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It has always been - Madness at Midnight
In 1988 Madness had reached its©ˆ sweet 16th birthday or had it. Running
records being what they are, the origins of this annual rite of summer are
sometimes hard to pin down. Founder Karl Larson quickly spotted another
year of Madness history, 1972, making the race 17 during its reported 16th
birthday--such is this race which its namesake aptly describes.
Midnight Madness has always been hard to ©¯pin down©˜. Its only consistency
is a mid-July race date that eventually ends in the dark. Modern day
Madness runners of course point to the party, but that didn©ˆt start till
1979 and many say it always had a 10K, but that didn©ˆt start till 1982. So
what you have is pure Madness, historically.
This race has seen every distance (no half-marathon yet): the 26.2 marathon,
English distances- 15, 12, 9, 6 & 3 miles and metric distances- 25, 20, 10
and 5 kilometers. And Madness has had a handful of race directors who swear
that Midnight Madness is the best race around (especially at 2am the morning
after the race cleaning up the mess left behind).
But through all the years, Midnight Madness has been the best way to
celebrate Iowa running on an often hot, humid night in the comfortable
confines of Ames and ISU.
1972 appears to be the beginning of Madness, one never knows. At the time,
Highway 30 bypass south of Ames was under construction, which seemed perfect
for a late night marathon organized by Karl Larson. With 12 runners the
Madness began with Nick Johnson finishing first in 3 hours (give or take 5
minutes).
1973 was a repeat of Œ72. Thanks to the DOT, located in Ames, the bypass
was not yet finished so 30 runners attempted the marathon with Galen Green
winning.
1974 Madness began to take on a more sane distance for mid-summer--15 miles.
Whether this was a loop course or not is anyone©ˆs guess, but sometime in the
next four years it became a loop course--the standard for the race today.
Lynn Lee won the men©ˆs title in 1:27:21, Sue Deppe the women©ˆs title
and
Karl Larson the master©ˆs division. And no there wasn©ˆt a running boom,
yet,
as 43 runners ran this year.
1975 the numbers were only six more than the previous year. Boak Desmond
won the 15 miler in 1:24:45, Barb Diment the women©ˆs race and Karl Larson
the master©ˆs title.
1976 Madness had 77 runners with Rick Hudson winning in reportedly a
1:16:21. It©ˆs believed that Barb Diment won the women©ˆs field and Merle
Diment broke Karl©ˆs domination of the master©ˆs field.
1977 the race continued to grow to 106 runners with Kim Sprain taking his
only Madness title with a 1:16:45. Mary Burns won the women©ˆs title in
1:45:00 and Rex Frazer took the master©ˆs field.
1978 the race started to boom with 196 runners. A loop course was
established at 3 miles, so runners could end their race at the end of any
loop and even get an official time. But the 15 miler was still the premier
event and Frank Richardson captured the first of his three titles winning in
1:17:25. Bridget Seip set the women©ˆs record winning in 1:43:25 and Karl
Larson won the master©ˆs division. Dale Grosvenor ended his term as race
director this year.
1979 John Liepa (with Cal Murdock in tow) started his leadership of this
race. Whether it was John©ˆs enthusiasm for the race or the running boom
(probably both) Madness would never be the same. The distances remained the
same, as 450 runners were topped by Frank Richardson running a 1:15:25.
Robin Rassmussen won the women©ˆs title.
1980 confirmed the boom of Madness as 925 runners made the trek to Ames.
And what a race it was with little known Dick Beardsley (then only 24)
finishing first in 1:15:19, with Richardson 43 seconds back. Earlier that
year Frank had finished 9th in the Olympic Marathon Trials, Dick was 16th.
In the women©ˆs race, teen sensation Karlene Erickson (then only 15) won in
1:31:36 with Iowa©ˆs Tina Gandy second.
1981 the action really started to heat up with 1315 runners. Richardson
recaptured his crown with a 1:16:22, an amazing time in 90 degree plus heat.
ISU track star Richard Kaitany finished second, collapsing at the finish. A
Missouri runner, Mark Curp, was third followed by Phil Coppess. On the
women©ˆs side world class runner Lorraine Moeller ran a 1:27:30 but couldn©ˆt
believe ©¯a young kid©˜ Erickson was only 49 seconds back. Earlier
that day
Karlene had won the Pepsi Cola 10K in Lincoln. A new Kenyan recruited by
ISU Coach Bill Bergan, Yobes Ondieki, ran in the 15 miler finishing 14th.
