EDWARDSVILLE - The ninth edition of TheBANK of Edwardsville Rotary Criterium Festival on Saturday afternoon and evening in downtown Edwardsville was a huge success, combining great weather with entertaining bicycle races and a new addition in the Downtown Dash, a two-lap foot race along the bike course that attracted some of the area’s top runners.
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In the Downtown Dash results, the men’s Elite Division winner was Luke Padesky of St. Louis, running the course in 6:41, finishing three seconds ahead of runner-up Matthew McClement, also of St. Louis with a time of 6:44. Dustin Davis of Worden was third, coming in at 6:59, and Glen Carbon’s Bart Smith was fourth with a time of 7:10.
In the women’s Elite division, Krista Arnold of Edwardsville won the race with a time of 7:10, with Crystal Harriss, also of Edwardsville, finishing second at 7:22. Grace Andrews of Ft. Leonard Wood, Mo., was third with a time of 7:57, and Melissa Gomes of Florissant, Mo., was fourth at 9:26.
“We have great weather, we have great sponsorships, we have great participants, a magnificent crowd," Race Director Brian Mulhall said for the day. "The number is all up for riders, for racers. The foot race was a new addition to the Criterium. We’re really looking forward to getting this to be an annual tradition. It gives competitors a chance to compete in this race, but not have to be so skilled to ride a bicycle to do it.”
Raleigh Brazier of Edwardsville won the men’s Open division of the Dash with a time of 7:20, winning by 15 seconds over runner-up Austin Viano, also of Edwardsville, who ran the course in 7:35. Matthew House of Glen Carbon was third, with a time of 8:59, Wayne Skigen of Edwardsville was fourth at 9:14, and Tim Mislan of Glen Carbon finished fifth with a time of 9:34.
In the women’s Open race, Rebecca Bradley of Edwardsville was the overall winner with a time of 8:23, finishing ahead of Edwardsville’s Lea Viano, who had a time of 8:35. Jenna Johnston of Whittington, Ill., was third, coming in at 8:47, Danielle Weems of Edwardsville finished fourth with a time of 9:35, and Amber Koester of Edwardsville was fifth at 10:34.
In the men’s age group results, Chase Lading of Edwardsville won the nine-and-under group with a time of 11:34, Hunter Lading of Edwardsville won the 10-14 division at 14:51, Cole Salter of Edwardsville won the 15-19 group with a time of 9:45, Viano was the winner in the 20-29 group, the 30-39 category was won by House, Corey Anderson of Edwardsville was the 40-49 group winner with a time of 9:59, Mislan was the winner in the 50-59 group, while Skigen won the 60-and-over grouping.
In the women’s age groupings, Maia Sweezey-Errar of Edwardsville won the nine-and-under group with a time of 14:25, Lea Viano won the 20-29 age group, Koester the 30-39 category, Weems the 40-49 group and Bradley also won the 50-and-over grouping.
Dan Brannan also contributed to this story.
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