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Recreation: 30th Firecracker 5K blows up on Friday
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It's become as red, white and blue for local runners as fireworks and the backyard barbecue.
The Firecracker 5K hits a milestone on Friday, turning 30 when the start gun sounds at 7 a.m. in front of the old Pippin's Restaurant at 1390 Tamiami Trail North.
If you want to get in on the holiday fun, it's not too late to join what's expected to be a record field.
All Independence Day entries cost $10, with proceeds to benefit the Gulf Coast Runners' youth scholarship fund.
The fireworks start with a one-mile "Fun Run" that's free for children at 6:45, so take the family and truly start this Fourth of July with a bang.
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Neither humidity nor soaring gas prices kept 22 entrants, from as far as Leesburg and Fort Lauderdale, from turning out for the Florida Athletic Club's inaugural Naples on the Gulf Throwathon on June 21.
The event, hosted by nationally renowned locals Rudy Vlaardingerbroek and Bob Cahners, included a new state record (by 49-year-old Bob Arello, who threw the 16-pound weight 45 feet, 11 inches), and was so successful that Vlaardingerbroek is already planning a follow-up.
"For the first day of summer, I was impressed having 22 (entries)," he said, "but I won't do it during the summer again due to the heat."
The next Throwathon is tentatively planned for April, when Vlaardingerbroek said he plans on adding jumping events and, hopefully, drawing anywhere from 50 to 100 athletes to a tuneup for the senior national championships next year.
In addition to Arello's Florida mark for 49-year-old's, Cahners, 66, had the day's other highlight, reaching 56 feet, 5 inches in the weight toss. Here are the full results, by age category, in each event:
Hammer Throw -- 45-49: Bob Arello, 147 feet, 2 inches; 50-54: Bob Holtz, 123-6 1/2; 60-64: 1. Rudy Vlaardingerbroek, 120-3, 2. Bruce Hedendal, 109-5; 65-69: 1. Bob Cahners, 149-9 1/4; 2. Bill Burkle, 61-2 1/4; 75-79: 1. Pay Carstensen 103-6 1/2; 2. Austin Baggett, 92-2; 80-84: Bob Voege, 68-7
Shot Put -- 40-44: Mike Woodyard, 32-7 1/4; 45-49: Arello, 45-11; 50-54: 1. Holtz, 37-9 3/4; 2. Rick Bartz, 29-7; 55-59: Bill Dimitrouleas, 29-5 1/4; 60-64: 1. Vlaardingerbroek, 41-7 1/2; 2. Jim Ulrich 38-10 3/4; 3. Hedendal, 38-9; 65-69: 1. Gary Winters, 38-4 1/2; 2. Cahners 36-0 1/2; 3. Nick Mohacsy, 26-1 1/2; 4. Burkle, 24-0; 75-79: 1. Carstensen, 30-11; 2. Baggett, 24-3 1/2; 3. Ray Wright, 21-7 1/2; 80-84: Voege, 23-3 3/4
Discus -- 40-44: Woodyard, 68-10; 45-49: Arello, 110-10; 50-54: Bartz, 77-6; 55-59: Dimitrouleas, 90-10; 60-64: 1. Vlaardingerbroek, 137-6; 2. Ulrich, 137-5; 3. Hedendal, 127-5; 65-69: 1. Cahners, 97-3; 2. Winters, 91-11; 3. Burkle, 78-8; 4. Mohacsy, 76-10; 75-79: 1. Baggett, 79-11; 2. Carstensen, 76-6; 80-84: Voege, 50-7; 85-89: Joseph Monesmith, 68-4
Javelin -- 20-24: Sean Conrecode, 159-11; 40-44: Woodyard, 92-5; 45-49: Arello, 112-4; 50-54: Bartz, 76-8; 60-64: 1. Vlaardingerbroek, 145-11; 2. Ulrich, 136-4; 65-69: 1. Mohacsy 111-1; 2. Winters, 80-2; 3. Tom Murphy, 78-8; 4. Burkle, 56-9; 75-79: 1. Wright, 83-0; 2. Baggett, 69-8; 3. Carstensen, 57-0; 80-84: Voege, 41-3; Female 75-79- Ada Wright, 29-3
Weight Throw -- 40-44: Woodyard, 20-8; 45-49: Arello, 42-2; 50-54: Holtz, 46-1 1/2; 60-64: 1. Hedendal, 44-9; 2. Vlaardingerbroek, 41-4; 65-69: 1. Cahners, 56-5; 2. Burkle 23-1; 75-79: 1. Carstensen, 43-9; 2. Baggett, 39-1; 80-84: Voege, 28-11 1/2
56-pound Weight Throw -- 1. Arello, 26-7 1/3; 2. Cahners, 21-10 3/4; 3. Voege, 7-8
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As if you local anglers needed another reason to cast your lines in the upcoming Back Country Classic, now you can get the whole family involved.
Organizers have just announced the addition of a Kids Division, open for children under 14, at a cost of $150 when paired with a paid adult angler.
Spots are filling fast for the event, the second leg in the popular Caloosa Tournament Series, which will be held on July 25-26 at its new site, the Port of the Islands Resort & Marina in Naples.
Up to $15,000 is available in cash and prizes for anglers competing for the biggest snook and redfish, with every angler receiving a custom fishing shirt, hat and other souvenir items.
All competitors will also enjoy an open bar during check-in and two great dinners with complimentary Bud beers. Qualifiers will be invited to compete in the Caloosa Grand Championship, to be held at Pink Shell Beach Resort & Spa on Fort Myers Beach in November, where $45,000 in cash and prizes will be up for grabs.
All proceeds benefit athletic scholarships at Florida Gulf Coast University.
For more info, call director Ron Riley at (239) 671-9347 or visit www.dingdarlingdays.com for updates or call the refuge at (239) 472-1100.
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