Posted: April 19, 2008

Athletics: Benchina, Houck Win Fitger’s 5K

Watch over 50 IAAF Events Live and On-Demand at WCSN.com Fundraiser benefits the Young Athletes Foundation (Duluth, MN) A record number of 1,355 people registered for today’s 19th annual Fitger’s 5K Run & Walk. Chisholm’s Michael Benchina, 25, claimed his third consecutive Fitger’s 5K title, winning in 16 minutes, eight seconds. Jen Houck, 24, of Wright, Minn., won the women’s division crown with a time of 18:54. Frank Skolte, of Frazee, Minn., won the men’s walk category in 31:44 and Duluthian Lisa Brown was the winner of the women’s walk division with a time of 27:41. A total of 1,254 finishers (1,089 runners, 165 walkers) completed the 3.1-mile course through Duluth’s downtown. All proceeds from the Fitger’s 5K Run & Walk benefit the Young Athletes Foundation (YAF), a Grandma's Marathon program focused on the promotion and development of youth athletics in the Twin Ports. 2008 FITGER’S 5K RUN: TOP 10 - MEN First Last TIME CITY STATE AGE Michael Benchina 16:08 Chisholm MN 25 Adam Swank 17:01 Duluth MN 32 Scott Chapin 17:07 Hayward WI 37 Jarrow Wahman 17:15 Duluth MN 46 Paul Giannobile 17:17 Minnetonka MN 48 Jordan Peterson 17:20 Duluth MN 18 Sean Gaskell 17:32 Esko MN 18 Neil Bizily 18:01 Edina MN 33 David Pipho 18:10 Duluth MN 36 Will Helms 18:12 Ely MN 44 2008 FITGER’S 5K RUN: TOP 10 – WOMEN First Last TIME CITY STATE AGE Jen Houck 18:54 Wright MN 24 Jeanne Fleck 19:25 Proctor MN 43 Kathleen Monaghan 19:32 Duluth MN 40 Rochelle Wirth 19:32 Duluth MN 45 Janet Rosen 20:21 Cloquet MN 53 Kari Hedin 20:48 Duluth MN 30 Sara Hollingsworth 21:02 Duluth MN 36 Samantha Carlson 21:11 Duluth MN 25 Jessica Rossing 21:23 Duluth MN 22 2008 FITGER’S 5K WALK - TOP 10 - MEN First Last TIME CITY STATE AGE Daniel Skolte 31:28 Belview MN 48 Frank Skolte 31:29 Frazee MN 51 Seth Skolte 34:20 Mahtowa MN 16 Herb Dillon 34:57 Duluth MN 59 James Skolte 35:25 Mora MN 55 Chris Deboer 35:35 Two Harbors MN 35 Kenneth Truscott 35:38 Hermantown MN 58 Christopher Saur 35:49 Two Harbors MN 35 Frank Doran 36:29 Duluth MN 54 Shawn Herhusky 36:40 Virginia MN 28 2008 FITGER’S 5K WALK: TOP 10 - WOMEN First Last TIME CITY STATE AGE Lisa Brown 27:06 Duluth MN 39 Emily Matuseski 27:40 Duluth MN 15 Nina Lubarski 30:06 Bemidji MN 24 Nora Mattei 30:41 Eveleth MN 45 Jodi Pufahl 33:17 Duluth MN 27 Jenny Tellers 34:23 Duluth MN 28 Jillian Smith 34:24 Duluth MN 23 Robbie Zbacnik 35:31 Ely MN 53 Amanda Lind 35:31 Cloquet MN 24 Jody Greniger 37:06 Esko MN 34 Complete results are available at: OnLineRaceResults.com. Subscribe to the Runner's Web Weekly Digest