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Sections Home Page Local News AP News Archives Business Classifieds Event Calendar Forums Life Opinion Obituaries Photo Gallery Since We Asked Sports Tempo Weather Special Coverage 2006 Britt Festivals --> Shop Our Valley AutoFinder HomeFinder JobFinder Search Our Valley Special Sections Homelife Magazine Joy Magazine Readers Choice 2006 Oregon Golf Info Oregon Wine Info Our Valley Other Publications Local Links Ashland News eSouthernOregon Newspapers In Education Personals Moving Here Movie Listings TV Listings Volunteer Customer Service Advertise With Us Media Kit Place Classified Ad Contact Us FAQ's Home Delivery Site Map --> Email Story to a Friend August 13, 2006 Talent�s Todd Ragsdale gives a thumbs up sign at mile 10 of Saturday�s Crater Lake Rim Run. He won the event. (Andy Atkinson) Talent produce clerk is Top Banana By DON HUNT Mail Tribune CRATER LAKE — Todd Ragsdale got a late start in running. Now he's playing catchup. Stage a run anywhere in the Rogue Valley and Ragsdale will almost certainly be there, challenging the leaders and sometimes winning. The 37-year-old produce clerk from Talent claimed the biggest victory of his seven-year running career Saturday when he bested the field in the 31st Crater Lake Rim Run Marathon. Ragsdale led from nearly the start of the 26.2-mile race around majestic Crater Lake and reached the finish line in three hours, five minutes and 45 seconds. Russ Tkebuchara, 25, of Vancouver, Wash., finished second in 3:11.59 and Evan Riggs, 20, of Seattle claimed third in 3:15.26. Advertisement Rounding out the top five were Terry Sentinella, 42, of Anacortes, Wash., in 3:19.02, and Donna Anderson, 39, of Danville, Ky., in 3:25.28. Anderson was the No. 1 female finisher. "You can call me an obsessed recreational runner," said Ragsdale, who completed two runs last week — a 13-miler up Mount Ashland and a 5K event on the Bear Creek Greenway — and is now up to about 20 this year. "I didn't run in high school or college and so I'm making up for lost time. "I enter almost every local event and run out of town whenever I can." Ragsdale didn't start competing until he was 30, and he missed most of 2002 when he learned he had hepatitis C, a viral disease of the liver. He thinks he contracted the potentially deadly ailment years before while growing up in an apartment complex in Colorado where there was rampant drug use and discarded hypodermic needles. The disease lay dormant in Ragsdale's otherwise healthy body for nearly three decades. He discovered he had it after applying for life insurance four years ago. "The good thing is, I'm cured ," Ragsdale said. "I don't have to test anymore." With a 6.7-mile run and a half-marathon being held in conjunction with the regular marathon Saturday, and with all three runs starting simultaneously at the same place, Ragsdale wasn't sure what position he was in until the finish line of the half-marathon. "At the 10-mile mark the officials said there were four guys ahead of me," Ragsdale said. "But they stopped at the half-marathon. I told myself, 'this is your race to win or lose.'" Ragsdale reached the midway point in one hour, 33 minutes and had built about a one-minute lead on Tkebuchara. The Colorado native quickly extended it, using a 4-mile downhill grade to stretch his advantage to three minutes and then four as he cruised to his first marathon victory in six tries. Ragsdale has also run five ultra-marathons. "After looking