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25 years of the Drake Relays
Marathon - - 1969 to 1993
The marathon commemorates the legendary
feat of a Greek soldier who, in 490 B.C., ran from Marathon to Athens, a distance
of about 25 miles, to bring news of his countrymen’s victory over the Persians. In
1924 the Olympic Marathon distance was standardized at 42,195 meters.
The first Drake Relays Marathon was held in 1969 in a steady rain. Twenty-two men
started at the Iowa State Capital and Jay Dirkson, in a time of 2:35:17, was the
first of nineteen who made it to finish at Drake Stadium.
The inaugural race was slightly marred when the lead vehicle missed a turn toward
the end of the race and took some of the runners on an unplanned detour, which added
about one-half mile to the length of the course. Even with the added distance, the
finishing times were remarkable! Seventy-three percent of the runners finished under
three hours, and the last finisher came in with a respectable 3:34. Joe Henderson,
who had attended Drake University and is now the West Cost Editor for Runner’s World
magazine, finished in 12th place with a time of 2:59:13. There were no women entered
in the 1969 event; women had been lead to believe that they were unable to run that
far.
Bruce Mortenson won both the 1970 and 1971 Marathon, setting consecutive course records
of 2:33:27 and 2:27:33.
In 1972, 5’6", 105 lb. Lucian Rosa won the first of his three Drake titles in
a record 2:22:13.
This fourth running of the Drake Marathon was the most controversial in its history,
and produced agitated feelings among some of the runners. An incident occurred near
the twenty-mile mark, when several of the lead runners missed a turn. When they realized
that they had run off the course, two of the runners accepted a ride back to the
point where they were suppose to have turned, and began running again from there.
Two other runners, who also ran off course at the same place, didn’t accept a ride.
These two lodged a protest, complaining that the two accepting the ride, who were
running behind them before missing the turn, should be disqualified. The Drake officials
ruled in favor of the protest. Robert Wagner and Ron Daws, who finished 2nd and 3rd
respectively, both with a time of 2:25:49, were disqualified.
By 1973 the number of entries had increased to 106, and for the first time, women
had entered the race. But the women who participated were overcome by fatigued by
the nineteen mile mark, and were unable to finish. Lucian Rosa, won again in 2:25:18.
The following year, 1974, Kathy Lynch, running with 126 men, became the first woman
to finish the Drake Marathon, in a time of 5:31. John Lesch finished over six minutes
ahead of the second place runner with a winning time of 2:26:03.
In 1975 Lucian Rosa won for the third time in four years, and set a course record
of 2:18:57. Doreen Mowers won the woman’s division 3:47:29.
As more and more runners were beginning to enter the Marathon (over 200 in 1975),
course problems were beginning to surface. Pete Elliott, a runner from the Chicago
area criticized the race, charging that there was virtually no traffic control, making
it very dangerous for the runners.
The 1976 Marathon was one of the most competitive in Drake’s history, when over 10%
of the 275 who entered, finished in under 2:40. Gregory Carlsberg and Janice Arenz
won in 2:22:25 and 3:17:11 respectively.
David Jones won the 1977 Marathon in 2:23:49, and Mary Burns set a new women’s record
in 2:57:41.
The 1977 field had increased to 503 with 414 finishers, and in 1978 it exploded!
There were 1001 who officially entered (933 men, 68 women) and 805 finished. The
race was won by Charlie McMullen in 2:15:19, and Janice Arenz in 2:47:46; both stand
as Drake Marathon records.
The Marathon was now out of control. The problem of regulating Saturday traffic on
congested streets for over 1000 runners was so enormous that it seemed impractical
to continue trying. So, two major decisions were made. First, a new rural course
would be used to help ease some of the awful traffic problems and to aid runner safety.
Second, the day of the race would be changed from Saturday to Sunday. This was done,
because the addition of events to Saturday’s track program made the finish in the
stadium difficult and confusing for the athletes, spectators and officials. In 1978,
Charlie McMullen ran onto the stadium track while an event was still under way!
While these decisions seemed prudent to the organizers, the runners weren’t as circumspect
about the changes. The runners thought that they were being denied the opportunity
to participate in the excitement of finishing in front of 18,000 cheering fans with
the other Relays’ events. This, combined with the increase of the entry fee from
$5 to $10, seemed to be the main causes of the decline in participation.
In 1979, 674 runners started and 580 finished. The race was won by Don Helfner in
2:26:02, and D. Terris in 3:12:38.
The new rural course was not well received by the runners. The route was fairly hilly,
with 4/5ths of it being run on country roads north of town. After finishing, Helfner
was asked what he thought of the course. He described it with one word ---- brutal!
