Hundreds of youthful people of all ages brave the elements to participate in the annual Buttercup Run

By B.L. Azure

The many faces of pain - and fun - adorn these four-pack of Buttercuppers Saturday. (B.L. Azure photo)

ARLEE - Organizers of the annual spring Buttercup Run have a sunny disposition when it comes to weather in Montana's Jocko Valley: "There is no bad weather in the Jocko Valley." Consequently, the show - the race in this case - goes on regardless of the weather conditions.

Well, the weather Saturday in the Jocko Valley was colder than certain parts of a witch's anatomy. The temperature pegged 29 degrees with overcast East German industrial gray skies with occasional precipitation that resembled tiny bits of hail that pinpricked exposed skin rather than the one-of-a-kind beauty of soft snowflakes that kiss gently on babies' cheeks. And the wind picked up as the morning morphed into afternoon driving the cold deep into bodies.

But who was shivering? Everybody.

Philip Malatare, 8, finished fourth in his race and prays for warmth afterwards. (B.L. Azure photo)

The not-bad weather in the Jocko Valley had the masses huddled up inside the Arlee High School gymnasium until a few minutes before the start of the races and walks. Once announcer Tony Hoyt called for the participants to get ready to race, they seemed to blossom at the starting line like a field of tough Montana buttercups in the snow.

And they blossomed for a good cause. The money raised by the race sponsors, the Friends of Arlee Schools, and through entrance fees is used for scholarships for Arlee students attending institutes of higher education as well as for innovative programs in the school that would not be funded otherwise.

Education is fun. The Buttercup Run is fun. Thanks to the Friends of Arlee Schools.

Young and old braved the frigid elements to support thier loved ones as they ran in the nippy air as snow continued to smooth out the features of the hills beyond. (B.L. Azure photo)

Overall winners:
The overall winners of the one-mile fun run were: 1st - Marty Smith, 6:12.37; 2nd - Nick Durglo, 7:24.75; and Leif Roya and Emily Schall, 7:37.
The five-kilometer run overall winners were: male - Jake Trujillo, 18:53.89 and female - Jennifer Paisley, 20:06.19.
The 10-kilometer run oveall winners were: male - Andrew Drobeck, 35:51.39; and female - Trisha Miller, 40:24.49.

Top five finishers in each category:

Five-K Run:
Male - 12 and under: 1st - Adam Peterman, 20:29.76; 2nd - Stone Hinther, 24:05.95; 3rd - Donovan Lodge, 25:21.54; 4th - Philip Malatare, 26:54.31; and 5th - Zach Felsman, 27:03.20.
Female - 12 and under: 1st - Whitney Malatare, 27:05.81; 2nd - Scarlett Kaplan, 29:38.38; 3rd - Morgan Malatare, 31:30.15; 4th - Hannah Maxwell, 41:26.40; and 5th - Suvi Rova, 47:05.96.
Male - 13-19: 1st - Jake Trujillo, 18:53.89; 2nd - Kyle Felsman, 20:21.63; 3rd - Zach Perrin, 21:16.09; 4th - Todd Espinoza, 21:16.11; and 5th - Wyatt O'Neill, 21:45.21.
Female - 13-19: 1st - Kelsey Cable, 24:11.92; 2nd - Teneisha Lefthand, 24:15.19; 3rd - Kristin Bruskotter, 25:31.36; 4th - Jaylyn Garrison, 25:56.90; and 5th - Cassandra Kline, 28:22.84.
Male - 20-29: 1st - Alias Curley, 21:12.11; 2nd - Clay Thomas, 22:26.12; 3rd - Gabe Goeres, 24:37.73; 4th - Trevor Naugle, 24:38.04; and 5th - Luke Altenhotan, 29:23.67.
Female - 20-29: 1st - Anita Hershman, 27:32.20; 2nd - Jessie Nichols, 28:05.68; 3rd - Emily Schock, 28:38.93; 4th - Karen Schmidt, 29:21.49; and 5th - Jessee Reinart, 33:07.51.
Male - 30-39: 1st - Chad Ostby, 19:12.04; 2nd - Brian Hinther, 21:13.52; 3rd - David Wiltfong, 29:39.11; 4th - JD Johnson, 32:57.89; and 5th - Brian Incashola, 35:08.92.
Female - 30-39: 1st - Jennifer Paisley, 20:06.19; 2nd - Aimee Kendrick, 21:57.08; 3rd - Lisa Perrin, 24:31.31; 4th - Janine Lichtenberg, 27:45.63; and 5th - Amy Chew, 29:42.74.
Male - 40-49: 1st - Jim LeClair, 23:22.07; 2nd - Troy Felsman, 23:52.48; 3rd - Timo Rova, 25:36.37; 4th - Dan Durglo, 30:08.17; and 5th - Greg Shanks, 35:37.94.
Female - 40-49: 1st - D. Umile, 20:33.58; 2nd - Demaris Taylor, 22:48.13; 3rd - Kathleen Whetzel, 23:47.96; 4th - Cherokee Rova, 28:08.53; and 5th - Jill Ursua, 29:22.31.
Male - 50-59: 1st - Larry Peterman, 22:17.20; 2nd - Michael Cain, 28:21.20; 3rd - Michael Darcy, 23:35.21; 4th - Jay Henry, 29:55.44; and 5th - Tom Barger, 31:42.84.
Female - 50-59: 1st - Linda Vevara, 23:07.44; 2nd - Mary Steenberg, 31:31.57; 3rd - Pat Bristol, 33:07.17; 4th - Joey Jayne, 35:01.03; and 5th - Judy Bilile, 35:12.62.
Male - 60 +: 1st - Doug Baty, 25:49.10; 2nd - Adam Jurgens, 27:41.40; 3rd - Perry Francis, 29:21.49; 4th - Gary Decker, 31:14.60; and 5th - Dee Weaver, 34:22.51.
Female - 60+: 1st - Anne Gustafson, 43:51.09; 2nd - Ann Cornfield, 51:06.00; and 3rd - Judy Altenhofen, 53:06.24.