at the times in past races, I knew I'd be at or near the front if I could run it in three hours," Ragsdale said. "I put 3:10 on my application but I knew I could run faster if things went well." Like most of the runners, Ragsdale's legs cramped a little on the long downhills and miles 22 through 24 took the starch out of his legs and lungs. The 2-mile stretch is a steep incline made worse by its slippery, granite surface. "I tanked out on that last hill," Ragsdale admitted. "I broke down twice for about 10 seconds each time and found myself power walking instead of running. "But it's the same for everyone." Tkebuchara faded over the grueling, uphill stretch and lost to Ragsdale by nearly seven minutes. Still, he seemed happy to get second. "It's the toughest course I've ever run, but also the most beautiful," Tkebuchara said. Riggs, the third-place finisher, was a soccer player in high school and didn't take up running until two years ago at the age of 18. Saturday was only his third marathon. "Kind of brutal," Riggs said in describing the course that features nearly 2,000 feet of elevation gain. Anderson, meanwhile, wanted something to celebrate her 40th birthday, which arrives on Aug. 26. A challenging marathon in a scenic setting was just the right gift, she said. "I had read good things about this run," said Anderson, a physical therapist in Kentucky, "but it certainly was a challenge. On that last hill, I could hear my heart thumping in my head. That's never happened before. "But it's an incredibly scenic run and it's exciting to win." Jenny Meyer of Trumbull, Conn., finished seventh overall and second among the women in 3:31.27. The 25-year-old high school french teacher took up running while attending Yale University. "I was terrible in sports in high school but I found out I'm a pretty good runner," said Meyer, who won the Long Branch marathon in New Jersey last year. "I've found the runners to be a great community of people. I've made a lot of friends and met a lot of people who have inspired me." Nearly 500 runners toed the starting line for the three runs. Crater Lake Rim Runs MARATHON RESULTS 1. Todd Ragsdale, Talent, 3:05:45.35; 2. Ruslan Tkebuchava, Vancouver, Wash., 3:11.59.47; 3. Evan Riggs, Seattle, 3:15:26; 4. Terry Sentinella, Anacortes, Wash., 3:19:02; 5. Donna Anderson, Danville, Ky., 3:25:28; 6. Jeff Cate, Riverside, Calif., 3:37:02; 7. Jenny Meyer, Norwalk, Conn., 3:31:27; 8. Scott Lee, 3:34:18; 9. Richard Bae, Portland, 3:40:14; 10. R.J. Barnes, Springfield, 3:43:40; 11. McKenzie Kohlhardt, Wilson, Wyo., 3:47:47; 12. Amy Yanni, Rapid City, S.D., 3:48:54; 13. Vern Latta, Bellingham, Wash., 3:49:44; 14. Alanna Woods, Beaverton, 3:50:27; 15. Don Dahl, Denver, Colo., 3:50:51; 16. Philip DeYoung, Dallas, Texas, 3:52:18; 17. Steve Walters, Tigard, 3:53:41; 18. Jerry Mark, Beaverton, 3:54:57; 20. Martin Balding, Susanville, Calif., 3:55:33; 21. Larry Emerson, Bishop, Calif., 3:56:39; 22. Mari Reitman, Bozeman, Mont., 3:57:01; 23. Jay Elkerton, Gilroy, Calif., 3:57:07; 24. Dan Rempala, Honolulu, Hawaii, 3:59:52; 25. Lisa Dahl, Lexington, Ky., 4:00:31. 