Bluegrass 10,000: The view from the front

A glance at how men’s division of Saturday’s Bluegrass 10,000 stacks up with the previous 33 editions, accompanied by this reporter’s photos of how the men’s race unfolded.

All-time winners
1. 1977 — Swag Hartel, Louisville, (England) 31:36
2. 1978 — Alex Kasich, Morgantown, W.Va., 29:56
3. 1979 — Duane Gaston, Richmond, 30:33
4. 1980 — Tom Burridge, Lexington, 30:32
5. 1981 — Ashley Johnson, Bowling Green, (South Africa) 30:04
6. 1982 — Dave Schaufuss/Tom Smith, Williamsburg, 31:46
7. 1983 — Mark Nenow, Lexington, 29:14
8. 1984 — Jon Barker, Bowling Green, (South Africa) 30:05
9. 1985 — Ed Merkler, Louisville, 30:20
10. 1986 — John Wellerding, Louisville, 29:36
11. 1987 — Steve Hetherington, Johnson City, Tenn., 30:09
12. 1988 — Mike Snyder, Lexington, 30:56
13. 1989 — Richard Ede, Lexington, (England) 30:44
14. 1990 — Mike Snyder, Lexington, 31:07
15. 1991 — Jim Estes, Louisville, 31:21
16. 1992 — Mark Stuart, Danville, 30:47
17. 1993 — Benny McIntosh, Lexington, 30:28
18. 1994 — Benny McIntosh, Lexington, 30:19
19. 1995 — Benny McIntosh, Lexington, 30:19
20. 1996 — Benny McIntosh, Lexington, 30:18
21. 1997 — Benny McIntosh, Lexington, 31:17
22. 1998 — Jim Estes, Louisville, 32:01
23. 1999 — John Sence, Cincinnati, 30:09
24. 2000 — James Mutuse, Richmond (Kenya), 31:22
25. 2001 — Julius Rotich, Columbia (Kenya), 30:13
26. 2002 — James Mutuse, Richmond (Kenya), 30:31
27. 2003 — Daniel Koech, Richmond (Kenya), 31:27
28. 2004 — James Mutuse, Richmond (Kenya), 31:11
29. 2005 — Daniel Mugo, Richmond (Kenya), 31:25
30. 2006 — James Mutuse, Richmond (Kenya), 31:27
31. 2007 — Jacob Korir, Richmond (Kenya), 31:10
32. 2008 — Jacob Korir, Richmond (Kenya), 30:30
33. 2009 — David Mutuse, Richmond (Kenya), 31:25
34. 2010 — Patrick Morgan, Danville, 31:40

Closest finishes

Tie (1982) – David Schaufuss and Tommy Smith, 31:46 (3. John Barr, 32:02)
:02 (2005) – Daniel Mugo, 31:25; Thomas Morgan, 31:27
:04 (1980) — Tom Burridge, 30:32; Duane Gaston, 30:36
:04 (2001) — Julius Rotich, 30:13; John Sence, 30:17.
:06 (1986) — John Wellerding, 29:36; Dave Schaufuss, 29:42
:06 (1992) — Mark Stuart, 30:47; James B. Kaiser, 30:53
:08 (1990) — Mike Snyder, 31:07; Joe Buechler, 31:15
:08 (2003) — Daniel Koech, 31:27; Alan Horton, 31:35
:09 (1977) — Swag Hartel, 31:36; David Collins, 31:45
:14 (1981) — Ashley Johnson, 30:04; Dave Bensema, 30:18

Greatest margin of victory, men

David Mutuse leads, with red-clad Patrick Morgan lurking, on Richmond Road near Woodland Ave.

2:02 (1994) – Benny McIntosh, 30:19; Mike Snyder, 32:21
1:47 (2006) — James Mutuse, 31:27; Daniel Mugo, 33:14
1:13 (1993) — Benny McIntosh, 30:28; James B. Kaiser, 31:41
1:03 (1999) — John Sence, 30:09; T.J. Lentz, 31:12
1:00 (2010) — Patrick Morgan, 31:40; Evans Kiptoo, 32:40
0:59 (2008) — Jacob Korir, 30:30; Jeremy Zagorski, 31:29
0:54 (2007) — Jacob Korir, 31:10; Wes Seacat, 32:06
0:52 (1979) — Duane Gaston, 30:33; Mark Johnson, 31:25
0:49 (1996) — Benny McIntosh, 30:18; Daniel Moriasi, 31:07
0:44 (1983) — Mark Nenow, 29:14; Ashley Johnson, 29:58
0:43 (1978) — Alex Kasich, 29:56; Duane Gaston, 30:39

Fastest times

Patrick Morgan, in red, and Evans Kiptoo approach the Richmond Road turnaround.

(Place and year in parentheses)

1. Mark Nenow (1, 1983) 29:14
2. John Wellerding (1, 1986) 29:36
3. Dave Schaufuss (2, 1986) 29:42
4. Jon Barker (3, 1986) 29:48
5. Alex Kasich (1, 1978) 29:56
6. Ashley Johnson (2, 1983) 29:58
7. Tony Staynings (4, 1986) 29:59
8. Ashley Johnson (1, 1981) 30:04
9. Jon Barker (1, 1984) 30:05
10. Mike Snyder (5, 1986) 30:08

 Past champions, ranked by time

Cresting a hill at about 4 1/4 miles, Patrick Morgan has control of the race and Evans Kiptoo has second place.

1. Mark Nenow, 1983 29:14
2. John Wellerding, 1986 29:36
3. Alex Kasich, 1978 29:56
4. Ashley Johnson, 1981 30:04
5. Jon Barker, 1984 30:05
6. Steve Hetherington, 1987 30:09
6. John Sence, 1999 30:09
8. Julius Rotich, 2001 30:13
9. Benny McIntosh, 1996 30:18
10. Benny McIntosh, 1994 30:19
10. Benny McIntosh, 1995 30:19
12. Ed Merkler, 1985 30:20
13. Benny McIntosh, 1993 30:28

Buzz Lightyear (a.k.a. Tim Bailey) and Woody (Shawn Tolle) of Owenton were among the finishers. Bailey is among eight individuals to have completed all 34 editions of the Bluegrass 10,000.

14. Jacob Korir, 2008 30:30
15. James Mutuse, 2002 30:31
16. Tom Burridge, 1980 30:32
17. Duane Gaston, 1979 30:33
18. Richard Ede, 1989 30:44
19. Mark Stuart, 1992 30:47
20. Mike Snyder, 1988 30:56
21. Mike Snyder, 1990 31:07
22. Jacob Korir, 2007 31:10
23. James Mutuse, 2004 31:11
24. Benny McIntosh, 1997 31:17
25. Jim Estes, 1991 31:21
26. James Mutuse, 2000 31:22
27. Daniel Mugo, 2005 31:25
27. David Mutuse, 2009 31:25
29. Daniel Koech, 2003 31:27
29. James Mutuse, 2006 31:27
31. Swag Hartel, 1977 31:36
32. Patrick Morgan, 2010 31:40
33. Dave Schaufuss/Tom Smith, 1982 31:46
34. Jim Estes, 1998 32:01