Spinalators take the crown after a photo finish.

by James Jordan, Sumner Newscow — The Great Race lived up to its name Saturday at Woods Park in Wellington, with a photo finish and three teams within 10 seconds after the 13 events were completed.  After deliberating for awhile, looking at videos and photographs taken by area media and people at the event, race officials declared The Anders Spinalators the winners, and the Dore Enchies were second. SSB Bank Big Bucks were third, 10 seconds behind.

The race was close throughout with those three teams close. The final leg is a 360 yard sprint in a straight line. At the start of that leg the Dore Enchies were about 100 feet or more behind. Sam McDaniel was in the lead but Vince DeGrado made up time fast down the stretch for the Dore Enchies. McDaniel managed to hold off DeGrado even though DeGrado used a “hook” move, trying to push McDaniel aside as they crossed the finish line together.

Tammy Mansfield of Wellington rides a horse for Team Dad Bod.

The two men fell to the ground, not knowing who had one. They congratulated each other, and waited for the results.

The top three teams were neck and neck, providing for the closest finish in years.

The Enchies and the Spinalators were within shouting distance of each other throughout the race.

McDaniel said they were “both just in the moment at the finish line. That is just a part of racing.”

Both of them ran for Southwestern College in Winfield. DeGrado graduated in 2004 and was an All American. McDaniel graduated in 2009. That made it a little more fun for McDaniel.

DeGrado is a track coach, and he said he thought about how he yells at his runners as they approach the finish line.

“Now I was on the other side of that. I just tried to man up and go,” DeGrado said.

“I gave it my all. I tried that little hook move. I thought I might have caught him. It was a lot of fun and good competition,” he said.

Race organizer Jack Potucek said it was the second closest race of the 25 that had been held previously. There was one once that had three teams finish within seven seconds, which had been the closest.

He said according to the rules of track, it is the body crossing the finish line that counts most. Photos showed their feet at about a dead heat at the end.

John Anders, captain of the Spinalators, being interviewed by race organizer Jack Potucket after big team win.

Spinalator captain John Anders ran the bicycle portion of the race, and his team was in first at that time, but not by much.

Enchies’ captain Kip Etter said it is a great event, He did not get to see the ending, but said it was a judgment call.

“It was a great race. We appreciate all the people that put in the effort for this event,” he said.

This makes two in a row for the Spinalators, who won last year but not in this dramatic way. Security State Bank was second last year and the Enchies were third after having some problems in the motorcross and coming back.

Nine teams participated in the Great Race this year.

Dane Leak, representing the Enchies, picks up the spike and heads to his bike.

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