Kyle Mills / Post Independent
New Castle residents Wesley Toews and Angela Dunn were the victors in Saturday morning’s annual Hogback Hustle 5K Run/Walk held on the streets of New Castle.
Toews ran a time of 17 minutes, 56 seconds to make it to the finish line tape in the town park well ahead of the rest of the field of approximately 75 runners and walkers. Former Grand Valley High School standout runner Sam Whelan took second overall at 18:31. while Glenwood’s Josh Hejtmanek was third, posting a time of 18:44.
For the ladies, Angela Dunn excelled on the course that covers one of her many training routes. Dunn made it up the long hill into Castle Valley and then cruised the downhill to the Main Street finish line in 20:56. Dunn finished in ninth place overall.
“I always get a little more nervous running this race since it’s in my hometown, but I train on the race course quite a bit, so I know what to expect,” Dunn said. “For me, it’s more about the process of enjoying running and trying to improve myself each time out than it is about winning.”
Kayla Toews, also of New Castle, was second for the women at 21:41. Kati Whelan rounded out the women’s podium in third place with a time of 22:58.
The Hogback Hustle 5K is a benefit for the New Castle Lions Club.
The final race in the 2019 Colorado River Valley Charity Race Series will take place at the Rifle Mountain Falls State Park on Saturday, August 3 with the Woodchuck Chase 5-mile Run/Walk. Race start time will be 9 a.m., with buses leaving the Rifle Fish Hatchery at 8:30 a.m. to take runners to the starting area.
Also on tap the following week on Saturday, August 10, is the annual Pyro’s Push it Up Trail Run on the Flat Tops Wilderness Area. The race features varied distances of 2 miles, 5 miles, and 8 miles. Pyro’s Run is in honor of fallen fighter pilot Captain William DuBois.
Hogback Hustle Top Twenty Overall, *Female: 1. Wesley Toews, 17 minutes, 56 seconds; 2. Sam Whelan, 18:31; 3. Josh Hejtmanek, 18:44; 4. Benny Swanson, 19:36; 5. Phil Dunn, 19:49; 6. Tyler Parker, 20:12; 7. Enrique Palomares, 20:32; 8. CJ Alberts, 20:50; 9. Angela Dunn*, 20:56; 10. Kayla Toews*, 21:41; 11. Josh Nye, 22:23; 12. Brad Palmer, 22:52; 13. Kati Whelan*, 22:58; 14. James Parker, 23:07; 15. Dan Nielsen, 23:15; 16. Bob DuBois, 23:33; 17. Johnny Utah, 23:37; 18. Halie Herbert*, 25:28; 19. David Raiford, 25:47; 20. Chelyn McCain*, 26:18.
