by Cori Hilsgen
news@thenewsleaders.com
More than 100 people participated in the first Fall Fest 5K and 1K Kids Run event hosted by the St. Joseph Jaycees at the Colts Academy on Sept. 26.
The family-friendly event, which was open to all ages and skill levels, had 107 participants in the 5K and 1K event.
Race winners included a tie for the men with Eric Boysen, 22, and Sean Pickle, 10, tied at 20:28 and Tayler Housten, 22, was the top female at 21:45. The average time for participants was 31:12.
Organizer and Jaycees member Janelle Loehlein said the event was a great success.
“We plan to hold the event again next year,” she said. “We would like to partner with the Millstream Arts Festival in some way.”
Jaycees president Jen Warnert said registrants for the event ranged from first-time runners to families and experienced runners.
“The first annual St. Joseph Jaycees Fall Fest 5K and 1K Kids Run was a great success,” Warnert said. “The 1K Kids Run was extremely gratifying. They had so much fun and every child who participated received a medal.”
Nine Jaycees members and nine other area volunteers worked the event, emceed by Jaycees member Joe Bye.
“I am so thankful to everyone who contributed to help make this event successful – the Jaycees, the volunteers, the community, the city, especially (Police) Chief (Joel) Klein, the contracted companies that helped with logistics and ultimately the sponsors and participants – as without them the event would not be possible,” Loehlein said.
“We thoroughly enjoyed bringing a healthy, family-friendly (event) to St. Joseph on a beautiful autumn day in Minnesota,” Warnert said. “We have new ideas for next year already.”
Warnert also thanked all volunteers and sponsors who contributed to the event and made the day such a success.
The Jaycees is an all-volunteer grassroots organization that has been serving the St. Joseph area since 1974. Annual donations are made to St. Joseph schools, St. Joseph Food Shelf and more.
Meetings are held at 7 p.m. the second Wednesday of each month at the LaPlayette Bar.
To learn more about the St. Joseph Jaycees, email them at stjosephjayceesmn@yahoo.com or like their facebook page at facebook.com/StJosephJayceesMN.
Jaycees member Joe Bye (left) congratulates his son Trevor Bye, 5, in the first Fall Fest 1K Kids Run event.
Fall Fest race finishers included (left to right) Jennifer Salzer, Sara Bye and Matt Lelou. Salzer and Bye tied with a time of 23:24 and Lelou had a time of 23:26.
Fall Fest 5K race participants included (left to right) Sara Bye (132), Jennifer Salzer (174), Sean Pickle (172), Adam Wander (182), Matt Lelou (190), Brad Ufer (180) and more. Pickle tied with Eric Boysen (130), with a time of 20:28 to win the race.
Kaylee Prom, 4, (left) visits with 1K Kids Run race participant Cody Bye, 4. At first, Prom did not want to participate but after she saw how much fun it was, she joined in.
The first Fall Fest 5K and 1K Kids Run event hosted by the St. Joseph Jaycees was held at Colts Academy Sept. 26. Event volunteers included Ryan Electric and St. Joseph Jaycee members (left to right) Becca Sauerer, Brian Sauerer, Ryan Mulliner, Gene Janssen, Alecia Prom (holding Nikki Prom), Joe Bye, Sara Bye, Janelle Loehlein, Jen Warnert, Jennifer Erickson, (back) Tim Nelson and John Prom. Not pictured is Jaycees member Rose Janssen who took the photo.
