SYRACUSE - Fifty boats and a record 433 runners participated in the Wawasee Flotilla and eight-mile run last weekend.
The Smock family and friends received the commodore's award for their boat, which celebrated American Bandstand, in the 50th flotilla Sunday. In the 34th run Saturday, Hunter Paris finished first overall among men with a time of 43:12, and Darlene Barton first among women, with a time of 56:23.
Nelson family and friends received the Wawasee Property Owners Association award for their YMCA-themed boat; the Kroemer family won among neighborhoods for their Elvis-themed boat; and Griffith's Marina won among businesses for their Wawapalooza theme.
The Juergens family won in not-for-profits, with a National Guard boat, and Hollingsworth family won in youth, with Cypress Gardens. The Ellenberger family had first-place antique boat and Stump family first-place wooden.
In the 3.3-mile version of the run around Lake Wawasee, Ty Alles was first male finisher with 17:57 as his time, and Haley Heath first female at 23:20. Male masters in the long and short were Steve Leffers and Brian Gross, and female masters Lisa Hurst and Vicki Baker.
Mary Connelly and Gus Kuhn finished first in the 70+ age category in the longer run, and Judy and Dave Eckrich first in the shorter run. In the under-12 category, which only ran the shorter route, Luke Griner was first boy and Elle Palmer first girl.
