturday was an event for the entire family - regardless of age.
For example, participants in the 5-kilometer run at Western Nevada Community College ranged in age from 7-year-old Peter Brinson to 77-years-young Jack Marsh, who were just two of the 194 runners and walkers who reached the finish line at event held to benefit the Carson City Christian Running Club youth program.
"We were thrilled with the turnout," said race director Dennis Brinson, who had three of his own children run in the event. "You saw a little bit of everything out there; people who were competitive and others who were out there for an aerobic workout or to just enjoy the day with friends."
Drew Casselberry, who won Nevada's state 2A cross country championship as a junior at Incline High School in 2000, turned the fastest time of the day over a challenging 5-K course with his effort of 19 minutes, 58 seconds.
Whitney Mentaberry, who will be a sophomore at Lowry High School in Winnemucca this coming year, was the first woman and 13th overall finisher with a time of 23:43.
Chris Brown was fastest for the 10-K, which was a double loop course, as he ran 44:10. Daryl Nourse, who graduated from Carson High in June and hopes to try and make the cross country program at Montana State University this fall, was second overall in 44:32. The first woman in the 10-K was Erin Seward, who ran 53:44.
The course itself was a good test for any endurance athlete with its assortment of hills and sand.
"The course has a lot of transition," Brinson said of the course which will be used by Carson High School for its home meets this fall. "There are stretches of things - uphill, downhill, or whatever. If there's a part you don't care for, just wait a few minutes, it will change and you will have something different - sort of like the weather.
"One thing about running that course, you can feel good about accomplishing something that was difficult."
A pair of Carson High runners, Andrew Pederson and Jeffrey Martin, finished second and third respectively in the 5-K with identical times of 21:01. Taryn Joyce-Mendive, a top-10 finisher for Douglas High at the state 4A cross country meet in 2000, was the second woman to finish with a 24:10 clocking. Amy Martin, who graduated from Carson High in June, ran 24:14 for third.
Neal Chappell of Stateline was impressive, as he ran 22:48 to finish first in the men's 60-69 age category and 11th overall.
Marsh, the oldest participant, finished the 5-K course in 43:59. And young Peter Brinson ran 35:35 to finish first in the boys 7-8 age category.
Bill Devine, the head cross country coach at Incline High, was third overall in the 10-K with a time of 46:01. Dennis Pederson, 52, of Carson City, was fourth in 47:52.
Bill Penner of Carson City was the first walker to finish the 5-K loop. His time was 35:21.
For some of the runners and walkers, the Cross Country Cup was a tune-up for the 25th annual Silver State Marathon - a marathon, half-marathon, 10-K run and 10-K walk - which will be held next Sunday in Washoe Valley. The races all start and finish at Bowers Mansion Regional Park.
