No shame for local runner-up

Don DeBenedet’s red face wasn’t from ‘Embarrass’-ment, but was the result of many miles of excellent effort.
The Fort Frances runner logged a time of 44:22 to wind up in second place in the 50-59 year old group as part of the 23rd annual Flying Finn 10-kilometre race during the regional fair on Sunday in Embarrass, Mn.
Fellow local racer Bob Tkachuk managed a seventh-place showing in the age 40-49 division with a time 57:08.
“It was torture out there,” recalled Tkachuk. “It was 80 degrees (Fahrenheit) with what felt like 80 degrees of humidity.”
Ed Wiersema was the third Fort Frances athlete representing his community at the event, clocking a time of 1:01.03 in the 40-49 class. His final placing was not available at press time.
The next major race scheduled to include Fort Frances runners will be a 10-kilometre/marathon event in Walker, Mn., on Sept. 27, with the Twin Cities Marathon also beckoning this area’s best competitors Oct. 5.