Rucker rolls in CdA Marathon

Jim Rucker of Spokane won the 29th running of the Coeur d’Alene Marathon on Sunday.

Rucker led all runners across the finish line, covering the 26.2 miles in 2 hours, 35 minutes and 4 seconds, a pace of 5 minutes, 55 seconds per mile.

Rucker was nearly three minutes ahead of Chuck Engle of Columbus, Ohio, who took second in 2:37:58.

Other local finishers in the top 10 were Todd Parkey of Lewiston, who took eighth in 2:58:54; Christian Newton of Pullman, who took ninth in 3:01:46; and Roger Thompson of Spokane, who was 10th in 3:02:42.

Julie Gilchrist of Ovando, Mont., won the women’s race, finishing in 3:14:31, almost three minutes ahead of Missoula’s Maria Berger, who crossed the finish line in 3:17:10.

Local top-10 finishers included Dawn Wilhelm, from Liberty Lake, who was fourth in a time of 3:20:29; Angie Brass of Sandpoint, who was seventh in 3:24:35; and Pam Schultz of Spokane, who was eighth with a time of 3:26:52.

Last year’s female champion, Brenda Greer of Spokane Valley, finished ninth with a time of 3:33:26.

Chris Steltzer of Spokane won the men’s half-marathon, finishing in 1:13:09. Heather Harmon of Coeur d’Alene won the women’s half-marathon in 1:27:15.