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Title:
Winter Challenge Cross Country VIII
Date:
Sunday January 11th, 2026
Author:
RDs Michelle & Bill Thom
Report:
Winter Challenge Cross Country VIII
Cross Country and Gratuitous Six-Hour Runs
!
Do amazing things on grass... run Cross Country!
Official race statistics for 2026 Winter Challenge Cross Country VIII.
Time
Temp °F
Humidity
Wind MPH
Event
Registered
Started
Finished
7:53 am
26
71%
WNW 20
Gratuitous 6-Hour:
23
20
20
8:53 am
28
69%
WNW 16
15 Kilometer:
27
25
25
9:53 am
29
66%
NW 14
5 Kilometer:
30
28
28
10:53 am
30
66%
NNW 10
WC3 Race Totals:
80
73
73
11:53 am
32
59%
N 13
Volunteers:
5
12:53 pm
33
58%
WNW 12
1:53 pm
33
61%
W 12
2:53 pm
33
61%
W 14
Daybreak on Sunday morning with volunteers Regina & Tom Burke, Boris Tannenbaum, Paula Donato, and Jeni Goodwin, we set up the start/finish area, erected a tent, and lit a small ring-fire. Gratuitous 6-Hour started at 8:01 am. 5-Km and 15-Km racers were off-and-running at 9:31 am. The racecourse was dusted with a whisper of snow, mostly dry, firm and runnable.
The 5-Km was led by veteran WC3 runner Jamie Dihiansan (4th WC3) - his first overall finish atop the podium! In close pursuit throughout the race were Jamie's teammates Sam Birkner (3rd WC3), and Irving Birkner (4th WC3); which propelled `Outer Lanes Athletic Club` to the top of team competition. Leading female 5-Km racers were Dawn Steele (3rd WC3) in first place, Evelyn Thom (WC3 debut) in second, and Marty Kozar (WC3 debut) in third place. Representing the `Silent Generation`, Lynne Hans who at 84 years-young was the oldest runner of this year's Winter Challenge Cross Country
!
The 15-Km was won by young Isaac Luff who led all runners through each of the three laps, with Jeffrey Joseph finishing in second, and Justin Hatchimonji in third place; our top-three 15-Km runners were all running their WC3 debut. Leading female 15-Km racers were defending champion Erin Ding (2nd WC3), closely pursued by Agnes Burkevic (5th WC3) in second, and Ewa Kaminska (3rd WC3) in third place. Tony Weyers has finished all eight versions of Winter Challenge Cross Country 15-Km, now with 74.523 accumulated miles
!
Through the first three laps, the 6-Hour run was led by Rachel Burke (3rd WC3 - past champion). Somewhere on lap four Matt Luff (WC3 debut) moved into first position, then sped-up and went on for the overall win with a new race record of 39.448 miles
!
Matt's new record distance was ~one mile farther than 2025 Brian Wickman's 38.45 race record. Rachel continued her strong pace, finishing in second place overall with 35.14 miles; only ~740 feet less than her female race record set at last year's race. In their WC3 debut the husband/wife team `Mudd, Sweat & Tears` starring Austin & Marta Mudd ran step-for-step piling up 33.82 miles each, finishing tied for third place. Third place male was Michael Whitaker (3rd WC3) with his best-ever mileage. Agnes Bargiel (WC3 debut) finished as third place female. All runners ran as many 5K Loops until the last hour, when they could switch to the ¼M Loop and run until the 6-hour horn sounded.
11:30 am... while 6-Hour runners pursued evermore mileage, our traditional distance 5-Km and 15-Km runners headed over to the warming tent for an awards ceremony and hot cocoa For each event distance the Top-3 Male & Female finishers earned newly minted Gold, Silver, and Bronze Medals. For an extra-fun twist we awarded `Made the Podium` pint-glasses based upon top finishers in `Generational` age divisions.
Official Results:
2026 Winter Challenge Cross Country Results
❄️
Winter Challenge Cross Country 5-Km...
Female Podium Achievers : Top Three Overall
🥇
1st)
Dawn Steele
🥈
2nd)
Evelyn Thom
🥉
3rd)
Marty Kozar
Male Podium Achievers : Top Three Overall
🥇
1st)
Jamie Dihiansan
🥈
2nd)
Sam Birkner
🥉
3rd)
Irving Birkner
Generational Age Divisions : Top Runners
Gen Z Female : 14 - 29
🥇
1st)
Natalie Alonzo
Gen Z Male : 14 - 29
🥇
1st)
James Kirk
🥈
2nd)
Alec Yoon
Millennial Male : 30 - 45
🥇
1st)
Michael Duhn
Gen X Female : 46 - 61
🥇
1st)
Christine Gaines
🥈
2nd)
Kristine Yoon
Gen X Male : 46 - 61
🥇
1st)
Carlos Viramontes
🥈
2nd)
Adam Abshure
Baby Boomer Male : 62 - 80
🥇
1st)
Alan Shortall
🥈
2nd)
Barry Clements
Silent Generation Male : 81 - 97
🥇
1st)
Lynne Hans
Team Podium Achievers : 3-Runners Combined Time
🥇
1st)
Outer Lanes Athletic Club - 1:14:33.7: Jamie Dihiansan, Sam Birkner, Irving Birkner
🥈
2nd)
Riis Park Striders - 1:59:30.9: Paul Angarone, Natalie Alonzo, Ken Dietz
❄️
Winter Challenge Cross Country 15-Km...
