Three Records Fall at Third Annual Illinois Valley Relay St. Louis Area Teams Win Division Crowns

Records fell in all three divisions at the third annual Illinois Valley Relay, which was held in nearly perfect weather on October 5 amid the hills and river bluffs of west central Illinois.

Bud Runers - Corporate Division Winners

The overall winners and the top finishers in the Open Division were the 1980 Effingham Hearts from Effingham, Ill. The Hearts blistered the 62.2-mile course in 6:15:26, a shade under 6 minutes per mile. They took nearly half an hour off the old course record of 6:44:51, set in 2000 by the Prayer Warriors from Granite City. After the first leg, the Hearts were all alone. “From that point on, we were a determined team,” said John Cash, the Heart’s fifth runner. “We had our sights on the record.” At the finish, the closest team was over a mile away.

Friends in Motion, a team from Newburgh, Ind., won the Mixed Division title and finished second overall in a time of 6:26:12. They shattered the Mixed Division record of 7:29:04, which was set last year by Team Joe’s Pizza of Effingham. According to Don Spring, captain of Friends in Motion, his team had fun chasing the Hearts. “We were encouraged when our teams would meet at some of the transition points,” Spring said, but his team knew after the first six legs that it would not be able to catch the Hearts. “We were happy to finish only 11 minutes behind.”

The Bud Runners, from Anheuser-Busch in St. Louis, were the only repeat divisional winners, taking the Corporate Division and finishing fourth overall. Their time of 7:19:29 broke their own Corporate Division record of 7:20:32. Their team captain, Nathan Rain, said, “I’ve participated in the IVR since its beginning. The camaraderie relays build among team members is amazing.”

In the Open Division, Baton Death March of Springfield, Ill., was the runner up, and the Narrow Road Racers from Effingham finished third. In the Mixed Division, Abe Lincoln’s Pants from Urbana/Champaign took second place, and Guards and Tackles from Chicago took third. In the Corporate Division, Air Mobility Flying Feet from O’Fallon, Ill., placed second, while last year’s second-place team, the Busch Mountaineers, were third this year.

The Illinois Valley Relay, also known as the IVR, is one of the most challenging but enjoyable running events ever held. The race starts in Winchester, Ill., near Springfield, and winds its way across four other towns before finishing at the Winchester fairgrounds. The sheer hills push everyone on the six-member teams to the physical limit throughout the race. It takes courage, coordination and motivation to finish this event. Just finishing is considered a victory by most teams, which enter the relay not to win awards but to take in the atmosphere.

Sunny skies and colorful fall scenery added to the enjoyment of the 2002 event. Teams from Illinois, Missouri, Indiana and Minnesota made up the fastest IVR field to date. According to Jeff Bockhorn, the Hearts’ team captain from the St. Louis area, “You couldn’t ask for a better race. The organization by race directors, the scenic roads and the positive energy from the volunteers and locals were second to none.” Friends in Motion captain Don Spring added, “The IVR was a memorable experience for all of the ‘Friends’. We look forward to entering again next year.”

The next IVR is scheduled for October 25, 2003. For this year’s complete results or for information about next year’s event, consult the IVR Web site, www.illinoisvalleyrelay.com, or write to the Illinois Valley Relay, P.O. Box 971, Springfield, IL 62705-0971.