Sneakers burning at TD's Fourth of July Rocket Run; Race Results

By Jill Pearson

There are some mornings that dawn so perfectly you wish you could frame them - The Fourth of July was one.

The water on the Columbia lightly rippled along the boats as the rising sun turned the Klickitats golden: the hazy July sky that was nearly tricolor in red, white, and blue. 

Nearby runners warmed up, stretched and double-checked their laces. It was the Rocket Run in The Dalles that featured 1-mile, 3k, or 5k challenges along the Riverfront Trail, starting at Lewis & Clark Festival Park.

As runners gathered, music blasted from a nearby speaker, an all-American playlist as dozens of runners and walkers got ready to hustle along Riverfront Trail.

While a few new Riverhawk harriers ran in the event, others and their family ran it. They marked the course, sold t-shirts (“life, liberty, and the pursuit of PRs”), and of course, cheered each runner and walker into the finish chute. 

The first participants in were the one milers- siblings Beckett and Julian Ellis finished at just over 11 minutes, with senior Rose Miller a minute behind.

It was a good day for other families as well: a three-for-three sweep for the Hodges siblings, with varsity Riverhawk and older brother Trey leading the 5k on the way out, to finish closely behind Noah Preston at 22:35.82. Sisters Kestley Hodges and Tenley Hodges beat him to the finish line for the 3k course, coming in first at 17:04.53 and second at 18:54.23. 

Anxious to join the high school squad, freshman Noah Preston won the 5k race at 21:39.53, an effort that left him ready to “get back in shape with summer runs.” In addition to Noah’s first-place finish, the rest of the rising 8th and freshmen boys had a strong showing- the largest of any age bracket- in the 5k, with Sawyer Dray, Jack Dewey, Hudson Case, and Asa Waller running down some summer preseason times to start setting their cross country goals. 

There’s more than one way to get a good time at a community run, though, especially on a beautiful July morning.

I talked with Mike and Kris Stilton, who recently moved to the area, and competed in the 60+ category of the 5k. “The trick is to keep moving, every single day. Even if it’s just a little.” They both placed first in the division, at 25:38 and 39, respectively. Perfect sunrise runs may not come often- but you do have to get up and out there to enjoy them.  

The next community walk/run is the Riverhawk Run on August 27. It will start at the Discovery Run and go along Riverfront Trail for 3k and 5k out-and-back. You can pre-register online with this link: cost is $10 for students 18 and under, $20 for adults, and an additional $10 for a t-shirt.

Results:/ 1-mile run Time Place

Beckett Ellis 11:07.54 1

Julian Ellis 11:09.91. 2

Rose Miller 12:14.27 1

Izzy Henderson 12:52.71 2

Marci Schumock 14:51.90 1

Emerie McAllister 14:54.06 1

Adalyn McAllister 15:37.22 2

Kendra McAllister 15:38.42 1

Corey Case 20:23.96 1

Andrew Stewart 26:57.70 1

Ian Stewart 27:06.74 3

Juti Stewart 27:07.94 1

Isolel Stewart 27:11.90 1

Madelyn LaDoucer 32:11.32 3

3K Run Time Place

Kestley Hodges 17:04.54 1

Tenley Hodges 18:54.23 2

Mary Beth Thouvenel23:55.02 1

5k Run Time Place

Noah Preston 21:39.53 1

Trey Hodges 22:35.82 1

Travis Dray 22:43.85 1

Daniel Polehn. 22:54.90 1

Josef Lutz 23:01.58 2

Sawyer Dray 24:54.19 3

Paul Murphy 25:20.21 1

Kris Stilton 25:38.94 1

Mike Stilton 25:39.58 1

Darien Davison 25:40.42 2

Azaria Long 25:55.87 1

Brian Kerr 26:26.37 2

Katie Kerr 26:27.13 1

Jack Dewey 2 7:11.90 4

Hudson Case 27:14.40 5

Asa Waller 28:13.40 6

Jesse Spalding 29:00.72 2

Carmen Myers 29:01.20 1

David Polehn 29:03.33 3

Chad Myers 29:03.95 4

Priscilla Irving 29:36.46 2

Tina Goodell 29:39.67 1

Loree Henderson 29:44.14 2

Thatcher Dray 30:42.52 7

Hunter Kelly 31:04.84 8

Rayden LaDoucer 31:05.56 9

Claire Schumock 31:06.27 2

Karen Sanderson 31:32.47 2

Brian Mears 31:42.14 3

Evelyn LaDoucer 31:59.27 1

Ryan LaDoucer 32:00.24 5

Judy Richardson 35:05.11 3

Caitlin Frakes 35:36.36 2

Ethan Pope 35:36.71 3

Lydia LaDoucer 36:14.05 2

Monica LaDoucer 36:14.42 3

Erin Dray 36:52.48 4

Ari D'Urso 38:38.67 10

Scott Bryant 40:25.13 4

Cindy Berkshire 42:24.54 4

Virgil Thompson 42:27.66 2

Bradley D'Urso 48:48.56 6

Eva Bryant 56:27.54 3