Female Podium Achievers : Top Three Overall
🥇
1st)
Erin Ding
🥈
2nd)
Agnes Burkevic
🥉
3rd)
Ewa Kaminska
Male Podium Achievers : Top Three Overall
🥇
1st)
Isaac Luff
🥈
2nd)
Jeffrey Joseph
🥉
3rd)
Justin Hatchimonji
Generational Age Divisions : Top Runners
🥇
Gen Z Male : 14 - 29
1st)
Luca Shortall
Millennial Female : 30 - 45
🥇
1st)
Betty Lee
🥈
2nd)
Kelley Konopa
Millennial Male : 30 - 45
🥇
1st)
David Llano
🥈
2nd)
David Pratt
Gen X Female : 46 - 61
🥇
1st)
April Cheverette
🥈
2nd)
Maureen Lesak
Gen X Male : 46 - 61
🥇
1st)
Karl Flener
🥈
2nd)
Damir Krstic
Baby Boomer Female : 62 - 80
🥇
1st)
Susan Galvin
Baby Boomer Male : 62 - 80
🥇
1st)
Wladyslaw Maciej
Team Podium Achievers : 3-Runners Combined Time
🥇
1st)
BiegAm - 3:50:33.7: Erin Ding, Agnes Burkevic, Ewa Kaminska
🥈
2nd)
Team Sloth - 5:03:54.6: Paul Garcia, Siamak Mostoufi, Tony Weyers
🥉
3rd)
Pupsicles - 6:48:05.6: Kelley Konopa, Kevin Thrall, Teresa Schecker
❄️
Winter Challenge Cross Country Gratuitous 6-Hour...
Female Podium Achievers : Top Three Overall
🥇
1st)
Rachel Burke
🥈
2nd)
Marta Mudd
🥉
3rd)
Agnes Bargiel
Male Podium Achievers : Top Three Overall
🥇
1st)
Matt Luff
🥈
2nd)
Austin Mudd
🥉
3rd)
Michael Whitaker
How Far Did They Go Mileage?
1st)
Matt Luff, 39.45
2nd)
Rachel Burke, 35.14
3rd)
Marta Mudd, 33.82
3rd)
Austin Mudd, 33.82
5th)
Michael Whitaker, 33.41
6th)
Hardik Prajapati, 33.01
7th)
Brian Sheridan, 32.68
8th)
Agnes Bargiel, 29.96
9th)
Shane Meyer, 29.71
10th)
Esmeralda Valerio Leon, 28.1
11th)
Steve Carlson, 27.96
11th)
Evan Roberts, 27.96
13th)
Alfonso Bahena-Damian, 26.02
14th)
Tammy Chase, 24.34
15th)
Richard Lott, 21.75
16th)
Edgar Herrera, 20.89
17th)
Andrae Marak, 18.64
17th)
Arizona Lagousakos, 18.64
17th)
Eleanor Lagousakos, 18.64
20th)
Edna Jackeline Vazquez, 16.17 [late start]
Team Podium Achievers : 2-Runners Combined Distance
🥇
1st)
Mudd, Sweat & Tears - 67.637: Marta Mudd, Austin Mudd
🥈
2nd)
Dick Pond - 65.697: Hardik Prajapati, Brian Sheridan
🥉
3rd)
A Whole Lott of Luff - 61.196: Matt Luff, Richard Lott
Race production, hosting, timing, webcasting and finish-line scoring was managed by RunRace. Check out complete results through the links...
Official Results:
Results on RunRace
Webcast:
Webcast on RunRace
(with Checkpoint Splits where available)
Winter Challenge Cross Country simply could-not-happen without the service of dedicated runners, who volunteer their time & expertise. Let's give a rousing "shout out" to our thin-line of expert race volunteers for their generous support:
Aid Station Setup:
Tom Burke, Boris Tannenbaum, Regina Burke.
Runner Greeting / Check In:
Paula Donato, Jeni Goodwin.
Thermal Dynamics / Fire Whisperer:
Boris Tannenbaum.
Aid Station Captains:
Tom and Regina Burke, Jeni Goodwin, Paula Donato.
Supplies replenishment from nearby Walgreens:
Paula Donato and Boris Tannenbaum.
Race Packet Preparation:
Michelle Thom.
Racecourse Marshalling:
Michelle Thom.
¼M Loop Tallymaster:
Regina Burke.
Racecourse Marking / Course Cleanup:
Jeni Goodwin, Bill Thom, Tom Kohler.
Photo Gallery:
Michelle & Bill Thom.
[
Did I miss anyone here?
...
if you notice a missing or misspelled name please let me know.]
Photos of our gallery have been optimized for web-display... if you'd like a high-resolution original contact me, and I will respond with an attachment of the original image... be sure to specify which photo(s) you'd like. Got a photo that you'd like to share? We'd love to include with our gallery, so please send to me, optionally with your copyright credit info and description
!
Congratulations to the very bravest of runners and volunteers who participated in this eighth annual edition of Winter Challenge Cross Country
!
"Cross Country... best of all human endeavors
!
"
-Bill Thom:
bill@runrace.net
❄️
Commentary, feedback, and links as provided by participants
...
#310 Jamie Dihiansan:
Hi Bill and Michelle, Thanks so much for putting together a great event. We appreciate you and all the work you do for the running community. Here are a couple photos to add to your gallery. See you soon!
#495 David Pratt:
Thanks for organizing a very fun and unique race! I really appreciate the opportunity to race locally in the middle of January, especially with a small and supportive group of runners.
#316 Marty Kozar:
Hi Bill. Thanks for all of the work in putting together these results! I wasn't expecting this - so what a nice surprise! Also, thanks for having a 5k in January in Chicago. I'm training for a half marathon and running a 5k was part of the training. Perfect!.
Click a thumbnail for its larger image.
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Posted:
January 16th, 2026 2:03 pm
Last Update:
January 21st, 2026 4:16 pm
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