Bob Hayes, 81-years-young, finished second in the 10-K run for males more than 60 years old. (B.L. Azure photo)

10-K Run:
Male - 5-19: 1st - Trey Curtiss, 43:12.44; 2nd - Christopher Everett, 45:11.60; and 3rd - Thad LaClaire, 49:36.94.
Female - 5-19: 1st - Sarah Monk, 49:42.12; 2nd - Brittany Bryant, 51:32.85; 3rd - Amanda Joseph (walk) 90:05.22; and 4th - Lynette Joseph (walk) 98:16.17.
Male - 20-29: 1st - Andrew Drobeck, 35:51.39; 2nd - John Pehoff, 44:45.92; and 3rd - Tress Big Day, 61:25.77.
Female - 20-29: 1st - Trisha Miller, 40:24.49; 2nd - Jamie Schuster, 41:04.25; 3rd - Jessica Johnson, 41:16.01; 4th - Rebecca Hoffman, 49:52.35; and 5th - Brenda Erdeyi, 51:10.86.
Male - 30-39: 1st - Ted Burnham, 37:19.12; and 2nd - Dennis Lichtenberg, 50:28.78.
Female - 30-39: 1st - Rye Palen, 41:07. 37; 2nd - Mary Stewart, 47:58.77; 3rd - Kate Wiltfong, 49:50.04; 4th - Rae Leathers, 51:25.43; and 5th - Kelsi Camp, 53:10.69.
Male - 40-49: 1st - Steve Bullock, 40:58.90; 2nd - Raymond Lauber, 42:37.90; 3rd - Kevin Eichorn, 45:04.79; and 4th - Carvin Hardym, 70:47.07.
Female - 40-49: 1st - Jennifer Kaplan, 49:20.71; 2nd - Jami Fitzgerald, 50.51.42; 3rd - Tammy Mocabee, 51:03.73; 4th - Heidi Mack - 63:04.99; and 5th -Denise Montgomery, 67:49.19.
Male - 50-59: 1st - David Rowell, 40:42.16; 2nd - Ray McNabb, 44:30.10; and 3rd - Gary Johnson, 56:16.10.
Female - 50-59: 1st - Rhonda LaClaire, 48:39.37; 2nd - Toni Broadbent, 51:45.48; 3rd - Chritine Everett, 55:23.33; 4th - Bridget Johnson, 55:52.34; and 5th - Linda Azure (walk), 85:17.51.
Male - 60+: 1st - Paul Grier, 43:09.75; 2nd - Bob Hayes, 57:37.25; and 3rd - Dean Brockway (walk), 79:16.12.
Female - 60+: No entries.

To view complete results check out the Friends of Arlee Schools' website: http://www.geocities.com/btrcuprun/raceresults08