Area runners compete in Houston Marathon
By MIKE KONVICKA mkonvicka@journal-spectator.com

HOUSTON - Wharton County was well represented in Sunday's Chevron Houston Marathon.

East Bernard cross country and assistant girls track coach Susie Walters ran in her eighth straight marathon.

She finished the 26.2 mile course with a 3:10.02.

"Like in all of them it's always exciting," said Walters. "The weather was perfect, you couldn't have had a better day to run."

"The best part of it is seeing all the volunteers cheering you on. It's awesome seeing them lined up."

Her time ranked 347th overall, 109th in her gender and 14th in her 43-45-year old age group.

Walters who finished with a 3:07 last year, was hoping for faster time.

"I was a little bit disappointed," said Walters. "It just wasn't one of my days to go faster."

She plans on running another in a couple of months.

"I was very tired and the last half was very hard."

She was joined by Iago junior high coach Judy Womack who recorded a 5:11 time.

Womack finished 4,369th overall and 1,494th in her gender.

"It was so much fun and something I wanted to do for a long time," said Womack.

"That last two tenths of a mile was tough. I started cramping up a little bit and my legs were real tight. I wish I could have finished a little quicker."

Womack, who started training in May, battled a handful of injuries earlier last year. She tore her calf muscles in October.

"I was in a boot for five weeks," said Womack. "My doctor wasn't sure that I was able to run the race. My training wasn't quite where I wanted it to be. With all my injuries and surgeries and stuff it hadn't been possible for me to train."

Womack did run in a marathon in Dallas 25 years ago.

"I couldn't have done it without all my friends supporting me. I just thank God for the health and everything to do it because I couldn't have done it otherwise."

Womack had some supportive fans at the race. Keith and Amy Ermis and their two daughters. She was also joined by her daughter Katie and her sister.

"They were my support team throughout the race," said Womack.

"They went to different spots along the course and had my Gatorade that I needed. They worked their tails off. They made signs."

And Womack plans to run the race again next year.

"I'm already planning on when I'm going to start my training for next year."

Also running the race from East Bernard was WCJC board member Danny Gertson. He finished with a 4:40.18.

Gertson, 50, finished 3,028th overall and 2,125th in his gender.

His relative, John from Lissie, recorded a 4:21.30 time. He was 2,661th overall and 1,892th in his gender.

Three members of the Avalos family of East Bernard also ran the race.

Meghan competed in the 18-year-old division and finished with a 5:56.58 time.

Aracadio Jr., 45, finished with a 5:56.58 and Arcadio III, 21, had a 4:51.9 time.

Runners from El Campo included Samantha Wood, 22, who finished with a 3:11.55. Paul P. Lopez had a 3:32.52 time.

Wharton's Camie Berglund, 21, competed in the 13K half marathon and had a time of 2:37.36.

Representing East Bernard were Tracy Avalos, Rachel Gertson and Brandi Witte.

Avalos, 46, had a 3:59.04 time. Gerston, 18, finished with a 2:39.33 and Witte recorded a 1:36.10 time.

Running the 5K from East Bernard included four members of the Boettcher family.

Amanda, 11, recorded a 30.15 time. Andrew, 13, finished with a 30.08. Brooke, 9, recorded a 34.23 time and Jerry, 42, had a 34.27 time.