2022 FireKracker 5k Race Recap
To be part of the City of Fort Collins’ Independence Day Celebration, the Fort Collins Running Club’s FireKracker 5k ran on July 2nd this year rather than the traditional July 4th date. This was the first, and probably the only time the race will be run on a different date than July 4th. Despite the two-day difference, over 1,000 participants (54% female, 45.9% male, and 0.1% non-binary) came to City Park for the Citizen’s 5k, Elite 5k, and Kids 1-Mile races.
This year’s race had several new additions, which we were excited to add as our running community continues to grow. First, we added a few new age-group categories to the awards; as runners are aging well and still participating in races! In the early 2000s the last age-group award category was 60-64, by 2013 there were runners in their 70s and a 70+ award category was added. In 2018 the 80+ award category was added, and this year we were happy to add the 90+ award category! Also, an additional award category was added as we had enough 70+ participants to split up the 70-79 age group into 5-year increments (70-74 & 75-79).
At the age of 91, Winfield Bassage participated in the event and took first place in the inaugural 90+ age group. He currently holds the record as the oldest participant in the FireKracker 5k’s 22-year history, as detailed in journalist Kelly Lyell’s Coloradoan article: “Fort Collins’ FireKracker 5K’s oldest participant going strong as 92nd birthday approaches”.
“Non-Binary Racing: An Interview – The 20-Something Experiment”
“I’m the FireKracker 5k’s first non-binary winner. I’d love more Competition next year”
The Fort Collins Running Club has been promoting fitness through running since 1971, with the mission to provide an enjoyable, positive, and supportive running atmosphere. We are excited to add these new categories and love to see all the participants at the race share in the joy of running and our community!
Citizen’s 5k Race
In the Citizen’s 5k race, volunteer Ayla Kuchta and her team of lead cyclists kept pace ahead of the 1st place runners, 17-year old Christian Groendyk (16:03) in the men’s field and 40-year old Shelley McDonald (18:18) in the women race. Christian finished 19 seconds ahead of the 2nd place male, Joseph Houdeshell (16:22) and 38 seconds ahead of 3rd place Carter Campbell (16:41). Shelley ran an impressive 5:54 min/mile pace to win the women’s race overall 42 seconds ahead of 2nd place finisher Allie Sibole (19:00) and 1:16 ahead of 3rd place finisher Brooke Clayton (19:34), leaving the 1st Masters (40+) award to Shannon Zanotelli (20:24).
Also included in the awards were the top three pups to cross the finish line, receiving doggie awards from Poudre Pet & Feed Supply. Milo (running with Brooke Clayton) finished first, Willow (running with Loni Gray) secured a 2nd place finish, and Dwight (running with Karen Bennett) came in third in the canine category.
Elite 5k Race
Following the Citizen’s 5k was the spectator friendly Elite 5k race that is run on a 4-lap course around Sheldon Lake in City Park. To enter the Elite 5k race, runners must submit a qualifying race result run on a certified 5k course in the last 18 months. The female qualifying time is 21-minutes or faster and the male qualifying time is 19-minutes or faster. While most of the participants were local from Boulder or Fort Collins, some came from as far away as Cedar Falls, Iowa and Flag Staff, Arizona to compete for a piece of the cash prize purse that totaled $3,500! The race started in two waves giving the elite women, master’s (40+) men, and high school runners a 2-minute lead on the elite men’s field. Spectators lined the ~1200m loop as the elites raced to constant cheering and citizen runners got to see the top runners that they may never see in a normal race format.
With a time of 14:13, 25-year old Benjamin Eidenschink was the first across the finish line. As a former collegiate athlete of the University of Wisconsin, Benjamin is currently training in Boulder, Colorado. Two seconds later, with a time of 14:15, 27 year old Brian Barraza secured himself a second place finish. Brian ran for the University of Houston where he set a school record of 7:59.66 in the 3000m. Third place overall was Alejandro Martinez Ambrosio, a 24 year old from Boulder, who finished in 14:26. Fouth and Fifth place were a photo finish with Daniel Michalski finishing fourth in 14:32.7 and Tyler McCandless in 14:33.1. Daniel took 4th place at the Olympic Trials Steeplechase in 2021, just half a second behind the third place qualifier. Tyler McCandless is a 4x qualifier for the Olympic Marathon trials with a marathon best of 2:12 and a 5k best of 13:48. Currently, Tyler serves on the board of directors for the Fort Collins Running Club. Green Events employee, Chris Copenhaver, took a short break from his race day duties to run his way to first place in the men’s masters division with a 16:22. Starting in the first wave with the master’s field he lead the race for the first 3 laps until the men’s elite field caught him on the 4th lap.
At 16:40, Jessica Watychowica, finished 37 seconds faster than the second place female finisher, Sophie Anders of the Front Range Elite women’s team who ran a strong 17:17. Mary Naali of Tanzania, snagged her third place spot in 17:29, though the fourth place finisher, Lil Tomasula Martin, was not far behind at 17:32. Lily is a former Colorado State University track & field athlete with a 16:05 5k PR and 34:09 10k PR. The fifth place finisher was also the first female masters finisher. AnnMarie Kirkpatrick finished in 17:37. In 2020, AnnMarie became an Olympic Trials Qualifier.
The Top 5 Overall Finishers and 1st Masters in the elite race split a $3500 cash prize purse sponsored by the Fort Collins Running Club.
- 1st Place Overall – $600
- 2nd Place Overall – $400
- 3rd Place Overall – $300
- 4th Place Overall – $200
- 5th Place Overall -$100
- 1st Masters (40+) – $150
The Citizen’s 5k age-group, the overall winners, and the Elite 5k overall winners received unique handmade pottery pieces crafted by local artist and runner, T.S. Berger who has made the pottery awards for the FireKracker 5k since its debut in 2000.
Last, but not least, on the racing schedule was the Kids 1-Mile race sponsored by The Youth Clinic. Over 120 children aged five to twelve ran the one-mile course through City Park, chasing Uncle Sam to the finish where they received a finisher’s medal and a high-five from volunteers.
Though the FireKracker 5k ended, the Fort Collins Independence Day Celebration was just getting started and would continue for the rest of the day with a parade, swimming at City Park Pool, live music, a food truck rally, and more, all culminating in a fireworks display over Sheldon Lake.
We would like to thank everyone who participated, sponsored, and volunteered at the 2022 FireKracker 5k, including the cat in the backpack who made a brief appearance during the awards ceremony. Thank you to Raintree Athletic Club for sponsoring the event and thank you to Light of the Rockies for being a Presenting Sponsor.
The FireKracker 5k benefited the Fort Collins’ Running Club and the CARA track program.
To see all results, click here
Thank you to the sponsors of the 2022 FireKracker 5k:
