By By KEVIN SCOTT CUTLER
Lifestyles & Features Editor
Under sunny skies that were a welcome change from the previous days’ rainy weather, runners and walkers of all ages gathered Sunday afternoon for the first-ever PolioPlus fundraiser.
The event, part of the End Polio Now challenge, was sponsored by First Bank and Washington Noon Rotary.
“We had 82 to finish the 10K and 15 that participated in the Fun Run and Kids’ Dash,” said event chairman Paige Allen Harris. “It was very successful for a first-time event. And we’re already in the planning stages for next year’s event.”
Volunteers turned out in force to assist with the race, Harris added.
“We had about 45 volunteers that helped,” she said. “We had lots of comments from runners that this was so well-manned for such a small race. The runners said they are definitely looking forward to next year.”
Harris noted that since End Polio Now was formed by Rotary International in 1995, there has been a 99 percent reduction in polio cases. Events such as Sunday’s race aim to take care of that final 1 percent, she said.
Although eradicated in the United States, polio remains an endemic in Nigeria, India, Pakistan and Afghanistan, Harris said.
A few long-sleeve, End Polio Now T-shirts remain available for purchase at $15 each. Donations toward the fight against polio are still being accepted. For more information, contact Harris at 252-945-5748 or by e-mail at paharris1@suddenlink.net.
The 10K top-three finishers, in order, are as follows:
• Male runners, overall: Nicholas Boerio 31:21, Patrick Price 33:44, Charles Justice 37:17;
• Female runners, overall: Jessica Collins 38:31, Kay Evans 39:02, Tara Carter 42:59;
• Male runners, up to 15: Blake McRoy 1:02:04;
• Male runners 20-29: Dominic Reisig 37:31, Will Collins 38:25, Emery Smith 44:24;
• Female runners 20-29: Randi Caruso 48:10, Keri Parker 48:28, Christina Jackson 48:55;
• Male runners 30-39: Bryon Lyons 48:22, Russell Davenport 54:01, Philip Hamrick 54:09;
• Female runners 30-39: Dawn Landen 45:58, Beth Pippin 47:37, Deanna Anderson 47:59;
• Male runners 40-49: Bobby Lane 39:05, Neal Fox 45:35, Tim Melton 47:44;
• Female runners 40-49: Gina Cantrell 50:08, Emma Holscher 51:47, Belinda Harrington 53:02;
• Male runners 50-59: Martin Bier 38:29, John Dougherty 44:33, Bill Collins 45:18;
• Female runners 50-59: Linda Butler 56:46, Claudia McCann 1:00:07, Catherine Partrick 1:03:13;
• Male runners 60-69: Gene Greene 45:31, Bradley Smith 1:03:11;
• Female runners 60-69: Diane Winegardner 1:34:38, Margaret Davis 1:36:39, Susie Templeton 1:36:39;
• Male runners 70-99: Bruce Marsh 55:24.
For a complete list of participants and other race results, visit www.ecrun.org.
For more information about PolioPlus and the fight to eradicate the disease, visit www.rotary.org.