Ten for Texas

The Ocejo Family races Ten for Texas. Willy wins Masters!

Dustin Harris (2nd in 20-24 AG) , Skip Moschell (Grand Masters Winner), Brandon Sager (1st in 25-29 AG), Michael Menster (2nd in 40-44 AG), Chris Weir (2nd 25-29 AG)

A gathering of some Finish Strong athletes looking good before the race begins.

Wow! It was awesome seeing 60 Finish Strong athletes at Ten for Texas on Saturday, October 8 enduring the ultra humid conditions to race ten mile course in The Woodlands and finish in Market Street.

Finish Strong claimed four of the top 10 race finishes and eight of the top 25 spots. The team had eleven podium finishes. Eight athletes running the Ten for Texas for the first time. And several athletes enjoying a personal best.

First across the line and third overall and second in his ridiculously competitive 30-34 AG was Scott Peterson who finished in 1:00:25 (6:03/mi pace). Next was Gavish Mago who came in sixth overall and fifth in his 30-34 AG in finishing 1:01:50 (6:11/mi). Brandon Sager was ninth across the line and first in his 25-29 AG finishing in 1:02:40. In 10th place was Guillermo "Willy" Ocejo who won Masters by finishing in 1:03:10. Next was Ronnie Delzer who finished 13th overall and 7th in his 30-34 AG finishing in 1:04:03. Michael Menster 2nd in his 40-44 AG and 16th overall with a time of 1:04:44.22 Skip Moschell won Grand Masters by finishing in 1:07:10 and 22nd overall. And Chris Weir finished second in his 25-29 AG and 25th overall in averaging 6:44/M to finish in 1:07:21.

Robert Simmons and Ed York finished 36th and 37th overall - just 6 seconds apart. Robert finished in 1:08:59 claiming 6th in his 40-44 AG. Ed York came in 7th in his 45-49 AG and finished just behind Robert with a time of 1:09:05. Dustin Harris came in 42nd in 1:09:45 - fast enough to claim 2nd in his 20-24 AG. Hector Gonzalez had a nice race averaging 7:07/M for a 1:11:13 finish and taking the 11th spot in his 30-34 AG.

Casey Clark and Brad Johnson finished 71st and 72nd overall just seconds apart. Casey clocked a 1:12:45 and Brad Johnson right behind in 1:12:50. Brad finished 5th in his 50-54 AG.

We had three father-daughter combos -- Edson and Gwen Jones who boasted great races. Edson finished in 1:14:00; his daughter, Gwen trained and did well at this her first 10 mile race placing 6th in her 15-19 AG with a time of 1:34:48.

Father-daughter duo, Bill and Pilar Glaser also did a fine job. Bill finished in 1:14:29 (7:27/mi pace). Thirteen-year old Pilar took on her first 10 mile race and did a wonderful job finishing in 1:31:33 and taking 2nd in her under 14 AG.

And Jody and Molly Gaddy were in fine form. Dad Jody finished in 1:23:16. His daughter, Molly, 15, finished her first Ten for Texas in 2:11:05. Mom Laura who also runs for Finish Strong and completed Ironman Texas in May headed up the Gaddy cheering section.

Geoffrey Zubay, 43, kept up a 7:25/M pace to finish in 1:14:12.

Jessica Menendez was our first female to cross the finish line. She placed 86th overall and 5th in her 35-39 AG with a time of 1:14:14.

Sara Hudgens was not far behind finishing in 1:14:38 and capturing 2nd in her 25-29 AG.

Sandy Vasser, 55, kept up a strong 7:32/M pace to finish in 1:15:19.

Lisa Hill did a nice job averaging 7:34/M to finish in 1:15:42 claiming 2nd in her 40-44 AG.

Christelle Gigant pounded out a 7:38/M pace to finish in 1:16:24 claiming 6th in 30-34 her AG. Christelle was followed by Pamela Ferguson who finished in 1:17:02 and took 7th in her AG.

Sharon Morin was at the top of the podium taking first place for the 45-49 AG females with a time of 1:17:28.

Clint Bryant was right behind Sharon finishing in 1:17:44. Jim Harrington took a break from triathlons and ran a 1:17:58.

Charles Knific maintained a 7:53/M to finish in 1:18:52. Is this a PR, Charlie?

Bruce Smart and Alan Neely cruised to the finish line in 1:20:33 and 1:21:03 respectively.

Phillip Deprang at age 60 proved to be a force to reckon with finishing 4th in his AG in 1:22:48.

Susie Schrieber took 2nd place in her 50-54 AG with a solid 1:23:27 - 8:21/M pace.
Also, following a 8:21 pace was Kim McElligott who finished in 1:23:32 and Steve Hardy (not Hard as the race results reported)in 1:23:47.

Kristin Collins, who may be my friend with the biggest Facebook following, kept her fans happy by finishing in 1:23:55.

Scott Kahney finished in 1:24:16 averaging 8:26/mile.

New mom, Misty Harris, 30, trained and took on her first 10-mile race with an impressive 1:24:55 finish.

Deb Lyons took 4th in her 50-54 AG in 1:26:00 averaging 8:36/M.

Tuesday night track runners, Max Bachrach and Joseph Tokarz finished in 1:26:05 and 1:28:34 respectively. Triathlete Will Blackbird averaged 8:43/M finishing in 1:27:14.

Judith Clark didn't let her husband, Casey, have all the fun. She had a solid race finishing in 1:28:39.

Bill Blount at 60 kept up his 8:53/M pace to finish in 1:28:46 claiming the 8th spot in his 60-64 AG.

Another husband and wife team, Brandi and Danny Watterson also ran the race. Brandi who is training for her first Ironman earned family bragging rights by finishing in 1:29:54. Her husband, Danny, who is recovering from a foot injury finished in 1:37:54.

Javier Noyola and Bret Strong were separated by only 1 second finished the race in 1:31:22 and 1:31:23, respectively. Bret's legal firm, The Strong Firm, was one of the sponsors for the race.

Gordy Bunch who took on his first Ironman in May completed the Ten for Texas race in 1:33:01.

Cindy McManis held on to finish the race in 1:37:59.

Karyn Perugini trained with our group and enjoyed a strong finish in 1:41:15 averaging 10:08/mile.

This was Jacqueline Finnegan first 10 mile race. Her new personal record is 1:42:29.

Kimberly Neveu and Shani Monk both ran the event without their husbands. Kim averaged 10:33/M to finish in 1:45:33. Shani Monk finished the race in 1:45:01. Shani earned her second Ten for Texas tat.

Tuesday night track runner Cory Richard kept up a 10:32/M to finish in 1:45:19.
Craig Daniell fought hard and finished in 1:51:17.

Katherine Powell returned to running and stayed strong to finish in 1:53:38.

Brian Waldrop is also back at it and he finished the race in 1:59:09.

Janet Luna kept up her 12:13/mile pace to finish the race in 2:02:11.

Recovering from an injury, David Smart came back to finish the race in 2:06:32.

Althea Caldwell persevered and ran the entire ten miles finishing in 2:16:41.

New mom, Amanda Fails, took on her longest race to date accomplishing Ten for Texas in 2:17:49.

Congrats to all! More photos to be posted on Finish Strong Coaching facebook page.