Kaytlyn Haase of Grand Rapids, left, and Joshua Meza of Grand Rapids, right, approach the finish line at the Zeeland Turkey Trot 8K.
Savannah Golding of Zeeland took the women’s individual title in 31:06.8.
By Greg Chandler
Zeeland Record
A little snow and cold temperatures didn’t dissuade local running enthusiasts from hitting the streets of downtown Zeeland Thanksgiving morning.
The 11th annual Turkey Trot 8K Before You Eat drew a record number of signups – about 1,700 in all.
Zeeland city street crews were out on the course early in the morning to clear the pavement of the snow that fell Wednesday afternoon and into the overnight hours.
“The word that comes to mind about this year’s race is grateful,” Robin Van Bragt, one of the race organizers, wrote in an email to the Zeeland Record. “The weather was less than ideal, but the participants showed up with enthusiasm and adventurous energy.Â
“We are so grateful for all of the volunteers that made the choice to show up versus stay warm in their homes. We are grateful for the city of Zeeland for working on a cold, snowy, holiday morning to keep the sidewalks and roads clear. We are grateful for our running community who were determined to keep their traditions alive, or start new ones, though the weather was not very cooperative. There were smiles, high-fives, hugs and laughter everywhere you looked,” Van Bragt added.
 The Turkey Trot 8K raised funds for the City on a Hill ministry center in Zeeland. A final amount of what was raised was not yet available at press time.
Sam Baustert of Holland, a former distance runner at Grand Valley State University, was the men’s individual champion, breaking the tape at the finish line in a time of 26 minutes, 30.6 seconds. Jacob DeBoer, also of Holland, finished second in 26:48.5.
Derek Veltema of Chicago ran third in 26:52.1, while 2024 men’s winner Luke Koopman of Grand Rapids placed fourth in 27:08.6. Zeeland West High School senior Keagan Smith ran fifth in 27:21.9 – one of four Dux who finished among the race’s top 10 runners.
The other West runners who finished in the top 10 were Smith’s younger brother, Tanner (sixth, 27:29.2), Robert Dodd (eighth, 28:55.8) and Sam Ashby (10th, 29:10.2).
Savannah Golding of Zeeland, a former cross country All-American at Cedarville (Ohio) University, was the women’s individual champion, running a time of 31:06.8. Taryn Chapko ofÂ
Holland was the women’s runnerup in 32:19.9.
Rounding out the top five women runners were Grace Snyder of Hudsonville (32:40.1), Jillian Vera of Detroit (32:56.0) and Zeeland East High School sophomore Adalyn Raab (33:02.3).
Chad Dykstra of Hamilton was the men’s Masters Division (40 and over) winner in 29:18, while the women’s Masters Division winner was Betsy Neustifter of Middleville in 33:49.4.
—————
Age Group Winners
Male 9 and under: S. Kuipers, Zeeland, 42:25.2
Female 9 and under: K. Kitchen, Grand Haven, 51:00.6
Male 10-14: Tanner Smith, Zeeland, 27:29.2
Female 10-14: Grace Snyder, Hudsonville, 32:40.1
Male 15-19: Keagan Smith, Zeeland, 27:21.9
Female 15-19: Adalyn Raab, Zeeland, 33:02.3
Male 20-24: Jacob DeBoer, Holland, 26:48.5
Female 20-24: Taryn Chapko, Holland, 32:19.9
Male 25-29: Luke Koopman, Grand Rapids, 27:08.6
Female 25-29: Lizzy DeBoer, Holland, 33:45.4
Male 30-34: Derek Veltema, Chicago, 26:52.1
Female 30-34: Kelsey Cox, Ada, 35:20.3
Male 35-39: Eric Cox, Ada, 35:20.0
Female 35:39: Alicia Sherwood, Zeeland, 34:30.7
Male 40-44: Aaron Smeckert, Zeeland, 31:17.7
Female 40-44: Courtney Hansen-Jablonski, Muskegon, 35:05.5
Male 45-49: Brian Decker, Hudsonville, 30:17.6
Female 45-49: Kate Habers, Lake Ann, 39:45.9
Male 50-54: Keith Pagel, Hudsonville, 34:21.8
Female 50-54: Kathy VanderWerf, Grandville, 39:47.5
Male 55-59: Scott Ursum, Grandville, 31:50.7
Female 55-59: Karen Blaukamp, Zeeland, 39:33.4
Male 60-64: Jeffrey TenBrink, Holland, 35:29.2
Female 60-64: Anne Marie Niemiec, Zeeland, 37:07.5
Male 65-69: Mark Baker, Fennville, 40:46.2
Female 65-69: Jackie Leeuw, Zeeland, 51:02.7
Male 70-74: Donald Wickstra, Hamilton, 58:16.9
Female 70-74: Margie Hendricks, Hudsonville, 50:32.2
Male 75-79: Tom Henson, Zeeland, 1:01:26.3
Female 75-79: Linda Gerig, West Olive, 1:12:42.8
Complete Turkey Trot results can be found online at skisignup.com/Race/Results/45681.
