SHELBYVILLE, IL. — The Annual Tom Short 5K Run in Shelbyville will mark its 10th anniversary when the horn sounds at 8 a.m., Saturday, August 4, near the Family Aquatic Center in Shelbyville’s Forest Park.

“We’re expecting a great turnout,” said Jerry Yockey, race organizer. “It’s our 10th year and every year we have had an increase in numbers.”

There were 279 runners that started the 5K last year, plus many more in the 1-mile fun run/walk.

"I'm tickled," Yockey said. "I was very pleased with the turnout as this was our largest crowd in the nine year history of the race.  The race attracts more runners from Central Illinois every year, including many local cross country teams. Last year, we had teams from Shelbyville, Sullivan, Mattoon, Taylorville and Neoga. Our race also has a focus of encouraging first-time runners. We do this by offering the Tom Short Training Team eight week program. It is a really good feeling to watch our Training Team members finish the race."

One of the latest additions to the annual run, was the training team that was started two years ago. The Tom Short Training Team was inaugurated to help properly prepare runners for 5K. Jerry Yockey, the director of the event, said that there were over 40 people that signed up for the 8-week program designed to take people from the couch to the finish line. They held there 2nd annual Short Training Team prior to the race last summer (2011) with about the same number of participants in a weekly session.

This year the training team has swelled to about 65 runners and 10 leaders.

“Even with vacations and other things going on we still had over 50 runners every Tuesday evening,” Yockey said.

The Tom Short Run numbers have fluctuated over the previous seven years, but two years ago the numbers were up and as of July 14, there were already 87 runners registered for the 5K.

There were 327 participants two years ago in both the 5K and the 1-mile fun walk/run. There were 122 5K runners in ‘08 and 100 more than that in 2009 (225), despite the high temperature. In 2010 there were 230 finishers.  

The Tom Short Run, on The General Dacey Trail, has become the signature Shelbyville 5K course. The course is not only used for the annual Tom Short 5K, but is also part of the course used by Shelbyville High School and Moulton Middle School for cross country prep races.

The Tom Short course replaced the old signature Shelbyville course, which used to go around, down and up Shelbyville Dam. The race was rerouted several years ago and dubbed the Tom Short 5K, in honor of a beloved local Christian businessman, father, grandfather and supporter of Shelbyville Little League Baseball. Tom Short was also an avid distance runner up until the time of his passing. It seemed fitting for the Shelbyville 5K to be named in his honor.



The Tom Short 5K Run now winds along the General Dacey Trail, a wooded track that extends from U.S. Army Corps of Engineer property at Lake Shelbyville into the old Hulic Addition at the north end of Shelbyville’s Forest Park.

The Tom Short 5K Trail Run and 1-Mile Walk/Run, although open to ages 14 & Under through 60 & over, has a particular interest in youth. There are five awards given to the younger classes: 14 & Under, 15-16, 17-19. There are just three awards given to the older age classes.

With the junior high and high school cross country season official practices beginning the following week, the Tom Short Run is an unofficial kick-off for area prep runners. It is a showcase for those prep runners who have worked off season to improve and those runners who fans should watch in the upcoming season. It is also a wake-up call for those who have not worked during the summer.

Winner of the Tom Short 5K Run two years ago was Ron Lavaire, a former Shelbyville High School cross-country standout and Xavier University distance runner. The three previous years, the winner was Jeremy Reel of Stew-Stras (17:42), one of the leaders of the Class A 6th Place Shelbyville/Stew-Stras Rams cross country team. The female winner two years was Kali Taylor, a former standout runner at Sullivan High School.

Lavaire finished in a time of 16:39.45, 13 seconds ahead of 17 year-old Joe Calio (1st 17-19 class). Taylor (20th overall) finished in a time of 20:31.20, just 1.35 seconds ahead of 14 year-old Mattoon sophomore Whitney Mannifior (20:32.55).

Lavaire ran the Tom Short 5K two times previously, taking third his first time, then winning the second time. He ran in 2003 and placed third (18:38), then came back in 2005 and claimed the overall title (18:13). His win on Saturday shaved a minute and 34 seconds of his previous best time. Taylor was beaten by 1:04 last year for the top spot by Manninfior. Taylor made up the difference to get the win this year.

Both Lavaire and Taylor have gone on from their high school running days to be teachers.

Lavaire graduated in December from Xavier University in Chicago, where he ran distance for two years before suffering from planter fasciaitus  He immediately landed a position at Thomas Jefferson Middle School  in Decatur and is glad to back in the Shelbyville area and back able to run.

