Heads up! Women's shoes go flying at Winfield Good Old Days

Patty Shupp came out kicking Sunday in Winfield.

The president of the village's chamber of commerce helped herald back a local tradition at Winfield's annual Good Old Days end-of-summer fest: the ladies' shoe-kicking competition.

"I kick as well as I throw a football," Shupp said after her first try landed just a few short feet from her, well, feet.

The other dozen or so competitors, however, had no problem letting their shoes fly, whether it be at nearby fences, electricity generators, or a photographer trying to snap images for a local paper.

Stephanie Doyle of Glen Ellyn had a novel way to get warmed up for her attempt at winning a $20 gift certificate to a local flower shop. The 21-year-old sipped out of a bottle of Mike's Hard Lemonade between tosses.

"It gets you a little more relaxed," Doyle joked. "It gets you a little looser, you know, gets the joints moving so you can get a better kick."

Alas, the 21-year-old managed just over 52 feet as her personal best.

Some, like 2008 Miss Illinois USA Shannon Lersch, relied on some heavy sandals to help power through a long bomb.

Her first couple tries landed as duds.

"Ah!" she complained. "It's the wind. The wind got it."

But by her fourth try, she sent her shoe flying 72 feet near an electricity generator on the other side of the field.

"It's those lanky legs," a spectator observed. "She's kicking it out there without any form."

While impressive, Lersch's efforts couldn't top that of Marie Kozi of Winfield, who topped out at 73 feet, three inches.

Both the shoes and spectators made it out intact.