BY LAURA KRUG
Before 8 a.m. on a chilly October morning, over 50 FHSU alumni and students were preparing to go for a long run. The Fort Hays Alumni Association hosted their annual Homecoming 5K run. Bob McAnany was the run coordinator.
The run was started by the Alumni Association and has been going on for about 20 years. Usually, 60-70 runners participate.
“It’s a nice way to get the day started and alumni can come run and walk before the football game,” McAnany said. “Some years we have beautiful weather, and even though today is cold it is a great day for it.”
The course consists of a 3.1-mile loop around the campus, beginning and ending in the Gross Memorial Coliseum parking lot, near the Robbins Center which is home to the Alumni Association and the FHSU Foundation. From the starting point, runners follow the 183 Bypass, turn onto Main street and then follow a path through campus to return to the starting point. A bicycle escort guided the runners throughout the course.
Payden Shapland was the overall female winner for the 5k. Shapland is a senior at FHSU studying Biology. She decided to run the 5K when her high school cross-country coach, Joni Bollinger, invited her to the race with her.
Richard Dortzweiler placed second overall in the race and is an 09’ alumnus from the FHSU information technology master’s program.
“Running is kind of my thing, I love to race whenever I can,” said Dorzweiler on his reasons for running the race. He has been participating in the race annually for almost 10 years.
The event’s overall winner was Kevin Sander, a 2012 FHSU graduate in accounting and finance. He ran the course in 18:31.
Overall, the race was a casual and fun tradition for dedicated runners and walkers alike to enjoy Homecoming weekend and to reconnect.
You must log in to post a comment.