Gannon motors past Ford for Liberty run victory; Stanko, 17, is women’s winner again

By Jeff Vorva
Staff Writer

And the race was on …

During the final stretch of the Orland Park Veterans Liberty Run, two competitors were side by side.

But Patrick Gannon passed and beat Owen Ford to win the overall title of the 2-mile race, held July 3 in Centennial Park in Orland Park. Krysta Stanko won the women’s division for the second straight year.

Gannon, of Orland Park, is the second member of his family to win the race. His sister, Nellie, won the women’s race in 2021.

Patrick, 24, is a Shepard graduate and a student at Governors State University. He cited three keys to winning the Liberty race after running it a handful of times.

“I never stop, I never quit and I never give up,” he said.

Gannon has run numerous races over the years, including triathlons and marathons.

Ford, of Minnesota, also finished runner-up in the Liberty two years ago.

“We were neck-and-neck over there and [Gannon] came out of nowhere and out-kicked me at the end,” Ford said. “But I was happy with my finish.”

Ford’s sister Naomi, mother Cathie and father Ryan also competed in the race. The Fords run the Liberty as a family every year because they visit relatives here on Independence Day.

“This is a great way for them to see us run,” Owen Ford said of his grandparents, Bob and Nancy Carlson.

Stanko, 17, of Orland Park, is heading to Governors State on a scholarship for track and cross country. The Andrew graduate was four seconds shy of qualifying for the IHSA cross country state final in the fall, but set a personal best mark of 19:02 in the race.

“It was hard to miss going down state, but it’s fine,” she said. “I’m over it now. I gave it my all.”

Male champions were Connor Gregerson (9U), Colin Stack (10-14), Ford (15-19), Gannon (20-24), Jacob Reyes (25-29), Blake Oberc (30-34), Mark Helms (35-39), Nick Janet (40-44), Mike Bogdan (45-49), Michael Turk (50:54), Daniel Grubb (55-59), Larry Bornhofen (60-64), John Warren (65-69) and Charlie Tarjan (70+).

Female winners were Elena Wilkins (9U), Isabella Van Alst (10-14), Stanko (15-19), Isabella Schreck (20-24), Elyse Janosz (25-29), Arianne Weber (30-34), Michelle Lally (35-39), Erica Bogdan (40-44), Jamie Makuch (45-49), Paula Gaspardo (50-54), Joyce Anson (55-59), Denise Poremba (60-64), Therese McClowery (65-69) and Paula Scheiwe (70+).