In 1980 John Wellerding won in 2:23:11, and Kathy Molitor was the women’s champion,
winning with an excellent time of 2:51:10. The number of runners entering dropped
to 503, with 433 finishing.
The 1981 field was down to 470, and with the temperature in the 80’s, only 371 were
able to finish. The race for first place was between Phil Coppess and Shane Dooley.
At 17 miles Coppess had a 90 second lead; at the finish there were only 7 seconds
separating them. Coppess won in 2:26:05. The third place runner finished nearly 9
minutes later. The first woman was Barbara Kolbach with a time of 3:04:22
The heat of the 1981 race really seemed to bring out the beast in the marathoners;
criticism of the race was at an all-time high. Drake responded by inviting members
of the TRAFFIC running club to assist with organizing the 1982 event. A new in-town
course was designed and painstakingly measured; more and better aid stations were
added, and there was a committee of volunteers to pay attention to all of the details.
The 1982 Marathon was held in nearly perfect weather conditions with 511 starting
and 419 finishing. Pat McGuire pulled away at the 20 mile mark, finishing in 2:22:31,
and Karen Folley won in 2:59:24. Even though the last 4.5 miles of the new course
were rolling and uphill, the the marathoners enjoyed the new route.
In the 1983 race, which was plagued by strong winds, the entries increased to 706,
the second largest in Drake’s history. Keith Fevold won in a spectacular come-from-behind
victory, in 2:34:40. Marsha Yokas lead for nearly the entire distance to win in 3:01:48.
The following year, Bob Clark, who had been the Marathon Director since 1969, decided
to assume other Relay responsibilities and step down from the position he had held
for fifteen years. It was in 1984 that the Capital Striders began directing the Drake
Relays Marathon. It was also the year that Bankers Trust first became the primary
sponsor.
The 16th annual Marathon course had to be altered because of high water in Water
Works Park, and many of the runners seemed to like the alternate Fleur Drive and
Ingersoll route. The race was won by Pete Melms in 2:26:22, and Sharon Greenwood
in 2:51:22, who finished over twelve minutes ahead of the runner-up! Three men, Melms,
Shane Dooley, and Raul DeAnda, managed to finish before a cold driving rain began
making conditions miserable. Of the 640 who entered, 540 managed to endure the chilling
downpour to the finish.
The weather for the 1985 race was a different story. About an hour into the race
the skies cleared, and the sun began to take its toll on the 394 who were able to
finish. Tim Skopec fought through the heat to win easily in 2:27:19. Cindy Swoyer
won the women’s title in 3:06:52. Scott Little finished in 4:55:15, and at nine years
old is the youngest runner to have finished the Drake Marathon.
In 1986 the temperature was just as high. 459 runners started from the State Capitol
at 8:30 a.m., with the temperature at 66 degrees and the relative humidity at 78
percent. By noon the temperature was in the mid-70’s, and in the end, 392 were able
to finish. After finishing 3rd in 1984 and 2nd in 1985, this year Raul DeAnda crossed
the finish-line first in 2:29:38. Raul finished about four minutes ahead of runner-up
Shane Dooley, who had finished in second place for the fourth time. The women’s champion
was Paula Brackelsberg, who won by nearly seven minutes in 3:03:32.
For the third year in a row, the heat was on. When the 1987 field of 380 began its
tour of Des Moines the temperature was 58 degrees. Two and a half hours later it
was 75 degrees, and by noon, with 250 runners still on the course, it was up to 77
degrees. Phil Kauder managed to hold off a fast closing Keith Fevold to win by 24
seconds in 2:36:18. The heat had taken a tax on the 5-foot 1-inch, 101-pound women’s
winner, Laura Carr, as she had slowed to a walk on the Clark Street hill, near the
finish. But Laura still won convincingly in 3:17:53. The last of the 321 finishers
made it to Drake Stadium in 5:46, and was well tanned.
For the 1988 race there was a dramatic change. For the first time in its 19 year
history, the Marathon would neither start at the State Capitol or finish at Drake
Stadium. The change was caused by the decision to add a 10 kilometer road race to
the Drake Relays schedule. Dozens of scenarios were discussed. Finally it was decided
that the Marathon would be moved back to Saturday, and that both the Marathon and
the 10 km would start in the Stadium and finish downtown.
The start of the 1988 Marathon was moved to a slightly earlier time, 8:00 a.m., as
450 runners began on the Jim Duncan Track, in Drake Stadium. Phil Kauder returned
to defend his title, but Darrell Ziems sprinted past him in the quarter mile, and
on for the victory in 2:35:13. Jane Tompkins-Lundgren easily won the women’s title
in 3:02:54. The number of finishers increased by exactly 100 over the previous year,
to 421.
