PEORIA — First things first, Dave Hoover is a hall of famer.
The inaugural Steamboat Classic winner from 1974 became the 41st member of the Steamboat Classic Hall of Fame on Saturday. Nearly 2,000 runners took to the streets of downtown Peoria on a calm, yet muggy morning for the 50th anniversary of the iconic road race.
As a soon-to-be Arkansas State freshman, Hoover had covered the 4-mile course 50 years ago in 20:48, winning by 58 seconds over the runner-up finisher Bill Bandy (21:46).
Steamboat Classic:It's more than a road race. It's 50 years of unforgettable moments
“I didn’t even know they had (a hall of fame),” Hoover said from his home in Clemson, South Carolina. “… That was very nice of them.
“When the Steamboat race first came about, it really grew quickly and it got real, real competitive every year thereafter. I know they got some people coming in, some national and even some world-class runners. … It was a really fun, fast course.”
As the Journal Star reported in its Aug. 4, 1974, edition, Hoover was one of 12 Mattoon High School cross country runners to make the roughly 140-mile drive up for the race. His accommodations were nothing fancy, camping out at then-meet director Steve Shostrom’s house on Friday night.
Plus, it wasn’t until the Wednesday before the race that Hoover’s former prep coach, Larry Burgess, convinced him to toe the line in the field of 155 runners.
“I thought I’d see how I could for 4 miles,” Hoover told the Journal Star following his victory. “I didn’t come here thinking I could win it.”
Fast forward to 2024 where the semi-retired Hoover, who turned 68 on Thursday, remains forever etched in the history of this iconic road race.
Although he wasn’t present for his enshrinement, look for the two-time 4-mile champ — he also captured the crown in 1979 — to likely be back in central Illinois this fall. Longtime race director Philip Lockwood says Hoover will be honored if he makes the Illinois High School Association state cross country meet on Nov. 9.
“He will always be first,” Lockwood said. “He was a dominant road racer throughout the state.”
Hoover could not make it back because of a surprise visit from his daughter, Carley Hoover, a pitcher for the USA Softball National Team. She came home from Japan where she plays professional softball to see her dad for his birthday and Father’s Day.
And running is no longer a part of Hoover’s life, having had his hip replaced seven years ago.
“I’m still pretty active,” he said, noting he swims, bikes and walks with his wife, Jolene. “We have a fun lifestyle. … I do miss the running, but I want to have good health too, so I just kind of do what they tell me to do.”
Going short to train long
Taggart VanEtten came into the 4-mile race with tired legs.
The Manito native, who normally is a marathon runner, had already ran 90 miles this week. In 2021, he set the world record in a 100-mile treadmill race.
“I haven’t ran the Steamboat in a long time,” VanEtten, 28, said, “and I wanted to come put forth a good effort in front of the home crowd.”
Chasing records:100-mile world-record runner Taggart VanEtten
VanEtten, who is an insurance agent and coach, is currently training to set a personal-best marathon time in November. He wants to keep a 5:15 to 5:18 pace for the 26.2 miles, so running a nearly five-minute flat pace on Saturday was exactly where VanEtten wanted to be.
His first two miles were in 9:59.
“That’s a good step for me,” he said.
‘Really happy with the outcome’
Following a third-place, 2-mile finish at last month’s Illinois High School Association state meet, Natalie Bierbaum claimed her first big running career victory.
The Normal U-High junior-to-be covered the 4-mile route in 22:19, finishing as the top female finisher and 21st overall. She clocked the best female 4-mile since former East Peoria and Wisconsin runner Jenelle Deatherage crossed the finish line in 20:43 during the 2018 race.
'A homecoming':Peoria native is the only athlete to run in every Steamboat Classic road race
“I just love longer races, like, even 3 miles in cross country,” said Bierbaum, whose 10:35.69 time in the Class 2A state finals was a personal best. “I prefer 4 and 5 (miles) … I was kind of excited to get the extra miles (and) see what I could do today and really happy with the outcome.”
Bierbaum had her sights set at 22:45ish finish but ran a 10:58 final two miles for a 5:35 pace.
“I like the course,” she said.
Farewell, Philip
Earlier this week, Lockwood announced that Saturday would be his final as race director. He’s been the director for 30 years, succeeding Steamboat Classic founder Steve Shostrom, who held the post for the event’s first two decades.
ShaZam Racing will take over as the managing organization for the 2025 race with Lockwood still around to offer advice and serve in an emeritus role.
'Time to go':Steamboat Classic director reaches finish line at helm of legendary race
“There’s sort of opposing emotions that I have when the race starts,” he said. “One is the great relief that all that work has now come to fruition and so it’s a sense of relief, and at the same time, it’s a sense of exhilaration that it’s starting."
