Plus or minus a couple. Seven years ago, actually September 29, 2007, I grabbed Omaha and Nebraska by its competitive juevos and the grip hasn’t relented yet.
I crafted a field to begin the re-writing of Nebraska USATF Certified road races. Trumpeted and promised the first sub 4:00 road mile in state history. Did it.
Not everyone got it or appreciated what was going on. Questions of why would I want people to come in town and run all over my Team. Questions of how did these studs end up in Omaha to begin with. So many questions. Short answer was the support of the Knights of Ak-Sar-Ben and several key sponsors. Hotel rooms, meals, prize purse, travel stipend, same as it ever was.
The end result didn’t surprise me at all. It turned a group of fine local young men into Much Better Athletes.
The moment that changed everything in Nebraska. Shannon Stenger grew a huge set this morning, leading a national class field through the first 1200 meters. His team of high schoolers on the left about to wet themselves. Those of us in the press truck too. My Old Buddy Dave Sutej doing great work behind the wheel.
1 Ryan Kleimenhagen Madison WI 25 M 1/8 3:59
2 Rob Duncan Ironwood MI 25 M 2/8 4:01
3 David Juliano Boulder CO 26 M 3/8 4:04
4 Shannon Stenger Omaha NE 28 M 4/8 4:07 *Mate
5 Josh Moen Readlyn IA M 5/8 4:10
6 Paul Wilson Omaha NE 26 M 6/8 4:16 *Mate
7 Dustin Llewellyn Omaha NE 29 M 7/8 4:16 *Mate
8 Mark Hall Omaha NE 23 M 8/8 4:31 *Mate
9 Brady Murphy Omaha NE 37 M 1/3 4:36
10 Jim Hacket 28 M 1/5 4:39
11 Craig Christians Bellevue NE 46 M 1/4 4:42 *Mate
12 Jorge Zuniga Lincoln NE 28 M 2/5 4:43
13 Kevin Vanderlinden Sioux City IA 45 M 2/4 4:45
14 Michael Pecha Omaha NE 26 M 3/5 4:46
15 Bob Garcia La Vista NE 52 M 1/7 4:48 *Mate
16 Casey Owens Des Moines IA 25 F 1/6 4:48 ***First Female
17 Benjamin McKinley Council Bluffs IA 17 M 1/2 4:48
18 David Pecha Omaha NE 32 M 2/3 4:55
19 Bob Prince Sioux City IA 52 M 2/7 4:57
20 Robert Butler Omaha NE 40 M 3/4 5:01
21 Kristi Feldman Des Moines IA F 2/6 5:04
22 Jim Ruppelt Lincoln NE 53 M 3/7 5:05
23 Ron Lampe Omaha NE 45 M 4/4 5:07
24 Angie Henry Omaha NE 31 F 3/6 5:09 *Mate
25 Paul Braunschweiler OMAHA NE 55 M 4/7 5:12 *Mate
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