The Marathon course had to be changed again in 1989. At around 9 miles the 1988 course
traveled through the Iowa State Fair grounds. The Fair officials thought that they
couldn’t provide enough protection for the runners (the Fair grounds is not a province
of the city of Des Moines), and denied permission for use of the roads in the future.
Also eliminated was the infamous “Devil’s Triangle”, but the basic shape and layout
of the course remained the same.
In 1989 the start of the race was moved to 7:00 a.m. Phil Kauder and Jeff Wubbena
fought it out for 20 miles, where Wubbena took the lead and went on to win in 2:29:44.
The women’s winner, Connie Franke, running her first marathon, finished in 3:06:29,
three minutes ahead of the runner-up. Strong, cold, westerly winds inhibited the
334 Marathon finishers. This was the first year that the 10K offered prize money:
$17,000.
In 1990 the course was changed for the third time in as many years. The new course
started at the Stadium, made three loops through scenic west-side neighborhoods and
finished downtown. This was also the first of the two years that the 10K was a member
of the ARRA race curcuit, offering over $20,000 in prize money. The Marathon began
at 7:25 a.m. with 451 runners being greeted by strong winds and 35-degree temperatures
that had a wind chill of 9 degrees. The race was won handily by Jim Pelarske in 2:25:57,
and Ann Vestle in 3:15:37. 377 marathoners managed to finish the bone chilling race.
The 415 entrants for the 1991 Marathon were treated with nice 56 degree temperatures
at the start. And 356 made it to the finish, headed by Brian McCollor in 2:27:46.
The woman's winner, Jill Anderson, said after the race that it was only a training
run for her, but still won by over 23 minutes in 3:02:05.
For the 1992 race, runners were, again, greeted by less than ideal conditions: cold
temperatures and strong winds. However the cold weather was to Keith Fevold's liking,
as he crossed the finish line to win his second Drake title in 2:31:31. Julie Wilson
won the woman's division with a time of 2:58:18. Only 297 runners finished the 24th
annual Marathon; the lowest total since 1976. The 10K still had prize money totaling
$15,000.
The most significant change in the Drake Relays Marathon, since its start took place
in 1993. The 25th running of the Marathon would be its last. The decision to end
the Marathon was an emotional and difficult one. It was loosing support, and if the
trend continued, and there was nothing to indicate that it wouldn't, there soon would
not be enough participants to justify the expense and effort. So it was decided that
rather than allow the Marathon to die of attrition, to try and go out on a high note.
A high it was as 526 runners finished the end of an era in Iowa running. Keith Fevold
won the men's division in 2:33:08, the second 3-time winner in Drake history. The
inaugural 8k was well received with 1000 runners. Joe Henderson, Runner's World Editior
and finisher of the 1st, 10th and 25th Drake Relays Marathon, summed it up, "The
race went out in style".
MEN Sub-2:30
1. Charlie McMullen* 2:15:19 ’78
2. Lucian Rosa* 2:18:57 ’75
3. Allen Zutterland 2:20:51 ’78
4. Dennis Delmont 2:21:10 ’75
5. Lucian Rosa* 2:22:13 ’72
6. Gregory Carlsberg* 2:22:25 ’76
7. Pat McGuire* 2:22:31 ’82
8. Bruce Mortenson 2:22:55 ’78
9. John Wellerding* 2:23:11 ’80
