The 40th annual Bainbridge Youth Services Fourth of July Fun Run was the biggest ever, with a record-breaking 1,286 participants in the 5k, 1-mile run/walk and Kids Dash events.
Last year’s run saw 1,209 participants, organizers said.
Proceeds from this year’s event, which took in $32,992 in registrations alone, according to BYS officials, will support the nonprofit’s free counseling, free peer tutoring, summer internships and other programs. In addition to signing up for the race, 10 percent of participants gave an extra donation.
Every $100 raised equals 1.6 hours of free, confidential counseling for youth in the community, officials noted.
“We are so thankful to all of our incredible sponsors, volunteers and race participants,” said BYS board president Tom McCloskey. “You all are making a difference in the lives of our youth.”
The BYS Fun Run has become an annual community tradition for families, friends and visitors alike. Runners and walkers from ages 1 to 84, and from as far away as Lima, Peru, came out for the annual event, which was the biggest since BYS’ first 40 years ago.
Entire families, nearly 100 teams, and people young and old came out to run and walk the event — some pushing babies in strollers and others walking their dogs.
The 1-mile event had a record 373 participants this year, and 796 people signed up for the 5K. The Kids Dash attracted a whopping 117 youngsters.
One of the highlights for the Kids Dash this year was the appearance by the entire Bainbridge High School cheerleading squad.
“Jan and Jerry Walk and Carolyn and Casey Caughie had the kids literally jumping through hoops, running through human tunnels and hopping their way to the finish line,” officials said.
BYS Fun Run coordinator Helen Stevenson said about 50 volunteers and more than 30 local businesses and community agencies helped put on the event, including a crew from the Bainbridge Island Rotary Club, Umpqua Bank and the BHS cheerleaders.
Kitsap Physical Therapy employees handed out fruit and water to participants, as well.
For a complete list of results, visit www.bifunrun.org.
2019 BYS Fun Run Top Ten
1-Mile Run
Place / Name / Age / Finishing time
1. Roman Morgan, 6, 5:50
2. Sylvia Stellmacher, 27, 6:05
3. Emma Brundige, 17, 6:14
4. Mairin O’Brien, 11, 6:20
5. Cara Brundige, 12, 6:37
6. Joe Jaszewski, 39, 6:40
7. James Connolly, 20, 6:43
8. Andrew James, 13, 7:02
9. Julian Roger, 11, 7:03
10. Ryder Mortensen, 10, 7:03
5K Run
Place / Name/ Age / Race Time / Mile Pace
1. Sampson Murchie, 12, 20:27 6:35
2. Garner Hall, 12, 22:52 7:22
3. Christopher Fowler, 13, 22:55 7:23
4. Owen Dixon, 11, 23:00 7:24
5. Lucas Lenz, 13, 23:11 7:28
6. Zachary Shields, 14, 23:29 7:34
7. Jack Thompson, 12, 23:57 7:42
8. Nathaniel Owen, 13, 24:15 7:48
9. Auden Moyer, 14, 24:17 7:49
10. River Hendrickson, 12, 24:19 7:50