In the other featured race of the evening Vern Iwancin won the 6 miler in
31:06.
1982 the distances went metric with a 25K, 10K and a 5K fun run. Mark Curp
won in 1:18:31 with fellow Missouri runner Charlie Gray 59 seconds behind.
Drake runner Liz Hjalmarson won the women©ˆs crown in 1:33:54 with Erickson
in second. Mark Fluitt and Karen Clark won their divisions in the 10K.
1983 peaked out at 2450 runners. The longer race was shortened to 20K as
Mark Curp won in 1:01:15 with Phil Coppess 48 seconds back, Virgil Tjeerdsma
another 23 back and Wally Duffy in fourth. Sue Schneider took the women©ˆs
field in 1:11:58, as Nan Doak was second, Erickson third, Janis Ettle fourth
and Gandy fifth. In the 10K an amazing 1242 runners finished backing up 50
meters--but race officials kept moving the finish line/timing equipment to
fit the situation. Yobes Ondieki topped the 10K in 29:56 and ISU runner
Suzanne Young-berg won the women©ˆs title in 36:29.
1984 lightening struck, literally, as 2220 runners watched one of Madness'
greatest shows. The 5K was held in a downpour, the 10K postponed for 10
minutes to see where the lighting was headed and the 20K produce cool
darkness and spectacular times. Mark Curp won the 20K in an outstanding
59:49, Martyn Brewer was second and Richard Kaitany was third. On the
women©ˆs side little known 39 year old Priscilla Welch headed up a great
Women©ˆs field winning in 1:08:48. Lisa Larson was second in 1:10:05 with
Sue Schneider 15 seconds back. Later that year Welch was to finish sixth at
the LA Olympic Marathon. In the 10K ISU hopeful Barnaba Korir won in 30:52
and Lisa Whitman took the women©ˆs crown.
1985 John Liepa ended his seven year stay as director with 2100 runners in
attendance. The 20K smiled again at Mark Curp as he won his fourth straight
crown in 1:00:43 but Phil Coppess made it a race just 13 seconds back. Phil
a month earlier had run Dam to Dam©ˆs uncertified course in 59:22 and later
that year won Twin Cities. Priscilla Welch made a return trip to Madness as
a master©ˆs runner, winning the women©ˆs open title in 1:10:41 with Karlene
Erickson in second. Rodney DeHaven won the 10K.
1986 Madness continued with 1800 runners. Phil Coppess beat a more Iowa
based group of runners winning in 1:02:18 with Brian Smith and Kim Sprain
following. Mary Amen won the women©ˆs crown in 1:14:06 followed by Sharon
Greenwood. Mike Carney won the 10K in 31:20 with Connie Prince setting the
women©ˆs record in 33:58. The 5K was getting bigger and faster as Glenn
Magrum won in 15:54. Hot air balloons and a fireworks show graced the
night.
1987 the 20K race was dropped, its©ˆ numbers and prestige falling, it was
time for another mad change. And in stepped Roman Lynch as race director.
Richard Kaitany topped the close to 2000 runners winning in 30:01. Sue Wurl
won the women©ˆs title in 36:31 with Bonnie Sons 12 seconds back. Paul Black
topped the 5K in 14:52 as Glenn Magrum was second 14 seconds back. The 10K
and 5K were now about the same size. The Madness evening wouldn©ˆt be
complete without the post race party. But the worst rain in Madness history
wiped out the 600 pounds of brats waiting for the runners.
1988 Madness tried a new twist for the 1900 runners in attendance. There
was a separate master©ˆs race complete with Bill Rodgers and Frank Shorter.
Bill won in 31:06, Frank was third. In the open 10K Richard Kaitany ran
©¯tough©˜ winning in 29:17, Rolf Schmidt was at 31:00 and Brian Smith
one
second back. Louise Mohanna took the women©ˆs crown in 35:27. Mike Carney
won the 5K in 15:07. The 5K was now bigger than the 10K.
1989 Madness runners 1900 strong were greeted by heat similar to 1981, 90
degrees plus. The master©ˆs 10K was won by Englishman Mike Hurd in 31:44 and
Jane Hutchison won the women©ˆs crown in 37:22. Jonah Koech took the open
10K in 30:03 leading four other men under 31 minutes. Sammie Resh won the
women©ˆs crown in 34:58. Jeff Brooks beat the 5Kers in 15:30 as Edith
Nakiying won the women's crown in 17:45. The 5K was now 30 percent larger
than the 10K.
