The Annton's Invitational
The Annton's Invitational (sometimes called the "Gut Run") was a race from Otterbein (at the corner of Grove and Main) west on Main and Park, then South on Worthington-Galena into Worthington and South on High Street to Annton's Restaurant, a total distance of about seven miles. It was sponsored annually by the Tan & Cardinal (the student newspaper) and was held from mid fifties to mid sixties.
It helps to know that Annton's was a pizza and beer restaurant in Worthington which was a favorite of (some) Otterbein students during that period. When a student was said to be "going down the road" he or she was usually going to Annton's. The other alternative was the Garden Inn, or "GI", which at that time was at the corner of Cleveland Ave. and State Route 161, and really did have outdoor tables in an area that could, with a little stretch of the imagination, be called a garden.
Records were kept of the winners and the winning times by the
T&C. These are being researched by Stephen Grinch (Otterbein Archivist) and will be listed here when they are ready. In addition, anyone completing the run in under an hour was awarded a certificate granting active membership in the "Anton's Invitational Club." Those finishing at all became associate members and those starting but not finishing became honorary members. The only records available to us now are the T&C articles; these vary in the amount of detail given.
I remember that one year a potentially record-breaking run was foiled by a passing train at the tracks in Worthington. I also remember a student named Ralph Douglas who seemed unlikely to finish but, by adopting a strategy of running for three telephone poles and walking for one, finished the race in 58 minutes and became a member of the club.
A Brief History of the Annton's Invitational Run
The following data is provided by Otterbein Archivist Steve Grinch and his student assistant, Rebecca Olson, who researched back issues of the T&C.
May 13, 1956
The First Fnnual Race began at Kings Fraternity.
Winners: Lewie Frees and Lynn "Goose" Larkin at 43:55.
Other runners were Charlie Funk, Dick Castle, Ed Carter, Bart Didrick, Terry McCormick and Don Bell.
May 12, 1957
The 2nd Annual Race began at Saum Hall
Winner: David Heck at 43:15.
Active Members: repeaters Jerry Greene, George Stump, Bob Henn, Bob Livingston, Lew Frees; new: David Heck, Jake Elberfeld, Vern Vogel, Jack Gray, Ralph Wilson, Don Ailes, Jim Bray, John Womeldorf, Ron Rankin, Neal Lund, Jack Blais, Al Norris, Bill Skaates.
Associate Members: repeater: Dale Crawford; new: C.E. Haley, Brad Cotterman, Roger Brant, Bill Duteil, Art Schutz, Ted Howell, Chuck Bradford, Chuck Ketzel, Tom South.
May 11, 1958
The 3rd Annual Race began at Saum Hall.
Winner: Dave Burger at 47:47. A N.Y. Central freight train was responsible for the fact that there was no new record.
2nd: Jake Elberfeld, (48:05) 3rd: Charlie Bywaters, 4th: Dave Burt, 5th: Lewie Frees (winner of first race.)
6th, 7th, 8th: Jim Bray, Ralph Douglas and Bernie Lieving crossed the fninsh line hand in hand.
May 10, 1959
The 4th Annual Race began at the corner of Main and Grove.
Winner: Ken Gilson at 42:46
2nd: Jim Moore at 43:21
3rd: Don LeGrand.
May 22, 1960
The 5th Annual Race began at a time determined by the N.Y.C. railroad.
Winner: Tony Hugli at 40:10 -
ALL TIME SECOND BEST!
2nd: Bob Reall at 43:17
3rd: Roger Allison and Lew Rose at 47:20.
May 21, 1961
The 6th Annual Race - 22 entries (largest ever).
Winner: Jim Moore at 41:37
2nd: Dave Andrews at 42:00
3rd: Roger Allison at 45:05.
May 13, 1962
The 7th Annual Race - 34 entries (even larger).
Winner: Perry Doran at 39:37 -
ALL TIME BEST!
2nd: Dave Andrews at 40:43
3rd: Joe Booth at 42:23.
May 14, 1963
The 8th Annual Race - no longer to Annton's but an equal distance within Westerville. A 3-mile qualifying race was added. No information about times or winners was given. This was, apparently, the last race.
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