By LEONARD GRAY

LULING – More than 2,000 participants swelled the ranks of runners and walkers Saturday across the Hale Boggs Bridge in United Way of St. Charles’ largest fund-raising event of the year, outside the campaign itself. This year the event raised approximately $27,000 for the United Way.

The 2001 campaign raised $1,480,691.96.

Co-sponsored by Orion Refining Co. of Norco, the Hale Boggs Bridge Run is considered one of the premiere running events of Louisiana, according to New Orleans Track Club director Chuck George. This year’s event was dubbed “Louisiana’s Altitude Challenge,” since the central span of the bridge is higher than such world landmarks as the Eiffel Tower, the Great Pyramid and the Statue of Liberty.

More than 1,300 pre-registered for the event, which includes a start at the East Bank Bridge Park in Destrehan, passing across the 3.1-mile (five-kilometer) course to the West Bank Bridge Park in Luling. New Orleans Saints head coach Jim Haslett fired the starting gun.

“The quality of the athletes is as good as any race in the state,” George commented, comparable to the Crescent City Classic in New Orleans.

The course record for the Hale Boggs Bridge Run, set in 1997 by Passmore Foruso at 14:28, is considered one of the best 5K times in the nation. This year’s winner, Vincent Temu, 31, of Kenya and New Orleans, finished at 14:51 and won a $300 prize. It was the second-best time in the six-year history of the run.

Temu admitted having a problem making that final hill crossing the railroad track. “It’s a tricky part, if you don’t know it’s there,” he said. “I had exhausted all my energy. Had I known, I’d have saved my energy.”

He was hoping to set a new course record (and win a $1,000 bonus) but fell short. Nevertheless, he said he was happy with his time.

The top female winner, Sherrie Keim, 40, posted her third win in the race, having won in 1999 and 2000. The Dodge, Texas, resident admitted to being more out of shape this year with injury problems, and she finished with a time of 18:37 – better than 1999 but not as good as 2000.

The notorious last hill, however, was no problem. “Usually, I have a problem with the hill, but not this time,” she said. The Texas Hill Country resident said she trains by running up and down hills back home.

She said she really likes the Destrehan-Luling course.

“It’s out of the city,” she said, as she admitted to one failing. The central span of the bridge is 422 feet. “I’m afraid of heights,” Keim confessed with a grin.

Second- and third-place men’s winners were Yousri Elmejboubi, 26, with 15:19; and Brendan Miniham Jr., 26, with 16:03. Second- and third-place women’s winners were Dodi Oubre, 23, with 19:04, and Tina Zellner, 38, with 20:44.

Second-place won a $200 prize; and third-place won a $150 prize.

The overall Masters finishers (age 40 and up) were William Martin, 47, with 17:32; and Peg Martinez, 42, with 22:25. Each won $150.

The overall Grand Masters finishers (age 50 and up) were Junius Nixon, 50, with 17:45; and Yvonne Thomas, 58, with 23:45. Each won $100.

Age group winners follow:

Age 10 and under: Male: Austin Martin, 10, 24:15; and Jonathan Downing, 8, 24:45; Female: Alyssa Leinweber, 10, 32:49; and Katie Duet, 10, 39:09.

Age 11-14: Male: Jaime Marin, 14, 20:09; and Chris Humphreys, 14, 20:14; Female: Jasmine Elsayed, 12, 22:44; and Kelsie Gassen, 12, 24:31.

Age 15-19: Male: Alex Aschenbrenner, 17, 16:57; and Lee Babin, 15, 18:09; Female: Ashley Trosclair, 17, 22:10; and Danielle Beard, 17, 28:50.

Age 20-24: Male: Bryon Grabert, 23, 16:46; and Troy Gomez, 23, 21:28; Female: Rebecca Suddeth, 21, 24:20; and Brandy Langrasse, 21, 25:00.

Age 25-29: Male: Santos Martinez, 27, 17:03; and Hunter Higgins, 29, 18:20; Female: Mary Smith, 27, 25:08; and Sally Hoenig, 29, 25:46.

Age 30-34: Male: Peter Roets, 30, 16:40; and Alan Gerstie, 32, 19:21; Female: Karen Witkin, 30, 22:24; and Heather Hogan, 34, 27:34.

Age 35-39: Male: Wayne Chenet, 38, 16:57; and Scott Hoxie, 36, 17:31; Female: Gina Radecker, 38, 21:38; and Sandy Johnson, 36, 23:52.

Age 40-44: Male: Johnny McBride, 43, 18:42; and Greg Andrews, 41, 19:32; Female: Sue Rice, 42, 23:03; and Jill Simon, 40, 23:50.

Age 45-49: Male: Derrick Lee, 47, 17:42; and Ivan Lewis, 46, 18:43; Female: Kim Hebert, 45, 22:32; and Linda Sarpy, 45, 22:57.

Age 50-54: Male: J. Roger Brown, 54, 18:59; and Kenny Mire, 53, 19:33; Female: Ann Pollingue, 51, 26:26; and Wanita Montreuil, 50, 27:25.

Age 55-59: Male: Brenden Minihan Sr., 56, 19:08; and Sherman Stanford, 55, 19:57; Female: Sandy Giannobile, 58, 27:00; and Isabel Rivera, 59, 27:33.

Age 60-64: Male: Tad Jurgens, 60, 21:15; and Mike Witkin, 63, 21:21; Female: Gladwyn Utlitalo , 60, 29:30; and Janet Matherne, 60, 36:47.

Age 65-69: Male: Gabe Abene, 67, 26:54; and John Johnson, 66, 27:12; Female: Betty Waguespack, 67, 40:24; and Elva Labat, 67, 41:09.

Age 70-74: Male: Richard Gonzales, 7, 25:52; and Bill Cox, 73, 28:50; Female: Lucy Troxler, 70, 45:48. (No second place.)

Age 75 and over: Male: Arthur Gassen Jr., 78, 38:58; and Marion Neyrey, 76, 40:28; Female: Elisabeth Van Battum, 82, 30:28; and Wanda McCurry, 75, 50:24.

Overall racewalker winners were Glen Bodet, 40, with 28:34; and Denise Surratt, 52, with 31:43. Each won $100.

Top 10 male racewalkers after the winners were: Randy Surratt, 53, 30:01; Paul Pitre, 51, 33:10; Doug Pool, 61, 33:32; Ricky Murphy, 46, 36:37; Bill Elrod, 65, 35:44; Pranghar Draper, 47, 36:10; Mike Knox, 50, 37:15; Bill Phelps, 57, 37:20; Tanner McMurphy, 13, 39:29; and Dudley Stadler, 45, 40:33.

Top 10 female racewalkers after the winners were: Roxie Martinex, 35, 32:35; Connie McCloskey, 40, 32:37; Elsa Pool, 54, 34:58; Rhea Snyder, 67, 41:16; Renilde LeBoeuf, 45, 41:24; Joyce Hartman, 47, 41:38; Jane Phelps, 55, 42:06; Astrid Orr, 39, 42:06; Marie Merrick, 60, 42:25; and Lisa Murphy, no age given, 43:05.

In the “Not-Over-the Hill Walk” held Friday during the pre-registration party, Buddy Simon of Destrehan and Loretta Hargrave of Boutte each finished with a 12:30 time around the one-mile course on the walking path of the West Bank Bridge Park.

Orion plant manager, Eric Bluth, finished the 5-K race at 49:00, but excused himself since he was pushing a stroller containing his 5-year-old daughter, Nicole, for most of the course. Still, he said, he knocked 10 minutes off his personal best for the race.