Whitehead, Bias lead finishers in F.I.T. 5K

Brian Whitehead and Erica Bias took the top awards Saturday in the second annual F.I.T. for Life 5K race in Cape Girardeau.

Whitehead, of Boaz, Ky., finished the course that started and finished on the Southeast Missouri State University campus in 16 minutes, 50 seconds. Bias, of St. Louis, finished in 21:37.

The race featured 116 runners from as far away as Indiana, twice as many as in last year's event.

Top male finishers in each category were Alex McCrite in 28:33 (10 and under), Devin Gauzy in 17:29 (11 to 19), Whitehead (20 to 29), Gordan Garrett in 20:49 (30 to 39), Dan Brown in 20:37 (40 to 49), Mark Hasler in 18:49 (50 to 59) and Ron Ruminer in 23:17 (60 and over).

Female age-group winners were Bias (11 to 19), Nichole Thiele in 23:24 (20 to 29), Michelle Sharpswain in 28:49 (30 to 39), Paula Castleman in 25:37 (40 to 49), Connie Lape (50 to 59) and Linda Burns (60 and over).