2013 Kalamazoo Klassic
Registration is now OPEN! The 2013 Kalamazoo Klassic, presented in partnership by MRC Industries, Inc. and Kalamazoo Area Runners, marks the 35th anniversary of a community tradition. Join us Friday, June 14, 2013, and Saturday, June 15, 2013 for this year's event showcase which includes:
Friday, June 14:
- Kids' Klassic 1K & 2K (6:00pm)
- Pump and Run Lifting (4:00pm – 7:30pm)
- Race Packet Pick-up (4:00pm – 7:30pm)
Saturday, June 15:
- 10k Run (7:30am)
- 5k Run & Walk (9:00am)
- 5k Pump n' Run (9:00am)
- Race Packet Pick-up (6:00am – 10 minutes before race start)
The 10k and 5k both serve as Road Runners' Club of America (RRCA) State Championship events.
2012 Kalamazoo Klassic Recap 
As we begin planning for the 2013 Kalamazoo Klassic and our 35th Anniversary, we reflect on this past summer, and the memories of the 2012 event. Nearly 1600 runners and walkers competed in the 34th Annual Kalamazoo Klassic held June 15th and 16th, 2012 with 250+ registrants in the Kids’ Klassic, 448 in the 10k Run, 779 in the 5k Run, 61 in the 5k Walk, and 52 in the Pump n’ Run. More than 150 volunteers filled almost 200 spots to create an outstanding experience for the runners. The 10k once again served as the RRCA Regional 10k Championship, and the 5k as the RRCA State Championship.
Kalamazoo’s Amber Brunmeier stole the show at the 2012 Kalamazoo Klassic by winning both the women’s RRCA 10k Regional Championship and the RRCA 5k State Championship. Amber won women’s overall in the 10k in 38:01, then walked up Maple Hill to run the 5k, again emerging as overall women’s champion with an 18:06.
Local sensation Stuart Crowell won the RRCA 5k State Championship Title in 15:48, with his father Chris Crowell following close behind in the pace car. Jay Webber was the Men’s Master’s champion with a 16:54, and Peggy Zeeb won Women’s Masters with a 20:04. Robert Schlinze and Janet Silverstein were men’s and women’s Grand Masters champions in 18:14 and 24:47 respectively, and Tom Nehil and Kay Maxey were Senior Grand Masters champions in 20:08 and 25:50.
Ben Jacobs won the open men’s RRCA 10k Regional Championship in 34:18. Joe Reitz (35:26) and Marykate Goodwin-Kelly (46:16) won the masters 10k titles, Jim Sheilds (38:42) and Sandi Fritz (50:50) the grand masters, and John Whyte (45:50) and Shelly Fink( 52:43) Senior Grand Masters.
Kevin Kane won the men's pump n' run with an adjusted time of 4:39 and Lisa Cavanaugh won the women's pump n' run with an adjusted time of 12:24.
Bill Reed and Kirsten Warner were overall champions in the 5k walk. Brian Stafford and Jane Buttery won masters and Denny Morrison and Amy Bauman won senior masters.
Full results for the 2012 Kalamazoo Klassic can be found here
The Kalamazoo Klassic has overcome many challenges over the three and a half decades it has been in existence, and the 2012 event was no exception. In the last half mile of the 10k, a man collapsed and went into full cardiac arrest. Fortunately, two nurses and an off duty police officer were immediately behind him and were able to begin CPR immediately. The emergency rescue team was nearby and able to make it to the scene in time to administer the AED, resuscitate the runner and transport him to the hospital, where he made a full recovery. We are forever grateful to the three runners who stopped to administer CPR; Clint Hostetler, Stephanie Robinson and William Moore as well as the emergency rescue team, for saving the runner’s life. MRC Industries, Inc. and Kalamazoo Area Runners recognize the heroic efforts of these individuals and all three receive lifetime free entry to the Kalamazoo Klassic and lifetime Kalamazoo Area Runners memberships.
Sincere thanks to our 2012 Directors, Kim Klein and Carol Bolthouse, the Kalamazoo Klassic Planning Committee, as well as all our participants, sponsors, community partners, volunteers and supporters for making the 2012 Kalamazoo Klassic a success.
We have already started planning for the 35th Anniversary of the Kalamazoo Klassic to be held June 14 & 15th, 2013, and look forward to delivering an exceptional event in celebration of this significant milestone.
The Kalamazoo Klassic benefits MRC Industries, Inc., a local nonprofit organization whose mission is to provide support and encouragement to individuals living with a disability to achieve their fullest potential through employment, skill building, and active community involvement.
For more information on MRC Industries, Inc. visit www.mrcindustries.org and for more information on Kalamazoo Area Runners visit www.kalamazooarearunners.org.