10. Charles Burrows 2:23:34 ’76
11. David Jones* 2:23:49 ’77
12. Patrick Rupel 2:23:51 ’75
13. Ray Fredrickson 2:23:58 ’76
14. Barney Klecker 2:24:24 ’77
15. Kurt Graves 2:24:24 ’82
16. Bruce Mortenson 2:24:40 ’76
17. Gorden Cookshaw 2:25:17 ’78
18. Lucian Rosa* 2:25:18 ’73
19. Tim Skopec 2:25:45 ’82
20. Bruce Mortenson 2:25:47 ’77
21. James Pelarske* 2:25:57 '90
22. Don Helfner* 2:26:02 ’79
23. John Lesch* 2:26:03 ’74
24. Mike Francis 2:26:04 ’78
25. Phil Coppess* 2:26:05 ’81
26. Shane Dooley 2:26:12 ’81
27. Shane Dooley 2:26:14 ’82
28. Pete Melms* 2:26:22 ’84
29. Michael Seaman 2:26:30 ’76
30. Dennis Spencer 2:26:34 ’72
31. Dave Bradley 2:26:45 ’82
32. John Perry 2:26:49 ’75
33. Shane Dooley 2:27:02 ’84
34. Tony Brian 2:27:03 ’73
35. Jeff Ford 2:27:07 ’75
36. Denton Childes 2:27:18 ’78
37. Tim Skopec* 2:27:19 ’85
38. Bruce Mortenson* 2:27:23 ’71
39. Paul Raether 2:27:23 ’76
40. Raul DeAnda 2:27:31 ’84
41. Charles Warthan 2:27:45 ’72
42.Brian McCollor* 2:27:46 '91
43. Dave Chilko 2:28:06 ’75
44. Scott Fenstermaker 2:28:14 ’84
45. Joe Perske 2:28:17 '91
46. John Samore 2:28:17 ’77
47. Don Amunson 2:28:25 ’77
48. David Harris 2:28:28 ’78
49. Charlie Worlkon 2:28:30 ’71
50. Mike Seaman 2:28:30 ’79
51. Paul Budnik 2:28:31 ’84
52. Mike Seaman 2:28:44 ’77
53. Tim Soden 2:28:44 ’78
54. Mike Seaman 2:28:45 ’78
55. Shane Dooley 2:28:48 ’80
56. Kim Sprain 2:28:53 ’84
57. Mark Nelson 2:28:54 ’77
58. Terry Drew 2:29:16 ’79
59. Bruce Hannula 2:29:17 ’73
60. Bill Hitz 2:29:18 ’78
61. Jeff Wubbena* 2:29:24 ’89
62. Brian Pelletier 2:29:24 '91
63. Peter Elliott 2:29:28 ’75
64. Brian Claxton 2:29:33 ’77
65. Jeff Wubbena 2:29:38 '90
66. Raul DeAnda* 2:29:39 ’86
67. Pat Patrie 2:29:55 ’84
Keith Fevold* 2:31:31 '92
Keith Fevold* 2:33:08 '93
Bruce Mortensen* 2:33:37 '70
Keith Fevold* 2:34:40 '83
Darrell Ziems* 2:35:12 '88
Jay Dirksen* 2:35:17 '69
Phil Kauder* 2:36:18 '87
* denotes yearly winner
WOMEN Sub-3:15
1. Janice Arenz* 2:47:46 ’78
2. Kathy Molitor* 2:51:10 ’80
3. Sharon Greenwood* 2:51:22 ’84
4. Mary Burns* 2:57:41 ’77
5. Julie Wilson* 2:58:18 '92
6. Janice Arenz 2:58:30 ’77
7. Karen Foley* 2:59:24 ’82
8. Carol Young 2:59:47 ’78
9. Marsha Yokas* 3:01:48 ’83
10. Jill Anderson* 3:02:05 '91
11. Sue Patterson 3:02:41 ’80
12. Jane T-Lundgren* 3:02:53 ’88
13. Paula Brackelsberg* 3:03:32 ’86
14. Karen Foley 3:03:43 ’84
15. Barbara Kolbach* 3:04:22 ’81
16. Monica McGavin 3:04:49 ’84
17. Cathy Blankenship 3:04:52 '92
18. Karen Foley 3:05:07 ’81
19. Tina Gandy 3:05:15 ’78
20. Jane Moser* 3:06:05 '93
21. Connie Franke* 3:06:29 ’89
22. Cindy Swoyer* 3:06:52 ’85
23. Sue Patterson 3:07:05 ’81
24. Jennifer Bishop 3:07:10 '92
25. Cindy Tke 3:07:12 ’77
26. Diane Carney 3:07:17 ’83
27. Sue Patterson 3:07:33 ’82
28. Sarah Bland 3:09:30 ’89
29. Linda Schissel 3:09:41 ’88
30. Marsha Yokas 3:10:38 ’88
31. Linda Schissel 3:10:50 ’86
32. Cindy Swoyer 3:10:53 ’80
33. Muriel Naumann 3:11:22 ’84
34. Cindy Swoyer 3:11:31 ’84
35. Dawn Poole 3:12:07 '92
36. Kathleen Freeland 3:12:16 ’89
37. Beth Sutter 3:12:19 ’84
38. Laura Tremmel 3:12:23 ’83
39. D. Willian Tevis* 3:12:38 ’79
40. Sue Boley 3:12:50 ’82
41. Susan Ensminger 3:13:30 ’84
42. Monica McGavin 3:14:21 ’83
43. Stacy Roberts 3:14:48 ‘89
Ann Vestle* 3:15:37 '90
Janice Arenz* 3:17:11 '76
Lora Carr* 3:17:54 '87
Doreen Mower* 3:37:29 '75
Kathy Lynch* 5:31:?? '74
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