by Dennis Dalman
editor@thenewsleaders.com
On a misty, crisp fall morning, families gathered for the third annual “Back to School 5k Run and 1k Obstacle Course” at Sartell Middle School.
Sponsored by PineCone Vision and Dentistry for Children, the event raises funds for the Sartell-St. Stephen Early Childhood Education program, and this year’s proceeds will be used to buy fitness equipment for the program.
About 200 people gathered for the back-to-school event, including 141 who participated in the three activities. There were also a dozen vendors from local health-related businesses.
The event began at 9 a.m. with cannon fire to start the timed 5k run. After that race, two races for younger children began, both 1k races (twice around the school’s field track). The first race was for children 6 and under, the second for those 7 and older. All children who completed the untimed, non-competitive 1k run and obstacle course received green achievement ribbons.
“It’s so rewarding seeing our community out and moving and enjoying a morning of family fun while supporting our schools,” said Cathy Vande Vrede, who founded the event three years ago with help from others. Vande Vrede is project-and-community outreach manager for PineCone Vision Center in Sartell.
In the 5k race, there were 41 women and 12 men who participated. The winners of the men’s category were Bret Benson, 17:45; Mitiku Nies, 21:01; and Jairad Stavos, 22:22. The top finishers among women were Jessica Lewis, 23:32; Marie Schmitz, 24:03; and Nicole Maslowski, 24:40.
Off they go, ‘round the bend. Children 6 and under set off on their 1k run.
Swirls of bubbles delight children near the end of the 1k obstacle run at the “Back to School 5k Run and 1k Obstacle Course” Sept. 26 at Sartell Middle School.
Proud father and intrepid runner Steve Kron of Sartell ran the 5k Back-to-School race while pushing his two children for a breezy ride. The children’s names are Kylee, 5; and Leo, 3.
A little girl, smiling with confidence and pride, crosses the finish line at the “Back to School 5k Run and 1k Obstacle Course” Sept. 26 at Sartell Middle School.
Seconds after finishing second in the Back to School 5k race, Mitiku Nies pauses so race helper Adam Vande Vrede can take his number. Nies is a foreign-exchange student from Ethiopia.
Two winners, mother and daughter, are honored at the “Back to School 5k Run and 1k Obstacle Course” Sept. 26 at Sartell Middle School. The mother, Jessica Lewis of Sartell, was the first woman to cross the finish line. Her daughter, Kennedy, 6, was the first girl to cross the 1k finishing line.
Bret Benesh of St. Cloud is the first to cross the finish line in the “Back to School 5k Run and 1k Obstacle Course” Sept. 26 at Sartell Middle School. Benson had a time of 15:25 for the 5k run.
Bailey Woods, 10, was the first boy to cross the finishing line in the 1k obstacle run in the “Back to School 5k Run and 1k Obstacle Course” Sept. 26 at Sartell Middle School. There were two 1k runs, one for children 6 and under, the other for children 7 and older. Bailey is the son of Matt and Kelly Woods of Sartell.
Bret Benesh of St. Cloud was the overall first-place winner of the Back to School 5k race.
Jessica Lewis, with a time of 23:32, was the first-place women’s winner in the “Back to School 5k Run and 1k Obstacle Course” Sept. 26 at Sartell Middle School.
Jairad Stavos, third-place winner of the Back to School 5k race.
Marie Schmitz finished second in the women’s category in the “Back to School 5k Run and 1k Obstacle Course” Sept. 26 at Sartell Middle School.
Nicole Maslowski was the third-place finisher in the women’s category of the “Back to School 5k Run and 1k Obstacle Course” Sept. 26 at Sartell Middle School.
Sartell Middle School students practice football on the morning of Sept. 26 while other students were at the track field, participating in the “Back to School 5k Run and 1k Obstacle Course.”
360 Chiropractic is just one of many vendor booths set up at the “Back to School 5k Run and 1k Obstacle Course” Sept. 26 at Sartell Middle School.
Little tykes and lassies wait to line up for the children’s 1k run at the “Back to School 5k Run and 1k Obstacle Course” Sept. 26 at Sartell Middle School.
