Press Room

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
April 30, 2007

Cumberland, OH (April 30, 2007) – Over 500 runners and walkers enjoyed new cross-country courses at the tenth annual EcoThon at the Wilds this past Saturday.

The 10K and 5K courses were designed by Wilds Animal Management Specialist Juston Wickham, an avid runner and track coach.

“This race is scheduled to be close to Earth Day. I wanted to design a course with scenic vistas, out in the open, and something that you wouldn’t experience in a city,” said Wickham. “You can see for miles at some points along the course.”

“I had a great time during the tenth annual EcoThon race,” said 10K racer Mark Graham of Westerville. “I appreciated the wider start and the challenge of the last hill. The race seems to get better each year. “

This year’s top EcoThon finishers are (from first to third place in each category):

10K Race, Women: Amy Eddy, 40, Williamstown, W. Va.; Lindsey Lighthizer, 24, Zanesville; Wilma Depiore, 38, Boardman.

10K Race, Men: Jeff Evans, 37, Nashport; Dan Patterson, 34, Zanesville; Larry Nolan, 19, Zanesville.

5K Race, Women: Sylvia King, 28, of Cambridge; Nadine Langenburg, 59, Zanesville; Sydney St. Clair, 12, New Concord.

5K Race, Men: Kyle Dunn, 17, Stockport; Luke Feldner, 13, West Lafayette; Tyler Bash, 19, Zanesville.

5K Walk, Women: Barbara Schaad, 58, Beverly; Marianne Michel, 50, Zanesville; Deborah Patrick, 51, Lowell.

5K Walk, Men: Jim Ortt, 62, Kimbolton; Phil Prater, 24, Coshocton; Paul Prater, 53, Coshocton.

10K Cruiser, Women: Mindy Gabriel, 28, Columbus; Teress Downey, 43, Hilliard.

10K Cruiser, Men: Brad Seward, 32, Nashport; Wade Smolira, 37, Flushing; James Eberlin, 42, Flushing.

5K Cruiser, Women: Valerie Fields, 23, Coshocton; Amy DeWitt, 44, McConnelsville; Kaye Swift, 40, Gahanna.

5K Cruiser, Men: Lance Clayton, 35, Roseville; Mathew Schreiber, 26, Zanesville; Phillip Eastep, 32, Baltimore.

Complete race results are available on www.runhigh.com.

Runners and walkers came from all across Ohio, Indiana and Pennsylvania. The youngest registrant was four years old, and the oldest was 76.

Three generations of the Bauserman family of Zanesville, Ohio – 17 members in all – participated in the 5K race. Dressed in matching pink tie-dye shirts with the name “One Weird Herd,” their ages ranged from 18 months (in a back carrier) to age 66.

“It’s great to bring your family to this race,” said Renee Bauserman.

This year’s presenting EcoThon sponsor was American Electric Power. Other sponsors included: Ohio State Park Resorts, ESPN Radio/WMOA, Pepsi-Cola Bottling of Zanesville, WHIZ Media Group, Baldwin Construction Company, Southside Cycling, Great Harvest Bread Company, Wallace Fencing, Linn Engineering, Huntington Bank, Stauf’s Coffee Roasters, Clif Bar, Genesis Lifestyle & Fitness Center, and TS Architect.

The EcoThon serves as a fundraiser for conservation projects at the Wilds. This year’s proceeds are slated for the new Mid-Sized Carnivore Conservation Center, set to open later this season.

The Wilds is one of the largest and most innovative wildlife conservation centers in the world, with a mission to advance conservation through science, education, and personal experience. Located on nearly 10,000 acres in southeast Ohio, the Wilds is home to nearly 30 species of non-native wildlife from Africa, Asia and North America and hundreds of indigenous species.

In addition to innovative, in-depth science and education programs, the Wilds offers guided experiences to the public on select days May through October.

Further information is available by visiting the Wilds web site: www.thewilds.org or by calling 740-638-5030.