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News Sprinting down Lincoln Avenue towards the International Race finish line, Cheri Bevis was actually strolling down memory lane.
"It feels good, Bevis said. "I was really nervous because I didn't train; it was a last second thing." While Bevis admits she had not trained for Tuesday's race, her 63-second-time fits in with her previous winning runs. Bevis won the race in 2003 in 61.52 seconds and in exactly one minute in 2004. In all three years she raced, Bevis has beat the Olney, England, winner's time. Bevis' win increases Liberal's lead over Olney, England, in the international race to 35-25. Jane Hughes, Olney's winner, completed the 415-yard race in 67 seconds Tuesday morning. During the conference call, Hughes said the windy weather in Olney made running the race difficult. Bevis admits she would like to see Olney increase their score. "I feel bad because people say Olney needs to win, but it's still all for fun," Bevis said. When not sprinting in hot pink, Beavis teaches physical education at West Middle School in Liberal. She also coaches the girls' cross country team at Liberal High School. Many of Bevis' students ran in races today and stayed to support their teacher. Summer Stimpson, an eighth grader at West Middle School, stood at the finish line to cheer on Bevis. Stimpson said she was happy to see Bevis cross the finish line first. "It makes me so excited," Stimpson said. "It's a good accomplishment for her." Stimpson said watching her teacher run the race today has encouraged her to try harder in life. Motivating students is one of the main reasons Bevis chose to run in the race. "I just try to tell kids they need to do stuff; whether they win or lose, it doesn't matter," said Bevis. "Hopefully, it just encourages them to get involved in things." While Bevis says participating in the race was more important than first place this year, she admits she is always driven to win. "This year I entered more to have fun than be competitive, but there is a competitive streak in me," said Bevis. "I'm always going to try to do my best." Bevis also said she was grateful to the West Middle School teachers that had run alongside her in Tuesday's race. Bevis and other WMS staff ran in the international race and last chance race to honor the life of Kevin Seaman, who was a seventh grade English teacher at the middle school. Bevis said Seaman, 60, died Feb. 5 of surgery complications. "We just wanted to take advantage of the oppportunity and do it in memory of him," said Bevis. "Every year since the last year I won, he has begged me to run again." Bevis said Seaman always jokingly said he wanted to see her win another race. Bevis is married to Darrin Bevis, who coaches boys’ cross country at Liberal High School and teaches science at WMS. The two coaches have two kids: five-year-old Caleb and one-year-old Ethan. As International race winner, she received a "kiss of peace" from Mayor Joe Denoyer. Denoyer's "kiss of peace" turned into three in an attempt to get a perfectphotograph of the traditional winner's smooch. Bevis was also crowned and cloaked in a purple cape during the award ceremony. After winning three international races, Bevis is retiring her sprinting skirt and skillet. According to International Pancake Day rules, a woman can not compete in the international race after winning three times. Bevis says she plans to take her tiaras to school, now that she is retired from the international race. For full story pleas see Wednesday's Times © Copyright 2008 Southwest Times |
