Buttercup Run at Arlee an 'event for all ages'
ABOUT 45 volunteers gathered for the Arlee Community Development Corporation town clean-up Saturday, April 6. The focus was sprucing up the course for the annual Buttercup Run. From left, are Jocko Rangers 4-H Club members Brody and Bailey Smith, and Saige Koepter, and perhaps future 4-H member 3-year-old Boyd Smith.
YOU NEVER know what you’ll find in the barrow ditch or median between lanes of travel during a clean-up effort. Volunteer Lisa Samsel is about to place a huge rusty wrench in her trash bag during the April 6 clean-up at Arlee.
ABOUT 15 entrants get off the starting line of the Buttercup Run’s half marathon race Saturday, April 13 at Arlee. Owen Pierre, wearing #2022 at left, was the race winner in 1:30:26.56. (Joe Sova photos/Lake County Leader)
FOUR-YEAR-OLD Chonte Pete shows the medal he received for finishing the 1-mile Fun Run. It was his first time in the Buttercup Run.
NAP TIME for this little girl in the stroller toward the end of one of the Buttercup Run’s longer races Saturday at Arlee. The driver of the stroller did not have a number and was not identified.
LEON AND Amelia Wieder were accompanied by their 2-year-old daughter Darcy at the start of the Buttercup Run’s 10K walk. They entered the run last year as well.
A total of 213 running and walking enthusiasts gathered in Arlee on a cool Saturday morning, April 13 to take part in the annual Buttercup Run. The event was sponsored by the Friends of Arlee School.
The distances included a 1-mile fun run; 5K run/walk; 10K walk; 10K run; and half marathon.
Proceeds go toward scholarships and $250 mini-grants to Arlee teachers for supplies, etc.
The morning got started with the longest race of the day — the half marathon. About a dozen runners participated in the race that covered 13 miles, 192 1/2 yards, half the distance of a marathon.
Owen Pierre of Arlee and Mackenzie O’Dore of Billings ran close together nearly the entire race. It was Pierre who finished first in 1 hour, 30 minutes and 26.56 seconds. O’Dore was second in 1:30:49.22. Mei-Li Stevens of Billings was third (1:34:30.46).
Brendan Ruiz was fourth, Kevin Eichhorn fifth and Micah Bogage ninth. All are from Arlee.
Age ranges in the half marathon went from 18-year-old Stevens to 62-year-old Scott Cragle of Missoula.
Colt Crawford, an Arlee High School student-athlete, won the 10K run in 44:44.40. Lori Buratto of Veradale, Wash., was second.
Mark Thompson (Lakeside) was fifth, Angela North Piegan (Ronan) sixth, Ryan Harddy (Ronan) eighth and Joe Charlo (Arlee) ninth.
The 10K walk title went to Meagan Woodard of Polson. Her winning time was 1:26.21. Jennifer Nelson of Ronan was second (1:28.23).
Mary Shick was fourth, Ken Rasmussen sixth, Penny Nord seventh and Linda Helding ninth. All are from Arlee.
Nicolai Sage of Arlee won the 5K run (21:03.92). Kendall O’Neill was second, Lochlyn Finley third, Ryan Landolfi fourth and RJ Knoll sixth. All are from Arlee.
Eli O’Neill was first (8:19.51), Jake Knoll second (8:31.78) and Donovin Hanken third in the 1-mile fun run.