26. Joshua Hough, Talent, 4:01:25; 27. Neil Anderson, Belgrade, Mont., 4:01:31; 28. Christine Nile, Salem, 4:01:34; 29. Eric Jensen, Athens, 4:03:38; 30. Brian Davis, Golden, Colo., 4:04:48; 31. Michael Pomarole, West Roxbury, Mass., 4:05:06; 32. Kevin McCoy, Eagle Point, 4:05:44; 33. Maria Vargas, South Park, Penn., 4:06:42; 34. Sarah Scott, Central Point, 4:09:35; 35. Manuela Carvalho, Washington, D.C., 4:12:31; 36. Wayne Wright, Melbourne, Fla., 4:12:42; 37. David Harrell, Chevy Chase, Md., 4:13:03; 38. Vance Nurkala, Seattle, 4:16:22; 39. Tim Chesko, Lockport, N.Y., 4:16:39; 40. Howard Brown, LaGrande, 4:16:52; 41. Matt Hickok, Portland, 4:18:15; 42. Lon Anderson, Cable, Wisc., 4:19:16; 43. Tom Bell, Jacksonville, 4:21:25; 44. Mark Bentz, Seattle, 4:22:36; 45. Sarah Tisdale, Hillsboro, 4:25:34; 46. Thomas Little, Hillsboro, 4:26:59; 47. Zan Franc, Montville, N.J., 4:27:50; 48. Ben Wallace, Petaluma, Calif., 4:27:57; 49. Kurtiss Mueller, Dawson, Neb., 4:28:17; 50. Tom Vasquez, Anderson, Calif., 4:28:49; 51. Greg Landau, Tigard, 4:29:14; 52. Gregg Iskra, Owings Mills, Md., 4:29:26; 53. Aki Bic, Union City, Calif., 4:30:48; 54. Mary Latta, Bellingham, Wash., 4:30:50; 55. Gregory James, Hampton, Va., 4:34:18; 56. Tony Wang, West Covina, Calif., 4:34:35.07; 57. Michael Dutton, Everett, Wash., 4:34:35.11; 58. Jim Collins, Sarasota, Fla., 4:35:02; 59. Robert Lopez, Seattle, 4:38:44; 60. Bary Hopkins, Regina, Saskatchewan, 4:40:23; 61. Doug Townsend, Central Point, 4:42:10; 62. Larry Jespersen, Klamath Falls, 4:42:18; 63. Diane Brozik, Lincoln, Neb., 4:42:20; 64. Jim Anderson, Sarasota, Fal., 4:43:34; 65. Daniel Rice, Portland, 4:46:15; 66. Roberta Zais, Eugene, 4:46:54; 67. Dan Wells, Danville, Ky., 4:47:23; 68. Steve Hopper, Dayton, 4:48:23; 69. Pam Grzybowski, Greenfield, Wisc., 4:48:43; 70. Karen Wiggins, Bremerton, Wash., 4:50:06; 71. Evan Wise, Gasquet, Calif., 4:51:03; 72. Linda Emerson, Bishop, Calif., 4:52.39; 73. Bill Macy, Lincoln, Neb., 4:52:06; 74. Simone Kaizer, Eagle Point, 4:52:10; 75. Mike McLean, Colton, N.Y., 4:54:55. 13-MILE RESULTS 1. Trevor Hanlin, Grants Pass, 1:20:44; 2. Jeff Caba, Bend, 1:23:36; 3. Alex Peterson, Klamath Falls, 1:28:41; 4. Blair Hasler, Corvallis, 1:31:33; 5. Zach Hill, Spokane, Wash., 1:37:52; 6. Nathan Harness, Meadow Valley, Calif., 1:38:52; 7. Brent Hackwell, Central Point, 1:42:30; 8. David Bateham, Corvallis, 1:42:37; 9. Jacob Fox, Portland, 1:44:39; 10. Nicholas Fleury, Pendleton, 1:45:50; 11. Grif Wilder, Gold Hill, 1:46:20; 12. Paul Horten, Eugene, 1:48:14; 13. David Summers, Portland, 1:48:33; 14. Russell Morgan, Reno, Nev., 1:48:40; 15. Elizabeth Scott, Harrisburg, 1:49:13; 16. Melissa Stoica, Portland, 1:49:30; 17. Bill Pech, Bellingham, Wash., 1:50:35; 18. Douglas Naverson, Jacksonville, 1:51:25; 19. Rich Spaccerlli, Lake Oswego, 1:51:45; 20. Sue Fuller, Reno, Nev., 1:51:47; 21. Gary Smeltzer, Klamath Falls, 1:52:41; 22. Brian Stockdale, Springfield, 1:52:59; 23. Andy Peterson, Klamath Falls 1:53:55; 24. Fidel Banuelos, Lafayette, 1:54:20; 25. Doug Madsen, Bonanza, 1:54:49. 26. Bary Kaiser, Eagle Point, 1:55:55; 27. Michael Wunnicke, Sherwood, 1:56:05; 28. Sandy Brothers, Dallas, Texas, 1:56:58; 29. Marcus Davis, Trail, 1:58:16; 30. Erik Bateham, Corvalllis, 1:58:47; 31. Andrea Roth, Eugene, 1:59:08; 32. Kanako Yamane, Bend, 1:59:52; 33. Jeanne Lansing, Grants Pass, 2:00:15; 34. Dwayne Walden, Klamath Falls, 2:00:27; 35. Vanessa Connolly, Grants Pass, 2:03:37; 36. Andy Sedlock, Klamath Falls, 2:03:39; 37. Vicki Menard, Glide, 2:05:08; 38. Line Munch Nielsen, Vanlose, Denmark 2:05:11; 39. Jesper Arvad Jensen, Vanlose, Denmark, 2:05:11; 40. Brandon Shave, Medford, 2:05:20; 41. Joe Wargo, Falls Church, Va., 2:05:35; 42. Helen Rarick, Portland, 2:06:12; 43. Patrick Rarick, Corvallis, 2:06:13; 44. Scott Brainard, Keno, 2:06:32; 45. Curt Maddux, Bend, 2:07:55; 46. Jamey Hendricks, Beaverton, 2:08:50; 47. Cindy Holt, Hillsboro, 2:09:01; 48. Jacquez Tofflemire-DeGarmo, Eugene, 2:09:18; 49. Tim Gerking, Medford, 2:09:57; 50. Steven Libby, Klamath Falls, 2:10:39. 