What did Lockwood, 62, enjoy the most about his Steamboat finale? “Participating,” he said, joined by former Steamboat Hall of Fame members in walking the 4-mile race, “for the first time in 42 years.”
Letting off Steam
Former Peoria Notre Dame state champion Maryjeanne Gilbert won the female portion of the 15K by almost four minutes in 57:45. The 26-year-old Peorian was running her first Steamboat since 2013. … Connor Riss, the 2023 15K runner-up, was the top overall finisher, beating the next closer runner by 10 seconds in 48:14. … Morton native Andrew Carlson took the Master’s Men 4-mile crown in 20:29 and was the second overall, while Miley Potter of Metamora was Master’s Women winner at 28:29. … Reigning Journal Star boys cross country and track athlete of the year Isaiah Hill of Brimfield took fourth in the 4-mile at 21:16.
Adam Duvall is a Journal Star sports reporter. Email him at aduvall@pjstar.com. Follow him on Twitter @AdamDuvall.
2024 Steamboat Classic results
Men’s 4-mile top 25
- Taggart VanEtten, Manito 20:04
- Andrew Carlson, Morton 20:29
- Tyler Hiserote, Peoria, 21:05
- Isaiah Hill, Brimfield 21:16
- Fisher Rinkenberger, Washington 21:17
- Cooper Hoffmann, Elmwood 21:22
- Riley Dulin, Germantown Hills 21:25
- Justin Zapotoczny, Navarre, Ohio, 21:27
- Aiden Faulkner, Brimfield 21:30
- Drew Guimond, Bloomington 21:35
- Ty Conner, Westfield, Missouri 21:37
- Eric Delvo, Peoria 21:37
- Luke Zobrist, Washington 21:38
- Devon Hayes, Pekin 21:43
- Guillermo Rolon, Peoria 21:47
- Kenneth Albin, Bloomington 22:03
- Trey Socha, Edwards 22:05
- Tyler Fuerlinger, Middleton, Wisconsin 22:10
- Matt Birkel, Sun Prairie, Wisconsin 22:15
- Bailey Webster, East Peoria 22:16
- Ben Gorsage, Washington 22:32
- Mika Nelson, Brimfield 22:32
- Carson Cowling, Metamora 22:32
- Justin Roth, Leroy 22:34
Women’s 4-mile top 25
- Natalie Bierbaum, Heyworth 22:19
- Molly Dahlquist, St. Louis 23:10
- Isabel Rinkenberger, Washington 25:24
- Alyssa Higgins, Galesburg 25:43
- Molly Roberts, Sandwich 26:12
- Audrey Dickinson, Mapleton 26:35
- Jacki Mateas, Brimfield 26:55
- Muriel Unseth, Peoria 27:13
- Carianna Gibb, Normal 27:17
- Nikki Burk, Dunlap 27:24
- Lillian Chaddock, Dunlap 27:48
- Olivia Nordhielm, Washington 28:08
- Hope Rumbold, Normal 28:16
- Jenna Horst, Peoria 28:24
- Karissa Heffernan, Metamora 28:27
- Miley Potter, Metamora 28:29
- Arika Dulin, Germantown Hills 29:00
- Aubrey Ott, Dunlap 29:10
- London Venovich, Tremont 29:14
- Josie Kroll, Peoria 29:15
- Ava Proehl, Tremont 29:23
- Priya Gearin, Omaha, Nebraska 29:26
- Alyssa Roelli, Monroe, Wisconsin 29:26
- Julie Dupree, Washington 29:37
- Lana Tranchitella, Washington 29:43
Men’s 15-kilometer top 10
- Connor Riss, Grayslake 48:14
- Matt Jett, Naperville 48:24
- Max Svienty, Arlington Heights 48:37
- Clark Kelly, Woodridge 49:03
- Johnny Olenek, West Chicago 49:16
- Lucas Hoffman, Naplate 49:26
- Luke Hoffmann, Elmwood 50:35
- BJ Sorg, Plainfield 50:37
- Ishaan Patel, Tinley Park 50:51
- Gage Nielsen, Naperville 50:53
Women’s 15-kilometer top 10
- Maryjeanne Gilbert, Peoria 57:45
- Emily Furtek, Peoria 1:01:03
- Brittney Mischley, Morton 1:03:38
- Jillian Manfredi, Chicago 1:04:06
- Laura Gann, Peoria 1:07:02
- Daniela Harrison, Princeville 1:08:25
- Liz Eells, Bloomington 1:08:27
- Paige Runkle, Mount Prospect 1:10:43
- Charity Orza, Pekin 1:11:03
- Cheyenne Curry, Mattoon 1:11:34
 - Which law would you use to simplify the expression mc^(006)-1.jpg?... (1 Answer) | Transtutors)