Utah Athletes Claim Bellin Run Titles

GREEN BAY (WLUK) — Two athletes from the state of Utah finished with the fastest times in the Bellin Run 10k on Saturday.

Finishing with a time of 30:03 in the men’s category, Jared Ward of Mapleton, Utah claimed his 4th Bellin title in the 10K. He previously won in 2019, 2022, and 2023.

Following the race, Ward said the only word to describe being a 4-time champ was “surprised.”

“I had PRP in my high hamstring earlier this year, was out for a while,” he says. “Like, this is the most, the longest break I’ve had since I served a two-year mission after high school 15 years ago, so I’m raw. It hurt today, I’m grateful it’s still in there deep down, but it was a battle from two and a half miles out with my training partner and friend back at home, Jake, and it was a treat to run next to him on these beautiful roads in this beautiful town, I love your community.”

Jake Heslington of Provo, Utah took second place in his first Bellin Run race, just one second behind Ward. Heslington competed at the 2024 Olympic Marathon trials.

In the women’s 10K, elite runner Sarah Sellers of Ogden, Utah won her first Bellin Run with a time of 35:12, defeating defending champion Kathy VenDehy of Menasha. Both athletes competed at the 2024 Olympic Marathon trials.

“I feel really good, I think 10Ks are really fun because you get to push yourself, but not get as beat up as a full marathon. You still get the race effort but then you finish and you’re not hobbling, it feels pretty good,” Sellers said following her win.

Top 5 men’s 10K overall:

1. Jared Ward, Mapleton, Utah – 30:03

2. Jacob Heslington, Provo, Utah – 30:04

3. Noah Jahnke, Green Bay – 31:08

4. David Ecker, Green Bay – 31:32

5. Mason Gates, Manitowoc –31:46

Top 5 women’s 10K overall:

1. Sarah Sellers, Ogden, Utah – 35:12

2. Allyson Verbauwhede, Whitelaw – 36:07

3. Elizabeth Kujawa, Berlin – 37:41

4. Liz Kanzleiter, Suamico – 37:48

5. Maggie Priebe, Green Bay – 37:51

In a press release, Bellin Run organizers say the records for the men’s and women’s race still stand, but some new records were set on Saturday. The release reads:

Joseph Kimani retains the men’s course record of 27:46, set in 1997; and Tegla Loroupe holds the women’s course record with a time of 31:48, set in 1999. There was, however, a new age group record set:

Males ages 70-74 — Joseph Reda III, 43:37

Males ages 85 and over — Harry Belongy. 1:33:19

Females ages 85 and over — Nicole Ferry, 1:05:28

Full race results and photos can be found on the Bellin Run website, here.