Marc Witkes scholarship grows after half-marathon

The Steamworks Half-Marathon women’s 2016 winner, Danielle Melton of Farmington, ran a time of 1:28:34.56 in June. The event raised more than $5,000 for the Marc Witkes Memorial Scholarship, which benefits cross country student-athletes at Fort Lewis College.

Courtesy of Garrett Allen file

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The Steamworks Half-Marathon women’s 2016 winner, Danielle Melton of Farmington, ran a time of 1:28:34.56 in June. The event raised more than $5,000 for the Marc Witkes Memorial Scholarship, which benefits cross country student-athletes at Fort Lewis College.

Courtesy of Garrett Allen file

Nearly 10 years after the death of Marc Witkes, the memorial scholarship in his name at Fort Lewis College continues to grow thanks to the Steamworks-Animas Valley Half-Marathon.

The donation this year was a record-breaker, $5,275, which included $5,000 from Steamworks Brewing Co., and $275 from Steamworks beer sales at Star Liquors. The half-marathon is a partnership with the Durango Sports Club and the Durango Running Club, formerly Durango Motorless Transit. Witkes, who died in 2006 less than 300 yards from the finish line at a marathon in Tucson, Arizona, helped start the scholarship when he was president of Durango Motorless Transit so local athletes could pursue their dream of competing in collegiate cross country at FLC.

The scholarship has awarded $17,000 to 19 cross country student-athletes. Logan Ott, who received Marc Witkes scholarships from 2009-2011, actually won the half-marathon in 2009.

Herald Staff