Amber Eichkorn returns home, wins River Run 10K
Amber Eichkorn didn’t tell many people she was running in the River Run 10-kilometer race on Saturday morning.
It was all spur-of-the-moment. She happened to be visiting home after recently graduating from the University of South Dakota. She figured why not?
Eichkorn, a 2012 graduate from North High, made the most of her first race back home in Wichita by crossing the finish line of the River Run near the Boathouse on Lewis Street in 36 minutes, 35 seconds to win the women’s division on Saturday morning.
“All the support I had while I was running from the other side was amazing,” Eichkorn said. “I didn’t really expect that because I didn’t tell anyone I was running in this. I just wanted to see what I could do, so to come here and win this thing is phenomenal.”
Eichkorn graduated from South Dakota with a double major in pre-physical therapy and kinesiology and sports science. She will be returning in the fall to pursue her master’s and she still has a season of eligilibility remaining for indoor and outdoor track and field.
After winning two state championships at North – she remains the only female runner from Wichita to win the Class 6A championship – Eichkorn has continued a standout career at South Dakota.
She became the first South Dakota runner to qualify for the NCAA cross country championships and qualified the last two seasons. She owns the school record in 3,000-meter and 5,000-meter runs in indoor track, and the 5,000-meter and 10,000-meter records outdoor.
“It’s been so much fun the last four years,” Eichkorn said. “I’ve loved it and it’s been a fantastic ride. I’ve been blessed with two great coaches. (South Dakota coach Dan Fitzsimmons ) up there has taken what (North coach Mike) Pope started with me down here and taken it to another level.”
Pope, who is still the cross country coach at North, was in attendance on Saturday morning to watch his former runner.
For Pope, it has been a joy to watch her develop.
“It’s been so much fun to watch her grow over her college years and become the runner that she is today,” Pope said. “Just knowing that you played a part in that is pretty special as a coach. Before she crossed the finish line, I made sure to tell her I was proud of her and everything that she’s done. It’s something that she’s worked really hard for and all of the success that comes her way is deserved.”
For Eichkorn, it was comforting to know that she still has supporters from her hometown.
“I felt like I wasn’t alone out there,” Eichkorn said. “It’s just really nice to know I have a coach here whenever I come home that I can still train with and do what I do when I’m up in South Dakota. It’s just an awesome feeling.”
In the men’s race, Peter Chebii claimed the River Run title just a month after winning the Prairie Fire Half-Marathon. No one had the stamina to push Chebii, and the 31-year-old ran by himself for much of the six miles and won in a time of 31:53 – exactly two minutes better than the field.
Coming in second was Bryant Keirns, a 2012 Campus graduate, in a time of 33:53.
Keirns was also back home for the weekend after recently graduating from Oklahoma Christian, where he was a two-time NCCAA All-American in cross country and was part of a NCCAA team championship during his freshman season.
Keirns said while his competitive running career may be over, he still will run recreationally. He’s not sure if he will continue to do road races, as he will now return for more schooling and to pursue a career with a biology degree.
“I’m pretty happy with a second-place finish,” Keirns said. “It was a lot of fun. I hadn’t been back in awhile and that wasn’t the same course that it used to be, so it was a little different but still fun.”
In the 2-mile race, Wichita native Kim Tuhro won the women’s division in a time of 13:54 and Conner Drendel, a 26-year- old from Winfield, won in 11:55. Tuhro ran in the 10-kilometer race earlier in the morning, taking third overall in the women’s field in a time of 40:13.
10-kilometer race
Men
Overall–1. Peter Chebii, Wichita, 31:53; 2. Bryant Keirns, Edmond, Okla., 33:53; Daniel Craig, Gypsum, 34:57. Age-graded masters–1. Gregory Hattan, 63, Concordia, 44:18. 3-12–Chege Charles, Wichita, 49:03; 13-15–Elijah Salas-Arriaga, Wichita, 41:43; 16-18–Kade Gerlach, Derby, 38:49; 19-24–John Dolechek, Manhattan, 38:07; 25-29–Jacob Wayman, Wichita, 40:55; 30-34–Michael Fowler, Wichita, 39:59; 35-39–Martin Osborne, Wichita, 39:05; 40-44–Kurt Aiken, Wichita, 36:29; 45-49–Raffaele Fazio, Wichita, 41:45; 50-54–Mark Andrews, Wichita, 43:04; 55-59–Dean Tuinstra, Wichita, 41:13; 60-64–Jeff DeGarmo, Valley Center, 44:32; 65-69–Tom Snook, Cheney, 49:32; 70-74–Leon Mattocks, Wichita, 1:00:42; 75-98–Ron Nespor, Derby, 55:45.
Women
Overall–1. Amber Eichkorn, Wichita, 36:35; 2. Sharon Ceja, Great Bend, 37:27; 3. Kim Tuhro, Wichita, 40:13. Age-graded masters–1. Deb Torneden, 55, Manhattan, 40:30. 3-12–Rebecca Leonard, Viola, 52:28; 13-15–Aimee Davis, Clearwater, 41:36; 16-18–P.C. Reaves, Wichita, 52:01; 19-24–Allison Sitler, Littleton, Colo., 42:42; 25-29–Sarah Bergkamp, Cheney, 42:59; 30-34–Tamra Tompson, Wichita, 46:20; 35-39–Sara Ibbetson, Ozark, Mo., 42:09; 40-44–Delane Jacobs, Wichita, 53:39; 45-49–Kathy Morris, Wichita, 45:13; 50-54–Terry Moore, Wichita, 49:51; 55-59–Kay Mathins, Wichita, 53:29; 60-64–Bonnie Fetrow, Wichita, 49:03; 70-74–Sheryl Drevo, Goddard, 58:34; 75-98–Rowena Hinshaw, Wichita, 1:19:31.
2-mile race
Men
Overall–Conner Drendel, Winfield, 11:55; Age-graded masters–Art Hollingshead, 57, Valley Center, 14:36; 3-10–Tynan Hallacy, Wichita, 16:12; 11-14–Trey Rios, Wichita, 12:50; 15-18–Isaac Nelson, Wichita, 12:31; 19-19–Jesse Lyle, Wichita, 12:42; Wheelchair–Bill Buell, Wichita, 31:48.
Women
Overall–Kim Tuhro, Wichita, 13:54; Age-graded masters–Trudy Calloway, 68, Wichita, 19:30; 3-10–Julia Berends, Wichita, 15:27; 11-14–Jadyn Pavlik, Wichita, 15:03; 15-18–Elizabeth George, Rose Hill, 17:01; 19-39–Shalyn Kvassay, Wichita, 15:46.
This story was originally published June 4, 2016 at 3:19 PM with the headline "Amber Eichkorn returns home, wins River Run 10K."