Nebraska will lose one of its most historically competitive races Saturday. The Grand Finale for State Farm 10 Mile and 5K. A race that will always hold a special place in my giddyup. Thanks to Chuck Smith for compiling the top 1000 or so times from the storied event, see link below.
State Farm was a proving ground for my efforts. I’ve compiled my own Team Nebraska Overall Winners list.
2004- Siblings Mike and Gina Morgan representing Team Nebraska take the wins.
2005- Mike Morgan still with Team Nebraska defends.
2006- Ryan Salem and Gina Morgan add two more tallies for Team Nebraska
2007- Dustin Llewellyn and Gina Morgan, two more for Team Nebraska (course 1/2 mile short due to cone misplacement)
2008- Gina Morgan
2009-Gina Morgan
2010- Tom Nichols, Kaci Lickteig
2011-Aaron Carrizales
2012- Matt Pohren* my last year riding herd
2013- Eric Rasmussen
2014- **LRC cracks the podium with Neil Wolford and Hayley Sutter getting the Ws
2015- Eric Rasmussen, Shannon Suing
2016- ***Neil Wolford-LRC Racing gets another notch
2017- *****Grant Wintheiser***** Nebraska Run Guru Elite, Grant’s 50:51 the 2nd fastest time in State Farm History, behind only Kurt Keiser’s 50:22 in 2000.
Team Nebraska with a combined 16 wins. 13 of those during my tenure. A mark that will forever reside in the Lincoln record books. I feel a special bond with all those names above, all the athletes that understood what was going on. And a heck of a lot more performances from the club. The all time list very heavily populated by those cats, male and female.
Kaci had more wins while running as an open athlete. Michelle Brooks 59:23 in 2001 the only female to break the hour barrier.
Last year was exceptional. One of the worst weather days in the history of the race. Windy and precip and just plain nasty. Grant showing rare talent. Jay Welp, also in kit, taking down LRC and Team Nebraska’s best in the 5K. One of my favorite Run Guru Elite days.
We’re sending Elizabeth Starbuck and Mark Abrams for the swan song and they’ll put their names and marks on the list. Some history just can’t be re-written.
Good luck to LRC Racing and Team Nebraska at this weekend’s Shamrock Shuffle in Chicago. Run Guru Elite will sadly miss that opportunity. Here’s some motivation- David Adams (Team Nebraska) and Grant Wintheiser (Run Guru Elite) the only two Nebraskans to crack the magical 24:00 barrier. Go get some!
Red & White Ruled The Day State Farm all time list
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