1990 was pure Madness with 2000 runners enduring a dripping night of
humidity. Mexican native Artemio Naverro stole the show, as the 48(!) year
old scored the best time of the evening with a 30:29. In the open race
Jerold Wynia ran a 30:49 edging out Kip Limo by 11 seconds. On the women©ˆs
side Sammie Gdowski won in 35:20. In the 5K Bill Ford won in 15:04 as the
5K was almost twice as large as the 10K.
1991 celebrated 20 years of Madness with temperatures that were anything but
mad, producing records for both sexes. The 10K was greeted with perfect
mid-summer running as the dry 65 degree weather pushed 16 men under the
honored 5 minute per mile pace with Scott Jenkins winning in 29:25, Dan
Hostager was 15 seconds back and Noel Harvey and Ian Robinson broke 30
minutes. Jenkins was the 6 mile winner of the 1980 Madness race. On the
women's side Wendy Little won in 34:46 pulling 15 women under a 6 minute
pace. The 5K saw Jeff Massman win 15:02 with Mary Beaumont taking the
women's crown. Like the 10K in 1983 the 5K experienced a slowdown at the
finish as runners backed up over 50 meters.
1992 Madness made a bold move as Roman Lynch, race director, moved the
celebration to downtown Ames. The previous 20 years the race location had
been near the ISU Center, although the Center did not exist during the early
years of the race. Mornay Annandale easily won the 10K in 29:38 in a tough
men's field. Anita Kelly topped the women in 34:55. Dave Halferty took the
5K in 15:09 and Muriel Nauman the women's side in 18:26.
1993 like no summer ever, madness wasn't a race but a flood of water
throughout Ames. The race course wipped out by Saturday morning, Roman
rallied his troops but more rain Saturday afternoon forced city officials to
cancel the 21st edition of the race. The next day Des Moines had its flood
of the century. A low key run and party two weeks later on high ground
continued the Madness tradition. Summer '93, Midnight Madness was more than
just a race.
1994 saw Bonnie Sons slowed by a train in the 10k, regain her lead, winning
by two seconds. The lead men didn't meet the same fate as they rushed to
the finish in record time, Jonah Koech hit the finish at 29:05 with Rodney
DeHaven four second back. 12 men broke 31 minute with Midwest competition
fierce. In the 5k David Heppner scored a 15:36 and Sumner Johnson in at
18:38. As usual the party lasted into the wee hours.
1995 came down to a split second, John Kihonge looking over his shoulder one
way and Kevin Herd passing him on the other, winning in 30:06. Angela
Anderson took first in the women's race, scoring a 35:40. The new out and
back course and loop through the downtown area was a spectator's delight and
proved popular for the runners too. The 5k was won by Justin Gottschalk in
15:48 and Syndey Pounds with a 17:48. Both races and the party survived a
downpour mid-afternoon.
1996 celebrated 25 years of this Madness in fashion as almost 2000 runners
finished the two races, the most since a three race affair in 1983. The
night proved perfect as Matt Wegenka won in 30:33 and Amber Anderson's 34:18
took the women's crown. In the 5k ISU runners won as Simeon Wright and Matt
Thomas tied with a 15:40 and Syndey Pounds scored a 17:39. This was a
special night in Madness history, at Midnight it was still going strong.
1997 was greeted by humid, hot weather almost like 1989 or 1981. But at
madness anything goes, Captain Midnight should know. In the featured 10k
ISU runner Patla Pempirkany won in 31:12 as Amber Anderson continued her
winning streak winning in 35:41. Simeon Wright took the 5k in 16:15 and
Summer Johnson the women's crown in 18:47. The party followed, many in
attendance saying it was the best ever.
1998 a nice traditional Iowa summer night greeted runners with ISU grad Saul
Lempirikany topping Dam to Dam champ Elisja Tanui scoring a 30:40. On the
women's side Luther College grad Turena Johnson won in 36:24. In the 5k
Jason Lehmkuhle won in 15:07 and Shawn Magnall bested the women in 18:50. A
first at Madness was a Captain's kid run complete with caps for all the
tots.
1999 presented a bigger Captain's Run II, the tots couldn't get enough
madness, nor could the adults. A new course, tighter and closer to the
party goers, was a spectator hit. The 10k runners thought it was fast, as
the lead vechicle skipped a few blocks of the first loop. Elly Rond ran a
fast 30:12 (time adjusted) and Bonnie Sons added to her Central Iowa
victories scoring a 35:08 (time adjusted). In the 5k Matt Williams running
a 15:52 and Summer Johnson in 18:12 topped the rest of the field.
