Runner Andrew Monaghan, right, of Denver, checks his watch before even hitting the winner’s ribbon as he crosses the finish line of the 35th annual Cherry Creek Sneak 10 mile race on April 23, 2017 in Denver. The popular annual race includes a 10 mile race, a 5 mile race, a 5K race and a 1/2 mile kids’ fun run.
Andrew Monaghan grew up in Northern Ireland, playing soccer and Gaelic football before running for Mississippi State with his twin brother. After graduating last December, he enrolled at Colorado State to further his education and train at high altitude in hopes of having a postcollegiate running career.
“Colorado was always somewhere I dreamed of visiting, never mind living and going to school,” Monaghan said Sunday after winning the 10-mile event of the Cherry Creek Sneak. “When I managed to get a graduate assistantship up there (at CSU), the stars aligned and I was like, ‘I’m jumping on this.’ ”
Monaghan, 23, won in 55 minutes, 22.5 seconds. Zachary Holloway, a grad student at Adams State who helps coach the track team there, finished second by 11 seconds. Dave Marks of Aurora was third.
“The three of us ran together for about 9 1/2 miles,” Holloway said. “Nobody was doing anything or saying anything. We were just running together. Finally he (Monaghan) took off and I tried to go. He was moving the last 400 meters.”
Helen H. Richardson, The Denver Post
At the firing of the race gun, runners sprint from the starting line to begin the 35th annual Cherry Creek Sneak 10 mile race on April 23, 2017 in Denver. The popular annual race includes a 10 mile race, a 5 mile race, a 5K race and a 1/2 mile kids' fun run.
Helen H. Richardson, The Denver Post
Stanley Tsai, middle, and Mariska Vincent, right, take off from the start of the 1/2 mile Kids Fun Run at the 35th annual Cherry Creek Sneak on April 23, 2017 in Denver. The popular annual race includes a 10 mile race, a 5 mile race, a 5K race and the 1/2 mile kids' fun run.
Helen H. Richardson, The Denver Post
Racers get into their stride at the start of the 35th annual Cherry Creek Sneak 10 mile race on April 23, 2017 in Denver. The popular annual race includes a 10 mile race, a 5 mile race, a 5K race and a 1/2 mile kids' fun run.
Helen H. Richardson, The Denver Post
Racers get into their stride at the start of the 35th annual Cherry Creek Sneak 10 mile race on April 23, 2017 in Denver. The popular annual race includes a 10 mile race, a 5 mile race, a 5K race and a 1/2 mile kids' fun run.
Helen H. Richardson, The Denver Post
James McGregor, of Denver, holds and American flag during the singing of the National Anthem before the start of the 35th annual Cherry Creek Sneak 10 Mile race on April 23, 2017 in Denver. The popular annual race includes a 10 mile race, a 5 mile race, a 5K race and a 1/2 mile kids' fun run. McGregor, who was in the military, is running with Colorado Obstacle Racers. Their group lost one of their own to a drunk driver in Dec. and McGregor, and his group, are trying to raise money for her family and two other women who were injured in the car accident.
Helen H. Richardson, The Denver Post
Onlookers watch racers as they run by during the 35th annual Cherry Creek Sneak on April 23, 2017 in Denver. The popular annual race includes a 10 mile race, a 5 mile race, a 5K race and a 1/2 mile kids' fun run.
Fred Berhenke, shows off the his 1992 Cherry Creek Sneak t-shirt, that he got from the first time he ran the race 25 years ago, before taking off to run the 35th annual Cherry Creek Sneak 5 mile race on April 23, 2017 in Denver. Berhenke met his significant other Suzy Whittemore at that race in 1992. The happy couple have been together ever since and run the race every year to celebrate. Photo by Helen H. Richardson/The Denver Post)
Helen H. Richardson, The Denver Post
Ayala Flores, of Castle Rock, with brightly dyed hair and matching pink gloves and running tights, waits at the finish line for friends during the 35th annual Cherry Creek Sneak on April 23, 2017 in Denver. Flores ran the 5K race. The popular annual race includes a 10 mile race, a 5 mile race, a 5K race and a 1/2 mile kids' fun run.
Helen H. Richardson, The Denver Post
Runners, along with this one wearing a humorous tee-shirt, get ready to participate in 35th annual Cherry Creek Sneak 5 mile race on April 23, 2017 in Denver. The popular annual race includes a 10 mile race, a 5 mile race, a 5K race and a 1/2 mile kids' fun run.
Helen H. Richardson, The Denver Post
Young Justin Santos, 2, claps his hands, as he and his mother Jene, right, wait for older brother Jonah to run by during the 35th annual Cherry Creek Sneak on April 23, 2017 in Denver. The popular annual race includes a 10 mile race, a 5 mile race, a 5K race and a 1/2 mile kids' fun run. Jene Santos' son Jonah was running the 5K race.