Taylor graduated from Eastern Illinois University and became more focused in distance running. She has run three marathons and recently ran her first Boston Marathon, finishing as the 26th female from Illinois. Taylor is  coaching in Sullivan, where she coaches the Sullivan-Okaw Valley cross country team and the Sullivan-Okaw Valley track team, as well as assisting in girls basketball.

Former Shelbyville Ram running stars Ron Lavaire and Paige Biehler swept the men's and women's divisions at the 9th Annual Tom Short 5k Run  in 2011.

Lavaire, who ran for Shelbyville, then for Xavier University repeated his Tom Short win from last year and broke his course record from last year. The 3-year course record was 16:39 in 2010 and Lavaire beat his own record on Saturday by 3 seconds (16:36).

Biehler, a  Shelbyville former state medalist in the 800 meters, is currently running for Eastern Illinois University. She finished 26th overall in a time of 20:25, 30 seconds ahead of the next female.

Two area favorites coming into the race were Bagelfest 5k winner and runner-up, Stanley Donahoo of Shelbyville (22) and Dale Righter of Mattoon (44). Donahoo placed 3rd in the Tom Short on Saturday and won his age group (20-29) with a finishing time (17:14) near his time from the Bagelfest. Donahoo was part of the 3rd best team at the Short Run. The Shelbyville team, B5, was made up of Ron Lavaire (1st), Stanley Donahoo (3rd, team 3rd), Brennon Baker (13th, team 9th), Elliott Uphoff (20th, team 15th), and Zach Duck (102nd, team 49th).

Righter finished 16th overall, but still was the repeat Masters Winner (40 and over). Righter’s time (19:23) was off some from the Bagelfest. Righter was also part of the 2nd best team finish at the Short Run. His team from Mattoon, B1, was made up John Righter, Chris Third, Nick Heller, Dale Righter and Ben Righter.   

Multiple Female Masters Winner Kathy Fulk (58) was just barely beaten out last year by a woman 17 years younger, Rachel Cravatta of Sullivan (41). Sullivan finished in 25:14 and Fulk finished just ten seconds later (25:24) finished 2nd for the Masters. Fulk won her age group (50-59) easily, by a minute, 37 seconds.

The best team effort came from Sullivan high School and former Sullivan High School runners. Michael Giberson (18) finished 2nd overall (16:50), Cameron Harvey finished 6th (18:06), Micah Plank was 15th overall, team 11th, (19:22), Cody Carman was 18th overall, team 13th (19:40), and Bill Brown was 19th overall, team 14th (19:42).

The best mixed team was from Shelbyville. It was made up of Levi Pruemer team 25th (21:19), Molly Yockey team 29th (21:59), Kaleb Pruemer team 32nd (22:09), Kyle Brown team 35th (22:23), and Maggy Yockey team 53rd (26:11). The best female team came from Taylorville, made up of Ward Brooke team 34th, Allison Collingwood team 37th, Michelle Childers team 40th, Macy Brown team 42nd, and Paige Davis team 47th.

Kayelyn Duckett, Shelbyville High School’s top distance female headed to EIU this fall had a great finish, edging Liz Dole of Mattoon down the stretch.

Duckett out-raced Dole to finished as the second female overall (20:55). Dole (21) of Mattoon ran a 20:56. Dole was 3rd in 2009 when she beat Duckett by 2 seconds. Her time from 2009 was 22:10. Dole won her age group last year (20-29) with a time of 21:22. Duckett won her age group last year (15-16) with a time of 21:30, eight seconds back of Dole.

Dole beat her 2009 time by 1:14 on Saturday and beat her 2010 time by 26 seconds, but she just couldn’t beat Duckett. Duckett, who suffered through physical problems and injury in her junior year comes into her senior cross country season in a much better position.

There will also be team competition again this year. There will be winners recognized for the top male team, the top female team, and the top mixed team. For the mixed team, there must be either 2 males/3 females or 3 males/2 females for each team. Individual registration is required for each team member.

Race day registration will be held from 6:45-7:45 a.m. at the Shelbyville Aquatic Center. Paid entry allows the participant and their family members to use the facilities at the Shelbyville Aquatic center from 9-11 a.m. The pool is a facility that offers a water slide, a graduated entry, diving board, and a sand play area for children. Winners of the “BIG SPLASH” competition will receive a pair of Tom Short 5K Race shorts.

Registration cost is $15 through July 28, then will be $20 through race day for the 5K, $5 for the 1-mile with no T-shirt. Race day sign-ups will get T-shirts as available. There will also be post race refreshments (popsicles, chocolates, fruit).