NDN Half Marathon: Job, passion restored, Parker Stinson wins men's title

In March 2016, Parker Stinson suffered a torn Achilles' tendon. The injury required surgery. It also meant he couldn't run for at least seven months.

For most everyone else, that would be no big deal. For Stinson, an All-American distance runner at the University of Oregon who had just begun his professional career, it was devastating.

“Imagine losing your job and your passion at the same time,” said Stinson, who is from Boulder, Colorado. “I love running, and I'm paid to run. It was scary. With an injury like that, as an elite athlete, you don't know if you'll ever be your very best again.”

On Sunday, the 25-year-old Stinson, admittedly, might not have been at his very best, but he was pretty darn good in winning the 2018 Naples Daily News Half Marathon.

With race time conditions in the high-40s and windy, Stinson completed the 13.1-mile course in 1 hour, 3 minutes, 34 seconds to earn the $2,000 winner’s check. He finished more than three minutes ahead Austin Richmond, who placed second.

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Naples High graduate Kurt Roeser, also now of Boulder, ran third. Benjamin Sathre of St. Paul, Minnesota, was fourth in 1:08.27.1. Last year's winner, Tyler McCandless was fifth in 1:09:07.7. 

“The cool weather was amazing,” said Stinson, a native of Austin, Texas. “I got out so fast because the tailwind was so great. I was happy about starting fast and staying strong the whole race, even if I was running into a headwind the last few miles.”

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Stinson, who runs for the Saucony Racing Team, was able to resume running in October 2016. His first competitive race was a month later.

“I wasn't back, but I was running,” said Stinson, who was competing in Sunday’s race for the first time. “But now I feel like I am back. The injury taught me not to take running for granted. Now, every race matters to me.”

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Racing matters to Roeser too, though now the 30-year old does it just for fun. Born and raised in Naples, Roeser competed for the University of Florida after high school.

A physical therapist by profession, Roeser has competed in the half marathon the past few years. 

“It makes for a good excuse to come back and visit family,” said Roeser, whose parents still live in Naples. “Today’s weather was perfect for me. Last year, when it was really hot, I ran six minutes slower than I did today.

“And as for getting third place -- that’s awesome. There was a lot of tough competition out there. I'm very happy.”

Naples Daily News Half Marathon

Sunday

Men’s results

Overall

1. Parker Stinson (Boulder, Colo.), 25, 1:03:34.3

2. Austin Richmond (Babson Park), 32, 1:06:49.7

3. Kurt Roeser (Boulder, Colo.), 30, 1:07:37.0

4. Benjamin Sathre (St. Paul, Minn.), 27, 1:08:27.1

5. Tyler McCandless (Boulder, Colo.), 31, 1:09:07.7

6. Will Christian (Norfolk, Va.), 34, 1:09:22.3

7. Josh Estrada (Miami), 26, 1:11:22.0

8. Jeff Dill (Ontario, Canada), 28, 1:12:43.1

9. Bryan Huberty (Miami Beach), 39, 1:13:40.3

10. Ryan Rau (Brighton, Mich.), 37, 1:13:55.2

Masters (40 and older)

1. Orinthal Striggles (Columbia, S.C.), 42, 1:15:16.5

2. Hakan Eriksson (Malung, Sweden), 56, 1:17:17.0

3. Steve Monks (North Palm Beach), 58, 1:20:30.1

Grandmasters (50 and older)

1. Joel Cardoso (Hollywood), 55, 1:22:43.7

2. Pat Deighan (Birmingham, Mich.), 51, 1:24:35.5

Senior Grandmasters (60 and older)

