Husky 5K Raises Funds For Fitness Trail
July 28, 2016 at 4:25 p.m.
By Jennifer [email protected]
The 5K was held to raise funds to create an additional half-mile on the Community Fitness Trail behind the school.
Harrison Elementary physical education teacher Scott Mehlberg and Dan Graney, Harrison sixth-grade teacher, came up with the idea for the race.[[In-content Ad]]There were 260 runners who raised $4,000 for the additional half-mile to the existing half-mile fitness trail.
"I was pleased with the turnout and hope to make the run an annual event," Mehlberg said.
Graney also said he was pleased with the turnout.
"We wanted the race to provide an opportunity for people to be active and exercise," Graney said.
Harrison Elementary Principal Randy Polston said the trail has had a great deal of use since the ribbon-cutting ceremony in May.
"The fitness trail is community oriented and provides an opportunity for people to come exercise," Polston said.
It was Mehlberg's idea five years ago to create a fitness trail behind the school that could be used by the students and public.
The half-mile trail has been at Harrison since last fall. The trail includes a stretching station, a push-up station, a reverse pull-up station, a sit-up station and a cool-down station.
A ribbon-cutting ceremony was held May 15 at the school.
Menards' financial backing, a $25,000 donation, helped get the trail started. An anonymous donor also matched Menards' gift.
The idea is for the trail to some day be a one-mile trail and go around the soccer fields and back to the start, Mehlberg said.
There were three races, including a Husky 5K run and walk; a 1-mile fun run for all ages; and the Pee-Wee Classic, a 1.4-mile run for children 8 and under.
Male and female categories for the races included 12 and under; 13-15;16-19; 20-29; 30-39; 40-49; 50-59 and 60-69.
Top male winners overall for the Husky 5K were Jacob Shelly at 15:55, Nate West at 17:38 and Jeremiah Stichter at 18:03.
Shelly, 21, Goshen, who will be a senior at American University, Washington, D.C., this fall, said he enjoyed the race.
"I try to run in two races a month, and was happy to participate in the race to help raise funds for the fitness trail," Shelly said.
Top female winners overall were Justina Faulkner at 18:46, Cendall Ogle at 22:09 and Jill Bause at 23:05.
Faulkner, 32, Bourbon, said she tries to participate in local races as often as possible.
"I though the trail was a good course and I had a good run," Faulkner said.
The youngest runner was 2 years old and the oldest was 69.
Dale Long, 69, Warsaw, ran a 33:21 mile in the 5K and said Saturday's race was the third race he has run in this summer.
"It was a good course, but a hot run without a lot of shade," Long said.
An awards ceremony was held in the school's gym following the races where winners received ribbons. Raffle prizes also were distributed.
Sponsors for the run were Silveus Insurance Group and Dr. David Vanwormer.
The 5K was held to raise funds to create an additional half-mile on the Community Fitness Trail behind the school.
Harrison Elementary physical education teacher Scott Mehlberg and Dan Graney, Harrison sixth-grade teacher, came up with the idea for the race.[[In-content Ad]]There were 260 runners who raised $4,000 for the additional half-mile to the existing half-mile fitness trail.
"I was pleased with the turnout and hope to make the run an annual event," Mehlberg said.
Graney also said he was pleased with the turnout.
"We wanted the race to provide an opportunity for people to be active and exercise," Graney said.
Harrison Elementary Principal Randy Polston said the trail has had a great deal of use since the ribbon-cutting ceremony in May.
"The fitness trail is community oriented and provides an opportunity for people to come exercise," Polston said.
It was Mehlberg's idea five years ago to create a fitness trail behind the school that could be used by the students and public.
The half-mile trail has been at Harrison since last fall. The trail includes a stretching station, a push-up station, a reverse pull-up station, a sit-up station and a cool-down station.
A ribbon-cutting ceremony was held May 15 at the school.
Menards' financial backing, a $25,000 donation, helped get the trail started. An anonymous donor also matched Menards' gift.
The idea is for the trail to some day be a one-mile trail and go around the soccer fields and back to the start, Mehlberg said.
There were three races, including a Husky 5K run and walk; a 1-mile fun run for all ages; and the Pee-Wee Classic, a 1.4-mile run for children 8 and under.
Male and female categories for the races included 12 and under; 13-15;16-19; 20-29; 30-39; 40-49; 50-59 and 60-69.
Top male winners overall for the Husky 5K were Jacob Shelly at 15:55, Nate West at 17:38 and Jeremiah Stichter at 18:03.
Shelly, 21, Goshen, who will be a senior at American University, Washington, D.C., this fall, said he enjoyed the race.
"I try to run in two races a month, and was happy to participate in the race to help raise funds for the fitness trail," Shelly said.
Top female winners overall were Justina Faulkner at 18:46, Cendall Ogle at 22:09 and Jill Bause at 23:05.
Faulkner, 32, Bourbon, said she tries to participate in local races as often as possible.
"I though the trail was a good course and I had a good run," Faulkner said.
The youngest runner was 2 years old and the oldest was 69.
Dale Long, 69, Warsaw, ran a 33:21 mile in the 5K and said Saturday's race was the third race he has run in this summer.
"It was a good course, but a hot run without a lot of shade," Long said.
An awards ceremony was held in the school's gym following the races where winners received ribbons. Raffle prizes also were distributed.
Sponsors for the run were Silveus Insurance Group and Dr. David Vanwormer.
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