Zeeland Record
A little snow and cold temperatures didn’t dissuade local running enthusiasts from hitting the streets of downtown Zeeland Thanksgiving morning.
The 11th annual Turkey Trot 8K Before You Eat drew a record number of signups – about 1,700 in all.
Zeeland city street crews were out on the course early in the morning to clear the pavement of the snow that fell Wednesday afternoon and into the overnight hours.
“The word that comes to mind about this year’s race is grateful,” Robin Van Bragt, one of the race organizers, wrote in an email to the Zeeland Record. “The weather was less than ideal, but the participants showed up with enthusiasm and adventurous energy.Â
“We are so grateful for all of the volunteers that made the choice to show up versus stay warm in their homes. We are grateful for the city of Zeeland for working on a cold, snowy, holiday morning to keep the sidewalks and roads clear. We are grateful for our running community who were determined to keep their traditions alive, or start new ones, though the weather was not very cooperative. There were smiles, high-fives, hugs and laughter everywhere you looked,” Van Bragt added.
 The Turkey Trot 8K raised funds for the City on a Hill ministry center in Zeeland. A final amount of what was raised was not yet available at press time.
Sam Baustert of Holland, a former distance runner at Grand Valley State University, was the men’s individual champion, breaking the tape at the finish line in a time of 26 minutes, 30.6 seconds. Jacob DeBoer, also of Holland, finished second in 26:48.5.
Derek Veltema of Chicago ran third in 26:52.1, while 2024 men’s winner Luke Koopman of Grand Rapids placed fourth in 27:08.6. Zeeland West High School senior Keagan Smith ran fifth in 27:21.9 – one of four Dux who finished among the race’s top 10 runners.
The other West runners who finished in the top 10 were Smith’s younger brother, Tanner (sixth, 27:29.2), Robert Dodd (eighth, 28:55.8) and Sam Ashby (10th, 29:10.2).
Savannah Golding of Zeeland, a former cross country All-American at Cedarville (Ohio) University, was the women’s individual champion, running a time of 31:06.8. Taryn Chapko ofÂ
Holland was the women’s runnerup in 32:19.9.
Rounding out the top five women runners were Grace Snyder of Hudsonville (32:40.1), Jillian Vera of Detroit (32:56.0) and Zeeland East High School sophomore Adalyn Raab (33:02.3).
Chad Dykstra of Hamilton was the men’s Masters Division (40 and over) winner in 29:18, while the women’s Masters Division winner was Betsy Neustifter of Middleville in 33:49.4.
—————
Age Group Winners
Male 9 and under: S. Kuipers, Zeeland, 42:25.2
Female 9 and under: K. Kitchen, Grand Haven, 51:00.6
Male 10-14: Tanner Smith, Zeeland, 27:29.2
Female 10-14: Grace Snyder, Hudsonville, 32:40.1
Male 15-19: Keagan Smith, Zeeland, 27:21.9
Female 15-19: Adalyn Raab, Zeeland, 33:02.3
Male 20-24: Jacob DeBoer, Holland, 26:48.5
Female 20-24: Taryn Chapko, Holland, 32:19.9
Male 25-29: Luke Koopman, Grand Rapids, 27:08.6
Female 25-29: Lizzy DeBoer, Holland, 33:45.4
Male 30-34: Derek Veltema, Chicago, 26:52.1
Female 30-34: Kelsey Cox, Ada, 35:20.3
Male 35-39: Eric Cox, Ada, 35:20.0
Female 35:39: Alicia Sherwood, Zeeland, 34:30.7
Male 40-44: Aaron Smeckert, Zeeland, 31:17.7
Female 40-44: Courtney Hansen-Jablonski, Muskegon, 35:05.5
Male 45-49: Brian Decker, Hudsonville, 30:17.6
Female 45-49: Kate Habers, Lake Ann, 39:45.9
Male 50-54: Keith Pagel, Hudsonville, 34:21.8
Female 50-54: Kathy VanderWerf, Grandville, 39:47.5
Male 55-59: Scott Ursum, Grandville, 31:50.7
Female 55-59: Karen Blaukamp, Zeeland, 39:33.4
Male 60-64: Jeffrey TenBrink, Holland, 35:29.2
Female 60-64: Anne Marie Niemiec, Zeeland, 37:07.5
Male 65-69: Mark Baker, Fennville, 40:46.2
Female 65-69: Jackie Leeuw, Zeeland, 51:02.7
Male 70-74: Donald Wickstra, Hamilton, 58:16.9
Female 70-74: Margie Hendricks, Hudsonville, 50:32.2
Male 75-79: Tom Henson, Zeeland, 1:01:26.3
Female 75-79: Linda Gerig, West Olive, 1:12:42.8
Complete Turkey Trot results can be found online at skisignup.com/Race/Results/45681.
Sam Baustert of Holland was the men’s individual champion in 26:30.6.
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