Run for Rio

Run for Rio
5K Run and 5K Walk
Saturday, June 10, 2006
Rye, CO
Results and story provided by Jeff Arnold

There was a tiny turnout for the 2006 version of the Run for Rio. Rio Martinez was about to begin his senior year at Rye High School when he was accidentally shot to death August 1, 1997 at his home near Bigelow Divide in Custer County. Rio had often expressed a desire to run the 19 miles to Rye. The summer after his death his dad Jim decided to do the run in Rio’s name. He was joined, at least for part of the run by some of Rio’s classmates, friends and family.

One of Rio’s uncles, Bill Bright, donated $5000 for a series of $1000 scholarships for Rye High seniors. In 1999 the first of the shorter races held to supplement Bill’s donation. It was a 4.2 mile race which started and finished at Rye Mountain Park. There were 40 finishers. Bill Bright died unexpectedly that summer.

In 2000 the race was moved to the high school and has been held there ever since with as many as 65 finishers, and as few, prior to this year, of 43. Somehow there has always been at least one scholarship awarded each year, including to this year’s walk winner Sarah Manuel. Sara will be attending CSU in Fort Collins where she plans to compete as a multi-event track and field athlete.

Rich Hadley, a Rye High graduate whose grandmother used to live along the course, won with another of his consistent performances, Two of the athletes he coached at Florence High School, Aaron Roman and Ashlee Withrow took the next two places. People came from all over, but only one, Mark Koch, was from Pueblo. Curtis Sloan came from near Crown Point on the Navaho reservation in Arizona, but since he was late for the start, decided not to walk. He was obviously not the only one to make that decision.

Timing: Pat Berndt;
Tags: Deb Hadley;
Course and Results: Jeff Arnold

5K Run

Place Name         Age City         Time   
 1 Rich Hadley     50 Florence      19:42
 2 Aaron Roman     18 Florence      20:21
 3 Ashlee Withrow  19 Florence      22:32
 4 Aaron Berndt    17 Rye           22:33
 5 Mark Koch       47 Pueblo        27:44
 6 Dalton Jordan   12 Colo. City    29:25
 7 John Gunn       49 Weston        29:35
 8 Cassy Berndt    14 Rye           32:15
 9 Orlando Coca    56 Trinidad      38:05
10 Chuck Mason     41 Trinidad      39:00
11 Peggy Jordan    43 Colo. City    44:00

5K Walk

 1 Sarah Manuel    18 Rye           50:04
 2 Tammy Muhic     46 Rye           52:17
 3 Ron Nelson      47 Colo. Springs 52:18
 4 Cece Martinez   56 Woodland Park 61:02
 5 Mike Martinez   57 Woodland Park 61:15