Karter Tow (7419) leads the way during Tuesday’s Star Spangled Spectacular Freedom 5K at Faurot Park.
Richard Parrish | The Lima News
LIMA — When former Allen East distance standout and now Bowling Green State University runner Hunter Sidle stepped up to the starting line Tuesday morning to defend his Star Spangled Spectacular Freedom 5K title from a year ago, he quickly realized he had some serious competition standing next to him.
Karter Tow, a former Lincolnview distance standout and now Bluffton University runner, quickly caught his attention.
The 19-year-old Sidle stayed close to Tow for most of Tuesday’s race. However, Tow finally pulled away from Sidle late, en route to a winning time of 15 minutes, 44.2 seconds. Sidle finished second in 16:37.3. Jacob Wireman, a 17-year-old junior at Bath was third (17:28.2) on the 5,000-meter course that traversed through part of downtown Lima and then circled back to Faurot Park to the finish line.
There were 411 runners/walkers that completed Tuesday’s Star Spangled Spectacular Freedom 5K.
“I get to the starting line, I look over and I knew he (Tow) was ready to race,” Sidle said with a smile. “About a mile in, he was about 10, 15 seconds ahead of me. I think I ran like a 4:55 (first mile). He wasn’t here to mess around. I just tried to keep him in my sight.
“Around mile three, once we got to the hilly part, I kind of lost him. But it was a great race. He’s in great shape. He’s going to do some big things this year.”
The 22-year-old Tow said he knew it wasn’t going to be an easy task to pull away from Sidle.
“Hunter is in really good shape, especially for where he’s at in college right now,” Tow said. “I think he’s going to have a really good fall. He was right there for most of the race. With it being hot and hilly today, it was anybody’s race. It doesn’t matter how good of shape you are in. You come here to compete and see what happens. So, that’s how it went.
“I was really happy with today. It’s not my best time ever, but with the heat and the hills, it’s like, ‘I’ll take it.”’
Tow, who began his college career in 2019, competing in cross country and track at Division I Purdue-Fort Wayne, will be competing at Bluffton University this coming school year.
Tow is looking forward to closing out his college career at Bluffton.
“I’ve been running some road races this summer to get ready for cross country, because I’ll be doing a fifth year at Bluffton University this fall to finish my bachelor’s degree in dietetics,” Tow said. “My goal is to be a sports dietician. I was at OSU (Ohio State University) helping with the football stuff (for school), and now I’m going to finish up at Bluffton. It’s a little bit closer to home and I will be able to get done a little bit quicker.”
Tow has amped up his training this summer, in preparation for the upcoming cross-country season at Bluffton.
“So, right now, I’m doing between 75 to 80 (miles per week). And I’m going to build up to about 90 (miles) or so, by the end of the summer,” Tow said. “It’s a lot, but I have so much fun just running. … I can take it. It’s definitely my passion.”
Sidle, who will be entering his sophomore season at BGSU, also has set some big goals for his upcoming school year.
“I have some pretty ambitious goals,” Sidle said. “I’d like to come back and do really well, maybe be top three on the (cross country) team. I plan on coming back and surprising my teammates, my coaches, and my family.
“I wasn’t too happy with my (spring) track season. I know I have a lot more in the tank. I just have to figure out where it is at and let it all out.”
Sidle is studying exercise science/pre-medicine.
On the women’s side, 31-year-old Taylor Hermiller from Westlake, crossed the finish line first Tuesday in 21:02.7. Paige Williamson, a 17-year-old senior at Parkway finished second (21:25.7).
Hermiller, who grew up in Pandora and graduated from Pandora-Gilboa High School, now lives in the Cleveland area.
Hermiller said the Star Spangled Spectacular Freedom 5K has been a staple for her entire family.
“We have run it every year since I was 15, pretty much. It’s a family affair. We now have nephews and nieces coming in and are being pushed in strollers,” Hermiller said with a grin.
Tuesday’s race was Hermiller’s first 5K of the year. However, she said there are plans to run more races in the near future.
“It’s one way I can stay competitive as I’m getting older. I really enjoy it,” she said.
Reach The Lima News sports department at 567-242-0451.