6.7-MILE RUN RESULTS 1. Joe Dudman, 38:22; 2. Jonathan Osborne, Klamath Falls, 39:50; 3. Cody Hughes, 41:41; 4. Jason Equeera, 42:27; 5. Adrian Mateos, 42:54; 6. Erika Mastuda, 44:35; 7. Hammond Rockford, 45:04; 8. Ken Huckins, 45:31; 9. Brian Griffith, 45:51; 10. Aaron Samuelson, 45:55; 11. Grant Page, 46:04; 12. Doug Matheson, Klamath Falls, 46:23; 13. Brenden Buel, 47:48; 14. Danile Hildebrandt, 47:50; 15. Brian Youngern, 47:59; 16. Curtis Grant, 48:18; 17. Denny Brumback, 48:21; 18. Grant Page, Beaverton, 48:22; 19. Landon Harlot, 49:41; 20. Girt Robert, 49:50; 21. Mark Simmons, 50:30; 22. Scott Nowning, 51:34; 23. Leigh Nowning, 51:48; 24. Molly Miller, 51:49; 25. Dan Sether, 52:01. 26. Karlene Austin, 52:05; 27. Beth Sprague, 52:11; 28. Dave Hoppe, 52:16; 29. Kevin Lilausen, 54:04; 30. Tee Nguyen, 54:47; 31. Ed Knapp, 54:53; 32. Margrett Walden, 55:19; 33. Randy Kruger, 55:33; 34. Adrien Passchier, 55:43; 35. Debirag Visco, 56:41; 36. Chris Bailey, 56:43; 37. Korenza Burris, 56:43; 38. John McCool, 56:55; 39. Jerry Ruch, 57:05; 40. Violet Lindstrom, 57:07; 41. Melinda Griffith, 58:25; 42. Samantha Kyke, 58:29; 43. Jennifer Lehman, 58:37; 44. Mika Fox, 59:10; 45. Yoko Fukoyoma, 59:15; 46. Charmaine Glenn, 59:25; 47. Dallas Bell, 1:00:05; 48. Tammie Young, 1:00:16; 49. Matthew White, 1:00:19; 50. Lee Wagers, 1:00:32. 6.7-MILE WALK RESULTS 1. Ralph Eccles, Klamath Falls, 1:01:23; 2. Mary Koenig-Roach, 1:10:21; 3. Alice Huckins, 1:14:09; 4. Amy Coe, 1:20:30; 5. Christine Brophy, 1:20:30; 6. Phillip Deprato, 1:20:48; 7. Nancy Wilson, 1:21:21; 8. Craig Rappe, 1:23:58; 9. Steve Boyarsky, 1:24:31; 10. Mary Boyarsky, 1:24:31; 11. Jessica Neff, 1:25:23; 12. Kimberly Rutherford, 1:25:23; 13. Jennifer Smith, 1:25:41; 14. Veronica Smith, 1:25:42; 15. Norma Jeffords, 1:28:24; 16. Pat Brumback, 1:28:46; 17. Margo Maddock, 1:30:55; 18. Mardee Girt, 1:31:06; 19. Judiann Sreniawski, 1:31:53; 20. Bill Ganong, 1:32:32; 21. Ann Crook, 1:33:22; 22. Dixie Wonser, 1:33:54; 23. Scott Coe, 1:34.39; 24. Elizabeth Scott, 1:35:11; 25. Peggy Callas, 1:35:12. 26. Marta Points, 1:34:42; 27. Lou Points, 1:37:06; 28. Jordan Peterson, 1:41:54; 29. Tandra McCoy, 1:41:55; 30. Linda Galaszewski, 1:42:07; 31. Marie Ganong, 1:45:03; 32. Katie Huffman, 1:445:04; 33. Laurie Grief, 1:45:53; 34. Robin Salsbury, 1:46:51; 35. Paul Powell, 1:46:55; 36. Kaye Powell, 1:48:15; 37. Eleanor Holbrook, 1:48:17; 38. Marjorie Trujillo, 1:48:19; 39. Veronica Kovak, 1:48:22; 40. Judy Armstrong, 1:48:25; 41. Susan Myers, 1:49:38; 42. Sharman Blaustein, 1:49:39; 43. Laurel Ramsey, 1:50:04; 44. Janice Briggs, 1:50:05; 45. Ronda Norris, 1:50:06; 46. Stefanie Sada, 1:50:08; 47. Marsha McCabe, 1:50:51; 48. Anne Mitchell, 1:50:52; 49. Bonnie Duell, 1:50:34; 50. Vianne Clark, 1:52:33. Reach reporter Don Hunt at 776-4469, or e-mail at [email protected] Mail Tribune Home | Local News | Sports | Business | Obituaries | Life | Opinion AP News | Archives | Site Map | Community | Classified Copyright © 1997-2006 Mail Tribune, Inc. All rights reserved. Privacy Policy | Terms & Conditions | Website Feedback online casinos news Home Security Systems California Casinos Men's Clothing Southern Oregon Loans --> GMAT Prep Fundraisers Send Flowers Entertainment Guide --> Casinos Canada Trunks, Footlocker Online Casino Reviews Advertisement s