Two-hundred people participated in the 11th Annual Dragon Dash held on last Sunday.
The Dragon Dash is an 8k race around Voorheis Lake. The race began at 8:30 a.m. for those who were walking and 9 a.m. for the runners.
Children ages seven and under could take part in a Tot Trot which was held during the race this year in hopes to have more children participate.
Recreation Program Supervisor Jennifer Rowe believed the good weather encouraged more people to come. Rowe has been the event organizer for the past eight years.
Dot McMahon of Rochester Hills came in third overall with a time of 28:14.
‘I’ve never had a female come in that fast,? said Rowe.
Paulette Belanger of Lake Orion came in with a time of 37:29, placing her first in the women’s ages 40 to 44 division.
To prepare for her first Dragon Dash, Tara Novak of Lake Orion had been training three days a week since the New Year’s Resolution Run. Novak set a few goals for herself, including to finsih strong, to come in under an hour and to enjoy the race. She accomplished all of her goals.
“Jules Winfield” of Lake Orion came in as the overall first place with a time of 27:14. “Winfield” was also the overall first place winner in 2006.
Lake Orion men won several of the divisions. The winners were Derek Averil (32:16) in the 20 to 24, John Whitefoot (33:15) in the 30 to 34, Paul Daprai (33:56) in the 35 to 39 and Gary Greib (29:53) in the 40 to 44.
Oakview Middle School students Jake Lauka and Jake Gleason came in with in a second of each other. Lauka’s time was 35:35 and Gleason had 35:36. “We stayed with each other the whole time,” said Lauka.
This was the first Dragon Dash for Andrew Cross of Lake Orion. Cross was originally planning on pacing himself evenly throughout the distance, but that changed once he was on the course.
“The race takes you with it. People are pushing and pulling you along at a faster pace,” said Cross. He came in third for his age group with a time of 32:20.
In the 8k walk, Lake Orion resident Heather Soroka came in as the overall first place winner with a time of 1:04:20. Mark Deprez had a time of 1:08:09, ranking him first in the men’s age group of 0 to 99.
Rowe said the event went off ‘without a hitch? and that she could not have asked for better weather.
Next year’s Dragon Dash will be held on Sunday, May 18.