VALPARAISO | Workers at the water stop one mile from the start/finish line of the Ringing In Spring 5K weren't overly busy during Saturday's race.

Not many of the 651 competitors opted for a mid-race beverage with the temperature around 25 degrees. So the workers had time to notice a big icicle at the end of a water spout, and a sheet of ice forming where some water had spilled.

"Nobody fell," said Kathy Mangel, who manned the water stop with other volunteers. "We didn't use very much water."

The cold weather didn't sit well with some runners, including Jordan Chester. The eighth-grader at Boone Grove won the girls 12-14 age group in a time of 20:30 despite the less-than-ideal conditions.

"I hate it," Chester said. "Every time it starts to rain during cross country season, I try to get our coach to take us inside."

Striding out: Chester was one of several members of the Calumet Striders' junior team who competed. The youngsters are coached by Sue Brown, former president of the local running club.

Many of the Junior Striders competed in a national cross country meet in Orlando, Fla., in early December. Chester placed 26th in her age group, just missing a medal.

Mike Marshall, an eighth grader at St. Patrick's in Chesterton, was 33rd at nationals. He won the boys 12-14 age group in 19:19, edging teammate Ryan Cutter (19:34).

"He lost me at the end," said Cutter, who was 61st in the national meet.

"We like to work together a lot," Marshall said. "Ryan pushes me most of the way. He was right behind me."

The two ran together last Sunday in the Bride of Zoy 15K at the Dunes and finished together.

Comeback kid: Valparaiso High sophomore Libbie Gilliland took up running within the past several months in her recovery from brain surgery.

Gilliland, a basketball player, had surgery on June 8 to remove a tumor called a craniopharyngioma. The emergency procedure came just two days after she had a terrible headache while playing in an AAU basketball game.

Her parents, Keith and Denise, said Libbie started running to help lose weight after gaining 30 pounds while hospitalized. Libbie also underwent six weeks of daily radiation treatments.

She has kept up with her school work, and even appeared in two junior varsity basketball games. The Ringing In Spring was her third road race, and her time of 38:52 was an improvement over the others.

"Everything she does is remarkable now," Denise said.