1. Dennis Wallach (Chanhassen, Minn.), 60, 1:25:12.2

2. Paul Kusek (Naples), 60, 1:28:26.9

Age divisions

13-18

1. Jarett Arabie (Fort Myers), 18, 1:19:07.3

2. Colton Tucker (Bonita Springs), 16, 1:21:51.4

3. Brian Robinson (Estero), 14, 1:22:36.0

19-24

1. Darickson Gonzalez (Cape Coral), 19, 1:24:21.9

2. Caleb Selector (Immokalee), 20, 1:26:42.9

3. David Ervin (Naples), 23, 1:27:41.1

25-29

1. Josh Estrada (Miami), 26, 1:11:22.0

2. Jeff Dill (Ontario, Canada), 28, 1:12:43.1

3. Matt Axelrod (Minneapolis, Minn.), 26, 1:20:58.2

30-34

1. Will Christian (Norfolk, Va.), 34, 1:09:22.3

2. David Kerschner (Old Town, Maine), 31, 1:14:19.6

3. Jason Richter (Boca Raton), 31, 1:16:13.6

35-39

1. Bryan Huberty (Miami Beach), 39, 1:13:40.3

2. Ryan Rau (Brighton, Mich.), 37, 1:13:55.2

3. Aubrey Aldy (Ave Maria), 37, 1:15:46.0

40-44

1. William Valenti (Fort Myers), 44, 1:26:28.7

2. Miguel Gonzalez (Wellington), 44, 1:29:13.0

3. Mark Amato (Cape Coral), 41, 1:32:38.4

45-49

1. Jerry Pianto (Naples), 48, 1:23:21.7

2. Gabriel Kohn (Naples), 45, 1:24:52.6

3. Adam Schmitt (Naples), 48, 1:27:37.9

50-54

1. John Piggott (Williamsburg, Va.), 52, 1:26:13.6

2. Michael Hollander (Coconut Creek), 53, 1:26:54.0

3. Bruce Christensen (Bolton, Conn.), 50, 1:28:54.1

55-59

1. Paul Giannobile (Minnetonka, Minn.), 58, 1:24:36.9

2. Greg Cauller (York, Pa.), 58, 1:26:45.1

3. Alex Viquez Jimenez (Heredia, Costa Rica), 57, 1:30:37.4

60-64

1. Brian Cummins (Cortland, N.Y.), 63, 1:30:13.9

2. Dave Ragsdale (West Palm Beach), 61, 1:36:42.1

3. Robert Defrancesco (Bonita Springs), 62, 1:36:51.6

65-69

1. Gary Romesser (Fort Myers), 67, 1:36:17.8

2. Larry Evans (Boca Raton), 67, 1:38:18.6

3. Steve Santana (Fort Collins, Colo.), 67, 1:40:21.8

70-74

1. Albert Wieringa (St. Petersburg), 71, 1:38:39.7

2. Robert Johnstone (Naples), 73, 1:51:17.0

3. Joe Noonan (Mashpee, Mass.), 73, 1:51:38.6

75-79

1. Vince Marchionna (St. Simons Island, Ga.), 76, 2:01:06.6

2. Ed Packel (Lake Forest, Ill.), 76, 2:05:07.6

3. Jerry Bergman (East Amherst, N.Y.), 76, 2:06:03.1

80-98

1. Fred Fiala (Sarasota), 80, 2:18:04.7

Women’s results

Overall

1. Belainesh Gebre (Flagstaff, Ariz.), 30, 1:12:55.3

2. Lindsey Schert (San Francisco, Calif.), 31, 1:15:12.8

3. Kathryn Fluehr (Boulder, Colo.), 24, 1:15:22.0

4. Amy Regan (Overland Park, Kan.), 23, 1:16:11.6

5. Erika Fluehr (New York, N.Y.), 24, 1:17:23.6

6. Lyubov Denisova (Gainesville), 46, 1:18:33.1

7. Joy Miller (Lady’s Island, S.C.), 30, 1:18:58.4

8. Shawanna White (Columbia, S.C.), 38, 1:19:32.6

9. Andrea Rediger (Menlo Park, Calif.), 29, 1:20:40.3

10. Lauren Rice (Minneapolis, Minn.), 26, 1:22:19.6

Masters (40 and older)

1. Lyubov Denisova (Gainesville), 46, 1:18:33.1

2. Sonja Friend-Uhl (Boca Raton), 46, 1:22:46.0

3. Brenda Hodge (York, Pa.), 46, 1:24:25.0

Grandmasters (50 and older)

1. Trish Butler (Pompano Beach), 55, 1:29:15.4

2. Brenda Wilson (Stuart), 60, 1:35:15.9

Senior Grandmasters (60 and older)

1. Jeannie Rice (Mentor, Ohio), 69, 1:37:10.1

2. Karen Miles (Fort Myers), 64, 1:40:05.7

Age divisions

13-18

1. Mo Palmer (Naples), 17, 1:41:05.7

2. Alyssa Zack (Fogelsville, Pa.), 16, 1:44.20

3. Julia Canzano (Cape Coral), 18, 1:47:43.7

19-24

1. Gabriela Nevius (Kenosha, Wis.), 24, 1:30:26.3

2. Katie Avery (Bonita Springs), 22, 1:32:19.6

3. Mary Kozik (Naples), 20, 1:36:09.9

25-29

1. Andrea Rediger (Menlo Park, Calif.), 29, 1:20:40.3

2. Lauren Rice (Minneapolis, Minn.), 26, 1:22:19.6

3. Natalie Patterson (Washington, D.C.), 25, 1:23:55.3

30-34

1. Joy Miller (Lady’s Island, S.C.), 30, 1:18:58.4

2. Kristin McCandless (Boulder, Colo.), 32, 1:27:07.2

3. Alexandra Gardino (Naples), 30, 1:29:31.3

35-39

1. Shawanna White (Columbia, S.C.), 38, 1:19:32.6

2. Gabriela Herra Arroyo (Heredia, Costa Rica), 38, 1:26:20.4

3. Tania Canterbury (Fort Myers), 38, 1:27:51.8

40-44

1. Sarah Wittman (Lowell, Mass.), 43, 1:27:30.0

2. Rachel Hegele (Ave Maria), 40, 1:32:12.2

3. Kimberly Martineau (New York, N.Y.), 44, 1:34:38.6

45-49

1. Bonnie Barr (Delray Beach), 48, 1:34:11.8

2. Manuela Lyons (Fort Myers), 45, 1:35:10.9

3. Denise Hiller (Tabernacle, N.J.), 47, 1:35:53.4

50-54

1. Julie Berling (Venice), 50, 1:37:33.4

2. Molly Ragsdale (West Palm Beach), 54, 1:42:34.0

3. Tawn Beliger (South Lyon, Mich.), 52, 1:42:55.3

55-59

1. Angie Dudman (Geneva, IL), 55, 1:39:16.3

2. Mary Monks (North Palm Beach), 57, 1:40:35.8

3. Marion Conklin (Venice), 55, 1:43:40.5

60-64

1. Laura Kennedy (Lake Forest, Ill.), 60, 1:40:06.9

2. Amber Crowley (Naples), 60, 1:43:54.4

3. Susan Milligan (Grand Rapids, Mich.), 60, 1:52:56.9

65-69

1. Buteena Pfeffer (Venice), 69, 1:58:04.4

2. Janet Parkinson (Portsmouth, N.H.), 65, 1:59:42.7

3. Nan Henderson (Naples), 66, 2:00:38.5

70-74

1. Lee Saltonstall (Naples), 70, 2:08:43.2

2. Bobbe Greenberg (Highland Park, Ill.), 71, 2:10:54.2

3. Maria Lamb (Marco Island), 70, 2:14:20.2