Doing it for his daughter
Winning anything is made more memorable when there's someone to dedicate the victory to.
Jake Taciuch was eager to make his dedication following his win in the men's 2K at Saturday's Butler Road Race. He and his fiancee, Julia McGregor, are proud parents of a 4-month-old daughter, Aubrey.
“I did it all for her,” said Taciuch, a 2014 graduate of Moniteau High School and current resident of Chicora. “With our baby, I haven't been getting much sleep and wasn't able to train for this. I've run the 5-mile race here before and today's (hot and humid) weather was a deciding factor in me choosing to do the 2K. I didn't make that decision until this morning's registration. I don't mind some heat, but it's pretty bad out here today.”
Taciuch ran the event in seven minutes, 37.12 seconds. Incoming Butler freshman, Samantha Cornell, won the women's race in a time of 8:34.55.
Before the men's field turned off of Main Street (less than halfway into the race) Taciuch had taken the lead and never gave it up. He finished nearly 39 seconds ahead of his closest competitor, Butler's Michael Braun.
“I wanted to test my legs today and was just looking to run at a good pace. With everything I've been juggling, it feels good to win here,” said Taciuch, who competed in both cross country and track while in high school. “The toughest part is coming back up Main Street, that hill before the finish line.”
Cornell, 14, led a youth movement in the women's event. Butler residents Kara Kemple, 15, and Madison McGarrah, 12, took second and third, respectively, with times of 8:46.16 and 9:01.62.Cornell had run here three previous times and she bettered her best effort by 16 seconds.“I like to get out in front and keep that pace. I was able to do that today,” she said. “I started training for this at the beginning of June, running on the track (at Art Bernardi Stadium). My goal was to place in the top three and I'm happy to win.”It was in the third grade that Cornell began running competitively at Butler Catholic. She will run in both cross country and track for the Golden Tornado.“I loved it right from the start,” she added. “There's a bit of nervousness and anxiety for me before a race, but it feels good to finish a run.”
Men (Top 3)1. Jake Taciuch 7:37.12, 2. Michael Braun 8:16.8, 3. Brady Collins 9:09.8Women (Top 3)1. Samantha Cornell 8:34.55, 2. Kara Kemple 8:46.16, 3. Madison McGarrah 9:01.62Age Group WinnersMenUnder 12 — Josh Noronha 10:09.1412-15 — Owen Boring 10:01.4916-19 — Brendan Malloy 9:23.820-29 — Ben Swigart 9:58.6430-39 — Jon Kovach 11:26.840-49 — Arun Noronha 11:54.7350-59 — Michael Fiorina 10:16.5360-69 — Derrick Henderson 9:24.3Over 70 — Frank Prazenica 11:32.73WomenUnder 12 — Gracie Hartle 9:55.3612-15 — Lily Flood 9:20.5416-19 — Caitlin Peratt 9:34.320-29 — Abigail Benninger 11:07.2830-39 — Audra Cubbage 12:24.8540-49 — Tracy Traggiai 11:49.5550-59 — Donna Eshenbaugh 11:22.9560-69 — Laura Benninger 12:58.3Over 70 — Sonja Crawford 14:22.24