Helen H. Richardson, The Denver Post
Runner Andrew Monaghan, right, of Denver, looks back to see how close his competitors are as he closes in on the finish line in first place during the 35th annual Cherry Creek Sneak 10 mile race on April 23, 2017 in Denver. Monaghan placed 1st, Zachary Holloway, second from left, of Alamosa, took second and Dave Marks, in back, also from Alamosa, took third in the 10 mile race. The popular annual race includes a 10 mile race, a 5 mile race, a 5K race and a 1/2 mile kids' fun run.
Helen H. Richardson, The Denver Post
Runner Andrew Monaghan, right, of Denver, checks his watch before even hitting the winner's ribbon as he crosses the finish line of the 35th annual Cherry Creek Sneak 10 mile race on April 23, 2017 in Denver. The popular annual race includes a 10 mile race, a 5 mile race, a 5K race and a 1/2 mile kids' fun run.
Helen H. Richardson, The Denver Post
Jarrett Eller, left, bib # 5511, and Sam Nofziger, right, bib # 5099, battle it out for 2nd and third place during the 35th annual Cherry Creek Sneak 5 Mile race on April 23, 2017 in Denver. Eller beat Nofziger taking second place with a time of 27:23. Nofziger came in third with a time of 27:40. 5 Mile race winner Tim Howley finished with a time of 26:24. The popular annual race includes a 10 mile race, a 5 mile race, a 5K race and a 1/2 mile kids' fun run.
Helen H. Richardson, The Denver Post
Bob Fitzgerald, of Castle Rock and his sister Julie Trono, right, cheer with Bob's daughter Daisy-Rose Fitzgerald, 17 months old, as they cross the finish line during the 35th annual Cherry Creek Sneak on April 23, 2017 in Denver. The trio did the 5K race. The popular annual race includes a 10 mile race, a 5 mile race, a 5K race and a 1/2 mile kids' fun run.
Helen H. Richardson, The Denver Post
James McGregor, of Denver, runs with an American flag during the 35th annual Cherry Creek Sneak 10 Mile race on April 23, 2017 in Denver. The popular annual race includes a 10 mile race, a 5 mile race, a 5K race and a 1/2 mile kids' fun run. McGregor, who was in the military, is running with Colorado Obstacle Racers. Their group lost one of their own to a drunk driver in Dec. and McGregor, and his group, are trying to raise money for her family and two other women who were injured in the car accident.
Helen H. Richardson, The Denver Post
Gloria Siekmeier, 84, right, chats with her grandson-in-law Ben Feijoo, left, as they admire her great-grandchildren, and Feijoo's kids, Eliana, second from left, and her twin brother Gabriel before the start of the 35th annual Cherry Creek Sneak on April 23, 2017 in Denver. Siekmeier has run the Cherry Creek Sneak races for 30 years. She goes back and forth from running the 5k and the 5 miler. This year, her 30th year running, she chose to do the 5 mile race.
Helen H. Richardson, The Denver Post
Fred Berhenke, left gives a kiss to his significant other Suzy Whittemore, right, after the two finished the 35th annual Cherry Creek Sneak 5 mile race on April 23, 2017 in Denver. The happy couple met at the Cherry Creek Sneak 25 years ago in 1992. They wound up at her house for a pasta-refueling lunch. They continued getting to know each other while walking her dog. They went on a date and they have been together now for 25 years. The run the Cherry Creek Sneak every year.
Helen H. Richardson, The Denver Post
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At the firing of the race gun, runners sprint from the starting line to begin the 35th annual Cherry Creek Sneak 10 mile race on April 23, 2017 in Denver. The popular annual race includes a 10 mile race, a 5 mile race, a 5K race and a 1/2 mile kids' fun run.
Monaghan is studying in the health and exercise science department at CSU with a special interest in improving quality of life for those with multiple sclerosis.
“There’s a big stigma when people get diagnosed with MS,” Monaghan said. “They think they’re not able-bodied, that they can’t do what they would normally do. But the facts have shown that exercise is better than any medicine.”
Lindsey Knast, a cyclist-turned-triathlete who lives in Lafayette, won a close race in the women’s 5-miler. She finished in 30 minutes, 18.4 seconds, with Kara Ford of Broomfield 10 seconds behind.
“The whole race we were sort of neck and neck,” Knast said. “The last mile and a half, I decided to make a move, and it was able to stick.”
Anna Leer of Denver parlayed patience into victory in the women’s 10-miler, letting an early pacesetter run off with the lead.
“There was one who started out in front and her beginning pace was, I knew, faster than I could handle,” said Leer, who won in 1:05:32. “I was just hoping I would be able to catch her at the end. I knew I had a good kick, and I got her after the hills. At that point, I was just running on fear that she would catch up with me.”
Tim Howley, who runs for the University of Colorado-Colorado Springs, won the men’s 5-miler unchallenged in 26:24.8.
“I am very, very proud of that race,” Howley said. “Originally I was just coming out here to see what I can do. I’m in track season. It just worked out really well.”
