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KENOSHA NEWS STAFF

The Mayor’s Turkey Day Run has a long history of repeat winners, and Thursday was no exception.

All four of last year’s winners crossed the finish line first again in the annual event, which is hosted by the Kenosha Running Club.

The races also included a new starting and finishing location at the Kenosha Public Museum by the lakefront.

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In the 10-kilometer race, UW-Parkside’s Ben Orvold was the top men’s finisher for the second time in as many appearances, while St. Joseph graduate Melissa Gacek was the women’s champion for the third year in a row.

Orvold’s time was 31:39 and Gacek’s was 37:34.

In the 2-mile race, former Parkside and University of Wisconsin runner Steve Ludwig won the men’s title for the fourth consecutive year. His time was 9:35. Heidi Ertl, a Parkside cross country and track runner, claimed her second consecutive women’s title in 11:29.

Gacek, 33, of White Bear Lake, Minn., said the runners had a headwind going out and a tailwind coming in.

“The second and third miles were super windy,” Gacek said. “The headwind was brutal.”

Gacek, who said this was the best she has ever felt coming in because of the tailwind, was a fan of the new layout.

“The new course was nice,” she said. “It’s nice to see Kenosha improving and growing up a bit with their races.”