Area Runners Burn Up A Chilly HMSA Classical 25K Course in Houston

            The top drawer local effort of the day at this year’s HMSA Classical 25K in downtown Houston went to The Woodlands’ Vera Heg, who became the third The Woodlands resident to capture one of the prized local elite invited runner slots to this year’s Chevron Houston Marathon and Aramco Half Marathon.

            Heg, 50, posted a gun time of 1:51:11 to easily get under the 2:01:36 qualifying standard and finish as the third overall masters female at the second race in the Houston Marathon Warm-Up Series.

Vera Heg runs down a Chevron Houston Marathon local elite invited runner spot (Photo courtesy of Jon Walk)

            Seabrook’s Laura Bennett, 42, and Houston’s Jody Berry, 50, were the top two masters female finishers, but both had already secured their invited runner spots.

Berry did so at the United Space Alliance Space City 10-Miler on Sunday, October 10 to open the door for Heg to gain entry to this year’s marathon.

The Woodlands Running Club’s Pam Meaux, 50, who qualified three weeks ago at the Houston Half Marathon, easily won her age group in 1:51:56 – more than seven minutes ahead of the Houston Striders’ Cyndie Keene. 

Four-time Ironman finisher Nora Wilson, 54, was fifth in the division in 2:14:34.

The Woodlands' Nancy Prejean continues to excel on the roads at the age of 65.  (Photo courtesy of Jon Walk)

Nancy Prejean, 65, of The Woodlands continues to be the ageless wonder as she hit the Chevron Houston Marathon local elite invited runner qualifying standard for the third straight race to win her age group in 2:03:56.

          TWRC’s Skip Moschell, 52, was fifth in a tough 50-54 age group with a time of 1:45:24.  First and second place finishers Richard Peoples and Rich Fredrich earned local elite invited runner slots already this year, while fourth place age group finisher Phillip Trumbly, who was 36 seconds ahead of Moschell, was an invited runner to the Chevron Houston Marathon last year.

TWRC's Wayne Rutledge puts the miles in towards another landmark Chevron Houston Marathon finish.  (Photo courtesy of Jon Walk)

            Ironman Austria finisher Don Cole, 50, and Wayne Rutledge, 53, finished in 1:56:27 (16th in age group) and 2:08:09 (37th), respectively.

            The Woodlands’ Brandon Sager, 28, and Ironman Louisville finisher Jarrett Hubert, 27, went fifth and eighth, respectively, in the 25-29 age group with times of 1:43:43 and 1:45:48.

            The Woodlands Running Club’s Randy Smith, 33, made a very respectable debut at the 25K distance with a 2:06:42 showing.         

Nicole Richardson collects her first place age group award.  (Photo courtesy of Jon Walk)

            Spring’s Nicole Richardson, 30, handily won her age group by more than five minutes in 1:48:03, while finishing eighth overall.

            Montgomery’s Vanessa Servantes, 39, ran all three loops steady to turn in a 2:19:51 performance, good for 11^th in the 35-39 division.

            The Woodlands Running Club’s Wayne Hudson, 46, was fifth in his age group in 1:47:27.  The club was also represented by its vice president Randy Bradley, 48, with a 2:11:49 showing, while former Woodlands Fit organizer Rich Cooper, 46, punched in a time of 2:29:32.

            The Woodlands' living running and triathlon legend Jim Braden, 75, was fourth in his age group in 2:19:06.