On Monday, former West Craven standout and current 5-foot-6 North Carolina point guard Jaime Cherry, the only freshman on the Tar Heel’s roster, played just 16 minutes against Ohio State in the NCAA women’s Round of 32. She scored just seven points, but with 5.6 seconds left on the clock, the game tied, Cherry dribbled the length of the floor and heaved a desperation jumper, finding the bottom of the net, ending what was a massive comeback from the Buckeyes and punching the Tar Heel’s ticket to the Sweet 16.

That same afternoon, the Terra Ceia baseball team found itself down 1-0 in the bottom of the seventh without a single hit in the ballgame against rival Pungo. After a single, error and walk loaded the bases, Aaron Bell, just a seventh grader, came off the bench with one out and blasted a critical sack fly to left field, tying the game. One batter later, Austin Roscoe, who had pitched seven innings of one-run ball up until that point, came through with a timely walk-off single to win the game.

From high school to college to the professional ranks, certain athletes are gifted with the “clutch gene” — the ability to shake off the pressure and come through when it matters most. On Monday, Cherry and Roscoe certainly had “ice in their veins.”

Reaching back for that something extra is a phrase often applied to athletics, but whether it’s your average citizen holding a door open for someone or a company giving back to a community, coming through when it matters most is a concept that isn’t just elusive to sports.

There is a pair of 5K marathons on the horizon that are giving locals the opportunity to do their part when it matters most, whether that be athletically, morally or, in some cases reserved for the more physically gifted, both.

First Bank of Washington has stepped up and is bringing the first 5K benefitting Alzheimer’s research to the area in history. A disease that cripples memory recall and can lead to dementia, Alzheimer’s is a nasty sickness that usually affects more than just the host, but also those closest to he or she. The race will take place at Festival Park at 7 p.m.

Another 5K to be aware of is the Young Life Glow Run set for April 25. This race, also at Festival Park and beginning at 7 p.m., will help benefit local youth, raising money for summer camps and other Young Life programs.

By competing (or simply participating) in a 5K for charity, you’re automatically reaching back for that something extra, even without coming in first place.