Parisien, a UAA-bound 2008 Palmer High School graduate, became the first Valley-based runner to win the event, clocking a time of 15 minutes, 10.8 seconds over the hilly 3.1-mile course to outrun three-time champ Ross by 6.9 seconds.
Tibbetts had the best time among 125 woman entrants in 17:55.6.
  
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“I was scrapping for money to sign myself up at the start,” he said, laughing at the post-race awards ceremony. “I actually had to borrow the money for the entry from the third- and fourth-place guys.”
Those guys — Sam Hill and Tom Ritchie — may have ended up financing not only Ross’ second-place run, but a trip to the NBA playoffs as well.
Ross and Tibbetts, both of Anchorage, are a couple, and they recently attended the first-round playoff match-up between the Boston Celtics and Atlanta Hawks while Tibbetts was in town to run the Boston Marathon. A lifelong Celtics fan, Ross said he’s been looking for a way to finance another game, and with he and Tibbetts both collecting big pay days, he said he may now be in luck.
“We’re talking about getting some tickets to go see the Lakers and Celtics now,” he said.
While Ross and Tibbetts were wondering how to spend their hard-earned cash, Parisien was basking in the glow of his second state championship in eight days. The Menard Run doubles as the official USA Track and Field Alaska 5-K Championships. Last Friday, Parisien took home first place in the boys’ 3,200-meter run at the ASAA/First National Bank Alaska State High School Track and Field Championships, breaking the state record in the process.
Not a bad run.
“I knew with the shape I was in, I could stay with Ross,” Parisien said following the race.
The two quickly separated themselves from the pack, then ran side-by-side until the final hill, when Parisien decided to kick it into high gear.
“He wanted it a little bit more over that last little hump,” Ross said.
Parisien and Ross last squared off in the Fur Rendezvous 5-K last winter, a race that saw Ross, 32, get the better of his younger rival. But this time around, Parisien was in just too good of shape for Ross to hang with. Instead of being bitter at getting bested in his hunt for a fourth title, Ross said he had fun running with such a talented foe.
“It’s always exciting to go against a guy like him who is going to pull everything out of yourself,” Ross said.
Before he cashes in and heads for the Boston Garden, Ross said he will probably have to settle up with Hill and Ritchie first.
“I guess I’ll have to pay them back,” he said.
In the women’s race, Tibbetts had an easier time than did Parisien, leading from start to finish to beat Larell Locard by 21.8 seconds. 2008 Wasilla High graduate Elle Fuller was third, finishing in 20:21.9.
A marathon runner by training, Tibbetts said she was unsure what to expect when she showed up at the starting line.
“I didn’t really know who was going to be out here, and I really didn’t know what I could do in a 5K,” she said.
So she stuck to a simple strategy to hold off her competitors: Don’t look back.
“I didn’t want to be running scared,” she joked.
A total of 221 men, women and children turned out for this year’s race, which is run in honor of former Mat-Su orthodontist and community leader Curt Menard II, who died in a 2001 plane crash. Menard was active in local sports, as well as the Rotary Club, which he served as president at the time of his untimely death. Race proceeds go to benefit both the Wasilla Rotary Club as well as The Children’s Place, a nonprofit child’s advocacy group.
A large contingent of Menard’s family members participated in the race, and his father, borough mayor Curt Menard, was on hand to thank the runners for helping to honor his son’s legacy — as well as lead the post-race crowd in singing “Happy Birthday” to Menard’s widow, Carole.
Mayor Menard said Saturday’s race is the ideal way to honor his son, whose dedication to community projects and healthy living was well-documented.
“I know he’s looking down on us,” Menard said.
