Editor’s note: Some 450 runners participated in the Discover Whitewater Series and not some 160 as earlier reported. WhitewaterWise regrets the error. 

By Kim McDarison

Some 450 runners from across the state participated Sunday in the Discover Whitewater Half Marathon and 5K, along with various other activities held as part of the citywide event.

The event is in its 12th year. 

In past years, the event has served as a fundraiser to further the goals of five area nonprofit groups, including Bethel House, Whitewater LEADS, Working for Whitewater’s Wellness (W3), Whitewater Unified School District and the J-Hawk Aquatic Club.

The event is hosted by the Greater Whitewater Committee and is sponsored this year, along with the committee, by Fort HealthCare, the city of Whitewater, the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater, and Whitewater Manufacturing, according the the committee’s website. 

In a news release received late Tuesday afternoon, race organizers noted that some 450 runners, 250 volunteers and “nearly 70 sponsors,” participated in the event. 

Additionally, the release reported: the race attracted runners “from so many different states other than Wisconsin.” 

Placements of runners as they crossed the finish line were produced by Runner’s Edge Race Timing, which, according to its website, has, since 1995, provided finish line timing services for all types of running and racing events, including high school and collegiate cross country championship meets.

The Michigan-based company has provided its services in such states as Michigan, Indiana, Illinois, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Wisconsin and Florida, according to its website.

Half Marathon winners

Race statistics developed by the company this year note that John Dewitt, 33, West Allis, took first place in the Discover Whitewater Half Marathon, with a time of 1:07:27.55. He was followed by second-place winner Joe Zack, 29, Milwaukee, with a time of 1:10:56.14, and third-place winner Nick Schmidt, 24, Sussex, with a time of 1:18:08.87.

According to race organizers, Dewitt this year beat his overall record and set a new course record.

The top female finisher was Jessa Victor, 33, Madison, finishing as the fifth-place winner overall.

The top finisher in the category of males, 15-19, was Ben Burie, 19, Waukesha, who finished in 10th place overall, and the top female finisher in the same age bracket was Ayalen Churchill, 15, Evansville, who finished in 81st place overall.

Sam Manak, 20, Elkhorn, was the first-place finisher among males, 20 to 24, finishing in sixth-place overall. Among females in the same age bracket, first place went to Paige Fassbender, 23, Slinger, who inished in the 29th place overall.

At the other end of the age spectrum, among females, ages 65 to 69, the first place finisher was Mary Ryan, 67, Janesville, who finished in 131st place overall, and among men ages 70 to 74, first place went to Ron Larson, 72, Janesville, finishing in 135th place overall, and second place went to David Linton, 71, Whitewater, finishing in 146th place overall.

A full list of runners and their placements is here: https://runnersedgeracetiming.com/data/uploadedfiles/dwh5khalf2024.htm.

5K winners

Information provided through Runners Edge notes that Whitewater’s Mark Elworthy, 54, won the race with a time of 17:50.30. Elworthy also was named men’s 5K first-place finisher during last year’s Discover Whitewater Series.

He was followed this year by Andy Verbos, 20, New Berlin, with a time of 19:30.90. Third-place was earned by Paul Taylor, 34, Whitewater, with a time of 20:33.48.

Among female runners, the first finisher was Heidi Mane, 41, Whitewater, with an overall placement of 15, followed by Tracy Curtis, 42, Deerfield, who placed 17 overall. The female runner coming in third was Sydney Rychtik, 20, who placed 18 overall.

In the 10 and under bracket, among male runners, Emmett Babcock, 10, Milton, finished first, with a placement of 32 overall, followed by 10-year-old Logan Dammeir, Delavan, who placed 36 overall, and Luke Hatter, 8, Brodhead, who placed 64 overall.

Females placing first, second and third in the same age bracket were Greta Dunham, 10, Fort Atkinson, who placed 68 overall; Frankie Reynolds, 7, Downers Grove, who placed 96 overall, and Ivy Daly, 10, Mukwonago, who placed 126 overall.

On the other end of the age spectrum, among males, ages 70 to 74, Mike Lenser, 72, Janesville, placed first in the bracket and 77th overall, followed by Daniel Dern, 74, Whitewater, who placed 93rd overall.

Among females in the same age bracket, Connie Hornickel, 74, Whitewater, placed 115 overall.

Among males between the ages of 75 and 79, Steven J. Ryan, 77, Whitewater, placed 85th overall, and among females ages 80 and over, Madison resident Diane Hoebel, 80, placed 167 overall.

The full list of 5K runners is here: https://runnersedgeracetiming.com/data/uploadedfiles/dwh5K5K2024.htm.

About the series

As stated on its website, the Discover Whitewater Series was initiated by the Greater Whitewater Committee, Inc., in 2013, to promote the city of Whitewater and highlight its features. The race also is meant to promote a healthy lifestyle. 

Since its inception, the fundraising event has distributed some $274,500 to area charities, the website notes. 

This year, event highlights included a children’s activity called “Kids Korral,” a “wheelchair division” start for both the Half Marathon and 5K races, and a post-race celebration at 841 Brewhouse, a restaurant in Whitewater. 

The Greater Whitewater Committee, according to its website, “is an action-oriented group committed to working with citizens, elected officials, and policy makers to identify, craft, and implement a pro-business agenda. The agenda advances the economic, education, and social policies required to energize and secure the Whitewater area’s economic future, as well as protect Whitewater’s quality of life.” 

To learn more about the group, visit its website: https://greaterwhitewatercommittee.com/.