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Sedbrook skyrockets to first-place finish at FireKracker 4k

Mike Vidakovich
Special to the Post Independent

GLENWOOD — The Lions Club of Glenwood Springs put on their 2nd annual FireKracker 4k Run Saturday at Two Rivers Park, with proceeds from the event going to purchase eyeglasses for needy children in local elementary schools.

With the race growing to 67 participants this year, Lions Club member and race director Joe Mollica was encouraged by the money that was raised, and the probability that his 4th of July event will continue on the local running calendar next year.

“It was another good day for this race. More runners, and we had everything well organized, with quicker finish results this year,” Mollica said.



Many area runners and walkers turned out to support the cause and get some exercise on a warm and sunny summer morning. One of them was Glenwood resident Larry Thrun who finished 7th place overall with a time of 18 minutes, 11 seconds. Thrun has been a fixture at Roaring Fork Valley races for several years, and he was using this 4k (2.5 miles) distance as a speed tune-up for the Aspen Valley Marathon which takes place on July 18th.

“This is a good speed workout. Aspen will probably be my last marathon, unless I qualify for Boston,” said Thrun, 54, who has run eight previous marathons and will need a qualifying time of 3:40 to gain entry into Boston’s historic 26.2 miler next April.



The fastest time of the day was recorded by 19-year-old Cody Sedbrook, who runs cross country at the University of Minnesota Duluth, but is spending his summer months in Glenwood. Sedbrook’s winning time of 13:19 put him well ahead of two Glenwood High School runners, Mathew Thrun (15:29), and Garrett Like (15:56).

Things look bright for the Glenwood High cross country team this fall, as sophomore-to-be Claudia Hirons outdistanced the women’s field with a time of 17:01 to record the victory. Hirons qualified for the state cross country meet last year as a freshman for the Demons, and she has her sights set squarely on a return trip this fall.

“These races are a good way to keep a fast pace in training,” Hirons said. “I have been running about 20 miles per week and I’m trying to get in 250 miles for the summer so I’ll be ready when the season starts in August.”

The two women that followed Hirons to the finish line were Ryley Sutton with a time of 18:01, and Shannon Hermann at 19:54.

The local race schedule gets a bit crowded this time of year, with an event available to runners most every weekend in the area from Aspen to Rifle. Next up is Saturday, July 11 for the always popular Hogback Hustle 5k in New Castle.


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