2000 was a traditional steamy night as Kenyan Simon Sawe scored a 2 second
victory over South African Jaques Van Rensburg winning in 31:40. Kim Kauls
won the women's race in 36:17. In the 5k Matt Mosman ran 16:02 and Summer
Johnson won another women's crown in 18:57.
2001 repeated the weather from the previous year but it didn't faze women's
winner Kris Ihle-Helledy scoring a 35:29. On the men's side former ISU
runner Daniel Kinyua won in 32:43. The 5k saw Blake Boldon win in 16:10 and
high schooler Quinn Vermie score a 19:21.
2002 was a wonderful night for running as Madness became part of the Iowa
Games. The nice evening saw good times and depth with Vince Temu winning in
31:11 and Michelle Borgert in 35:38. The 5k had Blake Boldon scoring a
15:26 and Quinn Vermie repeating with a 18:57. The party was a real treat
with 70 degree weather and low humidity.
2003 had good weather and the best competition since the '90s. Aaron
Carrizales beat Dam to Dam winner Julius Rotich by 5 seconds scoring a
30:40. Michelle (Borgert) Ihmels won for the second straight year in 35:29.
The 5k saw HS runner Ryan McCurnin win in 15:44 and Casey Owens finish with
a 18:36.
There you go, it has been Madness. Through the years its been the most
novel, changeable, fun race in Iowa. The t-shirts (first given out in 1979)
have always been a classic with howling wolves under the moon, to Peg Nepple
running into the sunset, to prairie grass and cornstalks, and to recently,
the zany and wild.
Midnight Madness captures a snapshot of everything that©ˆs good about running
and partying with friends. Its history sparkles.
By Cal Murdock
The top times at MM come from a 25k, 15m, 20k and 10k but it©ˆs hard to know
who really is the best at MM. So using tables developed and widely accepted
by Dr Purdy in the late Œ60s, all MM times have been adjusted (ADJtime) for
a 10k. While no 5k times have made the top 50, the records are for men Paul
Black (1987) 14:52 and for women Syndey Pounds (1996) 17:39.
TOP 50 MEN
Name, State ADJtime Time Dist Year
Mark Curp, MO 28:44 59:50 20k 1984
Jonah Koech, IA 29:05 29:05 10k 1994
Rodney DeHaven, WI 29:09 29:09 10k 1994
Mark Curp, MO 29:10 1:00:43 20k 1985
Marty Brewer, KY 29:15 1:00:55 20k 1984
Phil Coppess, IA 29:16 1:00:56 20k 1985
Richard Kaitany, IA 29:17 29:17 10k 1988
Mark Curp, MO 29:25 1:01:15 20k 1983
Richard Kaitany, IA 29:26 1:01:17 20k 1984
Scott Jenkins, WI 29:26 29:26 10k 1991
Dick Beardsley, MN 29:35 1:15:19 15m 1980
Frank Richardson, IA 29:37 1:15:25 15m 1979
Mornay Annandale, KS 29:38 29:38 10k 1992
Dan Hostager, IA 29:41 29:41 10k 1991
Mark Curp, MO 29:42 1:18:31 25k 1982
Charlie Gray, MO 29:47 1:02:00 20k 1984
Phil Coppess, IA 29:48 1:02:03 20k 1983
Jerrold Wynia, MN 29:51 1:02:10 20k 1984
Noel Harvey, WI 29:51 29:51 10k 1991
Frank Richardson, IA 29:52 1:16:02 15m 1980
Ian Robinson, IA 29:53 29:53 10k 1991
Phil Coppess, IA 29:55 1:02:18 20k 1986
Yobes Ondieki, IA 29:56 29:56 10k 1983
Paul Gompers, IL 29:57 1:02:21 20k 1984
Jon Eggers, NE 29:57 1:02:22 20k 1984
Frank Richardson, IA 29:59 1:16:22 15m 1981
