Ladell Merritt wins Byron Half Marathon, Jenna top female

[caption id="attachment_6892" align="aligncenter" width="560"] It was a family affair at the Byron Half Marathon Saturday morning. Above, Jeanna Bair Merritt sails along U.S. 14A a couple of miles east of Byron as the top female finisher in the event.
David Peck photo[/caption]

The Byron Half Marathon and 10K drew a strong field of 23 runners Saturday morning as runners braved a chilly start that turned into a nice run.

Ladell Merritt won the half marathon with a time of 1:29.15, and Lovell sophomore Jacob Newman edged his coach, Caleb Sanders, 1:37.10 to 1:37.25 for second and third, respectively. Joshua Sanders was fourth at 1:39.12.Jeanna Merritt was the top female finisher, running a time of 1:41.42, edging co-race organizer Jeff Noall, who crossed the finish line in 1:42.47.Lovell eighth-grader Brent Snyder finished seventh in a time of 1:48.22, followed by a host of Lovell High cross-country runners: Alex Sawaya in 1:48.48, Kim Robertson in 1:48.54 and Mysen McArthur in 1:56.49.Ben Snyder finished in 2:00.11, Geri Kovach in 2:02, McKay Mayes in 2:07.44, Konner Davis in 2:07.45, an injured Ben Zeller in 2:09.04 and Andy Petrich in 2:18.57.LHS assistant cross country coach Bret George won the 10K with a time of 54:05, edging Lovell senior Derek Phelps, who ran 54:48. Dylan Ohman was third in 1:00.39, and Afton George was the top female runner, finishing in fourth place overall at 1:05.56.Jodi Winland and Kristin Mason tied for fifth at 1:07.12, and Jeanna Wassmer was seventh with a time of 1:13.02.by David Peck