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Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology junior computer engineering majors Ian and Mitchell Thomas are quick learners and fast runners, placing 34th and 35th out of a record 30,225 competitors -- including more than 100 alumni, students, faculty and staff members -- in this year's Indianapolis Mini-Marathon, the nation's most popular 13.1-mile race.
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Twin Finishes: Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology students Ian and Mitchell Thomas
ran side by side for the entire race in this year's Indianapolis Mini-Marathon at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway.
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Competing in their second mini-marathon, the Thomas twins methodically moved up through the pack and completed the trek to the Indianapolis Motor Speedway finish line in 1:14.37, nearly 12 minutes behind the first place competitors, a tie between two Kenyan runners, Lamech Mokono and Valentine Orare (1:02.53).
Greeting the duo at the finish line was the students' parents, Randy and Jo Thomas of Pennville, Ind.
"We wanted to improve upon last year (1:24.16) and were in much better shape this time," stated Ian Thomas. "Our goal was to get around 1:15, which we felt would make the top 35 or 40. The weather conditions were ideal (55 degrees at the start of the race) and we kept moving at a strong pace. We started right behind the front pack (top-ranked runners) of 50 runners and consistently kept passing runners throughout the race."
The twin's strong performance this year has qualified them to be among the lead pack of runners for next year's mini-marathon.
The Thomases are varsity letter winners on Rose-Hulman's cross country and track teams. The duo started running as a hobby during the junior year at Jay County High School and didn't run competitively until the senior year.
"We're making up for lost time," stated Ian Thomas. "We have done better each year (in cross country and track) and our mini-marathon result has really got us motivated for the future."
Rose-Hulman alumni, students and staff that were part of the 35,000 race participants
and support crews included Dennis Aldridge ('87), Genevieve Apke ('04), Holly Argiris ('02), Brendan Arnold ('97), Kristin Bailey, Kristen Barkey, Kyle Bartow ('98), Andy Batta, Mark Bormann ('85), Bruce Bowman ('81), Kris Chaney ('01), Chad Christie ('01), Heidi Davidson ('03), Scott Davis ('99), Eric Diehl ('05), David Douberteen ('02), Charity Dudley ('04), Bill Feltz ('70), Jamie Funk ('02), Brian Gilley ('96), Andrew Gordon ('02), Greg Gotwald ('01), David Hannum ('81), Rachel Hannum ('07), Christopher Hansen ('98), Amy Haymaker ('03), Laura Hemming ('05), Joe Hentz ('90), Jennifer Hodson ('05), Tom Hough ('88), Mike Howe ('82), Roger Hruskovich ('87), Nate Irwin ('01) and Brian Ivey ('85).
Also Ben Jackson ('99), Alexandra Jantzen ('06), Adam Jarboe ('05), Rick Kocken ('90), Ken Koziol ('92), Kurt Levaacher ('89), Tracey Lockhart ('02), Lauren Lughes ('06), Drew Lyons ('04), Mike Martin ('04), Kenny McCleary ('83), Jennifer McCue ('02), Jon Meyer ('06), Stefani Meyer ('06), Rachel Miller ('08), Scott Minneman ('00), Chris Mobley ('98), Chad Mobley ('98), Hooshang Mohammad, Jeff Myers ('87), Kelly Noel ('02), Kelly Ojala ('98), Roland Pangan ('95), Jason Parker ('95), Soraya Partazian, Josh Patterson ('08), Alyssa Perry ('99), Phil Poor ('92), Ryan Pownall ('98), Jon Prevo, Anthony Primozich ('00), Mike Reeves ('06), Brock Ridgway ('88), Jena Ringo ('00), Rebecca Schenk ('99), Daniel Schuck ('97), Pat Shea ('96), John Singleton ('79), Leah Smith ('01), Becky Smith
('99), Gavin Smith ('99), Richard Stamper ('85), Chuck Taylor ('07), Alyson Tews ('01), Scott Tomlinson ('01), Jessica Toth ('09), Kevin Trivett ('01), Tammy Tucker ('07), Kathy Voigtschild ('98), Brent Voigtschild ('99), Matthew Walter ('01), Ben Ware ('04), Dave Whikehart ('81), Cecil Whitaker ('73) and Lee Wilmes ('82).
Many of the runners and supporters concluded the event by visiting Rose-Hulman's hospitality tent, organized by the Office of Alumni Affairs. |
