WH runners place in 'Race for the Cure'

Several Whitehouse track and cross countr y runners placed well at the Tyler Komen Race for the Cure on Saturday, May 12 held at Bergfeld Park to raise awareness and funds for Breast Cancer research.

A previous Whitehouse C/ C high school runner who currently runs for UTT, RJ Cowan, age 21, took first place overall male winner with a time of 15:58. Oscar Vela, 18, placed 8th overall and 3rd in the 15-19 age group with a time of 18:49 followed closely by Timothy Priest, 15, who rounded out the top 10 by finishing 10th overall and 4th in the 15-19 age group with a time of 18:57.

The girls did just as well with Natalie Holcomb, 18, finishing 5th overall for the women and 2nd in the 15-19 age group with a time of 21:55. Brittney Wilkens, 16, placed 6th overall women and 3rd in the 15-19 age group with a time of 21:58.

Other Whitehouse residents that participated in the timed race included:

Mike Peek, 39, second, 35- 39 M, 19:59

Coral Wilkens, 40, second, 40-44 F, 24:04

Andrew Drott, 16, 16th 15- 19M, 25:04

Caleb Hoover, 13, 13th 11- 14M, 28:45

Lucresha Baxter, 29, fifth, 25-29F, 29:17

Mollie Jamieson, 15, 18th 15- 19F, 30:44

Sherri Priest, 45, 12th, 45- 49F, 31:09

This is the 9th anniversary for Race for the Cure in Tyler, and there is much to celebrate! Since 1999, more than one million dollars have been raised by The Komen Tyler Race for the Cure®. The 2006 race raised more than $230,000. Of the funds raised, up to 75% of net proceeds will stay in East Texas and a minimum of 25% of the net will help fund the Komen National Award and Research Grant Program. There were an estimated 5,000 participants for this year's event with 1,000 runners in the 5k race and over 400 cancer survivors. More than 100 cities and two foreign locations host Komen Race for the Cure runs.