STANWOOD — Members of North Cedar High School and the Stanwood community created a special event in memory of a special person.
A night road race will be held in honor of the late North Cedar student Ashley Himes, a multi-sport athlete who died from a brain tumor in April about a month before graduating.
The “Believe” 5K road race is scheduled for Friday, Oct. 9, following North Cedar’s homecoming football game against Tipton. The race is scheduled for 10 p.m. with registration at the City Park from 7 to 9:45 p.m. …

DECORAH 
2008 state finish — 4th in Class 3A
Coach — Cristy Nimrod
Returning state-qualifying individuals (6) — Molly O’Regan (sr., 12th), Kaia Miller (sr., 16th), Kelsie Larson (sr., 52nd), Kelsey Strand (jr., 64th), Emma Blanchard (jr., 65th), Breanna Tangen (sr., 72nd)
 IOWA CITY HIGH
2008 state finish — 2nd in Class 4A
Coach — Tom Mittman
Returning state-qualifying individuals (4) — Rebecca Rethwisch (jr., 9th), Emily Fagan (sr., 34th), Cassidy White (sr., 45th), Melanie Holman (sr., 49th)
IOWA CITY WEST
2008 state finish — 3rd in Class 4A
Coach — Mike Parker
Returning state-qualifying individuals (5) — Bridget Novak (jr., …

CEDAR RAPIDS PRAIRIE
2008 state finish — 8th in Class 4A
Coach — Bill Schwarz
Returning state-qualifying individuals (6) — Jordan Burns (jr., 38th), Jacob Aune (soph., 69th), Scott Titler (jr., 71st), Justin Burns (jr., 79th), Matt Stocker (jr., 107th), Aaron Galloway (sr., 117th)
IOWA CITY HIGH
2008 state finish — 2nd in Class 4A
Coach — Jayme Skay
Returning state-qualifying individuals (3) — Scott Mittman (sr., 17th), Chris Robertson (sr., 31st), Lukas Ovrom (sr., 64th)
IOWA MENNONITE
2008 state finish — 2nd in Class 1A
Coach — Marty Gingerich
Returning state-qualifying individuals (6) — Bill Spencer (jr., 7th), Truman Shetler …

MADDY BECKER, sr., Cedar Rapids Washington — 7th in Class 4A, 14:44
REBECCA RETHWISCH, Iowa City High — 9th in Class 4A, 14:51
CAROLYN NEWHOUSE, soph., Linn-Mar — 13th in Class 4A, 15:01
BRIDGET NOVAK, jr., Iowa City West — 17th in Class 4A, 15:05
ALISSA ROTHMAN, jr., Iowa City West — 18th in Class 4A, 15:07
ALEX WILSON, jr., Mount Vernon-Lisbon — 7th in Class 3A, 15:08
KATERINA ALTHOFF, jr., Cascade — 5th in Class 2A, 15:09
JAISA MILLER, sr., Solon — 8th in Class 2A, 15:12
PAIGE SEARS, jr., Union — 9th in Class 2A, 15:19
TAYLOR …

FRANK CANADY, sr., Iowa City West — 3rd in Class 4A, 15:29
SCOTT MITTMAN, sr., Iowa City High — 17th in Class 4A, 16:06
BRETT LOSEN, sr., South Winneshiek — 4th in Class 1A, 16:08
JAKE GERBER, sr., Cedar Rapids Jefferson — 26th in Class 4A, 16:10
CHRIS ROBERTSON, sr., Iowa City High — 31st in Class 4A, 16:13
CONNOR SMOCK, soph., Mount Vernon-Lisbon — 11th in Class 3A, 16:19
JORDAN BURNS, jr., Cedar Rapids Prairie — 38th in Class 4A, 16:19
MAX NGUYEN, sr., Vinton-Shellsburg — 14th in Class 3A, 16:22
SAM READ, sr., Linn-Mar — 46th …

A complimentary copy of  “An Honorable Run” arrived at my desk Tuesday afternoon.
Less than 24 hours later, the 156-page book was fully consumed.
The book by Iowa City native Matt McCue chronicled his running career at Regina High School and the University of Colorado. More specifically, it described his relationship with the late Bob Brown, who constructed the Regina cross country dynasty.
Brown died in 2007, a victim of pancreatic cancer.
McCue, who now lives in New York City, spent a good share of his high school career in friction with Brown. He …

“First, ask yourself this: What coach changed your life? If you’re like me, a name will immediately come to mind…”
Those are the words of Matt McCue. The coach to whom he’s referring is Bob Brown.
McCue, 26 and a former standout runner at Iowa City Regina, has written a book — “An Honorable Run” — about Brown, who died in 2007 of pancreatic cancer.
The book will launch over Labor Day weekend. McCue will have a book signing Sept. 4 at Running Wild in Cedar Rapids, another Sept. 5 at Running Wild …

CEDAR RAPIDS — Normally rain on the Fourth of July makes for a gloomy holiday.
Yesterday morning’s precipitation, however, couldn’t dampen my spirits when I participated in the 24th Annual Alliant Energy Fifth Season 5K.
I had plenty to be happy about, including longtime friend Jim Zachar joining me, my daughter, Keely, taking part in the kids’ fun run, or just the fact that I was physically able to be there.
The road to that finish line was longer than just the 3.11-mile odyssey.
In mid-April, I became ill, suffering severe back pain making …

For several summers now, I’ve spent 3 or 4 weekends traveling to USATF & AAU Track meets, as well as the Iowa Games.  I suppose you have to be a true fan of the sport to make these trips because it means full days spent in the 9o plus days of Iowa sun.
This past weekend we hung around the track at an AAU Nationals qualifier in Pella at Central College, steaming on Saturday, and being windblown on Sunday.
Was it worth the time and the sunburn?
Probably.  My daughter qualified for Nationals …

The Alliant Fifth Season Race reclaims a more traditional start this year, one year after flood recovery made officials alter the date and course of the annual running competition.
The race will be held July 4 and in downtown Cedar Rapids, returning after last year’s Labor Day race near Green Square Park. The competitions include an 8K run, 5K run and walk, youth mile run and kids’ fun run, beginning with the 8K at 7:30 a.m., followed by the 5k at 8, mile run at 9 and Kids’ Fun Run at …