Forsee, Collins Win Laurels at Blue Angel Marathon

By Master Sgt. Stephen Barrett, USA
American Forces Press Service

WASHINGTON, March 4, 1997 – Bridget Collins of Naperville, Ill., and David Forsee of Indianapolis claimed top honors at the 14th annual Blue Angel Marathon, held Feb. 22 in Pensacola, Fla.

Collins, who works at a veterans hospital in Naperville, broke the Pensacola course record in winning the women's title. The 35-year-old runner crossed the finish line in 2 hours, 51 minutes, 23 seconds, cutting more than three minutes off Brenda Walton's 1990 record of 2:54:37..

Finishing nearly 13 minutes behind Collins was Patt Loggins of Charleston, S.C., who logged a time of 3:04:49. Pensacola's Heather Turner was third, finishing at 3:05:37, while Kris Clark-Setnes of Eagle, Wis., crossed two minutes later. Allison Eagen of Tallahassee, Fla., finished fifth.

Forsee, 28, ran the 26.2 mile course in 2:33:21 in winning the men's competition. An employee with the Indiana Department of Environmental Management, Forsee finished nearly seven minutes ahead of his closest competitor, Curt Rogers of Derby, Kan. (2:40:02).

Whitney Miller of Carmel, Ind., finished third, crossing the finish line at 2:41:35. Jim Clabuesch of Cary, N.C., was three seconds behind Miller, while Matthew Lameyer of St. Petersburg, Fla., recorded a 2:43:24 for fifth place.

In other competitions, Ray Workman of Salt Lake City captured the men's masters title for runners over 45. His 2:43:38 placed him seventh. The women's masters title went to Kathy Gruber of Indian Rocks Beach, Fla. She recorded a 3:18:31 and finished ninth among women competitors.

Todd Robinson and Julia Wallace captured top wheelchair honors. Robinson stroked his way to 2:19:05 to win the men's title. Wallace, the women's wheelchair winner at the 1996 Marine Corps Marathon in Washington, recorded a 2:19:43 in claiming her title.
 
Men's Results
Runner                  Hometown                  Time
1. David Forsee         Indianapolis, Ind.        2:33:21
2. Curt Rogers          Derby, Kan.               2:40:02
3. Whitney Miller       Carmel, Ind.              2:41:35
4. Jim Clabuesch        Cary, N.C.                2:41:38
5. Matthew Lameyer      St. Petersburg, Fla.      2:43:24
6. Timothy Wandervlugt  Cottage Grove, Ore.       2:43:38
7. Ray Workman          Salt Lake City            2:43:38
8. Scott Parker         Hoover, Ala.              2:46:54
9. John Davidson        Yorktown, Va.             2:47:12
10. Dennis Wallach      Eden Prairie, Minn.       2:48:24

Women's Results
Runner                  Hometown                  Time
1. Bridget Collins      Naperville, Ill.          2:51:23
2. Patt Loggins         Charleston, S.C.          3:04:49
3. Heather Turner       Pensacola, Fla.           3:05:37
4. Kris Clark-Setnes    Eagle, Wis.               3:07:42
5. Allison Eagen        Tallahassee, Fla.         3:09:59
6. Beth Valenzuela      Cantonment, Fla.          3:14:44
7. Terri Fussner        Pensacola, Fla.           3:16:06
8. Kellie Smith         Birmingham, Ala.          3:17:45
9. Kathy Gruber         Indian Rocks Beach, Fla.  3:18:31
10. Marianne Lameyer    St. Petersburg, Fla.      3:19:21

(Mike Antoine of the Pensacola Naval Air Station Gosport contributed to this article.)