Everyone knows that a mouse has speed—but yesterday Mouse Yoker of Barton proved it.

He wasn’t being chased by a cat, he was simply competing in the 5K walk during The Ogden Newspapers 20K Classic Run and Walk.

Yoker crossed the finish line first this year, and it’s not the first time that has happened.

“I’ve done this for many years and I have taken first place before,” he said.

The 5K walk/run course takes participants up Market Street, down Main Street, up Water Street to Chapline Street and returns them to the finish line via 14th Street.

It features a series of slight hills and some long stretches, making the course a challenging one, even to the seasoned veteran.

Yoker says even though he’s run the race before, that doesn’t make it less difficult.

“It’s a good course with the slight hills and scenery,” he said. “But I really didn’t have much time to train for it this year.”

The 5K walk, along with the 5K run, was established several years ago and has grown every year. Race Director R. “Scat” Scatterday says the walk is appealing to those who may not be physically able to compete in the larger race.

“What we have found is that the 5K walk itself is an option to those who can’t or shouldn’t be able to do the 20K,” said Scatterday.

“But the walkers still work hard because of the competitiveness.”
This year, 150 walkers hit the course when the cannon fired at 8:15 a.m.

It took Yoker 28:03 to finish the race, with 51-year-old Jerry Goodwin following a few minutes later to take second.

Third place went to 57-year-old Donna Graham, who also took first place among the women competing in the walk. Twelve-year-old Aspen Matlock took fourth place, while 8-year-old Luke Knollinger came in fifth.

Despite training less, Yoker returned knowing he would face stiff competitors who love the race as much as he does.

“There is definitely a lot of competition here,” said Yoker. “But I like it because it brings in so many people from other areas.”