Vigil Tjeerdsma, SD 30:01 1:02:29 20k 1983
Ralph Edwards, MN 30:01 1:02:30 20k 1984
Richard Kaitany, IA 30:01 30:01 10k 1987
Wally Duffy, NE 30:02 1:02:32 20k 1983
Jonah Koech, IA 30:03 30:03 10k 1989
Tim Gundy, KS 30:03 30:03 10k 1992
Charlie Gray, MO 30:04 1:19:30 25k 1982
Paul Mausling, MN 30:06 1:02:41 20k 1984
Kevin Herd, IA 30:06 30:06 10k 1995
Kim Sprain, IA 30:08 1:16:45 15m 1977
John Kihonge, IA 30:08 30:08 10k 1995
James Orthmann, WI 30:09 1:02:46 20k 1984
William Weidenbach, MI 30:09 1:02:47 20k 1984
Elly Rono, NC 30:12 30:12 10k 1999
Mike Palmquist, MN 30:14 1:19:58 25k 1982
Paul Gisselquist, MN 30:16 30:16 10k 1991
Dan Hostager, WI 30:17 30:17 10k 1994
Dale Bradley, NE 30:20 30:20 10k 1991
Jonathon Stokka, MN 30:21 1:20:15 25k 1982
Keith Hanson, WI 30:21 1:03:12 20k 1984
Paul Mausling, MN 30:23 1:03:17 20k 1983
Richard Fuller, IA 30:23 1:03:15 20k 1984
Bob Hodge, MA 30:23 1:03:16 20k 1985
Tomas Tisell, MN 30:23 30:23 10k 1994
TOP 50 WOMEN
Name, State ADJtime Time Dist Year
Priscilla Welch, ENG 32:44 1:08:48 20k 1984
Lisa Larsen, MI 33:20 1:10:05 20k 1984
Sue Schneider, MN 33:28 1:10:21 20k 1984
Priscilla Welch, CO 33:37 1:10:41 20k 1985
Katy Schilly, GA 33:45 1:10:58 20k 1984
Connie Prince, IA 33:48 33:48 10k 1986
Jan Ettle, MN 34:09 1:11:48 20k 1984
Amber Anderson, NE 34:18 34:18 10k 1996
Lorraine Moeller, MN 34:22 1:27:30 15m 1981
Susan Schneider, MN 34:33 1:11:58 20k 1983
Karlene Erickson, NE 34:33 1:12:38 20k 1984
Karlene Erickson, NE 34:42 1:28:21 15m 1981
Tori Neubauer, WI 34:42 1:12:58 20k 1984
Liz Bulman, MO 34:45 1:13:04 20k 1984
Wendy Little, IL 34:46 34:46 10k 1991
Anita Kelly, IA 34:55 34:55 10k 1992
Sammie Resh, NE 34:58 34:58 10k 1989
Bonnie Sons, MN 35:04 1:13:43 20k 1984
Nan Doak, IA 35:05 1:13:02 20k 1983
Amy Koontz, IN 35:05 35:05 10k 1991
Bonnie Sons, MN 35:06 35:06 10k 1994
Theresa Stelling, NE 35:07 35:07 10k 1994
Bonnie Sons, MN 35:08 35:08 10k 1999
Karlene Erickson, NE 35:08 1:13:51 20k 1985
Karlene Erickson, NE 35:10 1:13:14 20k 1983
Holly Herring, WI 35:11 35:11 10k 1991
Suanne Youngberg, IA 35:14 35:14 10k 1986
Bonnie Sons, MN 35:16 1:14:09 20k 1985
Sammie Gdowski, NE 35:20 35:20 10k 1990
Bonnie Sons, MN 35:21 35:21 10k 1996
Ann Ringlein, NE 35:20 35:20 10k 1991
Roxi Erickson, NE 35:23 35:23 10k 1994
Louis Mohanna, NE 35:27 35:27 10k 1991
Louis Mohanna, NE 35:29 35:29 10k 1988
Roxi Erickson, IA 35:29 35:29 10k 1996
Kris Ihle-Helledy, WI 35:29 35:29 10k 2001
Michelle Ihmels, IA 35:29 35:29 10k 2003
Liz Hjalmarsson, IA 35:31 1:33:54 25k 1982
Janice Ettle, MN 35:31 1:13:57 20k 1983
Mary Amen, NE 35:35 1:14:06 20k 1986
Linda Zeman, MN 35:37 1:14:53 20k 1984
Michelle Borgert, IA 35:38 35:38 10k 2002
Angela Andersen, IA 35:40 35:40 10k 1995
Bonnie Sons, MN 35:40 35:40 10K 2003
Melissa Johnson, IL 35:41 35:41 10k 1991
Amber Anderson, NE 35:41 35:41 10k 1997
Nancy Stanley, NE 35:42 35:42 10k 1991
Sharon Greenwood, IA 35:45 1:15:10 20k 1984
Ebbie Leyden, MN 35:50 35:50 10k 2002
Mary Amen, NE 35:52 1:14:40 20k 1985
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