River Run sees large turnout, youths take all

BONNERS FERRY — The heat couldn’t keep runners away, nor the fun times, as 220 registered runners competed in this year’s Kootenai River Run. The race, which is a fundraiser for Bonners Ferry High School senior runners and features 5K and 10K distances, was held Saturday, July 20, as part of Kootenai River Days. 

Runners were serenaded and cheered on throughout the course, with live music provided by the local band “No Boundaries” at the final stretch. Also performing were Hobart “Hank” Yocom on the drums on Kootenai Street, Bonners Ferry High School Band, BFHS cheerleaders and Scott Stover on guitar. The Rowdy Restorium Renegades kept the runners cool with water soakers outside the Boundary County Restorium.  

This year saw an increase of nearly 50 runners from 2023.  

Sandpoint rising eighth grader Paloma Parr-Coffin placed first out of 105 finishers in the women’s 5k race with a time of 21:46. Paloma was first in the 12-15 age group, defeating Bonners Ferry High rising junior Matisyn Stiern by roughly two minutes. 

Also, in the women’s 5K race, Sandpoint’s Boehme Parr-Coffin won the 0-11 age group with a time of 22:16, over eight minutes ahead of the next fastest competitor in her age group.  

Nathan Copen was the overall men’s winner for the 5K, with a time of 19:51. Copen competed in the 20-29 age group. In the 5K race, Indy Parr-Coffin took second in the 0-11 age group with a time of 24:26. 

Bonners Ferry local Colton Cohen took first for the 16-19 age group with a time of 20:53, followed by Badger cross country runner and rising junior, Matthew McCabe in second place at 22:23.  

Youths again dominated at the 10K level, with Emalyn Bell, a 10-year-old from Benewah winning the women’s race at 43.03 

In the men’s 10K race, rising Sandpoint Freshman Miro Parr-Coffin took first out of 17 finishing with a time of 35:20. He defeated former Bonners Ferry High legend and Boise State All-American Forest Braden, 40,  for the crown.  

“It was hot, but at 8 a.m. it was still moderate and fairly cool,” said race organizer Paul Bonnell. “I think we had similar numbers several years ago.” 

Many Sandpoint and Bonners Ferry locals came out with their entire family to run. The race also raised $1,920 in scholarship money which will be used for a student in the Class of 2025.  

All participants entered were entered into drawings including prizes and gift cards donated by local businesses.

MEN 

5K (68 finishers) 

Overall — 1, Nathan Copen, 19:51. 0-11 — 1, Elijah Kellogg, 24:08; 2, Indy Parr-Coffin, 24:26; 3, Caleb Peterson, 26:48. 12-15 — 1, Samuel Meeker, 20:51; 2, Micah Peterson, 21:25; 3, Ezekial Strait, 24:29. 16-19 — 1, Colton Cohen, 20:53; 2, Matthew McCabe, 22:23; 3, Ethan Cowell, 24:37. 20-29 —1, Nathan Copen 19:51; 2, Isaiah Litterell-Said, 22:51; 3, Isaac Gorman 23:14. 30-39 — 1, Desmond Guida, 22:08; 2, Toni Manson, 31:13; 3, Dustin Woelfle, 43:18. 40-49 — 1, Oakley Teele, 20:49; 2, Nick Peterson, 21:26; 3, Ryan Roady, 25:21. 50-59 — 1, Chris Rawlings, 25:51; 2, Worzel Parsons-Keir, 27:07; 3, John Birrell, 28:35. 60-69 — 1, Mike Ladely, 38:01; 2, Gary GeFre, 1:00:49. 70-plus — 1, Sam Testa 36:30; 2, Clint White, 1:00:21. 

10K (17 finishers) 

Overall — 1, Miro Parr-Coffin, 35:20. 0-11 — 1, Jacob Elliston, 1:52:35. 12-15 — 1, Miro Parr-Coffin, 35:20; 2, Gordon Woelfle, 1:00:17. 16-19 — 1, Treven Vader, 43:00. 20-29 — 1, Lucas Houck, 38:15. 30-39 — 1, Cody Aery, 45:26; 2, Alex Skrivseth, 49:40; 3, Evan Schlabach, 50:05. 40-49 — 1, Forest Braden, 38:07; 2, Aaron Rutherford, 46:36. 50-59 — 1, Erik Coffin, 39:45; 2, Ralf Wenzel, 47:11. 60-69 — 1, Todd Bailey, 55:34; 2, Loren Kuder, 1:01:34; 3, Greg Forrester, 1:11:22. 70-plus — 1, Dave Miller, 49:52; 2, Patrick Barkus, 1:34:00. 

WOMEN 

5K (105 finishers) 

Overall — 1, Paloma Parr-Coffin, 21:46. 0-11 — 1, Boheme Parr-Coffin, 22:16; 2, Skylen, 30:37; 3, Haven Strait, 31:18. 12-15 — 1, Paloma Parr-Coffin, 21:46; 2. Matisyn Stiern, 23:57; 3, Kya Alderman, 26:13. 16-19 — 1, Brynn Williams, 24:09; 2, Lenz Teele, 25:55; 3, Jade Gahr, 28:54; 20-29 — 1, Demi Pfarr, 22:59; 2, Victoria Smith, 23:34; 3, Adelie Kiefer, 25:22. 30-39 — 1, Celease “CC” Stone, 26:50; 2, Connie Kiehn, 31:49; 3, Melody Lummus, 31:49.67. 40-49 — 1, Laura Roady, 27:54; 2, Angela Dinning, 28:45; 3, Pam Winter, 29:02. 50-59 — 1, Carolyn Birrell, 29:00; 2, Cristina Wheeler, 32:17; 3, Melissa Lee, 35:16.02. 60-69 — 1, DeEtta Dubron, 32:46; 2, Ginny Carpenter, 39:01; 3, Mary GeFre, 39:52. 70-plus — 1, Becky Peterson, 49:44. 

10K (16 finishers) 

Overall — 1, Emalyn Bell, 43:03. 0-11 — 1, Emalyn Bell, 43:03. 12-15 — 1, Nina Wenzel, 46:49; 2, Kylie Calderone, 51:47. 16-19 — 1, Timber Jackson, 1:02:14; 2, Nevaeh Elliston, 1:52:36. 20-29 — No finishers. 30-39 — 1, Riley Diehl, 53:32; 2, Kayla Friss, 1:00:30; 3, Tiffany Warren, 1:00:47. 40-49 — 1, Nelda Gentry, 1:12:30; 2, Sarah Smith, 1:13:33; 3, Crystal Billings, 1:33:25. 50-59 — 1, Anett Wenzel, 56:49; 2, Joan Velasco, 58:19; 3, Melissa Morrow, 1:18:17. 60-69 — 1, Amy Leibensberger, 1:11:22. 70-plus — No finishers. 

    Law enforcement official runs at the Kootenai River Run.
  

    Runner rounds Riverside Street on the last stretch of the Kootenai River Run on Saturday, July 20.
  

    (left) Kootenai River Run winners, Moreau Parr-Coffin 10K Male; Emalyn Bell 10K Female; Paloma Parr-Coffin 5K Female; and Nathan Copen 5K Male.