MIles, Holdsworth stand out at Rodeo Run

The New Windsor Rodeo Run drew about 200 interested runners this year. The event was held Aug. 20.

Sherrard High School senior Michael Holdsworth was the male winner of the two mile run while Allie Youngren of Princeton turned in the top female time.

In the four mile run Cliff Miles of North Henderson was the male winner turning in a top time of 22:15 while Karen Brophy, 24, of Galesburg, turned in the top time for the women in the event of 27:10.

Sherrard High School senior Michael Holdsworth is finishing up his tune up prior to joining the high school's cross country team. He also won the Matherville Centennial Run earlier this summer and placed third at the Molly DePorter Run in Sherrard. He also placed second in the Railroad Days run in Galesburg and 10th in a run in Tennessee he found while vacationing near Knoxville. He also ran in the Bix. “It was a great day for a run,” said Holdsworth. “The course was good. The hills were a lot nicer on the way back than they were on on the way in.” Holdsworth wasn't the only SHS student running. Eli Secor and John Molburg were also competing on the boys side.

We should have a pretty good team this year,” said Holdsworth.

Allie Youngren ran cross country at Princeton High School and will also be running for the cross country team at North Central College this fall. “My grandparents (Jim and Karen Newton) live in New Windsor. That's why I'm here. Youngren said she runs about 10 miles a week. “It was a great day to run. It was cool without the sun. It was a good course with a variety of terrain. It was my first time racing her though my dad ran here years ago.” She was also the rodeo princess back in 2000.

This was the first time Karen Brophy of Galesburg was running at New Windsor. She graduated from Carl Sandburg College and is coming back to be an assistant coach at the college. She is in her second year of grad school. She has competed in two marathons this year including the Boston Marathon. “I like these shorter courses to take care of my body.” She runs 40-50 miles a week except when she is training for marathons then it is 70 miles a week.

Cliff Miles, 23, is originally from North Henderson and the brother to Cheynne Miles, the rodeo queen.  He recently completed marine officer training and is awaiting his orders. He graduated from Pittsburg State University in Pittsburg Kansas with a degree in health and human performance. He graduated from AlWood High School and ran in high school and college. “I did bull riding last summer,” said Miles. “I was going to do it this year here but didn't get here in time.” Miles said there were a lot of similarities between running and bull riding. “They are both very competitive.”