Curtis C. Menard II Memorial Run
5-Kilometers
Saturday
Women
1. Tibbetts, Monica, 17 minutes, 55.6 seconds; 2. Locard, Larrell, 18:17.4; 3. Fuller, Elle, 20:21.9; 4. Leman, Nicole, 20:27.9; 5. Koss, Cathi, 20:54.9; 6. Cadieux, Natalie, 23:10.3; 7. Endes, Cathy, 23:10.7; 8. Skvorc, Erin, 23:12.5; 9. Toffolon-Weiss, Melissa, 23:14.5; 10. Little Eagle, Diane, 23:18.2; 11. Skvorc, Caitlin, 23:43.3; 12. Lusk, Mandy, 23:56.2; 13. Kinn, Debra, 24:09.6; 14. Manley, Patsy, 24:10.9; 15. Buskirk, Jane, 24:14.5; 16. Jahn, Abby, 24:17.5; 17. Murray, Kelly, 24:43.8; 18. Dampier, Haley, 24:54.1; 19. Yundt, Tracy, 24:54.9; 20. Kelley, Alison, 25:04.8; 21. Bauer, Suzy, 25:24.9; 22. Adams, Barb, 25:37.3; 23. Leman, Rachel, 25:38.8; 24. Stochten, Lisa, 25:47.5; 25. Kelley, Laura, 26:19.1; 26. Bergle, Alesha, 26:21.0; 27. Keene, Maragaret, 26:29.2; 28. Carney, Karen, 26:29.4; 29. Rindlisbacher, Melinda, 26:39.6; 30. Nuss, Skyler, 26:41.3; 31. Skvorc, Susan, 26:46.7; 32. Bradford, Traci, 26:52.1; 33. Clemetson, Dianna, 26:58.1; 34. Branson, Makayla, 27:06.9; 35. Carricaburu, Julie, 27:09.6; 36. Bredberg, Wendy, 27:15.4; 37. Metcalf, Tiffany, 27:17.7; 38. Kelley, Ashley, 27:32.8; 39. Troxel, Katie, 28:00.6; 40. Stigar, Sterling, 28:05.6; 41. Morgan, Christine, 28:10.5; 42. Clemetson, Alicia, 28:16.5; 43. Troxel, Joen, 28:25.2; 44. Hall, Robyn, 28:37.4; 45. Walker, Rachel, 28:43.0; 46. Fuller, Juanita, 28:43.9; 47. Yerbich, Kathleen, 28:56.5; 48. Menard, Gabrielle, 29:00.6; 49. Hoagland, Jennifer, 29:19.7; 50. Stigar, Stacie, 30:10.3; 51. Taylor, Aubrie, 30:18.1; 52. Rice, Robin, 30:22.5; 53. Woodall, Jamie, 30:35.0; 54. Leman, Carolyn, 30:55.5; 55. Alcantra, Rosetta, 30:56.8; 56. Firmani, Diane, 31:00.9; 57. McCann, Michelle, 31:04.7; 58. Robinson, Kim, 31:26.7; 59. Hipszer, Nadia, 31:38.0; 60. Thomas, Devon, 31:48.5; 61. Jones, Rita, 32:09.6; 62. Moore, Svetlana, 32:30.1; 63. Farrell, Karen, 32:56.9; 64. Nash, Beverly, 33:02.5; 65. Menard, Carole, 33:13.1; 66. Blumer, Marki, 33:29.2; 67. Norton, Crystal, 33:45.5; 67. James, Makaela, 33:45.5; 69. Branson, Crystal, 34:06.4; 70. Hintz, Carolyn, 34:16.9;
71. Bush, Terri, 34:37.7; 72. Van Diest, Lorri, 34:40.6;73. Reynolds, Jordann, 34:43.0; 74. Straley, Katie, 35:29.8; 75. Murray, Debbie, 35:30.8; 76. Nicholas, Christie, 35:42.9; 77. Walsh, Darleen, 36:01.4; 78. Stephens-Denny, Anne, 36:21.9; 79. Hediger, Kelsey, 36:39.3; 79. Mitchell, Marcia 36:39.3; 81. Kelley, Rachel, 37:30.0; 82. Woodford, Margie, 37:32.4; 83. Hediger, Kathie, 37:54.7; 84. Bailey, Alanna, 38:05.6; 85. Davis, Kristy, 38:14.0; 86. Collins, Mardene, 38:27.3; 87. Bustamante, Mia, 38:27.8; 88. Peterson, Melinda, 38:29.0; 89. Stanberry, Katherine, 38:30.2; 90. Slaven, Terry, 38:33.3; 91. Holder, Wendy, 38:42.3; 92. Shively, Ester, 39:53.9; 93. Williams, Julie, 40:07.4; 94. Bailey, Maria, 40:07.5; 95. Thompson, Caylynn, 40:32.5; 96. Lee, Char, 40:46.6; 97. Bustamante, Baylee, 41:21.8; 98. Hall, Amy, 41:49.5; 99. Bailey, Sheila, 42:32.3; 100. Neen, Illies, 42:52.8; 101. Vanknevelen, Cathy, 42:55.6; 102. Williams, Cherish, 42:55.8; 103. Shively, Haley, 43:13.8; 104. Hardwig, Holly, 43:16.3; 105. Carter, Kristine, 44:35.7; 106. Carter, Amy, 44:35.9; 107. Hanks, Allison, 45:04.8; 108. Anderson, Mary, 47:14.7;
