DECATUR — DECATUR -- "On April 11 (2016), my desire to run in track or cross country came to a crashing halt. The one person that gave me 100 percent of support in my running was gone," Rebekah Wendt recounted in a letter she read to the 75-plus participants, volunteers and spectators during the opening ceremony of the first annual Gayland Van Dyke Memorial 5K Run at Veterans Park in Decatur May 13.
Lifelong Decatur resident Gayland Van Dyke was always proud of his family, his friends and the community he lived in his entire life. He was particularly proud of his granddaughter Rebekah and would always attend as many of her sporting events as he could. He was her cheering section. His presence always made Rebekah try a little harder.
Van Dyke was scheduled to join 74 other veterans from World War II, Korea and Vietnam for the 2016 O&A Honor Flight. He was excited about joining his buddies Lester Austin, Clarence Amos and Paul Austin (Lester's brother), all Korean War veterans, on the trip and looked forward to spending time at the Korean War Memorial. Just nine days before his trip to Washington, D.C., Van Dyke passed away.
For Rebekah, 15, a sophomore at Haworth High School, a 2A school in southeast Oklahoma, the news was devastating.
"The desire of running escaped me at 1:30 a.m. that morning just as grandpa's last breath left his body," Rebekah said.
Her family and friends tried everything to convince her to run again but to no avail. She was through with the sport.
A chance introduction by Rob Hopkins, Chairman of the O&A Honor Flight, brought Rebekah's mother, Vanessa Wendt, and Jessica Duncan together. The two found a solution that would bring Rebekah back into the sport she loved while honoring her grandfather's memory, a 5K run in Decatur. Thus, the first Gayland Van Dyke Memorial 5K run was born.
Months of preparations came together at 8:30 a.m. when about 25 runners and 20 walkers gathered in front of the stage at Veterans Park for the presentation of the colors by the Siloam Springs VFW Post 29 honor guard.
At the conclusion of the ceremony, runners and walkers gathered near the starting line to warm up. Just before the start, the Decatur High School cheerleaders gave the contestants a big send off. A few tense seconds mounted as the runners gathered along the start/finish line. At the front, Rebekah and six younger kids, behind them, the adults.
Duncan, the official starter, raised the air-horn high. Ready! Set! Nothing! The top of the air-horn came flying off the canister. A quick reset and it went off. Rebekah took the early lead as the contestants hit the 5K course that took them out past Northside Elementary School and back.
Five minutes later it was the walkers' turn to start the 1K race. The air horn blared and the walkers were out of the gate, very, very slowly.
About 15 minutes later, the first group from the 1K walk crossed the finish line. Then a few of the cheerleaders, who decided to join the walk, crossed next. And finally, turning the corner onto the final straight-away on Pat Street was Rebekah. She crossed the finish line in 22 minutes and 30 seconds, nearly 20 seconds ahead of her nearest competitors Brent Hopkins and Ashley Mullens.
This completed her first cross-country run since her grandfather's passing.
"Considering I haven't run a consecutive mile in a long time, I thought I did pretty good," Rebekah said.
At the conclusion of both races, Duncan presented gold, silver and bronze medals to the first three finishers in each category (provided there were enough competitors in that category). She was very pleased with the amount of support the community displayed for this inaugural event.
"We have had an amazing show of support for the Van Dyke family," Duncan said. "We have had local runners from Siloam Springs and Fayetteville also support the local veterans, which is also part of what this race is about. We are beyond grateful to everyone that showed up."
"The turnout was better than I expected and I hope this event will get bigger and bigger in the future," Rebekah added.
All proceeds from this run will go to the O&A Honor Flight and a special scholarship for one Decatur High School senior in Van Dyke's name.
Race results
Overall Winner: Rebekah Wendt
6-8 Girls: 1. Isabella Earliey 51:10, 2. Josephine Hams 52:55
9-11 Boys: 1. Laiyton Sutherland 52:56
12-15 Girls: 1. Rebekah Wendt 22:30
16-19 Girls: 1. Cheasa Coons 40:37
25-29 Women: 1. Jessica Bolin 35:51
30-34 Men: 1. Brent Hopkins 22:50, 2. Matt Mullens 23:50, 3. Nathan Betts 33:00
35-39 Women: 1. Ashley Mullens 23:00, 2. Michelle Sharp 25:31, 3. Jennifer Holland 27:51
40-44 Women: 1. Beverly Holland 38:10, 2. Terri Wright 27:51
50-54 Women: 1. Diane Bennett 34:08
50-54 Men: 1. Tim Austin 28:06
Sports on 05/24/2017