WINONA LAKE – Of the 702 runners and walkers Monday in the Tracey Yeager Memorial 5K, a 59-year-old man from Ligonier was the one to cross the finish line first. He was followed by a 12-year-old Winona Lake boy. Mark Furkis had the fastest time at 18:05.49. After the race, he said he runs 5Ks every weekend, and has run the Yeager 5K before. He’s been hitting around the 18-minute mark lately, “so I feel pretty good about it today.” The first woman across the line was Justina Faulkner, 39, Bourbon, who placed third at 18:13.33. Furkis said she helped push him in the race. Jose Moyotl, 12, came in second with a time of 18:11.53. He said he was surprised at how well he did, but he does run a lot. “(I feel) really good. I’m proud of myself. The hard work paid off,” he said. Monday’s race was his third, he said, and he placed third in one. The remaining top 10 finishers, according to the list provided, were: Chris Perry, 14, Claypool, 18:39.39; Omar Moyotl, 26, Warsaw, 19:02.78; Leon Brenneman, 49, Warsaw, 19:12:78; Todd Hoffer, 48, Etna Green, 19:16.10; Blake Marsh, 13, Warsaw, 19:18.45; Tim Morton, 52, Warsaw, 19:33.13; and Connor Lennox, 14, Winona Lake, 19:44.85. Proceeds from the race, established in memory of Winona Lake resident and veteran Tracey Yeager, benefit Tracey's Trails Fund. The fund helps to build, improve or maintain areas for outdoor family recreation and fitness in Kosciusko County. Yeager graduated from the United States Naval Academy in 1990 and served as a Naval officer. She earned the rank of lieutenant, and resigned in 1999. She passed away in 2010 from cancer. Not everyone ran the 5K, as some preferred to walk it. Mother and daughter Sharon and Emmalee Cole, Winona Lake, participated in it for the first time this year. “We’ve seen it years before and this year we decided we would do it,” Emmalee said. “We just want to finish it,” Sharon said, noting that the two have done a couple of 5Ks together before. “I met Tracey Yeager once years ago.” Father and son J.C. and Trace Stookey also took part. It was their first time running together. “We’re just trying to get him to reach his goal,” J.C. said of his son. Trace, 11, said he wants to get a 5K in under 30 minutes, but he got around 34 minutes Monday. “It was a good run. We finished strong,” J.C. said. He said they’ll do another 5K together. “We’re going to reach that goal eventually.” Close to 40 runners were participating in the 5K with myTEAM TRIUMPH, according to the Northern Indiana chapter’s president, Barb Martz. myTEAM TRIUMPH is an athletic ride-along program created for children, teens, adults and veterans with disabilities who would normally not be able to experience endurance events such as triathlons or road races, according to the chapter’s website. “We provide ride along opportunities to anyone with disabilities to participate in endurance races,” Martz said. “This will be our fourth. The next two will be the ACTS race and the Winona Lake Triathlon.” For Monday’s 5K, the Yeager family sponsored a chair for “Angels” to push “Captains” in during the race, and the Warsaw Community High School football team sponsored one, Martz said. Steve Yeager, Tracey’s husband, served as the Angel for the chair his family sponsored, and 11 football players pushed the football team’s chair. “The big thing is, it’s not about getting a time, it’s giving back to people who normally wouldn’t experience this,” Martz said. She said the chapter is trying to get the word out about what it does and it needs sponsors, including corporate sponsors. “We’re the only chapter in Indiana,” she said. For more information about myTEAM TRIUMPH Northern Indiana, visit its website at www.mtt-northernindiana.org Another large group participating in Monday’s 5K was from Jefferson Elementary School. Michelle Rogers, Winona Lake, who teaches at Jefferson, said she was walking the 5K for the third year. “Tracey’s kids went to Jefferson so we do it to memorialize her and spend time together,” Rogers said. Principal Kyle Carter said there were about 25 to 30 staff members and spouses in their group, with most walking. He said. “The Yeagers are still an important part of our school and family, and this is a great event.” Rob Sullivan, Warsaw, was one of the WCHS football team volunteers. He said they were passing out water bottles at the halfway point. “We’ve been here since Nate Stone started this. It was family, friends and expanded into the (WCHS) football program,” Sullivan said. “Just to give back to the community and give a good impression of what we’re trying to do.” “It’s a great thing for a great cause,” said Jeremy David, volunteer. “It’s a neat thing to do. It’s a great way to give back,” said Josh Malagon, volunteer. “It seems like it’s getting bigger every year,” Sullivan said. For more information about the 5K, visit its website at www.tym5k.com or its Facebook page at www.facebook.com/TYM5K