109. Holman, Brenda, 48:17.0; 110. Hill, Emily, 48:56.7; 111. Keene, Shannon, 49:54.0; 112. Lamont, Sara, 50:10.7; 113. Erickson, Tiffany, 50:12.1; 114. Knauss, Leslie, 52:03.8; 115. Goff, Natasha, 52:05.4; 116. Sas, Austin, 54:00.0; 117. Hardwig, Madison, 54:15.1; 118. Root, Carrie, 54:50.1; 119. Menard, Linda, 54:51.0; 120. Erickson, Cassandra, 54:52.0; 121. Erickson, Megan, 54:52.3; 122. Reed, Sue, 55:53.0; 123. Hardwig, Denice, 55:53.3; 124. Peek, Sharon, 59:53.9; 125. Fitch, Karen 1:00:29.0;
Men
1. Parisien, Jake, 15:10.8; 2. Ross, Jerome, 15:17.7; 3. Hill, Sam, 15:50.8; 4. Ritchie, Tom, 15:59.7; 5. Michael, Stuart, 16:13.9; 6. Smith, Kevin, 16:54.2; 7. Ashland, Christopher, 17:28.3; 8. Clemetson, Scott, 17:34.7; 9. Knopp, Schyler, 17:39.4; 10. Enloe, Tanner, 18:13.0; 11. Leman, Joseph, 18:42.7; 12. Peltiter, Wyatt, 18:58.7; 13. Cook, Joseph, 19:33.9; 14. Nicholas, Anthony, 19:45.6; 15. Tracy, Ryan, 19:49.2;16. Murray, Trevor, 20:02.9; 17. Huppert, Blake, 20:11.9; 18. Weaver, Kaden, 20:14.6; 19. Brewer, John, 20:18.4; 20. Gumminger, Dylan, 20:26.3; 21. Backus, Michael, 20:33.7; 22. Johnstone, Douglas, 21:38.9; 23. Hanson, Chancie, 22:04.0; 24. Gumminger, Nathan, 22:11.4; 25. Deedy, Sam, 22:21.6; 26. Lieb, Jim, 22:22.0; 27. Huppert, Robert, 22:39.2; 28. Chamble, Carl, 22:41.5; 29. Deedy, Alexander, 22:53.1; 30. Hickle, Lucas, 23:01.8; 31. Nieto, Mark, 23:08.5; 32. Erickson, Malachi, 23:38.4; 33. Heru-Ra-Ha, Kahpharn, 23:48.1; 34. Harren, Richard, 23:48.5; 35. Thorn, Craig, 23:49.8; 36. Remus, Brad, 23:54.0; 37. Erickson, John, 23:57.1; 38. Mathews, Dave, 24:06.3; 39. Coomler, Michael, 24:07.0; 40. Moore, Frank, 24:11.4; 41. Ronsam, Harry, 24:34.2; 42. Woods, Miller, 24:50.7; 43. Thorn, Braden, 25:04.5; 44. Leman, Loren, 25:40.3; 45. Menard, Harrison 25:46.9; 46. Bembenek, Greg, 26:06.3; 47. Bembenek, Matthew 26:06.7; 48. Harren, Russell, 26:09.3; 49. Carricaburu, Blake, 26:36.0; 50. Bradford, Nathan, 26:38.6; 51. Silberberg, Aron, 26:45.1; 52. Tunseth, Matt, 26:55.3; 53. Alcantra, John, 26:58.5; 54. Fuller, Alexander, 27:03.3; 55. Carricaburu, Brent, 27:10.0; 56. Hoagland, Jeremy, 27:17.5; 57. Cassidy, Jim, 27:28.7; 58. Heru-Ra-Ha, Alaya, 27:52.6; 59. Denny, Tristan, 28:30.7; 60. Erickson, John, 28:40.3; 61. Johnston, Littler Jr., 29:03.5; 62. Gumminger, Robert, 29:22.9; 63. Hintz, Brett, 30:37.2; 64. Reeves, Jack, 30:47.1; 65. Lusk, Chad, 30:50.2; 66. Hanson, Cooper, 30:50.8; 67. Frost, Robert, 31:08.8; 68. Franz, Chester, 32:18.5; 69. Welch, Ethan, 33:03.1; 70. Sandstrom, Tim, 33:45.9; 71. Warble, Donald, 33:53.9; 72. Coppock, Dwight, 34:16.9; 73. Soucek, Jim, 34:26.6; 74. Huddleston, David, 34:37.5; 75. Van Diest, Bob, 34:40.8; 76. Blumer, Tim, 35:10.3; 77. Mitchell, Shawn, 36:25.3; 78. Witzel, Don, 36:56.1; 79. Colton, James, 37:54.2; 80. Chamble, Paul, 38:13.7; 81. Newman, Colton, 38:27.8; 82. Skvorc, Paul, 39:59.4; 83. Menard, Steve, 40:17.8; 84. Kennedy, Dan, 41:25.9; 85. Hall, Kevin, 41:28.0; 86. Shannon, Allex, 42:08.9; 87. Ronsam, Dean, 43:14.0; 88. Bail, Jason, 44:59.4; 89. Anderson, Tim, 47:14.6; 90. Rindlisbacher, Benjamin, 48:26.1; 91. Murray, Liam, 52:03.5; 92. Erickson, Samuel, 53:28.8; 93. Erickson, Zachary, 53:35.6; 94. Sas, Cody, 53:53.2; 95. Peek, Robert, 54:50.4; 96. Fitch, David, 1:00:29.4.
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