Belton Wins International Pancake Race

Hannah Belton brought Liberal back in the winner’s circle. The 24 year old second grade teacher at Southlawn and cross country coach at South Middle School won the International Pancake Day Race Tuesday in Liberal. She ran the 415 yard S shaped curve in 1:09 from Kansas, to fifth, to Lincoln. Olney’s time was 1:15.09 with Emma Maitland winning the Olney race. Tessy Barnett was second in her 12th Pancake Day Race. She is a 41 year old day care provider. Monica Vega was third. She is the sports supervisor for Liberal Parks and Recreation. Belton becomes Liberal first winner in the international competition since Nicole Schowengerdt in 2011. Olney’s Devon and Lesley Byrne ran in the race as honorary racers. Devon Byrne, who set the record last year at :55.6 seconds finished well ahead of the pack. Liberal leads the overall series 37-28-1. Belton’s win means Liberal has had 11 different winners in the past 11 years.

Photos by Brady Kappelmann